Saturday, October 23, 2010

BENEFITS FROM WRITERS CONFERENCES/RETREATS

Finished the chapter - polished and re-written 'til I'm blue in the face (like the corpse). But I've come to realize I would never have thought of this "new" first chapter without having gone to the retreat, without having been in that particular workshop, without having had the benefit of learning from an experience and published writer in a related genre.

There is just so much a writer can learn from reading "teaching" books, articles, email blogs, etc. Sometimes you just have to invest in being where the professionals are, making contacts with those who've walked the path ahead of you, creating networks that include people who will generously share their knowledge and will extend even more of that knowledge once you have gone home and are plodding along.

Courage and hard work are part of the journey. Writers Groups and then Friends in the Biz help, too. Always remember to say "Thank You" to those who extend a hand and the offer of helpful suggestions even when, at first, you think "I thought it was done. Oh, boggers!"

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