Okay, so I attended the third of Susan May Warren’s series of My Book Therapy retreats this weekend in Seattle. And it rocked my socks off. (Seriously, I’m not wearing socks right now.) Later this week I plan to blog more about the retreat, but for now, I just have to say that My Book Therapy has been, hands-down, the best writing move I’ve ever made. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I have learned more through My Book Therapy – and especially these three retreats – than in all past writing classes put together!
Plus, I’ve just met such wonderful people through the retreats. And that brings me to my very last Totally Stolen Writing Tip, a project that took a little more than the month I planned! 🙂 Last tip: connect with other writers.
Regardless of what you write – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, songs, tirades against airline bag-check fees – connecting with other writers will definitely enrich your writing life.
Not only have I had the joy of buddying up with “The Ponderers” (what we MBT retreat-ers decided to call ourselves after Susie’s anti-ponder discourse!), but I’ve also had the privilege of helping start the Central Iowa Christian Writers group – another fun bunch of people who share a common love for writing.
It’s easy to turn into a hermit when it comes to writing. I say, throw off the loner tendency and find some other writers! If you’re a fiction writer, one of the easiest ways to start is simply to join organizations like My Book Therapy and ACFW. Check out a local writing retreat or conference to find others in your area who write. Stop by bookstore bulletin boards to look for fliers advertising local groups.
And, hey, if you actually find a writing group dedicated to writing tirades against airline bag-check fees, give ’em my contact info, will ya?
Giveaway Time!!
Way back when I promised to do my first blog giveaway during this who Top Ten Totally Stolen Writing Tips thing. I’m looking to generate reader interaction here, so here’s how we’ll do this: I’ll ask a question, you leave a comment and I will randomly pick one commentator as the winner. (Depending on how this goes over, I’ll either go high-tech and use an Internet dealio to pick the winner at random, or I’ll simply write the names down and draw from a hat!)
But what’s the prize? you ask. Oh, it’s a treasure of a prize, let me tell you. I’ve raved about Jon Acuff’s “Stuff Christians Like” blog before. So hilarious! Well, I’ve got an extra copy of his recently-released Stuff Christians Like book. So, that goes to the winner!
Here’s the question: What’s your favorite male name? (Yep, I’m fishing for character name ideas!!) Extra kudos to those who give me first and middle names! Leave your comment for a chance to win…
Comments 5
Favorite can have so many connotations.
Favorite
-to laugh at for inside jokes: Semaj [Say-mah-jay]
-to ask, “Why would you do that to your kid?”: SirMichael
-to predict kid’s future: Rowdy
-to try to be unique, but fail: Dejuan, De’zjuan, Dayzjuan, Dezwon
-name I’d name a character or kid: I don’t know, but I’m getting turned off to more and more names as I see more and more sick kids
I don’t want to be in the contest — just wanted to share the wealth of names I’ve seen this year. Ashleigh aka Hgielhsa [Giel-sa]
Just throwing these out there…
-Knox
-Carson Dean (yes first and middle!)
-Heath
pick mine!
Nicole, you WIN! Some others actually submitted names via email and one person texted me names. I clumped all the names together…you win! Knox, I like that! I’ll give ya the book next time I see ya…
I had a dream last night about new born twins…Jeramiah & Janet. I think Jeramiah has alot of character and I should get credit for submitting a female name too…okay, so you have already awarded the prize…Cangrats Nicole!
So, what is the name going to be used for? Is it a bad or good character..a main character or not.. I guess when you are famous and the book sells over 1 million copies I could go buy one and find out.