When I first started writing musicals, I had no idea how to even begin. I don’t come from a family of musicians or musical writers. I live in Texas where there is a rich theatre community, but the specific community of musical writers and producers is hard to find. So, when I set out to make my dream happen, I was searching for mentors, advice and guidance.
That’s when I joined a “Mastermind” group. A mastermind is a group of like-minded individuals who meet together to motivate and guide each other in our careers.
How does a mastermind work? A group of smart people meet weekly, monthly, daily even if it makes sense, to tackle challenges and problems together. They lean on each other, give advice, share connections and do business with each other when appropriate. It’s very much peer-to-peer mentoring and if you are lucky enough to get invited to one, you will most likely see a marked change in yourself and your business.
~Stephanie Burns, at Forbes Woman
My mastermind offered me guidance and encouragement when I needed it the most. After talking to my mastermind group, I decided to stay in Texas rather than moving to New York. We all decided it was better for my musical, my bank account and my musical theatre career to develop my work in Texas. This is just one example of how my mastermind group set me on the path towards success.
My mastermind group took me to the next level. They added accountability to my goals and writing process, and gave me a community of fellow writers, and producers. I’ve reached out to others in my current Musicalwriters.com writers group and found out that many others believe the same thing. So, here are 3 reasons to join a Writers Group or a Mastermind group.
Objectivity
When writing we often spend hours and hours wrapped up in the world that we have created, and it’s often impossible to be objective. Reading and sharing your work in front of a group of writers gives us perspective. It allows us to hear our work read out loud and discover if all we were trying to say actually made it to the audience.
It also allows you to get feedback and constructive criticism from other writers. This feedback, while it might be specific to the work you presented, can often be applied to other projects and works, thus developing you as a writer. A year in a Writers Group is a sure way to gain new perspective, giving you more depth and complexity in your writing.
Accountability
Great ideas are a dime a dozen, but the development and completion of them is a rare gem. Why is this? Many of us are writing musicals “on the side” and motivated only by our own ambitions. It often feels selfish or stupid to take time away from doing “more important” things to pursue our dreams. The encouragement to push forward and fine tune our work can only be found in a group of others going through the same process.
A Writers Group provides natural deadlines that force you to not only get your work done, but also get it done with excellence. When I know that other writers are going to be critiquing my work, I am forced to get it done—and get it done to the best of my ability.
Community
Loneliness is a familiar feeling for a writer. Your characters are your best friends and your inside jokes are just that, on the inside. Also, while others are coming home from a long day of work and binge watching their favorite show, you are going to work on your story. Because of this, it’s easy to feel alone.
However, in a Writers/Mastermind Group, you know in fact that you aren’t alone. There are people like you pursuing the same goals you are. There are people encouraging you and your show and pushing it to be the best it can be.
Due to the sheer nature of vulnerability and exposure needed for a writers group, these comrades become your friends and family during the process. This often leads to collaborations in the future. The people in your group are also the ones supporting you and your future successes. I hope to be cheering my fellow writers on when they win their first Tony or calling them after my opening night.
In summary, you are not alone, not in the MusicalWriters.com community at least. There are writers like you that want to have success in the industry. Writers Groups and Mastermind groups provide an avenue to make that success possible.
Ready to jump in?
Sign up for a MusicalWriters.com Writers Group or Mastermind Group.