As a writer, I'm always looking for tips, ideas and inspiration for my books. One of my favorite places to gather these is at my local writer's group: the Maine Romance Writers. I've been a member for nine years and have played the role of silent lurker (that didn't last long), to secretary, then on to VP of communications and my favorite, retreat coordinator.
A writing group is a place where others understand that you have multiple voices in your head--and think that's normal. Where you can say, "I don't know how my book is going to end" or "I'm not sure who the killer is" and others nod in understanding. It's a place where we can talk about algorithms, yet not be proficient in math. When someone says she's a "pantser", I'm not tugging on my jeans and looking over my shoulder wondering if I'm going to be her next victim and praying I remembered to wear my good underwear. It's a place where NaNo is a word, and everyone knows their word count, and where tags are not attached to your clothing, but to dialogue. When asked about our WIP we're not "whipping" out our hands to do the Whip and Nae-Nae.
A writing group is a place where others understand that you have multiple voices in your head--and think that's normal. Where you can say, "I don't know how my book is going to end" or "I'm not sure who the killer is" and others nod in understanding. It's a place where we can talk about algorithms, yet not be proficient in math. When someone says she's a "pantser", I'm not tugging on my jeans and looking over my shoulder wondering if I'm going to be her next victim and praying I remembered to wear my good underwear. It's a place where NaNo is a word, and everyone knows their word count, and where tags are not attached to your clothing, but to dialogue. When asked about our WIP we're not "whipping" out our hands to do the Whip and Nae-Nae.
ARCs have nothing to do with your feet. There are no peas in your POD book and no cherry slushy in the dreaded Slush Pile. My friend who writes YA isn't excited about everything (that's yay), and Head Hopping doesn't mean you're schizophrenic, bipolar or have a multiple personalities. However, you may still have one of those mental illnesses. That's okay, we love all our writers.
Our speakers present workshops on craft, publishing and marketing. Other times we share our work and help each other through brainstorming sessions. Just being in a room with other writers is inspiring. No matter the topic of the meeting, I always leave feeling revved and pumped up, ready to dive back into my WIP.
I had the honor of speaking to the Maine Romance Writers workshop this past weekend, and even though I was the presenter, I still left primed and ready. The conversations during lunch, the animated discussions at the end of the afternoon, and hearing about the trials and tribulations of others was the kick in the pants I need to stop pantsting around with my WIP, cut some tags and send out some ARCs.
Our speakers present workshops on craft, publishing and marketing. Other times we share our work and help each other through brainstorming sessions. Just being in a room with other writers is inspiring. No matter the topic of the meeting, I always leave feeling revved and pumped up, ready to dive back into my WIP.
I had the honor of speaking to the Maine Romance Writers workshop this past weekend, and even though I was the presenter, I still left primed and ready. The conversations during lunch, the animated discussions at the end of the afternoon, and hearing about the trials and tribulations of others was the kick in the pants I need to stop pantsting around with my WIP, cut some tags and send out some ARCs.
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