Day Eleven: The Little Writing Group That Could

"She was fascinated with words. To her, words were things of beauty, each like a magical powder or potion that could be combined with other words to create powerful spells." ~Dean Koontz

I've been taking a writing class at Salem College for the last eight weeks, Writing for Profit. Last night was our final meeting, and I sat listening to each of my classmates read their writing aloud, tales of love and survival, injustice and hope, loss and faith. All the while, I clung to every beautiful word spoken and for the first time on this path I've chosen, it finally sunk in. I am a writer, a fledgeling, just learning how to work my tender wings and sitting in a group of other honest to God writers. Wowzers! The week prior was supposed to be our last class, and had we not agreed to meet one more time, I'm not sure the utter magic of this group would have settled as deeply. We'd never done this before, sat around just reading things we were working on, bouncing thoughts and ideas off of one another, and sharing a degree of camaraderie that was never more potent. It is an experience that will stick with me for a very long time.

Taking on such a new and public career is scary enough. Half the time the only thing I'm really sure about is my ability to write, which over the years has become as much a part of who I am as having blue eyes. Being a writer IS partly about that ability to put words on a page that make sense, don't bore the reader to death, and if one is lucky, will resonate with them in a way that is meaningful, will stay with them long after they've set your group of words aside. To truly make writing a career, however, there is much more involved. One agent I met at Wake Forest University told me, "I've seen really great books sell only a couple hundred copies over their lifespan, while truly horrid books sell millions." Learning things like marketing techniques, page layouts, cover appeal, effective use of Social Media, and other business aspects has been as much a full-time job as the writing part. I've barely tapped into the knowledge I need in order to truly be successful, but the professor for this Writing class has really helped me to shift my focus on the business aspects, in conjunction with the writing. Sitting in that classroom last night amongst a group of other beautiful, fledgeling writers, my resolve to see this path through beyond my wildest dreams was solidified! No giving up. No turning back!  I am happy to have these ladies and our professor now tucked safely into my fold, my tribe (...yes Bets, I thought of you specifically when I used that term). I am happy and honored to now know all of them personally and I'm grateful for the opportunities they have opened up for me that will help me reach my goal of being a successful writer! The joy this gives me...indescribable!

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