Parallel plawriting

I just heard radio doctor, Sanjay Gupta talk about “parallel” playing. He was urging mothers when they have play groups for their kids not to have a TV or computer on because it promoted what he called “parallel playing.” In other words, the kids don’t interact with each other as much as they both interact separately with a screen.

It brought to mind a concept of “parallel playwriting.” Writers thrive when they write in a group, providing an audience for their work and feedback, which promotes thriving. Writers write in a room by themselves. They don’t thrive unless they write together.

One woman I had lunch with at the Senior Center said, when I asked her what kept her busy during the day, “I’m a poet.” I asked her what group did she belong to. She replied that she wrote for herself and put her poems in her drawer.   

Is this person really a poet? I’m having a lot of trouble finding a writing group and I don’t think I’m progressing as well as I could if I were in one.