can someone give me social advice

[ohshtt]

so i'm hosting the first session of a writer's circle with people i don't know well. some details: free-and-easy get together. people of vastly different skill levels will be there. the location is an informal sofa and rug space in the office of a writing organization. there are refreshments.

it's important for the success of future sessions that people enjoy themselves, talk, feel a spark, and want to come back. i think it relies on me, as the facil, to create that environment but i don't know how. i do know i should show interest in every individual and come with the right vibe myself.

does anyone here host parties/gatherings regularly?

how do you make them succeed?

 

[Cognisant]

Sounds like it should pretty much run itself once things get going, if it starts off with everybody sitting around too shy to start talking try asking the group to brainstorm ideas for how to show a particular character trait rather than tell it.

I.e. Suppose we have character who is scared for the well being of another character, what are some ways we could show this without outright telling the readers what's going on?

 

[birdsnestfern]

Not now, but when I was a teen I had amazing parties. Giant make your own spaghetti parties, (pasta making) and wine tasting too. And love fest parties, one boy for every girl.

Also, we had something called coffee house initiative where the whole city donated money for teenager outings. We enjoyed trips to Stanislaus National forest and hiked and backpacked and skinny dipped in remote wilderness. Deep wilderness hikes with writers writing around lakes and camps might be fun.

If you ask for donations for your group, it helps fund it too. Then carpool to Stanislaus, but it takes everyone carrying 30-40 lb packs.

Maybe it doesn't have to be that deep or far from civilization, but imagine nude writers hiking in a pack of 30, its GOT to be fun.

 

[ohshtt]

Sounds like it should pretty much run itself once things get going, if it starts off with everybody sitting around too shy to start talking try asking the group to brainstorm ideas for how to show a particular character trait rather than tell it.

I.e. Suppose we have character who is scared for the well being of another character, what are some ways we could show this without outright telling the readers what's going on?

that's good! i'll store that up. thanks, Cognisant

 

[ohshtt]

Not now, but when I was a teen I had amazing parties. Giant make your own spaghetti parties, (pasta making) and wine tasting too. And love fest parties, one boy for every girl.

Also, we had something called coffee house initiative where the whole city donated money for teenager outings. We enjoyed trips to Stanislaus National forest and hiked and backpacked and skinny dipped in remote wilderness. Deep wilderness hikes with writers writing around lakes and camps might be fun.

If you ask for donations for your group, it helps fund it too. Then carpool to Stanislaus, but it takes everyone carrying 30-40 lb packs.

Maybe it doesn't have to be that deep or far from civilization, but imagine nude writers hiking in a pack of 30, its GOT to be fun.

ayy, that's pretty cool! i live in a city with hardly any wilderness but we could make do in a park or nature reserve or reservoir.

 

[Rook]

i think ..... where my mind is going is to detemine the tastes of those who visit beforehand, if they have their favorite foods/drinks/other completely above board wionk wink subtances beforehand theyll be in better mood already. comfortable seating is key, i think outside or on a veranda depending on weather is more relaxing.

just relax and go with the flow, if folk are recalcitrant to converse then jump into the meat of the thing immediately, basically forcing everyone to talk in a friendly manner by discussing the task at hand.

doing things in turns from the beginning can be good, if folk dont know one another start with intros. readings, co-op writing excersizes fromed from alternating groups, open group discussion etc. are all great ways to keep things streamlined yet social.


enjoy ; )

 

[PiedPiper]

No.

 

[Rook]

Enjoy ; )

 

[ohshtt]

No.

fair enough.

 

[ohshtt]

i think ..... where my mind is going is to detemine the tastes of those who visit beforehand, if they have their favorite foods/drinks/other completely above board wionk wink subtances beforehand theyll be in better mood already. comfortable seating is key, i think outside or on a veranda depending on weather is more relaxing.

just relax and go with the flow, if folk are recalcitrant to converse then jump into the meat of the thing immediately, basically forcing everyone to talk in a friendly manner by discussing the task at hand.

doing things in turns from the beginning can be good, if folk dont know one another start with intros. readings, co-op writing excersizes fromed from alternating groups, open group discussion etc. are all great ways to keep things streamlined yet social.


enjoy ; )

thanks, Rook. yeah, turns seem good.

 

[Daddy]

Drink alcohol beforehand (it helps bring you down to their level).

 

[Cognisant]

Alcohol lowers inhibitions, with lowered inhibitions you make an ass of yourself, after making an ass of yourself you're desensitized to the fear of making an ass of yourself, then you can interact sober without anxiety.

A lot of things in life seem to work that way, you gotta fail a lot to overcome the fear of failure, you've got to get hurt a lot to get over the fear of being vulnerable, just gotta take your lumps I guess.

 

[ohshtt]

update: just finished 3 hours ago! think it was pretty successful. several told me they wanted to come again, though idk if it's a nicety. others also mentioned they'd looked forward to the circle the whole week, which was sweet! everyone turned up.

 

[Rook]

cool cool