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On Writing and Life

Tag Archives: Writers Groups

Whence Comes Inspiration

10 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by Sandie Tillery in Reflections on Life, Writing

≈ 4 Comments

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Finding Passion, Writers Groups, Writing Process

A recent writer’s group meeting challenged my big picture view of the craft and processes of writing for publication. The presenters spoke about specific tools and techniques (text formatting and setting goals for completing projects), while  conversation around the topics rolled around those and more personal ideas (building platforms through blogs). I appreciate those whose personal efforts and advice reflect discipline and determination as they set and pursue goals. They have published books and articles (and received some rejection slips) to show for their hard work.

Rose-colored glasses have been set aside as I plunge in to do the hard work of putting thoughts down, following the outline, writing and revising. Progress seems slow… the end far, far away. Each month the adrenaline injection from meeting with other writers entrenched in their own processes energizes me and pushes me forward again. They have given me permission with their encouragement to follow a tangent, to write a related article as a break from the larger project. Part of creating credibility as a professional writer requires submitting writing for a broad audience. After all, what good is writing if not to be read?

Long ago the publisher of my high school yearbook for which I was a co-editor inspired us with pithy sayings. One has stuck in my head ever since: “If you want to be remembered, do something worth writing about or write something worth reading about.” I am aiming for the latter.

Honing my skills gives me courage to keep writing with an end in sight. As other writers have acknowledged, we never know it all. Humility comes naturally for those of us who in our later years are FINALLY doing what we said we would do in our prideful and starry-eyed youth. I have a book in process, articles scheduled and writing to be done. The time has come and now is…

 

Moving Forward

18 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by Sandie Tillery in Writing

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Writers Groups, Writing Coaches

Writing can be an isolating experience. As a very social being I find the discipline of my writing schedule sometimes difficult to maintain. Though I am committed to complete my manuscript by mid-spring, the challenge of sticking to my assignment and shutting out distractions sometimes give way to a desperate need for human contact. I am realizing how important it is to have a community of writers and friends who spur me on to complete the project. So, I am finding people and opportunities where my social needs and my writing inspiration intersect.

A recent Quills of Faith Christian writers meeting introduced us to the creative, fanciful, thought-provoking words and stories of people in the room who bravely read aloud from their own work. Some shared from already published material and some read fresh thoughts penned that day. The meeting included instructive advice from a much published writer.

Sharing aloud in a large group setting what has been written in the quiet of home gives life to the words that flow from head and heart to the computer screen. Hearing the response of others (in this setting it was all applause, no critique) really does inspire courage to press on. I do need cheerleaders. I do need to know that others care about not just the end result, but the process as well.

The presenter also added reality to the fluttering dreams of all writers… that any publisher would be a fool not to snap up what we have labored to lay down for the world to read. Layers of intention and purpose drive us on as writers. Of course we want to be published, but as one writer said, “This is my passion, I have to write.” So we write on, out of our own need to say  our words aloud or on paper (computer screens); we research, we learn, we dig deep and we write.  Then…

My cousin, Thonie Hevron, has proven to me that beyond the writing follows a whole other journey to become published. She continues to pursue “building her platform” and networking with other writers, editors and publishers, growing in her craft through attendance at writers conferences and with the sturdy support of her local writers’ group. Thonie has found her way and now helps others like me to discover how to press ahead through the process of writing, and then…

Realizing the need for community support has begun to create a hunger in me to move on…to write and be heard, to share what God has placed in my heart and drawn out in my life experience and from what I have gleaned from the lives and messages of others. I need the social contact, the “iron sharpening iron” as the Bible says, to accomplish the solitary task.

 

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Recent Posts

  • Jazmyn’s Journal
  • A Slice of Life
  • Old Dog, New Tricks
  • Whence Comes Inspiration
  • “Live Well for the Master”

Recent Comments

Barbara Bryant on A Slice of Life
Sandie Tillery on A Slice of Life
Thonie Hevron on A Slice of Life
tea4katie on Whence Comes Inspiration
Sandie Tillery on Whence Comes Inspiration

Archives

  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
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  • September 2015

Categories

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  • Fiction for Young Teens
  • Reflections on Life
  • Writing

Meta

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