It wasn't so much that I had writer's block, but rather a period of time when I didn't write specifically in my manuscript file. What I mean is that in the past year and a half that I haven't formally written in the formal manuscript file, I've still been posting to this blog and jotting down lots of thoughts in my paper journal, but yesterday I took the first step in focusing my effort in finishing up my memoir. I went to my first writers' MeetUp group and it was just what I needed... Save for the misophonia triggers.
One of the wonderful things about where I now live is that there are TONS of MeetUp groups, and more being added every day. When I first started researching the city and checked MeetUp.com, there were so many groups for hiking, biking, theater, and yes... Even writing. This particular MeetUp group meets three times a week and all that the members do is write... Sort of a "study buddy" thing, but for writers. No analyzing what we wrote, just being in a room surrounded by books and other people writing. People had laptops, pen and paper, one guy even had a typewriter! I know that this is a group that I need to stick with so that I can finally wrap up my memoir.
The only difficulty I had at the meeting were the occasional triggers - both audio and visual. I arrived a bit late (very difficult finding parking over there), so there weren't many places to sit left. (I was actually surprised at how many people were there. I'd say at least a dozen.) I sat next to the guy with the typewriter, not remembering how distracting the tack-tack-tack sound is compared to today's computers. It wouldn't have been so terrible except he kept bouncing his legs and cracking his knuckles too... Over, and over... It's like his hands/fingers would never stop being able to crack. I didn't say anything though. I was so new and the people were very nice. I probably could've said something. (Aren't most people annoyed with knuckle cracking?) Instead, I just put in my earbuds and started blasting music. I was so tuned out that I didn't even hear when one of the café people brought the food I ordered.
Evidently, different people come to the various meeting days, which are held in different locations too, so maybe next time I won't be so triggered. (That, or maybe I'll just try to get there earlier so that I can get a prime place to sit.) Regardless, despite people not really talking much, other than a brief conversation when I first arrived, I know this extra-curricular will be a good step in achieving my writing goals.
One of the wonderful things about where I now live is that there are TONS of MeetUp groups, and more being added every day. When I first started researching the city and checked MeetUp.com, there were so many groups for hiking, biking, theater, and yes... Even writing. This particular MeetUp group meets three times a week and all that the members do is write... Sort of a "study buddy" thing, but for writers. No analyzing what we wrote, just being in a room surrounded by books and other people writing. People had laptops, pen and paper, one guy even had a typewriter! I know that this is a group that I need to stick with so that I can finally wrap up my memoir.
The only difficulty I had at the meeting were the occasional triggers - both audio and visual. I arrived a bit late (very difficult finding parking over there), so there weren't many places to sit left. (I was actually surprised at how many people were there. I'd say at least a dozen.) I sat next to the guy with the typewriter, not remembering how distracting the tack-tack-tack sound is compared to today's computers. It wouldn't have been so terrible except he kept bouncing his legs and cracking his knuckles too... Over, and over... It's like his hands/fingers would never stop being able to crack. I didn't say anything though. I was so new and the people were very nice. I probably could've said something. (Aren't most people annoyed with knuckle cracking?) Instead, I just put in my earbuds and started blasting music. I was so tuned out that I didn't even hear when one of the café people brought the food I ordered.
Evidently, different people come to the various meeting days, which are held in different locations too, so maybe next time I won't be so triggered. (That, or maybe I'll just try to get there earlier so that I can get a prime place to sit.) Regardless, despite people not really talking much, other than a brief conversation when I first arrived, I know this extra-curricular will be a good step in achieving my writing goals.
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