Any thoughts about the difference for you between writing alone and wrriting in a PW group?

I've been puzzling about this for years. It feels different, but what is it exactly? On one level, there's knowing others are going to hear it in a group, which seems to set up a situation where I won't come anywhere near certain topics--too embarrassing or whatever. On the other hand, sometimes a group has made me a more responsible listener to what I write. My level of anxiety has always been greater in a group, but it seems that I have sometimes done a better job of listening to what I hear when I'm in a group. It will be received by others, so therefore I'm more likely to receive it? Alone, I'm freer to get into anything, get down anything that comes, but the one who listens has often been very hard to conjure up. I'm becoming a somewhat better 'audience' to what I hear when I'm alone, and it occurs to me now that the periodic group experiences are one of the things that help that along.

Thanks for asking Toby--getting me to think that through.

Joan

One option when working alone is to record some of what you have written and listen to is as though listening to what someone else wrote.

If you wait a bit between the two processes it might help to get some distance so you can evaluate more clearly. Then you can write about ANYTHING you wish with no concerns about what another might think.

Mary

Mary

I've not written in a PW group so don't know the difference there. I go back over what I've written sometimes after the initial read back, and get the similar themes and see what I can make out of it/them. For a poem that is.

I've written in poetry groups and the response is varied depending upon the group and teh subject matter.

I like the pace of the PW. Sometimes, lately, I've noticed I've not even wanted the music. The candle, the ritual, the peace yes. Though if I'm restless the music is a great help.

Adele

adele

>I've not written in a PW group so don't know the difference
>there. I go back over what I've written sometimes after the
>initial read back, and get the similar themes and see what I
>can make out of it/them. For a poem that is.
>
>I've written in poetry groups and the response is varied
>depending upon the group and teh subject matter.
>
>I like the pace of the PW. Sometimes, lately, I've noticed
>I've not even wanted the music. The candle, the ritual, the
>peace yes. Though if I'm restless the music is a great help.
>
>Adele