You blink and what do you know, we’re in a new month already. Where has this year gone?
I always get recharged and refreshed to start anew in September. The promise of cooler weather and shorter days recharge my internal batteries and make me want to actually see things done. Though this year is a bit rough as the heat and humidity has settled onto Southern California like an oppressive wet blanket. I swear, if I wanted this weather, I’d live in Florida. 🙄
This year, I’m feeling extra refreshed and motivated. Mostly because after almost a year I finally made it off the wait list and was able to join the writers’ critique group at my local library. We had our first meeting this past Saturday.
I haven’t been in a critique group since my first year writing, and we all know that was an unmitigated disaster. It’s a mixed group of writers with submissions being everything from short stories to sci-fi to daily columns to parts of novels. I was a bit nervous for a couple of reasons. First, because I am the only romance writer, and romance is often looked down upon by writers of other genres as not being serious or “real writing”. Thankfully I haven’t experienced that attitude here. Second, I had to read my pages out loud to the group. I really don’t like public speaking and to read my words in public was a daunting concept to me. But I did it and survived! I was so excited I added it to my planner. 😂
Not gonna lie…it took me forever to figure out what I wanted to submit. Since I haven’t really written anything since February, I went back and submitted the opening pages of my winter novella. I got a lot of good feedback on it, and now I know what I need to work on and expand. I have the feeling this group will be good for motivating me and getting me writing regularly.
Here’s to the rest of the year being more productive than the first!
Christina