What's Up Wednesday- Writing Partners

Writing can be a very solitary activity. The ideas, worlds, words, and characters are usually the product of one person's imagination. Putting those onto paper (or computer screen) can also be a solitary activity. The only way that this solitary existence is broken is through editors, writing partners, and when readers are able to see your work.

I am all for shutting yourself away to plan, create, and write your story. But there comes a time when either through excitement, or publication, that we have to share what we have created. This can be a hair raising experience for many, including myself, but it is a necessary step. A writer has to become accustomed to the experience of having others read their work, and their opinions on it, whether positive or negative.

This is where writing groups, editors, and writing partners swoop in. I will admit, my prose and grammar need help. No one writes a best seller the first time out of the gate. Many authors do not ever publish their first, or even second, novel simply because they are practice. All athletes, musicians, any life skill really, requires it. Even life itself requires practice- who remembers playing "house" or "school" before growing up? I know I do!

Writers have to hone their craft, and they do so through-what else- writing! Not only through writing, but by reading. Reading is just as important as writing! Through reading, and critiquing other works the observant writer will pick up nuances not only in their own writing, but in anything they are reading. I know I have found myself itching to pick up a red pen when reading a book-either self published, or traditionally published.


Writers need to build a network, or circle, of writing partners. Partners who can not only exclaim, weep, and shake their fists at the right times, but who can write in red pen all across the page. You want someone who will be honest, someone who cares about the quality of the work you present to the world. Someone, or someones, who want you to put out the very best book you can. People who push you to improve.

The problem is that it is hard to find such people. It can be done, and social media is a great place to start, or the NaNoWriMo forums can help as well.

But not only do you need a writing circle, but you also need people who have slightly different strengths than you do. This will help to balance out your own writing, as well as theirs.
When it comes to my works, I have four people whom I trust to really give me good feedback. One is spectacular in line editing and proof reading-and she is a life saver! (You know who you are :) ) Another is someone who knows the genre and questions the basic outline and world that I've created. And the other two? One is the idea bouncer-she has yet to actually read my work- but she is who I turn to when I need to run through ideas. The last? She usually doesn't read my genre, but has read them all, and liked them!

At the first writer's conference I attended, I had two ten page samples from two different novels critiqued. It was an experience that I recommend to everyone! It helped me so much, and has once again given me a prod to improve further. 

I need each and every person. They all challenge me and my writing in different ways. Without them to round me out, my writing would not be the best product I can put out there.

 Have you had experiences-good and bad- with writing groups or partners?

Until next time, keep writing my friends!