Several years ago, when I took my first real strides to transfer the novel in my head into print, I was on my own, or so I thought. I spent a couple of years (from time to time of course) scribbling notes, organizing chapters, creating outlines and reading, reading reading.
I had no idea that just outside my door, well okay, out my door and about seven miles away, was a group of writers that gathered to share ideas, tips and tricks. As my book progressed from the shelf to the “drawing board” to the desk, then back to the shelf again, these writers were meeting, teaching and selling books.
I will admit that I did come across a local writer’s group and visited once, but while their advice was sound, I felt it was necessary to be involved in a group of Christian writers. I found an online group (FaithWriters) and joined them.
For the next few years the great folks there were a tremendous encouragement. My writing was rather lackluster during that time, but they helped me to sharpen and focus my words. They have been a great source of friendship and I will always be thankful for the time I did, and still do, spend there. Still, something was missing. In March I discovered the missing ingredient I have been searching for.
I joined another online group, American Christian Fiction Writers, and in the process discovered the one thing that seemed to be missing at FaithWriters. The folks at ACFW have regional groups of members that meet regular to discuss this wonderful craft. Subsequently, I attended the March meeting of the Central Texas ACFW and what a wonderful time I had.
In the following weeks I sent in my membership form and signed up. I attended the April meeting this past Saturday to my great satisfaction. Chatting and posting ideas online is great, but to meet with flesh-and-blood people whose excitement and talent shine through their eyes is irreplaceable. Each month these wonderful people line up a speaker to talk about some aspect of the business of writing.
Yes, I said business. When I began writing, I thought that is all you had to do. Just write out a manuscript and send it to a bunch of publishers. I was so wrong. Well yes, you can do that, but the chances of success in such a scenario are miniscule at best. Even with the best writing, a person’s chance of success without proper targeting, marketing, editing, and promoting are most wretched indeed.
I am looking very forward to forging new friendships in my new found group and learning what I need to DO to sell what I write. I encourage anyone interested in becoming a published writer to find a group of like-minded writers and begin forging those new alliances into a taskforce of success.
