Since this is a new blog I'm not sure who will be reading this. This post is addressed to new writers. I'm sure you have heard that you should join a writers group so why haven't you joined one yet? Just because your mother said your book is great doesn't mean it is. What did you expect her to say?
If you want an honest opinion of your work, a writing group is the place to find it. My book BASIC BLACK never would have made it off the computer if it wasn't for this writing group. Before I joined I even had a person edit my manuscript. He was an editor, but of trade journals. He thought it was very good.
Then I joined this group. I found out at the very first meeting how awful my book was. It wasn't that the story was bad, it just wasn't set up as a readable novel. It was just a story. That's when I also found out more about point of view and past and present tense, setting, dialogue, etc. My manuscript was all over the place. One person in particular said it was so lousy I shouldn't be in the group and I should go take some writing courses. I was so upset I went home and deleted everything off my computer.
After giving it some more thought I decided I could figure out this writing thing with the help of the group. I pick up things quickly and after 3 meetings there were a lot less red marks on my copy and after 6 weeks I had the group asking me who was doing the writing for me. Needless to say the group thing must have worked because my book is now on Kindle and NOOK and paperback edition on Amazon and is doing very nicely - thank you very much. I've also received some wonderful reviews about it.
Lesson #1 - Yes, you need a writing group
Lesson #2 - Don't let anyone discourage you if you really want to write.
P.S. The rest of the group thought my first submission was lousy too, but they were just very polite about it.
Good post, Scott. I'm sure your story wasn't as awful as you say, but I'm glad the group's feedback pushed you forward. Congratulations on publishing Basic Black.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you weren't completely discouraged. My first experience was pretty rough to, it was with an online critique group that is unfortunately no longer around. I had a rough time of it for a while but it ultimately made me a much better writer. (I still have a long way to go.)
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing this is a face-to-face group? I've never been involved in anything like that, haven't been able to find one in Colorado.
It is a face-to-face group. If you can find one, it's the way to go. Have you tried asking at book stores and libraries? If you're near Denver, they'll surely have a group or two. My nephew had one at the bookstore where he worked in downtown Denver. Good luck.
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