If you’ve been a member of a writing group, you probably invested a lot of time and effort. You contributed your attention and hard work, maybe shared your manuscripts and spent hours providing feedback to others. You may have started new writerly habits, learned new skills or strengthened your competencies.
In short, you put in a lot of sweat and maybe some tears, too.
Does that mean you should stay with that group forever? Is there a time when it's right to say bye-bye?
Fair question. First, saying good-bye might be based on some very practical reasons, depending on your circumstances--like, new interests, schedules, location, etc. But there is one reason to leave a writing group that needs no rationalization.
Your writing group, whatever type, should enable you to grow, develop and do your best work, whether your work is making progress on your manuscript, learning a new social media ad app, submitting agent queries, establishing a daily writing habit or anything else that aligns with your writing ambitions. If a group doesn't help your writing and comes between you and progress on your writing goals, it's time to do a Terminator and say, "Hasta la vista, baby."
Your writing work is so important you have to honor and protect it. As you grow and develop in your writing, the group you've been in up to that moment may not be the right group to propel you to the next level. And a group that doesn't support you in your current effort is not the right place for you, even if people seem nice, the group is convenient, or you feel like you 'should' be in a group.
If the group isn't working for you, leave. No blame. Just 'bye'.
BTW, if one group isn't for you at this time, that doesn't mean all writing groups are useless. There are so many circles out there, with different areas of focus and ways of working, you might find another writing tribe that better fits your current needs and objectives. A new group might be the right group to help you cross your personal finish line.
So, think about your situation. If you're in a group now or considering a circle, where authors are nice, or the group is convenient, or you believe you 'should' take advantage of the opportunity, stop and think: Will the group help you achieve your writing best? If the answer isn't a crystal clear 'yes', then, ain't no lie, say, bye-bye-bye.
Have you ever left a writing group? If so, tell your story in the comments!
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