The ABCs of A Writing Community

In light of the gathering writing community this week at ACFW!! An oldie but goodie!!

Pepper here.

I've always been impressed with the way the Christian writing community pulls together. I remember a conversation the Alleycats had at one of our get-togethers about what a unique group of individuals Christian writers are. In a highly competitive profession, where a large group of writers are trying to get their story in with a small number (and growing smaller) of publishing houses, we'd expect less friendliness and community and more isolationism and suspicion.

But no.

My experience has been one of the support, encouragement, and celebration.

In fact, Dawn Crandall (a writer I've never met) started reading my book two weeks ago and has not only given me GREAT pointers for publicity, she's also hooked me up with her entire Street Team of early readers! I'm serious. I received 30 FB messages in one day offering to be an influencer for my May debut.

CRAZY! AWESOME!

And endorsers? Laura Frantz and Julie Lessman were quick to agree - even though I KNOW both of them are enormously busy. Julie Klassen gave me some tips. Carrie Turansky encouraged. And all along the way people have come alongside me (as I'm wading through this new pool of 'publication') to help.

So - what do you do to build your writing community?

Let's get to the basics. A, B, C.

Appreciation and Attend - I didn't start out with a writing community. The Writer's Alley was a grasp for community between a few newbies (Sherrinda, Casey, Krista, Mary, and me) But along the way, I began to come upon new contacts too - by showing appreciation and attending other blogs.

It's sad how many people show appreciation nowadays - and the simple act can make the best impressions. I think that's one of the reasons God talks about an attitude of Thanksgiving in the Bible so much. A thankful heart is attractive and welcoming.

Ruth Logan Herne once told me that 1/2 of the battle is 'showing up'. That's how you build community too. BEING somewhere! Seekerville was one of the first places I visited because of  author Mary Connealy's recommendation. (I'd written her an email to show my appreciation for her book, Petticoat Ranch) - the appreciation led to my attendance at Seekerville! And eventually to creating a daughter blog, the Writer's Alley.


Build and Bring - These two go hand-n-hand and carry the same connation as the movie Field of Dreams. "If you build it, they will come" - Well, building something worth reading is a key ingredient to growing a writing community. Whether it is your novel, short story, or blog, make it worthwhile and (I cringe here because I'm so bad at this) consistent. I've recently revamped my blog to make it a more consistent offering - something I can actually DO! 2 days a week.
So build something worth reading and it will bring the readers and community!

Collaborate and Cooperate - this is where we give back! Promoting and encouraging other writers or readers on the journey helps create a sense of community. It's a give and take relationship! It may mean something as simple as sharing their FB status to promote their book. Letting them know you're praying for them. Offering to be an influencer or endorser, or being willing to host them on your blog.

Cheering as a team is so much more fun than cheering alone.

So - what are some ways you build your Writing Community? What would you add to my list? Let's work together here ;-)
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Pepper D Basham has been telling tales ever since she was a little girl. When her grandmother called her a “writer” at the age of ten, Pepper took it as gospel and has enjoyed various types of writing styles ever since. A native of the Blue Ridge Mountains, mom of five, speech-language pathologist, and lover of chocolate, Pepper enjoys sprinkling her native Appalachian culture into her fiction wherever she can. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC, where she works with kids with special needs, searches for unique hats, and plots new ways to annoy her wonderful friends at The Writer’s Alley. She is represented by Julie Gwinn and debuts her first novel, The Thorn Bearer, on May 7th 2015.

www.pepperdbasham.com

Getting Back in the Groove

I think happens to all of us at some point or other.


We lose our groove.

Writing-wise, I mean. I don’t think I’ve ever found my groove for dancing. I can play a mean conga drum, but dancing? Nah! It’s one of those moments when my children cower in total humiliation – or for the younger ones, abject confusion :-)

The status of my writing groove has been questionable since the end of NaNoWriMo. After devoting every second to writing – and working it around my horribly busy schedule, I was exhausted. The craziness (and wonderful-ness) of Christmas came and went. THEN I started up my new university semester this month. My groove got lost somewhere along the way.

I truly believe that each writer has a typical way to ‘feed’ his/her groove, and many times, if we don’t pay attention to the type of creativity God birthed within us it can squelch our desire.

Some writers are ‘Stay the Course’ writers. They start a novel and methodically make it from beginning to end. Rarely do other story ideas distract them from their course, but if they feed the ‘new’ idea too much, they may lose their focus and drive for their WIP.

Some writers are “Plan first, Write Later”. They collect all of their research, data, character sketches, plotting charts, and scene by scene synopsis until the shape of the story is set, and THEN they write.

Other writers are “Tackle-Plan Writers”. They may be Pantsters who start their story and stop at various points along the way to gather research, reshape the novel, and solidify what they have.

Then there are people like me. I refer to my writing style as the “Doug-Writer”. Ever seen the moving “Up”. The dog on the movie up, named Doug, is constantly distracted by a ‘squirrel’. Well, that’s kind of like me. I am at my writing BEST when I can swing between two (or sometimes three) novels. Here’s why. I can write on one until I hit a wall, then switch and feel those wonderful creative juices flowing…until I hit a wall, then switch back. It REALLY suits my innate writing needs. (This type can also be referred to as Writer-ADHD)

When I’ve tried to be a Stay the Course writer, I lose my creativity and ‘fire’ (as Cathy Marie Hake calls it) after about two months. I really need to go ‘where the fire is’.

Along the way I’ve also discovered some practical ways to get my writing groove back. Here are a few:

1. Pray (duh…I wish I could say I always go to this one first.)

2. Read FABULOUS books from FABULOUS authors like….Julie Lessman, Mary Connealy, Liz Curtis Higgs, Siri Mitchell, Laura Frantz, Denise Hunter, Julie Klassen, Janice Hanna Thompson, or Susan May Warren.

3. Daydream – I have a very vivid imagination. When left to its own devices, it’s one of the things that gets me into trouble with too many stories  But it is always a way to reignite those creative sparks. Daydreaming about my wip can jumpstart my writing.

4. Watch an inspiring movie. I usually like to stick to a movie genre that is somehow related to my wip. Gleaning inspiration from other stories is a MUST for any writer, I believe.

5. Brainstorm with fellow writers. The Alley Cats are wonderful brainstormers, and one conversation with them can sometimes be the encouragement and the jumpstart I need to hop back into one story or other :-)

So….

Do you have some more writing styles to add to the list?

What do you do to get your writing groove back?

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Pepper Basham is a pastor’s wife, mom of five, and university instructor. She takes the storytelling elements of her Blue Ridge Mountain heritage and spices a variety of genres with grace and humor. She can be found causing mischief at her group blog The Writers Alley, or at http://www.pepperbasham.wordpress.com/

pictures courtesy of http://www.fanpop.com/spots/penguins-of-madagascar/images/21932618/title/king-julien-screencap