Building the Perfect Beast

Writers have thousands of different methods for how to create a fantastic manuscript. Some set a specific daily wordcount or pagecount. Some write under a self-imposed deadline. Some only touch the keyboard when their muse is speaking to them. And some write an entire book of backstory and then need to rip out all its good parts and sew them together with parts from what should have been the first book in that series in the first place, even though they're supposed to be focusing on non-vampire stuff, because they have to wait until November 6th to work on EGB. *ahem* But I digress...

Being a member of different writing forums over the past few years, I've come to learn that all writers have it figured out for themselves. They know how they write. In their generosity, they want to share all they've learned with other writers--which can only be a good thing. But I've seen too many little fledgling writers get scared off, thinking that there's only one right way to write, one right way to get an agent, one right way to do anything in this business. Well, when it comes to basics like formatting, submitting materials and query letters, it does seem to have a formula. But it's the other stuff--like when the fledglings ask ~how~ they should write a particular scene--that's responsible for the loss of many a fledgling. Much like the momma bird, it's our responsibility as fellow writers to give them the basic tools, kiss their pretty little foreheads and shove their butts right out of the nest so they can fly on their own. As they're falling, they'll scream. And amidst their screams, if they listen closely, they'll find their own voice and fly. I've seen it happen. It's a beautiful thing. (Except when they plummet to the bottom of the cliff and you hear that squishsplat! sound, and thus, another fledgling lost)

Most of my time on writing forums is spent a) socializing (we writers are a lonely lot...well...maybe it's just me) and b) acquiring tidbits that may be helpful in the future (which agents are interested in what, solutions to common agent/editor/book problems, etc.). The best forum I've found so far is Backspace. It's a great community and I've made a few hostages, er, I mean, friends there since it opened over a year ago. Unlike a lot of writing forums, it costs cash to get in. But it's worth every damn dime. (Besides, if you hate it there's a "get out of Backspace free" card for the first five days of your membership)

So, my little fledgions (fledging writers that read my blog....get it? fledgling + minion = fledgion? HA!), be sure that if you do join a writing group, you can feel yourself being nudged to the edge of that nest. Because the only person who can find your voice is you.

(and I really hate that squishsplat! sound)