Thursday, August 25, 2011

Finding Writer Friends

One of the best things I did as a writer was to find other authors and connect with them. Sometimes writing can be a lonely business and it is fun to be able to commiserate with people who understand this. I also love being able to talk crazy plot ideas, serious characterization, and international incidents and settings and not have people look at me funny (like I'm a little crazy. Or they're bored. Or like they've heard it a million times. You know what I mean.) Especially if I'm out to lunch and a great idea hits me, I want to be able to talk about sinister plots to take over the world and not have it be awkward. Fellow authors make it fun!

My author friends have also become trusted critique partners, shoulders to cry on when a rejection comes in, and the first people at my door with celebratory chocolate when the contract comes through. Writing can be so difficult one minute and so rewarding the next, it just makes such a difference to have friends to share it with. Of course, if you want friends, the first step is putting yourself out there to find the wonderful writers who are in the same boat.

I have met so many of you from the SixLDSWriters and a Frog blog, and then on this blog, at different writers’ conferences, at booksignings, through my publishing company, and from my time as an editor and journalism teacher, and I’m so grateful for all of you, both writers and readers, and your support of all my different projects.

So, in the spirit of finding more friends, I have decided to do something a little different and broaden my horizons by participating in RachWrites Platform Building Campaign. This is a campaign to bring the writing community together and I’m really excited about it. I’ve already met some really great people and I’m looking forward to walking this “campaign” trail. (It’s a lot more fun than any real-world political trail going on right now. Haha) If you are interested in seeing what it’s all about you can find out more here

So go check it out! I think it will be fun.

Do you have a lot of writer friends? Do you have more in real-life or online? And if you are a new writer friend, feel free to introduce yourself.




16 comments:

Dora Hiers said...

Hi Julie. Stopping by to wave hello to a fellow romantic suspense writer/campaigner! I'm looking forward to the campaign. Nice to meet you.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Connecting with other writers is simply connecting with people. 8 out of 10 people are writing something. So yeah...80% of the population. If you don't believe me, ask someone at random, "are you writing a book?"

Melanie Goldmund said...

I don't have any writer friends in real life, well, no friends that are a constant presence in my physical life, anyway. I do try to comment on my favourite blogs, so I could say that at the moment, I have a few on-line writer friends and acquaintances.

I've just had a look at this Campaigne site but it's a tad overwhelming for me! Not like small town girl hits the big city overwhelming, but more like time traveller hits the future overwhelming. I will have to take it a bit at a time, I think.

It does not help that I am feeling isolated already whenever I see people happily churning out stories, books, and even series when I am still stuck on the fanfic side of the Grand Writing Canyon and haven't yet managed to make the leap to the other side of original stuff just yet. Where's my Indiana Jones optical illusion type bridge across the chasm, huh?

Sarah Tokeley said...

I love the online writing community, I've got some good friends here. I wish I had the nerve to test Michael's theory and ask the next ten people I meet if they're writing a book. It would be interesting. Sadly, I'm too shy!

Sarah Tokeley said...

Julie, sorry to hijack your comments thread here, but Melanie's comment posted while I was posting my last one.

Melanie, I met a writer yesterday through the campaign, he writes fanfic too. I know he is looking for people interested in being crit partners but he might also be interested in meeting some fellow fanfic writers. His blog is hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com if you're interested.

Jackie Jordan said...

Without a doubt, I am the newest person here, and excitedly so, thanks to Deb. Let's see how this campaign goes. All we can do is our best!

Melanie Goldmund said...

Thanks, Sarah, I will definitely check that out!

alberta ross said...

the great thing about campaigns like this is the surport and encouragement you can receive from fellow campaigners many of whom are nervous or down also - come on in melanie the water is great -
Julie I'm a fellow campaigner stopping by to say hi - sorry to chat to your other folk first - so rude many apologies

Kaylee Baldwin said...

Thanks for sharing! I do have a few writing friends and I LOVE them. I can email them at all hours of the night and get a reply in minutes. They understand my obsession and how it feels to get rejections and acceptance letters. Writing friends are awesome.

Debra Erfert said...

I don't have a lot of writer friends, but I have met a few more over the past few weeks, thanks to your blog, Julie. I'm glad I "met" you, and I'll be forever grateful to the Frogblog and the friendships I made there, too. *sniffs* sheesh. . .

I signed up for two different genres at Rach Writers' Platform, and I'd sign up for three if I think I could get away with it.

Hi, Jackie!

Julie Coulter Bellon said...

Aw, you guys are so great! It just confirms to me everything I already knew about my writer friends--they are awesome! I'm so grateful for all of you who have commented today and for all my new friends, I can't wait to get to know you better! :)

Margo Kelly said...

Hi! I'm a new follower (a.k.a. writer-friend) and fellow campaigner. Nice to meet you!

Crystal said...

I just have one thing to say: So, so true. Having writer-type friends really does make all the difference. I have a couple of those IRL, but most of my writer friends are right here on the good ol' Interwebz! :-)

Holly Vance said...

Nice to meet you fellow Campaigner, and dare I say, writer friend?

Julie Coulter Bellon said...

Holly you bet you can say writer friend! I'm so excited to get to know all of you! Thanks Lola, Holly, Crystal and Margo! :)

Jocelyn Rish said...

Hey Julie, I'm in your suspense/thriller campaign group. I'm very new to this personal blog thing, so I'm excited to make new writer friends. Wow, eight kids? I only have dogs, and I still feel like I'm too busy to write (they're very spoiled!). My hat's off to you!