5. fellowship [HOPE]: What community has engaged you most this year and what did it you get out of your participation?
This year has been a year of significant growth for me as a writer. I credit this to the unprecedented feedback that I've received from the writing community at Writers' Village University.
I've been a member of this group for just over a year now, but I was too timid to use the novel writing forums on the website and post my own novel in its entirety (chapter by chapter, that is, not all at once). But this fall, after a year's membership at WVU, I took a deep breath, and posted my first chapter.
Feedback was overall encouraging. And that was something that I think I needed at this point in my writing. Not to say that my posted chapter was perfect--it was far from it. But the feedback I received gave useful, informed suggestions, many of which I could use. And having multiple sets of eyes really does make a difference. I was stunned with what I missed by being so close to my writing.
Like most (if not all) writers, having someone read your work is both what you long for and what you fear the most. The idea that others won't be enchanted by your characters, or what you meant to express so eloquently came out as over-writing...or a million other of your biggest fears cross your mind the moment before you hit "submit." But you must get over that hurdle. Press the button, and give your writing over to fresh eyes.
Then comes the waiting. Sometimes, you get your answer right away. And usually, it's not nearly as gushy as you want. But if you can bear to look, you find that there are roses among the thorns. And those rose are some of the most fragrant flowers you've ever smelled, because they offer you hope.
You see, interspersed with words that hurt, pointing out your flaws and shortcomings, are the other words. The words that stick with you longer than the prick of a thorn. These words are the sweet fragrance of flattery.
I've realized this year, that although the thorns hurt and can draw blood, it's the fragrance I remember. It's the people who validate my writing, and in doing so, validate the fact that I can do this. They have become my cheerleaders, and I hope I'm theirs as well.
Twice a year Writers' Village University offers a free (that's right, free) creative writing course. It's called F2K (Fiction 2000), and it's awesome. It's beyond awesome, it's mind-blowing.
F2K is a community of writers--both beginners and experienced writers--and lasts for six weeks. It's an online forum, complete with social network similar to Facebook, where you can share status updates with just your fellow writers. (What writer doesn't like that idea?)
It starts at the beginning, forging relationships between writers. For everyone in the forum is a writer. As we put ourselves out there, we find support and encouragement from other writers (who are also readers).
Although we write for readers, a fellow writer's point of view is essential to catch the nitty gritty things that readers may not recognize as interfering with their enjoyment of the book, but ultimately do.
This course consists of six lessons, each of which serves to encourage and stir up the creative mental juices. It starts with basics, and builds on that. Not that one can be taught the writing skill completely in six weeks, but this course will take you from not knowing what point of view is, to writing in different points of views correctly. From not knowing how to use conflict in a scene, to using it well.
Other members of your class edit your work and allow you a chance to look at it more objectively. Thus you can see your piece as another would see it, and make changes accordingly.
Oh, and did I mention there's a weekly, class-wide competition? As well as an end-of-session competition, where we all get to vote on the best short story? That's a great incentive to work hard for the competitive writer... which, I'm sure, none of us are...
Registration ends tomorrow, so be sure and sign up now!
