Closet Writer no more...

My husband did a summer medical rotation in New Mexico, and I ran into a girl my age that was a writer.  I can't tell you how badly I wanted to be her friend.  I had never been friends with another writer!  For the longest time I have felt like a closet writer.  You've heard it before... writers are weirdos.  Writers are nerds.  Romance writers write about love because they don't have it themselves.  On and on the stereotype goes, and I didn't really want to run after it.  The problem was, I could't stop myself if I wanted to.  Writing just came naturally.  I found myself writing down the bedtime stories I told my children, or the lyrics to a lullaby, or filling up journal after journal.  My thoughts were constantly conjuring up story lines and wacky characters.  

And, then not just one time, but many times, I got on me knees and prayed.  I asked Heavenly Father if I should keep devoting my free time towards writing.  The answer I have been given time and time again is that it makes me happy and my goal should be to write things that will make others happy.

My motivation to take my writing to the next level was a slow process.  In fact, I am still getting there.  I am a mom first, so that means my stories are often the first thing I put on the back-burner.  I have always considered myself fairly outgoing, but putting my writing out there for others to critique is a bit out of my comfort zone.  When I was in college, I was pretty good about taking feedback for what it was worth.  But, something has changed since then.  I have poured so many hours into my novels that I don't want to a reason to give up, I want a reason to keep going.

My first writer friend got me pumped up, and answered a zillion questions for me.  Her advice was worth more than what she charged me (nothing).  I came back from New Mexico in search of a writing support group.  That's when I found ANWA.  It's an LDS ladies group.  My first chapter group was motivating and intimidating all at the same time.  They were name dropping.  Sarah Eden and Stephenie Meyer were once members of this same chapter.  Wow!  Think amateur surrounded by professionals.  Because, their experience and knowledge made them professionals to me.  They are a great group of women, and I know that I am going to learning a lot.  I've have one year until my husband graduates, and I'm pretty sure that isn't going to be long enough.  

Next week I am taking another big step (big step for a girl who feels like she's actually crawling... on her stomach... pushing herself with her feet) and attending a writing retreat.  I will be sending one page for published author Janetter Ralliston to critique.  I almost hyperventilated at the idea, but was a wreck until I finally just signed up.  I'm not exaggerating when I say that I felt instant relief the minute I sent in my money.  

I am not ready to agent hunt yet, but I also feel like joining a writing group has helped me admit to myself that I am proud of my talent, however small it is, and that I am going to cultivate it.  In fact, I might just grow myself a tree that I can someday chop down and make into my very own book.  Cheering, please?!