Some people assert that writing is a lonely pursuit. But, according to William Faulkner, there’s a difference between lonely and solitary. He said this: “I have always been too busy, too immersed in what I was doing… to have time to wonder whether I was lonely or not lonely. It’s simply solitary.” For me, there’s another aspect of writing that defies loneliness—a critique group.
I recently saw an advertisement for a webinar called Navigating a Critique Group While Keeping Your Mental Health Intact. I suppose some people might need that, but I’m a very lucky person. My critique group is nothing but a pleasure. Granted, they are quite critical of my writing, but that’s a good thing. Their comments are always helpful in improving my prose. I tend to use the same flawed approach over and over, and they catch me on it, each and every time.
Recently, I had the opportunity to meet one of its members. We have only interacted online, but on this occasion, I had the privilege of attending a talk by one of my fellow writers. Harold Emanuel published the first book in his series about immigrants in New York City, entitled Aliyah: A Jewish Family Saga. He detailed the creative spark of family lore as well as other influences, including Fiddler on the Roof and Forrest Gump. Yes, Forrest Gump. You’ll have to read it to understand that inspired source, but it’s clear that his work reflects this unusual combination. The book is available to purchase from Amazon.com or bookshop.org.