I need some people! A specific brand of people, that is. People who can read my manuscript who are not related to me or who are not a close friend. People who can give me a solid “yea” or “nay” on the thing and I’ll feel like I can really trust that they aren’t just being nice.
Not that I have anything against nice people.
(Side note: I want to make it clear that I am infinitely grateful to those people who have, so far, read my WIP and given me feedback. Even though they are all nice and some of them are family members. You know who you are.)
But, I get “people envy” when I read some of my favorite authors’ blogs and they talk about their writing group that meets to discuss a few pages of each other’s current WIPs, have scintillating conversations about what makes a character tick, and – I suspect – maybe toss back a few margaritas and have some laughs together.
How ‘bout you folks out there? Do you have a writing group you meet with on a regular basis? How did you originally connect with them? Part of my problem is that I live in a small town - the nearest larger town is half an hour away. It’s a college town and, judging by the message boards on the last Nanowrimo, many of the writer-types I would find there would be college kids and I’m afraid I would feel like the old lady in the crowd, which would just fuel my impending mid-life crisis.
I’m about an hour and a half from the Twin Cities which would not be an insurmountable distance to drive once a month. But how do I find the people?
Any suggestions? Anyone? Bueller?
Sis — here are my book recommendations: “Cutting for Stone” (Verghese) I loved this book and have heard others say it’s the best book they’ve ever read!; “One Thousand White Women” (Fergus) I bought it but have not read it yet, historical fiction; “Snowflower and the Secret Fan” (See), haven’t read this one but has been recommended by several readers I trust. My current read is “The Greater Journey” (McCullough) the subtitle is “Americans in Paris.” It is not what I would call exciting reading, but very interesting to get this perspective on the up-and-comer Americans of the 1800′s (James Fenimore Cooper, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Samuel F.B. Morse) who spent significant time in Paris soaking up culture, during a time when our new country had a pretty rustic culture. My friend just came back from Paris and keep comparing her comments with things that I’m reading. Very interesting, but not like there’s a plot.
Oooh, I love it when my reading list is full!
Mary Mac
I have read Snowflower and the Secret Fan – very good! And have also heard good things about Cutting for Stone. I think I’ll pass on Americans In Paris – even though it sounds interesting. How nice would it be to have the luxury of going to live in another culture for a while just to “soak up the culture!”
Hi! I just randomly met the organizer of my writing group. He worked in the mailroom of my office building. He mentioned that he’s an author and I said something about being an aspiring one. A little over a year later, bam! He started a writing group (he knows so many writers it’s insane). And now I have a few other writers I know and love in Denver. And I love and know them (I think I mentioned that). So … mine was out of luck. However! If you’re looking for a full-length ms. CP, I’m interested. My writing group does 7500 words at a time (each submit once a month), so I need some victi–I mean, CPers to read my whole manuscript. So … let me know if you’re interested!
Hi Kris! I am interested! I will shoot you an e-mail to discuss further. Sorry it took me so long to reply to this comment… so, let that be a warning as to how long it might take me to actually send that promised e-mail. Here I was thinking that, when the holidays were over things would slow down. HAHAHAHAHA! Oh, how could I be so naive! I hope you had a great Christmas. Talk soon!