If you write, find a writer's group

Once a month I travel with my writing friend Amy to Rome, New York. If our schedules allow, we try to have a working dinner too. The drive is always full of conversation on our current writing projects, upcoming deadlines, and thoughts for the future. You might say it is a traveling writers’ group in route to a larger group.

I look forward to this evening from month to month. You might think it is for the support, critique, and challenges to my writing yet this is only the beginning. Of course, these are important aspects but these are only the beginning.

I expected these attributes from a successful group with published authors BUT what I did not expect were the friendships born and nourished each month. We started as writers with a common goal to be published yet today, we are friends in contact throughout the month. An added blessing to our group.

If you already have a writers’ group or are thinking about joining one, consider the following things. These are priceless gifts for a writer. I pray you find them in a group near you.

*A place for honest and loving critique

*Laughter and fun

*Fellowship before and after

*Share time in the beginning for “what is new” with each of us

*Share upcoming conferences and contests

*Announce accepted articles and books for publication

*Simultaneous yet separate conversations all about writing

*Old ideas laid to rest

*New ideas birthed and/or explored

*Teach, learn, and grow in our craft

*Opportunity to pray for each other

*Forever friends

As I think of my writers’ group, I am thankful. A few months ago, they commented on an article I planned to submit. Since then, this article has been accepted for publication and I await the issue it will be printed. I have brought chapters from my book, “Where’s Heidi? The Search Begins”. This month I shared notes about a recent edit on my book proposal in order to save my friends from similar errors on theirs. We need to help each other as we learn the ins and outs of the publishing world in order to be successful.

Each month we have fifteen minutes to share, read, or talk through whatever is on our mind and sometimes it means working on the computer to help each other. Our group strives for our best and to help each other with the goals we have set for each other. I am blessed to work side by side with these women yet the biggest blessings are the friendships and sisterhood formed.

If you write, find a writers’ group. If you cannot find one, start it! This group is a resource beyond writing when everyone has similar goals and beliefs.

Here are some of their blogs, please share with your friends and family ~ you will be blessed.

Paula Davis
A Peace in the Puzzle of Life
http://pauladavispeace.com/

Diane Estrella
Blogger and writer...our go to girl
http://dianeestrella.com/ph-equilibrant-moisturizer-by-made-from-earth/

Mary LaClair
Author and advocate - Look, Listen & Think
http://looklistenthink.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/do-dogs-go-to-heaven/

Elaine W. Miller
Author of newly released We all Married Idiots
and the Splashes of Serenity series
http://www.elainewmiller.blogspot.com/

Amy Quonce
Author of newly released
Sometimes the Wind Blows Sideways
http://windingroadbook.weebly.com/index.html

Melissa Rotenberry
Poet and songwriter
We continue to pray with our friend Melissa as she writes and shares her beautiful words with those around her. She is a blessing and so is her writing, one day maybe a blog to share with all of you. In God's time. 

Jody Zilske
Devotional musings, Christian-based
teachings and thoughts
http://deepcallstodeep-jody.blogspot.com/?spref=fb