On a whim, many years ago I took a seemingly small, but
brave step that changed my life as a writer.
I picked up the phone and called a stranger whose feature articles
I’d been reading in the same local newspaper that published my work. From the
topics she covered, I thought she and I might have some common interests and perhaps
would enjoy sharing the trials and tribulations of free-lance writing.
I’d been reading in the same local newspaper that published my work. From the
topics she covered, I thought she and I might have some common interests and perhaps
would enjoy sharing the trials and tribulations of free-lance writing.
To my relief, she was friendly, and even said she’d read
some of my stories. Her name was Ruth Glick, and as I’d guessed, like me, she
was simultaneously juggling her newly launched writing career with staying home
to raise her young children. She told me she was attending a writing class at the
nearby community college and suggested it as a way for me to gain expertise and
connect with her and other writers. I took her advice, which precipitated a
whole, long series of events that enriched my personal life and helped advance my
career.
some of my stories. Her name was Ruth Glick, and as I’d guessed, like me, she
was simultaneously juggling her newly launched writing career with staying home
to raise her young children. She told me she was attending a writing class at the
nearby community college and suggested it as a way for me to gain expertise and
connect with her and other writers. I took her advice, which precipitated a
whole, long series of events that enriched my personal life and helped advance my
career.
Since that phone call occurred nearly forty years ago, let me just briefly summarize the highlights
since. Ruth and I became both friends and
colleagues and eventually collaborated on some articles, several craft books and
a number of cookbooks. (She just posted a wonderful feature story about me and
my new book, Simply Sensational Cookies,
on her blog http://www.rebeccayork.blogspot.com/.
Thank you, my dear friend!)
since. Ruth and I became both friends and
colleagues and eventually collaborated on some articles, several craft books and
a number of cookbooks. (She just posted a wonderful feature story about me and
my new book, Simply Sensational Cookies,
on her blog http://www.rebeccayork.blogspot.com/.
Thank you, my dear friend!)
When the writing class was on hiatus, some of us decided to keep
meeting in our own homes for reading and peer critiquing sessions. Eventually
we left the class entirely, and now, decades later, with many publishing successes
on our resumes, we still meet every other week at Ruth’s house to talk shop
about the publishing business, read our works in progress, and offer one
another critiques. Equally important, we lend one another emotional support—an
extraordinarily valuable commodity for those navigating the rough freelancing
seas alone—cheering triumphs, and commiserating with the inevitable publishing setbacks
and disappointments.
meeting in our own homes for reading and peer critiquing sessions. Eventually
we left the class entirely, and now, decades later, with many publishing successes
on our resumes, we still meet every other week at Ruth’s house to talk shop
about the publishing business, read our works in progress, and offer one
another critiques. Equally important, we lend one another emotional support—an
extraordinarily valuable commodity for those navigating the rough freelancing
seas alone—cheering triumphs, and commiserating with the inevitable publishing setbacks
and disappointments.
Over the decades, some members of what we now call the
Columbia Writers Group have moved on, or moved away, or in a few cases, passed on, but Ruth
and I, plus some other “early adopters” including Chassie West, Toby Devens,
Kathryn Johnson, and Binnie Syril Braunstein, continue to chug along, with newer
members having joined us along the way. The
pic at the top shows our current group during a meeting. On the back row, from left to right are Binnie Syril Braunstein, Toby Devens, Kathryn Johnson, Ruth Glick, Chassie West, Connie Hay, and Joyce Braga; on the front row, from left to right are Cronshi Englander, me, Randi DuFresne, and Linda Williams (who recently moved but Skypes in to meetings). (It’s a women’s group because the majority of us write mainly for a female audience.) The photo at right below shows Ruth Glick, Chassie West, and Cronshi Englander at our monthly “celebrate the
birthday girl” lunch.
Columbia Writers Group have moved on, or moved away, or in a few cases, passed on, but Ruth
and I, plus some other “early adopters” including Chassie West, Toby Devens,
Kathryn Johnson, and Binnie Syril Braunstein, continue to chug along, with newer
members having joined us along the way. The
pic at the top shows our current group during a meeting. On the back row, from left to right are Binnie Syril Braunstein, Toby Devens, Kathryn Johnson, Ruth Glick, Chassie West, Connie Hay, and Joyce Braga; on the front row, from left to right are Cronshi Englander, me, Randi DuFresne, and Linda Williams (who recently moved but Skypes in to meetings). (It’s a women’s group because the majority of us write mainly for a female audience.) The photo at right below shows Ruth Glick, Chassie West, and Cronshi Englander at our monthly “celebrate the
birthday girl” lunch.
We started out mostly with raw skills and aspirations, a
willingness to work hard, and enough open-mindedness to accept constructive
criticisms of our work. (Those who can’t
tolerate thoughtful criticism are probably not going to thrive in this
environment and may be much more comfortable with the bland, positive “it’s nice,” remarks normally
issued by family members and other non-pros.) We ended up with everyone being
published (in the early years, there was no Internet to serve as an outlet for
one’s writing), and some multi-published in a wide variety of venues.
Just to give
you a glimpse of how prolific and visible our members are, I asked those who wished
to send me hotlinks to their blogs, sites, or current books, which I’ve listed below. Their output and
achievements are truly astonishing, with numerous stories, successful single
titles, series of titles, and even multiple series for major publishers. Click on their name to go to their primary websites:
Ruth Glick (aka Rebecca York): http://rebeccayork.com/the-books/moon-series/
Dark Moon http://tinyurl.com/9l9v5ht
Toby Devens Second site: http://www.tobydevens.com/
If you are struggling to gain traction in your writing career
or suffer from the sense of isolation that often comes with the job, I really urge
you to seek out peers and form a group of your own. Try to find peeps who are all
in a similar stage of their craft and career, otherwise those too advanced will be bored and, worse, won’t learn anything, and those too inexperienced will be
intimidated and overwhelmed. And first, last, and always be sure to follow the constructive criticism only rule. We don’t
coddle and all our critiques are specific,
pointed, and sometimes painful, but they focus tightly on what can be
done to make the colleague’s work more readable, more compelling, and, most
important, more likely to be published. On more than one occasion, insightful comments
have spared me from going out on a figurative limb of prose, sawing it off
behind me, and crashing down with a huge, embarrassing thud at an editor’s feet!
or suffer from the sense of isolation that often comes with the job, I really urge
you to seek out peers and form a group of your own. Try to find peeps who are all
in a similar stage of their craft and career, otherwise those too advanced will be bored and, worse, won’t learn anything, and those too inexperienced will be
intimidated and overwhelmed. And first, last, and always be sure to follow the constructive criticism only rule. We don’t
coddle and all our critiques are specific,
pointed, and sometimes painful, but they focus tightly on what can be
done to make the colleague’s work more readable, more compelling, and, most
important, more likely to be published. On more than one occasion, insightful comments
have spared me from going out on a figurative limb of prose, sawing it off
behind me, and crashing down with a huge, embarrassing thud at an editor’s feet!
It’s probably also best to seek out those who are doing more or less similar kinds of writing. We have novelists who write contemporary
and historical romances, romantic suspense and intrigue, mysteries and crime
stories, and women’s fiction, and several of us write cookbooks and food
stories. While this list may seem rather broad, it works for three key
reasons: We are all writing for a mainstream audience; we take ourselves and
our craft seriously; and we are all motivated by a strong desire to see what
we produce in print. Our particular group doesn’t include anyone doing avant-garde
or experimental fiction or non-fiction, because it’s just not our area of
interest or expertise. Currently we don’t focus on children’s literature either;
there is another writing group in our area devoted to that. (Should you want
more details on the logistics of setting up a writing group, ask away in the
comments section.)
and historical romances, romantic suspense and intrigue, mysteries and crime
stories, and women’s fiction, and several of us write cookbooks and food
stories. While this list may seem rather broad, it works for three key
reasons: We are all writing for a mainstream audience; we take ourselves and
our craft seriously; and we are all motivated by a strong desire to see what
we produce in print. Our particular group doesn’t include anyone doing avant-garde
or experimental fiction or non-fiction, because it’s just not our area of
interest or expertise. Currently we don’t focus on children’s literature either;
there is another writing group in our area devoted to that. (Should you want
more details on the logistics of setting up a writing group, ask away in the
comments section.)
So, now you see the reason for the title of this post. I do get by with a little help from my
writer friends. And I have been for a long, long time. They are a treasured, irreplaceable
part of my life and I’m grateful for them all.
You have inspired me. I could use this kind of group.
i've been with the group almost since its founding. Dropped out when I wasn't writing much and after decades, when life allowed and the members welcomed me back, I felt as if I were returning home. As much as I value the writing advice, I am grateful for the ongoing support of these bright, talented and savvy women. Thanks Nancy and the gang, for all those happy productive and fun years. I look forward to many more.
You know I can't give you all up – thank goodness for Skype. I'm lucky to have been part of this group for as long as I have. You've taught me so much!
Thanks, folks–as always-for your support and enthusiasm. Now let's go write some bestsellers!
This is a wonderful portrait of what I call our writing "class." That may be one reason we've lasted so long. We like each other and we have fun, but we see the group as a place to work on our writing. Over I've the years, I've gotten plenty of help from this group. They're not only my professional associates but also my friends.
Thank you, Nancy, for this lovely image of "the gang". When the going gets tough, the tough get support from their friends. At least, that's what we writers have done, time and again.
Nancy,
AMEN!! Without this group I doubt I'd have had the guts to keep going. I learn something every time we meet. The support has been invaluable.
We're probably unique in lasting as long as we have. But there's a reason. We're professionals, dedicated and have each other's interest – and career – at heart. I'm grateful, lucky, and know it!