Writing Resources

I wanted to list out a number of resources that I have found useful to date. This list is likely to change, but my intention is to keep it up in some form from now on.

My first question was how to format this list. I could just do a data dump and let people sort through it, but that is not very helpful and can actually be annoying for myself and you. Instead, I can group them according to some key dimensions. The challenge on the second one is ensuring that I get the correct keywords and descriptions.

After due consideration, I'm going with the second option and we'll adjust as necessary in the future.

Meeting other writers:
Absolute Write - Just was told about this one, but I like it already. Still looking around, so I can't give too much detail about it's inner working and all.
Writing.com - Been on here for about a year now. I really like the number of writing contests and the help given to newbies, but the emphasis on posting to the site concerns me. Personally, I want to see my work in print. Posting to Writing.com CAN create potential issues with first publication rights. Whether the issue would win or lose in court is a matter of fierce debate, but my bottom line is that I would rather avoid the possibility.
Script Frenzy - Great resource while it is happening. Outside these times, this well dries up. You might cling to a few friends in the intervening months, but that's the only yearlong help this can offer.
NaNoWriMo - Another great resource while it is happening. The community is growing so more interaction outside of November may begin to happen, but I haven't noticed it yet. Similar to Script Frenzy, there is the possibility of holding on to friends after the crazy month ends.

In my local area there is also the Atlanta Writer's Club. They have activities going on all around the Atlanta area, so check the specifics for your locale. I've never been and only just heard about them, so I don't have any additional insight about them at this point.

I had intended to make this more inclusive, but my day is getting away from me. I will post more tomorrow.

Who are these people, anyway?

Been a hectic few days for me.

First, my best news is getting confirmation that I have a seat in the Dragon*Con Basic Writer's Workshop. I'm still kicking around being part of the Advanced Workshop, but I'm leaning toward a 'no' at this point. My main reason is wanting to be sure that I digest the information from the basic workshop, but I'm also nervous about whether I will click with Ann Crispin. It's nothing personal, but I know sometimes people don't mesh well. Pair up those two with a desire to spend some time enjoying the rest of Dragon*Con and I reach my decision. Now we'll see if that changes with time.

Second, I attended the second meeting (my first) of the Master Mind Group in Cumming. I met Shawn, Cheryl, and Ben there. We were quite an ecclectic collection of aspiring published authors. Or I should say, everyone except Cheryl. She gets the cookie for the most success to date with one sale already published in a Chicken Soup book, and a pending podcast (which in my true form I already forgot who it was sold to.) Cheryl has a blog up that you can check out as well.

Shawn has a webpage and blog that you can check out as well. She has written for quite a while, but, like me, is still searching for the editor who will be blinded by her brilliance. She also is the Municipal Liaison for Scriptfrenzy and NaNoWriMo. Very passionate woman with big dreams for providing support to authors, locally and globally.

Ben wins the rookie award for the meeting. Great guy, he is just getting his feet under him in his writing. He was very refreshing in his candor and openness to suggestions. I hope to see him there again.

I took my camera with intentions of snapping some photos to post, but maybe next time. The small size of the group made the thought of snapping photos seem invasive to me. I'll take the camera next time and we'll see.

On the writing front, my screenplay is up to 14,000 words and climbing. I have five days to hit 20K, but then I have some polishing to do. This is definitely a rough draft. But overall it has been fun.

I also have done some more work on my short story, Jameson Special Op. I got a great piece of advice last night which brought a revelation I was begining to suspect. I have the story starting too soon. I need to change the starting point and that will help with word count, as well as helping with holding reader interest. I hope to get a chance to work on that later today.

Master Mind Group Starting in Cumming

One element of writing is the need to have works poured over, critiqued, and then returned with appropriate doses of encouragement and guidance. There are many resources for this, including Writing.com, Critters, and NaNoWriMo. But I have also been searching for writing groups which would meet locally. I am a believer that we need to interact with each other and additionally need to have face-to-face time with other authors.

Why do I think the face time is important?

I think it is invaluable to watch people's expressions and reactions. Did they laugh at the parts I thought they would? Did they reread a section several time to understand it? Did their forehead crinkle up in frustration? Were they looking up from my story because they had a hard time following it?

All of these questions and more can be answered by watching others while they read. Add to this the fact that I can get a lot of milage out of seeing people's faces while they critique my work. It makes a big difference in how I understand their comments.

Therefore I am excited about a 'Master Mind Group' forming in the Cumming area. For a complete list of the dates and times, look HERE.
Mapquest directions follow:
Map of Atlanta Bread Co:770-888-9921 908 Buford Rd Cumming, GA 30041, US

So what are the other resources I listed up there?

Writing.com is a web site where people can post pretty much any writing they want to. There is everything from self-help and personal rants to science fiction and fantasy. The groups span the ages from pre-teen and teen to retirees with a corresponding range of abilities and interests. I personally like some of the 'contests' which they run. Three to check out are:
The Writer's Cramp: A contest run daily to help get people out of writer's cramp.
I like this one because it makes you write concisely on a set subject. Good exercise.
A Picture is Worth 1000 Words: Weekly contest where you look at a picture and
then write a short story to explain the image. Another good exercise.
Dialogue 500: Weekly contest where you are given a prompt and must tell a story
just by using dialogue. I love the exercise, although it is extremely challenging to
me personally. I want to give too many descriptions.
The major drawback to writing.com is that getting critiques becomes harder after you have been on there for a while. I might get one critique a week now. So I mostly use this to keep the creative juices flowing and to keep from getting lazy or dull.

Critters: Critters is a group of science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers who review each other's works and offer advice for improvement. You are required to perform at least one review a month AND keep your review ratio over 75% (ratio is critiques/weeks in group.) This is a great group of people who have helped me a lot. Be aware though, this group is for SERIOUS aspiring authors. Feedback is tactful, but blunt. If your story stinks, you will know it. If you can't handle that honesty, look somewhere else. I must admit that I was a little wounded by some of the comments my first couple of times. A good idea to help yourself would be to put the story aside for a little while and then send it in. Stories that you just wrote are usually tougher to accept criticism on.

NaNoWriMo: NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. I have not done this one yet, although I am participating in the Scriptfrenzy this month. It makes this list because I have heard a lot of good things about the organization and the people it attracts. The people tend to be very supportive and helpful. The challenge is a lofty one, write a 50,000 word Novel in 30 days (November.) The emphasis is on meeting this goal and I'm told the people are wonderful about supporting that endeavor. Unfortunately, they only try this feat once a year, so outside of that time frame you are on your own.

One note here is that many of the participants have little or no aspiration to be professionals, so if that is your goal be aware of the differences. Most of the encouragement from this group looks at getting the word count, not necessarily getting a QUALITY manuscript. I also feel that you should know that most editors that I have read about are looking for novels in the 80,000 to 120,000 word range.

The guy who started NaNoWriMo has brought out a book and a novel writing kit as well, you can check them out below.



Until next time, keep writing.