Write Right or Write Now
The Book in You.
You read the latest Grisham novel and said, “I could do that! Maybe next year I’ll start.” You encountered an abusive situation, extricated yourself, and moved forward. How did you do it? Perhaps you love fantasy books and have a great story in your head to share. Maybe you want to write your personal history to give to your relatives.
When we moved to Sachse five years ago, I visited the small library to look for books on writing, I asked if the library sponsored an authors’ group. No authors’ group existed. The librarian encouraged me to start a group. I did minimal research, put on blinders, played in an unknown “sandbox,” and learned better ways to write with my new colleagues and outside resources. After serious discussion about the name, we named the group the Sachse-Wylie Authors Group (SWAG).
Since then I wrote two books: a memoir and a travel story, both nonfiction. I struggled mightily with both. The publishing company I used for the memoir did not provide much content assistance and absolutely no creative marketing suggestions. The participants in the authors’ group helped with encouragement, content, resources, and training. It took two years of wanting to quit almost every day while I wrote Gift of the Suitcase, but I did it with the help of SWAG and others.
Seeing the memoir in print and presenting excerpts at book clubs and other venues excites me. The book signings and presentations make my hard work worth it. My ebook about the Danube led to posting it on my website rather than using Amazon, as they wanted too much, including my first-born child and the keys to my car. I am thankful for the people who read my books and follow my articles on my website. I continue to write travel articles, inspirational, and other topics, especially for my online followers.
If you have a book in you, you need to understand that writing comes in many different flavors. Recently I wrote a fictional story and have started writing another short story. I would not have tried fiction if it weren’t for the Sachse-Wylie Authors Group with their prompts and critiques. Will my stories be published? Maybe not, but I’m expanding my writing ability with the help of fellow our members.
Each authors’ group has a “personality.” Some get together with laptops and seek specific help when they need it. Others meet bi-weekly or weekly. Some offer speakers. If you plan to write for publication, an authors’ group can to assist.
Our authors’ group helps with:
- Focus.
- Content and synchrony.
- Grammar, punctuation, terminology.
- Motivation and encouragement.
- Finding new friends who like to write.
- Technology and URLs for writers.
- Finding publishers, conferences, free and paid training, plus workshops.
During the first few years the Sachse-Wylie Authors Group (SWAG) met at the Sachse Library, the Wylie Library, and coffee shops. Currently, we meet at the Sachse First United Methodist Church on the first Wednesday of the month, but our next meeting is January 9, 2019, because of the holidays.
I hope to see you at the next meeting if you want to write right now and live nearby. We like visitors and enjoy meeting people with a passion for writing.
Happy New Year.
Roger Geiger, Fred Holmes, Ruth Glover, and Ruth Wharton
At the Wylie Art Gallery Presentation