I spent a lovely afternoon with the members of Dorset Writers in Wareham yesterday. One of the most proactive writers’ groups I’ve come across. They were already booking speakers of various disciplines for the coming months. They had a great attitude to their writing and it was a pleasure to be among them. We did a short exercise and to my amazement not one of them apologised before they read out their work. I’ve lost count of the amount of times writers (and I have to say it’s mainly women who do this) apologise before they begin to read what they’ve written. It’s so damaging to one’s confidence and you’ve immediately judged yourself before other’s do (a self defence mechanism but damaging none the less).
The Dorset Writers have something akin to a swear box precisely for this misdemeanour something I wholeheartedly endorse. What a fantastic, uplifting and supportive group they were.
Unbeknownst to me there was an additional member of the group that I only became aware of when it came to tea break. Pippin the dog made a surprise appearance and I didn’t even know he was listening in. I wonder what he writes?