Finding Community

So much of writing is living in this insular little world only you and your characters inhabit. It is just as real as the world we live in, and sometimes coming back from it can be a little frightening. Sharing that world then becomes even more so because suddenly your world is up for debate. (Very exciting)

I tend to feel a little ashamed when I put work up on these things for peer review. Ashamed because it doesn't feel like I’m doing much to progress, rather finding a new way to procrastinate. I know my use of the apostrophe is shocking and the amount of semi colons I splat about the place is a shootable offence. My spelling can be humorous at times; especially when the word processor thinks breed is bread and I don’t pick up on it when I read back. But I am aware and that is what editing is for. I’m not really interested in your ideas for developments of my characters, only that you are enjoying them and have a desire to find out what happens to them next (or not). The books have been written, the story told. This sounds really snooty, horrid I know.

If I were you, and I were reading this, I would be thinking: “ well bugger off then.” But so many people have told me of this magical beast “ writers communities.” Where deep discussion is generated over the theoretical implications of the text’s we create, where real feedback and encouragement is possible. Where you can go and find friends who actually want to give you honest “This is shit, you don't know what you’r doing, you need to review your character interactions because nothings coming across,” reviews. You see I’m at this strange place, where I’m not looking for encouragement to write, I’m looking to get honest weather gage for my work. Hopefully I can take the pain and it will make me a better writer. If a good friend of mine (who is actually a writer) had not told me to go back through the five books and take out A) copious description. B) quickly, quietly, and all the other unneeded ley’s, and C) pointed out all the stupid bits where I had overstated a point. I never would have thought, actually I need to do a lot of work on this. I would have submitted and been laughed at. I’m still not convinced I won’t be laughed away when I send in work, but I suppose thats what a community is for?

Really, after this long and very narcissistic rant, what I’m asking is for you to share your valued experiences. I’m hoping that you can show me how I can really use these communities; how I can make these illusive writing friends that I have heard about. I want to know if it has helped you edit your works? If it has given you ideas for competitions and ways to promote your self? If it has helped you publish or given you more confidence to try?