Excerpt

Whos Cheering for You?

Football teams have cheerleaders for a reason. No, its not the short skirts or the low-cut tops. Its because they rally around their team members. They chant songs to encourage success, they bolster the team when they are down, and they encourage them to work harder when the going gets tough.

Writing isnt easy. You must continually work on improving it and consistently send it out. Many good writers give up when they might have succeeded with the support and encouragement of others.

Years ago I took a series of writing classes. I loved the discipline. It made me write. Gave me deadlines. Stopped me from procrastinating. I had to get my writing assignments done. Heck, Id paid for them. But I often worked 12 hours a day, six days a week. Took care of a husband, a dog, and four cats. Kept the house clean, dropped off drycleaning, cooked meals, washed clothes. You know how it goes.

But those classes and assignments were my time. The precious acknowledgement of my passion. When the classes were over, I panicked. Who was going to make me write? How would I keep writing active in my life? I didnt have structure, deadlines, and a reason for putting words on paper anymore. I should have had the fortitude to forge on even without the support of a class and an instructor. But for me, that just didnt work. Life got in the way.

Out of desperation to keep my passion alive, I started a writers group. The members were all writers, sure, but I thought of them as my cheerleaders. They were always just what I needed to keep writing, keep submitting, keep doing over and over what I needed to do in order to be published.

Do you have a team to support, motivate, and encourage you?

Surround yourself with cheerleaders who also write. You wont believe the difference it will make in your writing life.

WHY

Why do I need a writers group?

Writing is a solitary experience. Its just you and the blank page. Sometimes, when youre sitting alone at your desk every day, you can find it difficult to develop your work to the point where it has a chance of getting published. In order to be successful at reaching a wide audience, you need to bounce your stories off others first.

Your writers group can help you fine-tune your writing so that it hooks an editor from the very first sentence. Your writers group will encourage and motivate you if youre feeling down when you receive that seventh nonacceptance letter in the mail. Your writers group will listen to your second, third, fourth and even fifth revision of the same article, and will applaud when they feel youve reached the point where it is finally ready to send out.

I have my spouse read my writing and a couple of my friends. They always love what I write. Isnt that enough?

Family and friends mean well, but if you are serious about your writing, youll need unbiased, constructive critiques and support for your endeavors. Writing is the first step, and you must do a lot of it to get better at it. Ultimately, we all want to be published (and to get paid as well).

I did it! Melanie exclaimed. She flourished a check in her hand. Im a published author!

The group members seated around the table jumped up and gave Melanie a big hug.

Rub some of that off on me, Lynn said.

Me, too, Janice replied.

You guys will be next, I just know it, Melanie said. As she sank back into her chair, she thought of how far shed come. A year ago she didnt think she needed a writers group, but her method of writing alone hadnt produced any success.

Now, with a check in her hand, she realized how important this group had been to her.

I couldnt have done it without you, she said.

What exactly are the benefits of investing my time in a writers group?

Support, motivation, discipline, camaraderie, imposed deadlines, and a reason to write. Your life is hectic, and making time for your passion is something you must do for yourself.

Support, Encouragement, Motivation

The magazine arrives in the mail. You cant wait to see your very first byline. You quickly flip to your page and drink in every word with your eyes. You cant believe it. Its finally happened! Now whom are you going to show it to?

Honey, look at my story, Gladys said to her husband one afternoon when he was reading the paper. She shoved the magazine under his nose. Look, thats my name right up there at the top under the title.

Yeah, thats nice, Sweetheart. Good job.

Gladys knew her husband meant well. But did he really understand? She thought back to when she first sent in the query letter and the editor took an interest. The magazine wants to see my piece on spec. Now I have to write it, she told her writers group. What am I going to do?

Take it one step at a time, Kay said. First outline; then fill in the paragraphs with text; then revise and edit. Well help you, dont worry.

The first draft was rough. But her group members helped her talk out the theme for the manuscript and where she was going with each bulleted point. Over the course of several meetings, they helped her polish the document.

Now, with the magazine clutched in her hand, she called Kay. You wont believe it. I got my advance copy and my article is right there on page 16. My byline, too!

Oh, my gosh. Im so excited for you, Kay said. I know how hard you worked to make that happen.

Gladys basked in the glow of her friends caring words. The article was in print. Her first published work. It felt good to have someone truly understand.