SOLSC 2014: Summer Writing Group

 

Time for a Tuesday Slice of Life.  There are more slices at Two Writing Teachers.  Writing this post early as on Tuesday, I will be going to the dentist to start the work on two crowns (oh joy) and I know that I will be done for the day after that appointment.

Do you remember the post about creating a summer writing group? That invitation was HERE.  I signed up and later in June was given the names of three others.  It has taken us a bit to coordinate between summer vacations, one shoulder surgery, and such.  Happy to say that last Thursday we had our first meeting through Goggle chat. 

We decided to meet via Google Chat twice a month. Each time two of us will share our writing, therefore that means about once a month for feedback.  I always get nervous giving feedback.  I don’t want to step on the toes of the writer, especially in that first meeting.  But I felt it went well.  I am thankful that one group member has taken the lead on facilitating the group.

My biggest challenge perhaps in the first meeting was to figure out the ins and outs of Google Chat.  First I was on my phone which wasn’t the best for two reasons: the battery was almost dead and it was hard to hold the phone to show my face.  The phone was dying so I moved to the IPad. Better but still, the holding and when you can’t really hold with one arm due to surgery, it was frustrating.

I finally figured out during the course of the meeting how to get the Google Chat on the computer (which admittedly I should have figured out prior).  So finally I could use the computer and have hands free. 

I am really liking using the whole Google Drive to put documents in that we can review and add comments.  I have been trying to do this with my other writing group.  I like being able to read and comment on the document. Plus it saves on printer ink.

I am hoping to make more use of the Google Chat in other areas of my life this year.  For one thing, I am hoping when it comes down to discussing the CYBILS Poetry nominations, that we will be able to use this medium.  I like being able to interact with people much better than sending emails back and forth.

Twenty plus years ago, I took a Northwest Writing Institute month long workshop at Lewis and Clark College. Email was in the baby stages and I remember suggesting having on-line writing groups.  People just shook their heads.  We have come a long way in how we communicate since then.

Advertisement