Today is the second Wednesday of the month. Its Indie Life time, where Indies sometimes encourage, support, complain, and give advice to each other.
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As many of you know, Sweetman went through a bout of cancer and chemo. Thankfully, he has finished his chemo. His hair and belly are now growing back. But when we first found out about what we were going to have to go through, I gave up what I thought would be temporary, my bi-weekly critique group.
Sadly, two of the writers were stressed out with some of their own personal curve balls life bombarded them with. One moved away. The other doesn’t know if she’ll ever write again. We no longer meet.
I miss them terribly. We were together for five years. Each gal had something great to offer to our WIPs. One had awesome grammar and punctuation skills, while one would tear your MS apart and analyze it. Two of them were great for spotting overuse of words or even action tags. And one was great at finding symbolism in your stories and how to make them connect.
I considered them my friends. But only one keeps in touch with me. It really makes me sad. To be honest, I feel lost without them. All writers, Indies, and traditionally published need someone else to bounce their stuff off of. There’s no real way around it. You can’t cheat when you write. It’s a tedious path to get it right.
So I could really use a couple of critique partners who are willing to read 40 pages a month of my current WIP, tear it apart, and I’d be glad to the same in kind.
Anyone interested? If so, let me know in the comment box.
As to what irks me, well, Facebook right now. I’m in what’s called what other writers have referred to as Facebook Jail. I can’t PROMOTE myself or anyone.
How did this happen, you ask. Well, it started with a Like-a-thon. I like authors. They like me. And of course, I can’t forget all the promoting I continually do for other authors. I’m constantly sharing their books and blogs. So I got cited as a SPAMBOT.
So yeah, I’m really blue over not having my critters anymore and being known as a SPAMBOT.
Hope everyone else is well.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
You got cited as a spambot? I honestly didn't know Facebook did such things, but I shouldn't be surprised. Still, Facebook jail can't be any fun.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sorry to hear about your CPs. I wish I could help out, but I already have two big editing projects going on.
MJ, its all good. I'm hoping to find the same chemistry I had with these gals on-line some how. Don't know if that is possible.
DeleteAnd I was surprised about Facebook.
Gosh! That's crazy about Facebook, but I don't post enough for that to happen to me. Hopefully the ban is lifted soon.
ReplyDeleteAnd If you look, you'll find the right crit partners. Give it time! It is possible.
Thanks for participating!
Crazy is right.
DeleteSeek and ye shall find.
FB is a serious pain sometimes.
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck with the crit partners! I'm full up right now, but I'm sure you'll find the right person(s) at the right time. :)
So I'm learning.
DeleteI find myself wondering if all it takes is a single complaint from someone for Facebook to go nuclear on you...
ReplyDeleteI don't know why anyone would complain since I promoted mostly others and not so much myself.
DeleteI hope it doesn't happen to me because I'm always promoting others and my book too of course. Seems FB is making it difficult for me too sometimes and maybe that's because I've been 'bad'. Anyway, don't be blue--violets are blue and we love you.
ReplyDeleteEvie:
DeleteYou're so adorable.
Fantastic CPs are so hard to find. It must be even more difficult to lose them. Good luck finding some new ones that are a good fit for you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the luck wishing.
DeleteHey Shelly! SOrry about your group. It really is so helpful to have CPs. I can't do any exchanges right now, but maybe later on in the year when I've finished revising my WIP.
ReplyDeleteBlogging is a great way to find them. I've found many that way, and sometimes just by coming right out and asking who I think might be a good fit.
That's an idea.
DeleteSorry you got zapped on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteHope you find another critique group like that. I had to replace one of my partners for my third book but fortunately the replacement was even better.
I want 2 or 3 other people that will be committed like these guys were. Peeps who will be thorough for each others' own good.
DeleteI feel compelled to point out that, almost without exception, the great literary works of history (including Harry Potter) were not written with a critique group. They were written by a single author alone in a room, so to speak. So, while I'm not bashing critique groups, the idea of them as a necessity is new and, well, overrated. However, it is nice to have other people who understand you to hang out with.
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteYour answer was cute and made this blue girl chuckle.
Hey, laughter, even if just a chuckle, is always good!
ReplyDeleteSorry you were marked as a Spambot.
ReplyDeleteLife loves those curveballs. Siiigh.
Hope the cancer treatments are going well. Hugs.
He is finally finished, but it takes a while to become the person you were before the treatments happened.
DeleteYeah, sometimes the internet really doesn't know what it's doing.
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(From Sarah, With Joy)
It doesn't seem to sometimes.
DeleteAw, I'm sorry to hear you got labeled as a spambot by FB. Silly FB.
ReplyDeleteYes. Silly FB.
DeleteUgh, hope they let you out of facebook jail soon! Seems a little unfair. Good luck with finding a new critique group, all us writers are so busy it can be hard to take time to go through each other's work, though I see the value in it.
ReplyDeleteI should be out by next Monday. As for crit partners. I was very committed. I read as much as I wrote.
DeleteSo sorry you lost your crit group! I can't imagine if I lost my CPs; I'd be devastated.
ReplyDeleteThat's where I'm at right now. Pretty devastated and beside myself wondering if I'm on the right path with Killer Stilettos.
DeleteOh, wow, I didn't know Facebook did stuff like that - so weird!
ReplyDeleteI hope you find good crit partners soon. :)
Yes. Facebook can do silly things like these.
DeleteSo glad Sweetman is recovering, but sorry you're going through such a tough time:(. Hope you get a new group of critique partners soon:).
ReplyDeleteI need compatible peeps. Not easy.
DeleteHow many likes does it take to turn you into a spambot? :) That's so odd. Good luck on finding CPs.
ReplyDeleteIt was sharing. Not LIKES.
DeleteI'm glad that Sweetman is doing well! Sorry about the FB nonsense. I hope you find CPs soon.
ReplyDeleteJulie
Thank you, Julie. I hope to find some CPs soon, too. Feeling nutty right now.
DeleteOh Shelly! Glad to hear Sweetman is doing fabulous. I can completely relate. I haven't seen my Crit Group either in months--all bec. of our individual curveballs.
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
I feel lost without mine.
DeleteI can relate about CP's . . . my local SCBWI group disbanded. Wow, a SPAMBOT? I think that kinda makes you a ninja or something :-)
ReplyDeleteI found one CP...YAY! Ninja...tehe.
DeleteHopefully you will find some good CP's soon. Don't give up.
ReplyDeleteI found one...could use one more.
DeleteIt seems to to be a great novel book...I love to order it from my favorite online bookstore !!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your lost CP group. I'm myself looking for CPs at the moment, maybe we could talk? You have my email already.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds good. I'll drop you a line.
DeleteHugs and chocolate!
My greatest fear in my writing life is to lose my crit group. They inspire me and support me and we do all that for each other. When I am in FL for the winter, we keep up pretty well with crits through a yahoo group. Someone mentioned skyping, but not sure about that since our group meets at the local coffee shop. Could you connect with your group online? Thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteI've suggested this, but they don't seem to be interested. ***shrugs*** Maybe they weren't as serious as I thought. One girl has even let her membership lapse.
DeleteI know writing can take a lot of time.