“Sally” popped up on the pre-event Facebook group for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association Conference held in Chicago. When I noticed she happened to live about an hour from me, I forced myself to do something I’m not naturally inclined to do. I stepped out of my comfort zone and contacted her.
Like many writers, I’d be just as happy to hide in my office for weeks … months, even ... typing away without any human interaction. But, after doing a bit of online snooping to make sure Sally wasn’t raving mad, I messaged her and suggested we meet for drinks during the weekend conference. Since moving to the Lake Erie area, I’d struggled to find other writers to connect with, particularly women’s fiction writers. Sally seemed like a viable option (barring any raving madness, of course).
I forced myself to make that connection. Turns out Sally and I have similar writing styles and are at similar stages in both our private and writing lives. Not only did we hit it off, we decided to exchange manuscripts and see where that would take us. It was a perfect match, and we have met regularly since the conference.
We trade writing samples. We give each other updates on our querying process. We talk about our next steps on our writing journeys. We are signed up to attend another Women's Fiction Writers Association event together this fall.
No regrets. None. Sally might just be the best thing that’s ever happened to my writing.
One should never write in a vacuum. I know the value of having more than one set of eyes on my work. I know the value of receiving both "positive" and "negative" feedback. I’ve been in many critique groups before, through which I learned a lot and made lifelong friends. I’ve even coordinated a critique group of my own, in the past.
But, despite having written fiction for many years, I’ve never had a specific person to call a partner in crime — a writing partner. I’ve never had someone who holds me accountable, challenges me to continue working on my craft, pushes me to SUBMIT (something I’ve been simply terrible at following through with, despite being told my manuscript is submission ready).
I’ve never had another writer truly be my writing cheerleader (and never had the honor of being one for someone else who believes in me as much as I believe in them).
I’ve never had a Sally before.
Thanks, Sally. I’m oh-so-grateful for my writing partner supreme.
Like many writers, I’d be just as happy to hide in my office for weeks … months, even ... typing away without any human interaction. But, after doing a bit of online snooping to make sure Sally wasn’t raving mad, I messaged her and suggested we meet for drinks during the weekend conference. Since moving to the Lake Erie area, I’d struggled to find other writers to connect with, particularly women’s fiction writers. Sally seemed like a viable option (barring any raving madness, of course).
I forced myself to make that connection. Turns out Sally and I have similar writing styles and are at similar stages in both our private and writing lives. Not only did we hit it off, we decided to exchange manuscripts and see where that would take us. It was a perfect match, and we have met regularly since the conference.
We trade writing samples. We give each other updates on our querying process. We talk about our next steps on our writing journeys. We are signed up to attend another Women's Fiction Writers Association event together this fall.
No regrets. None. Sally might just be the best thing that’s ever happened to my writing.
One should never write in a vacuum. I know the value of having more than one set of eyes on my work. I know the value of receiving both "positive" and "negative" feedback. I’ve been in many critique groups before, through which I learned a lot and made lifelong friends. I’ve even coordinated a critique group of my own, in the past.
But, despite having written fiction for many years, I’ve never had a specific person to call a partner in crime — a writing partner. I’ve never had someone who holds me accountable, challenges me to continue working on my craft, pushes me to SUBMIT (something I’ve been simply terrible at following through with, despite being told my manuscript is submission ready).
I’ve never had another writer truly be my writing cheerleader (and never had the honor of being one for someone else who believes in me as much as I believe in them).
I’ve never had a Sally before.
Thanks, Sally. I’m oh-so-grateful for my writing partner supreme.
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