Category Archives: Writing Advice

Why Writers Need Support Groups for Success

 
When was the last time you talked to a fellow writer, whether live or online?

Hanging out with like-minded people is huge, in my opinion. Discussing various topics is simply amazing.

Finding a writing group in your area is not always an option. Thankfully, the internet offers a plethora of groups. It may take time to find one that suits you, but once you do, the feeling of belonging is fantastic.

I have been a part of many groups. One in fact that I started. We did not always agree, but the core of the group was there. That was to hang out, talk, edit, read, and possibly access resources to help us out.

Doing it alone is not fun, for writing is a solitary endeavor for the most part. And if you don’t have eyes on your manuscripts to give you helpful advice, what you produce can be an ugly mess.

Recently, the writing group I was a part of died due to the host having to deal with her medical issues that needed to be attended to.

That left me once again on the lookout for a group  to join or create another one.  Remembering my first group was from the library system, I searched there. I found a new group starting that I am excited about.

It is new, so I am not walking into a group that is already familiar with each other.   I am not sure if this one will pan out, but I will find out soon, now. I am open to checking it out.

I hope you all have such a group, whether it is in person or online. Who truly gets us except other writers?

When do you end a series?: Regardless how many volumes is out

How do you decide when it’s time to move on from a series?

At the moment, I have three volumes in my Jasper, Amazon parrot series, with the fourth one about to be published. I have my Squirrel Mafia series. One is out, while the second is about to be released.

I have many manuscripts to work on, which I know is a thing with writers. Something else in common is having a notebook of ideas to work on. The list will be long, and we will not get to them all.

It is those projects I want to work on.

I need to decide if there is more material I can expand with the series I have out. I already have a list of ideas for ten chapters for a third volume of my Squirrel Mafia series. But I need to decide if people also are interested in reading a third one.

For Jasper, I have received many great reviews and feedback from parents, teachers, and children who have read the book themselves. Do I have material for a fifth book? I am not sure. The series talks about problems with the rainforest. I need to develop a story around one if I can come up with something. For this series, that is what it comes down to.

I have discussed this topic on this site before. Apparently, I am uncertain where it lies.

Hopefully, soon, the answer will come to me.

Until then, I will continue to write.

It’s okay to fail in writing: Seriously

t’s okay to fail when it comes to your writing. You have probably have already many times and will again.

How can we fail? For me, it’s grammar and tenses. Those are my Kryptonite, at the top of the list.

Another way to fail is failing to run it by an editor and critique group. Authors also do not learn about social media before they promote to the top of the world that their book is complete. Now, buy it. Failing to do the proper research for your book can doom it.

But there are instances where failing is needed to improve. One volume of my Jasper, Amazon Parrot series had me writing a three-page scene about elephants. I was sure these animals lived in the same area. It occurred to me to do a simple search when I finished the section. But I did so I could confirm I was right. I was so massively wrong.

One should define in their writing career what aspect of it you consider failing. For me, one way to stop submitting to publishers after getting rejected would have been a failure.

What works for me might not work for you.

I suggest you take a few minutes to determine the line between calling something a failure versus something you are okay with at the end of the day. It could save your sanity and those around you.