Why We Write

Now that we're nano-ed and na-blo-wn out, why are we still writing?

As we tie up the loose ends on our first book, we're counting the million reasons amongst ourselves for continuing to show up. We're not just scribbling because the voices in our heads say, "Write." We've got to do it. If we didn't write, we wouldn't be writers.

voices in our heads (developing foreheads and nodding): 'nuff said

writers (perking up): thank you

voices in our heads (developing fingers and wagging): keep writing

writers (crawling back into our caves and muttering): okay, okay

Keep writing! It's fun! Be sure to come to our next meeting. 12/15/07.

Heading Into The Home Stretch!

Well, guys and gals - it's time to do what we said we were going to do - put together our own anthology! What an exciting project! And just think how motivated we'll be to see our own words in print!

But the Anthology is not the end of the process. It's just the beginning.

Now we have to move to the next logical step. The one outlined by our fearless leader. Get published! Put ourselves out there and make the editors/publishers realize just how much talent there is in Chesterfield County. A few of our members are already doing it, so why not you?

There is a venue for each of us--young adult, faith-based, flash fiction, memoirs, self-help, DIY, pop and literary fiction--it's all out there waiting.

Where, you ask? Well, there are lots of places to look. Writers Market, Ralan's website (www.ralan.com), Spicy Green Iguana (www.spicegreeniguana.com) to name a few. Go to the bookstore magazine racks--Ellery Queen, Asimov's, Fantasy, Glimmer Train. Check the spines on your favorite books, look inside at the Dedications, ask around, Google. It's all out there and waiting for YOU.

Let's put our best best foot out there with this anthology, but don't let that be your only step! Take that BIG step! Take that Leap!

Writing Exercise at Yesterday's Meeting

I'm going to toss my two cents into the blog arena, so bear with me, folks!

I won't go into much detail about yesterday's meeting other than to say that I was delighted to see so many new faces! I hope to see you all again next month. Nedra will probably post something outlining our activities.

I wanted to say that yesterday's short writing exercise really sparked something. I seem to be running into a lot more people writing for the Young Adult (YA) market and well, a story kind of leaped into my mind that might be marketable to that market (how many times can I use "market" in one sentence ;o). I ended up coming home from the meeting with the skeleton of a story plot and then slammed out a 1,500 word story. I'm actually pretty pleased with the result. It has to have been one of the easiest short stories I've ever written and while it's still in first draft, I feel it has potential.*

That's one of the things I've had to learn on the road to becoming a writer. I had to learn how to give myself permission to write, and write badly if necessary, as long as I write! You, my fellow writers, all know what I mean. At one point, back in the formative years, we're all taught that if we can't do it right, don't do it! But the need to do it right can sometimes keep us from doing it at all. We self-edit, over-critique, denigrate, etc.

Don't do it! Adopt the Nike slogan for your own and Just Do It! Get it out, get it down and get it finished! Then, you can do the nasty "edit" thingee!

Yeah, it's just that sometimes a person has to hear it about umpteen hundred times, get hit over the head with the ol' "clue by four" and then maybe in a "sudden flash" realize what everyone's been saying. Just write.

Write and then rewrite and then rewrite again. Nothing leaps forth fully formed and perfect - well, nothing written by anyone I know or know of (most of the famous writers speak of the necessary evil of revision/edit). Just write and tell the ol' critic sitting on the back of your chair to take a chill pill, shut up, and let you do your stuff.

So, that's it for now. I'm going to get back to it. Happy Writing!

*OMG, I just realized that the exercise produced what could be considered an "outline" of a story that I then translated into a fully fleshed out story! Wow! And I thought I couldn't do it that way! See-yet another fun discovery!

3 Reasons, 2 Ways, 1 Day to Go

Three reasons to join us at tomorrow's meeting at Central Library at 12 PM. :

1. You've always wanted to write but you've never found the time. See Too Busy to Write?.

2. You're writing and you're stuck...that bad ole' writer's block. Come get writer's block tips from other writers.

3. You've got a manuscript that you've read a million times, and you need another pair of eyes.

Two ways to join:

1. Click on one of the links to the right, either Meetup or Yahoo .

2. Come to tomorrow's meeting. Click here for directions.

One day to go:

Our next meeting is Saturday, October 27, 2007 (tomorrow, tomorrow...) at the Central Branch of the Chesterfield Public Library in Chesterfield, Virginia.

Central Library

Chesterfield County Public Libraries

9501 Lori Road

Chesterfield, VA 23832

Too Busy to Write?

Are you too busy to write? We are, too.

Are you too busy to build or strengthen a support group for your writing? We... Oh, wait, we do that now. Five writers came to the Chesterfield Writers' Club meeting Saturday. That's five people who in addition to writing, work, go to school, meet deadlines, raise kids, etc., etc.

We are important to the people in our lives. Sometimes writing takes a back seat, but if we want to be writers who write (rather than wishers who wish), we can't force writing to always take a back seat.

Treat yourself well, by, creating support for every area of your life. No person is an island. If you're interested in joining us, you can do so at our MeetUp site or if you Yahoo, you can join us there.

Until we meet again, happy writing!