1. Ask the Lord to lead you to two or three friends who share your interest in writing. Start small and expand as God leads.

2. Talk to others about your interest in writing. Many people have a hidden desire to write, but have never shared their dream with anyone.

3. Arrange a convenient time and place for an organizational meeting allowing four to six weeks to compile a list of prospective members.

4. Prepare an announcement flyer or letter and ask local churches and Christian organizations to post the information in their newsletter or bulletin.

5. CWFI members can contact the office for names and addresses of writers in their area who are interested in writing.

6. Prepare a news item for the local newspaper and/ or pennysaver announcing the formation of your writers' group. Place a classified ad in the personal or help wanted section of your local newspaper.

7. Contact community education and creative writing classes. Ask the instructor to announce your meeting to the class.

8. Christian radio and television stations often give free publicity through a "Calendar of Events." You usually need to notify them 4 to 6 weeks in advance.

9. Place notices on bulletin boards in your Christian bookstore, libraries, YMCA or YWCA, supermarkets, civic organizations, and other popular gathering places.

10. Compile a list of prospects. Send each one an invitation to attend the organizational meeting. Remind them of the time and place a few days before the meeting.

1. Keep your first meeting informal and relaxed, but start on time and follow an agenda to keep it from dissolving into a social gathering.

2. Keep refreshments simple. Exotic beverages and desserts tend to distract attendees from your purpose for meeting: improving your writing skills, knowledge, and techniques. Setting the tone for your first meeting is important because it sets the course for future meetings.

3. Have people sign in as they arrive. Provide name tags to promote group rapport.

4. Plan some critiquing at the first meeting, even though much of your time will be spent in establishing guidelines for future meetings. Begin by explaining how critique groups work. Having a treasury enables you to invite creative writing teachers, editors or professional writers as speakers. It also enables you to purchase books on writing and other instructional materials.

5. Establish guidelines for critiquing manuscripts: each member gets 20 minutes, ten for reading and ten for critiquing; each critique starts with a positive comment about the manuscript, moves to constructive criticism, and ends with more positive comments. Since many writers are shy at first, read one of your manuscripts at the first meeting and encourage criticism.

6. After the critique session, ask for suggestions on how often to meet and about convenient meeting times and places. Most groups meet once a month at the same day and time. Some groups meet in homes, others meet in churches, libraries, or restaurants.

7. Each meeting needs a chairperson. This duty can rotate among members. Try not to ask a host (or hostess) to also serve as chairperson since he/ she usually attends to refreshments and greets guests.

8. When the meeting ends, provide a member packet for each attendee. This gives them something tangible to take home and gives them a sense of belonging and of time well-spent. CWFI can help with this need. We have prepared a Writer's Primer for $10 each plus $2 postage and handling. Non-members cost is $15 each plus $3 postage and handling. Contact the CWFI office for complete details.

Have members sign in as they arrive. Divide your roster into three columns. Column 1 is headed NAME for each attendee to register when they arrive. Column 2 is headed TO READ for manuscripts brought to read. Column 3 is headed SALES/ PUBLICATIONS for sharing news of acceptances. A space at the bottom of the page headed "Prayer Requests" is also nice.

The duties of the chairperson are to:

1. Start the meeting on time and take care of brief business needs and items.

2. Select someone to open with prayer asking the Lord's guidance as material is read and critiqued.

3. Call on members to read their manuscript.

4. Keep track of each person's reading time and signal when time is up.

5. Call on members to offer comments and suggestions on the manuscript and signal when time is up.

6. Keep members on the subject, bring them back when they wander off, and encourage brief comments so everyone has a chance to share.

7. Encourage those who have nothing new to add to pass.

8. Ease tension in the room if someone's comment is too negative or harsh.

When critiques are finished, invite members to offer sentence prayers and to stay for refreshments. Be sure to announce the time and place of the next meeting and who will serve as chairperson.

• Share market information. Have each member send for a sample and writer's guidelines for specific market. Assign members to study and report on a particular market.
  
• Start a lending library listing magazines, books, and tapes members are willing to share with one another.
  
• Have members share success stories, working methods, tools, and habits.
  
• Schedule "Special Events" throughout the year such as inviting a guest speaker; planning a writers' workshop, seminar, or conference; planning an educational series on writing skills and topics; having an annual luncheon, dinner, or banquet to recognize the members' work for that year.
  
• Use what works for your group, revise or discontinue what doesn't.

If you are a CWFI member, you may request a printout of groups and potential group members in your area.