I remember every piece of writing I've ever encountered in a writing group.
 |
Description
Book Introduction
Reading each other's writing is also an act of embracing each other.
An age of loneliness, where people drift apart like stars in an expanding universe.
Why we need a loving relationship where we read each other's writing.
“I hold a ‘Writing A/S Meeting’ every year at the end of the year.
Here I call on those who are still writing or want to write,
“We encourage writing, listen to your concerns about writing, and provide advice.”
Who is this person who is so passionate about writing that they provide after-sales service at a writing club?
This is writer Jiwoo Jeong, who writes every day.
He has been running a casual online group for ten or so people for a few months to learn to write for ten years.
It would be natural for people to gradually drift apart after a gathering ends, but how did he start gathering every year-end to cheer on the members?
Author Jeong Ji-woo included this story in his new essay, “I Remember All the Writings I Encountered at Writing Groups.”
Having started a writing group for his wife and met countless people over the past 10 years, he felt it was a shame to see the members stop writing, so he started publishing a newsletter and planning a collaborative writing project.
Among those who maintained this relationship, several have debuted and become fellow writers, and other members have also created their own groups and are interacting with each other.
What writer Jeong Ji-woo felt most strongly in this 'world of writers' was the power of connection and expansion that writing possesses.
So this book is not simply about writing groups.
Author Jeong Ji-woo says, “If you’ve never had a writing group before, I hope you do it at least once before you die.”
Perhaps it is because they know how special it is to have a relationship where they read each other's writing.
In a society that seems to have forgotten how to connect, this is a heartwarming story of people slowly learning how to approach someone, how to listen to their innermost feelings, and how to empathize with them.
In a world where people choose to drift apart like stars in an expanding universe, let's hear the stories of those who still hold on to each other.
An age of loneliness, where people drift apart like stars in an expanding universe.
Why we need a loving relationship where we read each other's writing.
“I hold a ‘Writing A/S Meeting’ every year at the end of the year.
Here I call on those who are still writing or want to write,
“We encourage writing, listen to your concerns about writing, and provide advice.”
Who is this person who is so passionate about writing that they provide after-sales service at a writing club?
This is writer Jiwoo Jeong, who writes every day.
He has been running a casual online group for ten or so people for a few months to learn to write for ten years.
It would be natural for people to gradually drift apart after a gathering ends, but how did he start gathering every year-end to cheer on the members?
Author Jeong Ji-woo included this story in his new essay, “I Remember All the Writings I Encountered at Writing Groups.”
Having started a writing group for his wife and met countless people over the past 10 years, he felt it was a shame to see the members stop writing, so he started publishing a newsletter and planning a collaborative writing project.
Among those who maintained this relationship, several have debuted and become fellow writers, and other members have also created their own groups and are interacting with each other.
What writer Jeong Ji-woo felt most strongly in this 'world of writers' was the power of connection and expansion that writing possesses.
So this book is not simply about writing groups.
Author Jeong Ji-woo says, “If you’ve never had a writing group before, I hope you do it at least once before you die.”
Perhaps it is because they know how special it is to have a relationship where they read each other's writing.
In a society that seems to have forgotten how to connect, this is a heartwarming story of people slowly learning how to approach someone, how to listen to their innermost feelings, and how to empathize with them.
In a world where people choose to drift apart like stars in an expanding universe, let's hear the stories of those who still hold on to each other.
- You can preview some of the book's contents.
Preview
index
Prologue_If you haven't had a writing group yet
Chapter 1: Reading each other's writing
- The unique atmosphere of solidarity created by those who write
A promise to be the most loyal reader on Earth
The first criterion to break
If I meet my teacher, I will kill him.
For those who want to write their own
A matter of perspective and courage
A concrete sense of being able to give
Fear makes you a better person
How to overcome fear and push yourself to your limits
1 night 2 day writing group
The moment I first met my readers
Wedding of members of the writing club
How to find your own social meaning
The unexpected warmth of a Spartan gathering
Keeping your cool at work
Thoughts on a good writing community
How to reach a heart that believes in humanity
Year-end 'Writing A/S Meeting'
A worthy cause I believe in
Being happy together, not alone
Chapter 2: Signals to the Stars in the Expanding Universe
- How to write a connecting text
Han Kang, Haruki, keep writing
Language is the thread that connects us
Write anytime, anywhere
Finding one in ten
Language to reach others
80% of what saved me was writing.
A letter that will reach those closest to you
If there is a word that saves people
Language that meets each other's groundwater
Even if we grow farther away like stars in the expanding universe
A feeling that it's okay to talk
People looking for a blank sheet of paper to pour out their hearts to
The feeling that one is not hated
Give up the truth of a part
Igloo in a society where support is rare
Trial and error to find the line
A reward system that moves itself
Let go of the self-centered mindset
Interviews that listened to the hearts of 100 people over 10 years
A life of listening well and writing well
Two choices for typing
Building a Safe Zone for Writers in Chapter 3
- How to create connecting relationships
A heart that doesn't want to go away
What time gives you to build connections
What matters is not the numbers, but the consistent relationship.
The moment you see the invisible connection with your own eyes
I don't know what you mean unless you tell me
The Journey to Find 'My Author'
Invite instead of waiting
A space that waits for you just as it is
Life in the Net of Writing
A relationship that would not have been reached if I had not written
Conspiracy with writers
The joy of loosely entangled work
A scary suggestion, a grateful answer
Appendix_The Unique Comfort of a Community Made of Words
Taejun Heo | The first human being the self encountered in writing
Go Jeong-hee | Writing that Crosses the Abyss
Seohado | Handling Soap Bubble Sticks
Lee Mok | The reason I wrote the 'Marriage Reason'
Kim A-ram | It's Okay to Talk
Seonyeong | Encountering the World of Writing
Treasure | The first person to call me a 'writer'
Hwang Jin-young | Writing, Rewriting, Writing Together
Jeon Ji-eun | A record of going to write and then doing research
Lee Ji-an | Writing Counseling Session
Kim Jae-yong | Why My Writing Was Difficult
Benjamin | Two Things More Important Than Fluency
Jeon Jae-hyun | Creating My Own Narrative
Shin Seon-suk | A writing like a bus stop
Chapter 1: Reading each other's writing
- The unique atmosphere of solidarity created by those who write
A promise to be the most loyal reader on Earth
The first criterion to break
If I meet my teacher, I will kill him.
For those who want to write their own
A matter of perspective and courage
A concrete sense of being able to give
Fear makes you a better person
How to overcome fear and push yourself to your limits
1 night 2 day writing group
The moment I first met my readers
Wedding of members of the writing club
How to find your own social meaning
The unexpected warmth of a Spartan gathering
Keeping your cool at work
Thoughts on a good writing community
How to reach a heart that believes in humanity
Year-end 'Writing A/S Meeting'
A worthy cause I believe in
Being happy together, not alone
Chapter 2: Signals to the Stars in the Expanding Universe
- How to write a connecting text
Han Kang, Haruki, keep writing
Language is the thread that connects us
Write anytime, anywhere
Finding one in ten
Language to reach others
80% of what saved me was writing.
A letter that will reach those closest to you
If there is a word that saves people
Language that meets each other's groundwater
Even if we grow farther away like stars in the expanding universe
A feeling that it's okay to talk
People looking for a blank sheet of paper to pour out their hearts to
The feeling that one is not hated
Give up the truth of a part
Igloo in a society where support is rare
Trial and error to find the line
A reward system that moves itself
Let go of the self-centered mindset
Interviews that listened to the hearts of 100 people over 10 years
A life of listening well and writing well
Two choices for typing
Building a Safe Zone for Writers in Chapter 3
- How to create connecting relationships
A heart that doesn't want to go away
What time gives you to build connections
What matters is not the numbers, but the consistent relationship.
The moment you see the invisible connection with your own eyes
I don't know what you mean unless you tell me
The Journey to Find 'My Author'
Invite instead of waiting
A space that waits for you just as it is
Life in the Net of Writing
A relationship that would not have been reached if I had not written
Conspiracy with writers
The joy of loosely entangled work
A scary suggestion, a grateful answer
Appendix_The Unique Comfort of a Community Made of Words
Taejun Heo | The first human being the self encountered in writing
Go Jeong-hee | Writing that Crosses the Abyss
Seohado | Handling Soap Bubble Sticks
Lee Mok | The reason I wrote the 'Marriage Reason'
Kim A-ram | It's Okay to Talk
Seonyeong | Encountering the World of Writing
Treasure | The first person to call me a 'writer'
Hwang Jin-young | Writing, Rewriting, Writing Together
Jeon Ji-eun | A record of going to write and then doing research
Lee Ji-an | Writing Counseling Session
Kim Jae-yong | Why My Writing Was Difficult
Benjamin | Two Things More Important Than Fluency
Jeon Jae-hyun | Creating My Own Narrative
Shin Seon-suk | A writing like a bus stop
Detailed image
Into the book
“Writing is a story that I thought I shouldn’t write.
It's also a process of realizing that it was actually something that could have been said."
I remember every name and every piece of writing I've ever written with.
Even if you forget countless other names, once you see a piece of starlight shining deep within your heart, you will never forget the name of that heart.
When we have writing meetings, a lot of people cry.
And stay up all night.
Sometimes people say that they will live a better life and that they will remember this gathering before they die.
I close my eyes and think too.
Just as the stars in the night sky, hundreds of millions of light years apart, connect to form constellations, this time created by people who met across the night is as beautiful and precious as a constellation in mythology.
--- From "Chapter 1: Reading Each Other's Writing"
When I hold writing groups, I often hear people say, “I don’t know if I can talk about this.”
But in some ways, writing is also a process of realizing that stories that you thought shouldn't be told are actually stories that you can tell.
I practice sharing my inner wounds, my inner worries, and stories that I found difficult to tell those around me, and sharing them with my readers.
Rather than handing it over to the reader carelessly, roughly, or violently, we learn to convey it in a way that heals the writer and comforts the reader.
Finding common ground between you and me, and thereby creating something that both the writer and the reader need.
--- From "Chapter 1: Reading Each Other's Writing"
If what I wrote saved someone's life, it must have been something I desperately needed at the time.
It must have been something I wrote out of desperate need, to comfort myself and somehow get myself up.
I think therein lies the mystery of writing.
When a piece of writing touches the most intimate part of me, it touches the deepest part of the person who encounters it.
Humans live completely separate lives, each with a different personality.
This is especially true in modern society.
Individuals are isolated, and opportunities to feel connected to one another are diminishing.
But as you read and write, you begin to believe in mysticism.
Although it is invisible, it seems as if humans are connected to each other by an invisible soul string.
There is a passageway deep within me that connects me to you, and writing is a way to quietly descend there.
--- From "Chapter 2: Signals to the Stars in the Expanding Universe"
This is an era where people are moving away from us, just like stars moving away as the universe expands.
So the direction our society should be heading in would be exactly the opposite.
We need to get back to the feeling of mutual respect, the possibility that a stranger will be kind to me, and the expectation that you will treat me with consideration and dignity.
We must move towards a future where the feelings that we thought would never be understood will eventually be understood.
There seems to be no other way.
I am convinced that this is the only way.
--- From "Chapter 2: Signals to the Stars in the Expanding Universe"
Even during my isolated exam preparation days, writing connected me to the world.
Even now, at Book Talk, I often meet people who say they were comforted by reading my writings from that time.
During those days, I often felt like I was living on a distant island, cut off from the world, but surprisingly, the writing I wrote during those days reached the most people.
I can only say that it is the mystery of writing.
Our lives can continue even from afar, even in deep and dark places.
Writing has that potential.
--- From "Building a Safe Zone for Those Who Write Chapter 3"
I have a loose mind about the solidarity of writers.
I am treating it as a single organism, freely disintegrating or expanding, without having too many expectations or greed.
And just as life disintegrates and returns to the earth when it ends, I have the heart to accept the day when this solidarity disappears.
But as long as this solidarity exists, I don't think I will be the first to let go of this string.
It's a joy to be contributing to the continuation of a movement where people who wanted to write write, express themselves, communicate with the world through writing, create a place for writing in their lives, connect deeply with others through it, and help each other unfold their lives.
It's more fun than watching a fun drama on Netflix.
So, we're going to do it.
I feel the joy of a precious time as part of a time.
It's these people and this entanglement that makes my life a little better.
It's also a process of realizing that it was actually something that could have been said."
I remember every name and every piece of writing I've ever written with.
Even if you forget countless other names, once you see a piece of starlight shining deep within your heart, you will never forget the name of that heart.
When we have writing meetings, a lot of people cry.
And stay up all night.
Sometimes people say that they will live a better life and that they will remember this gathering before they die.
I close my eyes and think too.
Just as the stars in the night sky, hundreds of millions of light years apart, connect to form constellations, this time created by people who met across the night is as beautiful and precious as a constellation in mythology.
--- From "Chapter 1: Reading Each Other's Writing"
When I hold writing groups, I often hear people say, “I don’t know if I can talk about this.”
But in some ways, writing is also a process of realizing that stories that you thought shouldn't be told are actually stories that you can tell.
I practice sharing my inner wounds, my inner worries, and stories that I found difficult to tell those around me, and sharing them with my readers.
Rather than handing it over to the reader carelessly, roughly, or violently, we learn to convey it in a way that heals the writer and comforts the reader.
Finding common ground between you and me, and thereby creating something that both the writer and the reader need.
--- From "Chapter 1: Reading Each Other's Writing"
If what I wrote saved someone's life, it must have been something I desperately needed at the time.
It must have been something I wrote out of desperate need, to comfort myself and somehow get myself up.
I think therein lies the mystery of writing.
When a piece of writing touches the most intimate part of me, it touches the deepest part of the person who encounters it.
Humans live completely separate lives, each with a different personality.
This is especially true in modern society.
Individuals are isolated, and opportunities to feel connected to one another are diminishing.
But as you read and write, you begin to believe in mysticism.
Although it is invisible, it seems as if humans are connected to each other by an invisible soul string.
There is a passageway deep within me that connects me to you, and writing is a way to quietly descend there.
--- From "Chapter 2: Signals to the Stars in the Expanding Universe"
This is an era where people are moving away from us, just like stars moving away as the universe expands.
So the direction our society should be heading in would be exactly the opposite.
We need to get back to the feeling of mutual respect, the possibility that a stranger will be kind to me, and the expectation that you will treat me with consideration and dignity.
We must move towards a future where the feelings that we thought would never be understood will eventually be understood.
There seems to be no other way.
I am convinced that this is the only way.
--- From "Chapter 2: Signals to the Stars in the Expanding Universe"
Even during my isolated exam preparation days, writing connected me to the world.
Even now, at Book Talk, I often meet people who say they were comforted by reading my writings from that time.
During those days, I often felt like I was living on a distant island, cut off from the world, but surprisingly, the writing I wrote during those days reached the most people.
I can only say that it is the mystery of writing.
Our lives can continue even from afar, even in deep and dark places.
Writing has that potential.
--- From "Building a Safe Zone for Those Who Write Chapter 3"
I have a loose mind about the solidarity of writers.
I am treating it as a single organism, freely disintegrating or expanding, without having too many expectations or greed.
And just as life disintegrates and returns to the earth when it ends, I have the heart to accept the day when this solidarity disappears.
But as long as this solidarity exists, I don't think I will be the first to let go of this string.
It's a joy to be contributing to the continuation of a movement where people who wanted to write write, express themselves, communicate with the world through writing, create a place for writing in their lives, connect deeply with others through it, and help each other unfold their lives.
It's more fun than watching a fun drama on Netflix.
So, we're going to do it.
I feel the joy of a precious time as part of a time.
It's these people and this entanglement that makes my life a little better.
--- From "Building a Safe Zone for Those Who Write Chapter 3"
Publisher's Review
In an age of communication impasse, a space where we become each other's most faithful readers.
Why You Should Start a Writing Group Now
They say we live in an age where literacy is a problem.
But maybe people don't have the ability to read, but rather the will to understand.
At a time when many people seem to have given up on connecting with others, this book depicts the process by which those who become the first readers of each other's writing become each other's greatest supporters.
It consists of three chapters containing the writings of author Jeong Ji-woo and an appendix containing writings by members of the group, showing how close the bond can be between those who write together.
Chapter 1 talks about the principles that author Jeong Ji-woo has kept in his writing group and the empathy he has experienced in the group.
He promises himself to be 'the most faithful reader on earth' and says that this space where he first meets 'my readers' is ultimately a process of finding each person's social place and meaning.
Chapter 2 covers what kind of writing you should do to connect with others.
Author Jeong Ji-woo says that language holds the dream of communication, and talks about the mystery of encountering the underground waters of others by digging deep into one's own inner self.
Chapter 3 deals with what kind of mindset one needs to have to build relationships through writing.
The final appendix contains writings from 14 members.
The power of the writing group was different for each person, but it was also strong: someone became a writer after participating in the writing group, someone felt the healing effect of the writing group and wrote a thesis about it, and someone wrote a 'reason for marriage' and gave it to their girlfriend instead of proposing to her.
The story of writer Jeong Ji-woo and his writers shows that a writing group is not just about writing, but also about becoming a relationship that shares life.
“If you dig deep into the well within yourself, you will find underground water connecting you to others.”
How Writing Connects People and Expands Work
This book reveals the process by which author Jeong Ji-woo connected with countless people and expanded the scope of life through writing.
By reading about other people's lives, you not only discover worlds you've never experienced before, but you also get to know more people, engage in more diverse endeavors, and ultimately expand your influence.
The beginning was a feeling of not wanting to go far away.
He felt it would be a shame for those who had finally become good at expressing their thoughts through writing together to stop writing, so he created the newsletter "All Cultures of the World" and assembled a team of 20 contributors. He planned a joint writing project and published three books with the group members.
Authors such as Heo Tae-jun, Lee Ji-an, Jeong In-han, and Bo-bae published their first books after the meeting. They held joint book talks to coincide with their publications and invited fellow authors to their own book talks, creating a rich time.
I also spent time interviewing various writers and becoming more intimate with them.
Author Jeong Ji-woo says, “In fact, our individual minds and lives are not very different, and are usually connected and experienced on similar levels.”
If you don't forget this fact, you will find that talking to others and approaching them is not such a scary thing.
If you dare to connect like that, you will break free from the confines of your own life and find yourself growing bigger.
Reading the stories of author Jeong Ji-woo and the members of the writing group, I am ultimately convinced that it is better for people to connect with each other.
These days, people say that if a problem arises in a relationship, it's wise to cut it off without hesitation, but the life of the person connected to the person who reads my story is definitely more enriching.
It doesn't stay in a small place, but grows in larger concentric circles.
Poet Oh Eun, who read this book first, also said, “I was curious about author Jeong Ji-woo’s passion for writing,” and that “when writing alone becomes writing that is read and shared together, the goodwill that ‘connection’ radiates not only fosters the desire to write, but also the ability to write.”
In an age where the power to hold onto one another is weak, the awkward gestures of those who share their stories and empathize with others' writings awaken the desire for connection that we have been losing.
Let's listen to the intimate and warm stories that unfold within the world of "co-writing" discovered by author Jeong Ji-woo.
“Writing may seem like a lonely job,
“The truth is, it’s about reaching out to people all over the world.”
If you've never been to a writing group before, I hope you do so at least once before you die.
Secretly, I wished the title of this book had been 'Once Before I Die, a Writing Club'.
But somehow, the title was decided before I conveyed that intention to the publisher.
But seeing such a wonderful title, I also think that it is better for the author to take a step back when creating a book.
Writing is not only about meeting readers, but also about meeting various colleagues, including editors.
I hope this book can convey, even if only a little, that writing is a connection that conveys sincerity, a human activity that sometimes leads to gatherings, and even life itself.
I would like to choose writing, and among those things, a writing club, as something worth trying at least once in your life.
If you believe that you can write and that writing can be a step toward a new life, writing will reward you.
I hope that this book, which you happen to have in your arms, can push you towards such writing.
I hope that someday, through your writing and mine, you and I can meet.
- From "Getting Started"
Why You Should Start a Writing Group Now
They say we live in an age where literacy is a problem.
But maybe people don't have the ability to read, but rather the will to understand.
At a time when many people seem to have given up on connecting with others, this book depicts the process by which those who become the first readers of each other's writing become each other's greatest supporters.
It consists of three chapters containing the writings of author Jeong Ji-woo and an appendix containing writings by members of the group, showing how close the bond can be between those who write together.
Chapter 1 talks about the principles that author Jeong Ji-woo has kept in his writing group and the empathy he has experienced in the group.
He promises himself to be 'the most faithful reader on earth' and says that this space where he first meets 'my readers' is ultimately a process of finding each person's social place and meaning.
Chapter 2 covers what kind of writing you should do to connect with others.
Author Jeong Ji-woo says that language holds the dream of communication, and talks about the mystery of encountering the underground waters of others by digging deep into one's own inner self.
Chapter 3 deals with what kind of mindset one needs to have to build relationships through writing.
The final appendix contains writings from 14 members.
The power of the writing group was different for each person, but it was also strong: someone became a writer after participating in the writing group, someone felt the healing effect of the writing group and wrote a thesis about it, and someone wrote a 'reason for marriage' and gave it to their girlfriend instead of proposing to her.
The story of writer Jeong Ji-woo and his writers shows that a writing group is not just about writing, but also about becoming a relationship that shares life.
“If you dig deep into the well within yourself, you will find underground water connecting you to others.”
How Writing Connects People and Expands Work
This book reveals the process by which author Jeong Ji-woo connected with countless people and expanded the scope of life through writing.
By reading about other people's lives, you not only discover worlds you've never experienced before, but you also get to know more people, engage in more diverse endeavors, and ultimately expand your influence.
The beginning was a feeling of not wanting to go far away.
He felt it would be a shame for those who had finally become good at expressing their thoughts through writing together to stop writing, so he created the newsletter "All Cultures of the World" and assembled a team of 20 contributors. He planned a joint writing project and published three books with the group members.
Authors such as Heo Tae-jun, Lee Ji-an, Jeong In-han, and Bo-bae published their first books after the meeting. They held joint book talks to coincide with their publications and invited fellow authors to their own book talks, creating a rich time.
I also spent time interviewing various writers and becoming more intimate with them.
Author Jeong Ji-woo says, “In fact, our individual minds and lives are not very different, and are usually connected and experienced on similar levels.”
If you don't forget this fact, you will find that talking to others and approaching them is not such a scary thing.
If you dare to connect like that, you will break free from the confines of your own life and find yourself growing bigger.
Reading the stories of author Jeong Ji-woo and the members of the writing group, I am ultimately convinced that it is better for people to connect with each other.
These days, people say that if a problem arises in a relationship, it's wise to cut it off without hesitation, but the life of the person connected to the person who reads my story is definitely more enriching.
It doesn't stay in a small place, but grows in larger concentric circles.
Poet Oh Eun, who read this book first, also said, “I was curious about author Jeong Ji-woo’s passion for writing,” and that “when writing alone becomes writing that is read and shared together, the goodwill that ‘connection’ radiates not only fosters the desire to write, but also the ability to write.”
In an age where the power to hold onto one another is weak, the awkward gestures of those who share their stories and empathize with others' writings awaken the desire for connection that we have been losing.
Let's listen to the intimate and warm stories that unfold within the world of "co-writing" discovered by author Jeong Ji-woo.
“Writing may seem like a lonely job,
“The truth is, it’s about reaching out to people all over the world.”
If you've never been to a writing group before, I hope you do so at least once before you die.
Secretly, I wished the title of this book had been 'Once Before I Die, a Writing Club'.
But somehow, the title was decided before I conveyed that intention to the publisher.
But seeing such a wonderful title, I also think that it is better for the author to take a step back when creating a book.
Writing is not only about meeting readers, but also about meeting various colleagues, including editors.
I hope this book can convey, even if only a little, that writing is a connection that conveys sincerity, a human activity that sometimes leads to gatherings, and even life itself.
I would like to choose writing, and among those things, a writing club, as something worth trying at least once in your life.
If you believe that you can write and that writing can be a step toward a new life, writing will reward you.
I hope that this book, which you happen to have in your arms, can push you towards such writing.
I hope that someday, through your writing and mine, you and I can meet.
- From "Getting Started"
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: November 20, 2025
- Page count, weight, size: 284 pages | 378g | 130*200*17mm
- ISBN13: 9791167141293
- ISBN10: 1167141296
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