Re: OT - Writing... JOIN a writing group if you dare! :)

[Guest guest]

Hi Topper,

The group I started was real small — 5 of us and 2 dropped out but we only have a MONTHLY submission -

works like this:

submit 3000 words or less by the 15th of each month.

If you submit you are promising to critique the others who sub that month and vice versa, by the last day of the month.

For a small group it works very well.. we really had it going for awhile there.

Also — we make it policy to critique the writing — and never the writer or their actions in the story since much of it is personal.

this is a link to the site — it’s “invitation only” so PLEASE ask to join if you wanna give it a shot.

We have been inactive for right about six months due to stressors in everyone’s lives – health, surgery, work, etc.

No commitments to stay, but might be fun to give it a try.

I would love to see it going again.

Sue

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/realpeoplewritinggroup/

I can write as me... one of the characters is kind me... it's when I have two characters talking to each other... moving from the speaking style of one to the other...

The characters are of varied backgrounds, ages, education.. right now they sound a lot alike... One of the suggestions that was made to me is not to worry so much about the stuff in the rough draft stage.. .just to concentrate on the story, and interaction... later, when revising.. you can concentrate on giving things more depth and the characters more 'character' but sometimes, reading stuff back.. when I have to get back into the story to pick up where I left off it seems so lame...

I know we have a few wanna be writers here.. and some pros... I wouldn't mind checking out your writing group.. I tried one a while back and it wasn't a good fit for me and I left.... one of the things they wanted was a daily minimum to be written.. you were on your honor.. we didn't have to post the days' writing to the group..but I don't have time to work on it everyday... I kinda want to work out a way to do that.. but some days I end up with more emails to respond to then there is day.. between group and off list mail.. No, I'm not complaining... If I didn't want folks to write me off list or for newbies to contact me from the website I wouldn't keep putting my email addy out...but on those days spending time with the story doesn't work... This last summer, with feeling so crummy being underdosed I didn't even touch it... I'm just now getting back into it again...

..... post the link.. I think a couple of us might wander over for some mutual inspiration... If it's a closed group, send me the invite, let me know it's you....

Okay... I have a question for everyone else... To do this non fiction thyroid book thing.. is there anyone here that would absolutely positively NOT want any of their experiences shared as an example (no name given) of what some of us go through with thyroid problems? I'm still mulling around in my mind how to lay it out... to make it interesting to read and informative and from an angle that folks can relate too..... Hmmmm gonna bruise my brain! heheheheh

Topper ()

On Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:45:27 -0600 JustYourTypeDTP writes:

Topper,

Dialogue is one of the most difficult parts about writing.

I am writing a book about my daughter’s ordeal with severe Scoliosis –

more of a “parent to parent” guide on how to cope with all the tests, surgeries and aftermath...

I use A LOT of dialogue in the book – to bring the reader in the room with us,

to hear our nervous chatter or laugh with us during times of comic relief.

I write the exact way I talk in normal conversation which can be very animated and find that works the best --

just write it as it is and the worry about “polishing’ it up later.

I actually have an online “memoir” type writing group I started over a year ago and moderate it, but we have all slacked off in the past six months.

If anyone would like to join let me know!

Sue