How important are writer's groups and associations to the professional and the aspiring horror writer?

Any group, any associate, any pal, anything that will help you learn and that will help you learn is important. Me, I'm glad to have some associate/chums in the HWA that I can call on for stories if I'm working on a project--and you can bet I do call on people I know and whose work I know before I seek the work of "outsiders." But let me add this: You still find the equivalents of "sewing circle literary societies" and "poet-tasters" groups for writers who think they are trying to become commercially successful.

Support groups might get you off drugs or help you free your kvetching child within, but it's a good idea to get educated about this writing biz, to learn from people who can really teach instead of just whispering buzz words in your ear about how "we all have something to say," and "you are so sensitive and bold for sharing that story based on the horrible trauma you really suffered when you were six and your chameleon died..." How would you define the horror genre? Once ... more.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.