Sustaining & Growing Your Group
Building a core group of writers takes time and nurturing. Once you have a few people attending regularly, your focus shifts to keeping them coming back and integrating new members. Here are some tips for sustaining your momentum and growing an engaged, long-term writing group:
Consistency is Key: Make your event a reliable fixture in people’s schedules. Try to stick to the same day and time each session (or a predictable pattern, like “every 1st and 3rd Saturday”). When writers know “Every Tuesday at 6, there’s a session I can count on,” it becomes part of their routine. Consistency builds trust and turns casual drop-ins into regulars.
Stay Welcoming (Every Time): As your group grows, regulars will get to know each other well — which is great! But always remember to welcome newcomers with the same warmth as you did on day one. Continue introductions for new folks, or pair newbies with a friendly veteran to show them the ropes. New participants should feel the positive, inclusive vibe immediately. A group can become close-knit while still being open to new faces; it just takes mindful hosting.
Encourage Group Interaction: Help your writers form connections with each other. This can be as simple as occasionally initiating a brief group chat after writing time or suggesting an optional coffee or beer after an in-person session. Online, you might start a group chat thread or a simple Slack/Discord for those interested. When writers bond with each other, they’re more likely to return (not just for the writing, but for the community).
Listen and Adapt: Ask for feedback or suggestions from your group. Maybe do a quick poll: “Would a slightly later start time help anyone?” or “Thinking of adding a Sunday session – interested?” By listening to your attendees’ preferences, you can adjust to better serve them. Even small tweaks like adjusting session length or choosing a quieter venue if people mention noise can make a difference. People appreciate an organizer who cares about their experience.
Celebrate Milestones and Successes: If someone in your group reaches a big goal (finished a draft, hit 50k words, published a piece), celebrate it! You can give them a shout-out at the beginning or end of a session (“I want to congratulate Alice, who just finished the first draft of her novel!”). These moments of recognition build a supportive atmosphere. Likewise, celebrate group milestones: “This is our 1-year anniversary of the meetup!” or even small wins like “We’ve met 10 weeks in a row – great job, everyone.”
Share the Leadership (when ready): As your group becomes established, consider bringing on a co-organizer or rotating hosting duties occasionally. This not only helps you (preventing burnout) but also empowers your regular members. For instance, if a trusted regular expresses interest, you might let them lead the introductions one day or host when you’re on vacation. Having backup ensures the group isn’t solely dependent on one person’s availability, and it gives others a sense of ownership in the community.
Keep It Fun and Fresh: While routine is important, a little variety can energize a group. Maybe once in a while you host a special session – like an extra-long “mini retreat” on a weekend, or a themed session (e.g. “NaNoWriMo Prep Write-in” or “Poetry Month Write!”). You could also arrange an occasional social meetup with no writing, just to relax and chat (in-person this could be a coffee or drinks meet, online maybe a casual Zoom hangout). These extras aren’t mandatory, but they can deepen the group’s camaraderie and keep long-term members engaged.
Above all, lead by example: keep showing up with enthusiasm, keep writing, and keep encouraging. A group often mirrors its organizer’s energy. If you remain positive, inclusive, and dedicated, your writers will too. Over time, you’ll see your meetup evolve into a tight-knit community of creatives who not only write together, but celebrate each other’s progress and stick together through challenges. And that is the true reward of sustaining a Shut Up & Write! group.