Finding Your Perfect Writing Tribe

Finding Your Perfect Writing Tribe:

The Art of Matching Vibes and Words

Welcome writers, illustrators, and creatives to another exciting post on Teazurs Blog! Sorry, I have not been posting as often as I like as I have been researching and writing a new middle-grade novel. The one I finished has been with an editor and I just got back my notes. Excited to jump in and start revisions...but even as I love writing and revising - I absolutely LOVE supporting other writers. I hope this post guides you to a writing group that will not only love and support your writing journey but also fulfill a companionship need in this world of writing alone.

Today, we are diving into the literary world's equivalent of matchmaking: finding the right writing group, partner, or critique circle. It's not just about sharing your work. It's about finding a space where your creativity, critique, and camaraderie flourish.

How do you find this magical gathering of minds? How do you ensure you fit as snugly into this group as the perfect metaphor in a poignant paragraph? Let's explore!

Know What You Want

Before embarking on your quest, ask yourself what you seek in a writing group or partner.

• Are you looking for rigorous critique, gentle encouragement, genre-specific insights, or just a bunch of folks who understand why you talk to imaginary people?

• Does it matter to you if everyone is writing in the same genre?

• Is it okay to have one chapter looked at every few months, or do you need someone to read the entire manuscript and give feedback?

• Do you like big groups or small intimate groups?

• Do you work better one-on-one, or are more eyes on your material needed?

• Are you concerned about like-minded individuals, or do you want diverse ideas and ways of being in your critique group?

• What about positivity vs. negative talk about publishing or writing in general?

Understanding your needs is the first step in finding your tribe. Making a list of what you would love or not love in a group or with a writing partner is a great place to start.

Places to Look

• Local Libraries and Bookstores: Often, these community hubs have information or even host writing groups.

Bulletin Boards in art-loving towns often have writing groups posted.

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• Online Platforms: Websites like Meetup, Reddit, and dedicated writing forums can be goldmines for finding writing groups or partners.

SCBWI is a global community for children's book writers, and they post writing group openings on their site for members.

• Writing Workshops and Conferences: These are not only great for honing your craft but also for meeting fellow writers looking for collaboration or critique partners.

The Vibe Check

Once you've found a potential group or partner, it's time for the all-important vibe check. Here's where you need to listen to yourself and observe your body language. It's like a first date, but with less romantic pressure and more creative synergy.

Sometimes this vibe check takes a while. You may have to go to meetings for 3-6 months or even a year before you really learn about the group as a whole and get to understand individuals.

But if the vibe of the group doesn't match what you are looking for, the critiques won't either. A grumpy group will tend to give grumpy critiques, or the writers might be defensive. An ungrounded group will be all over the place with their ideas. A newbie group will critique smaller things and maybe miss big-picture items. A well-seasoned group will be wise, caring, and help with guidance. A group without a strong yet compassionate leader might fall apart or seem lost. Your job is to notice what the group is showing you, not just with words but with energy and body language.

Comfort is Key

You should feel comfortable sharing your work and receiving feedback. If you're clenching your jaw or tensing up during discussions, take note. Your body might be signaling that this isn't the right fit.

Your body knows. Once you begin to trust it, it will be your best guide to whether you should stay or you should go. If you are getting headaches, backaches, tensing, or feeling jumpy in your seat, this might not be the best group for you.

Excitement and Energy

Notice how you feel during and after meetings. Are you energized and brimming with ideas, or do you feel drained and uninspired? The right group or partner should invigorate your writing spirit.

How do you feel about writing in general after the meetings? Is the group happy they are writers, or are they negative about their writing journey?

Now, practice patience when judging a group to be negative or positive. Everyone goes through feeling unsure of themselves or angry or hurt about rejections. What you should pay attention to is if it's happening at every meeting. Is someone always complaining about something - whether it's about publishing or the world in general.

For me, negativity kills my creativity. If I leave a group feeling negative about publishing, agents, writing, politics, and the world in general, my writing suffers.

Respect and Support

• Pay attention to how members interact. Is there mutual respect, even when opinions differ?

• Do you feel supported and valued? A nurturing environment is crucial for creative growth.

• Do you feel you can ask questions freely, or do you feel you are hiding an aspect of yourself so as not to rock the boat?

• Is the leader of the group kind and caring? Does she or he support the writers in the way they need?

• Are the writers supporting one another equally, or does it seem unbalanced?

• How much time does the group take from your writing and your time? This is an important one to pay attention to. We join writing groups to write, but if the group becomes more about being social and getting together and emails become overwhelming, it might not be the group for you.

Trial and Error

Finding the right group or partner often requires some experimentation. Don't be afraid to attend a few meetings with different groups or have trial critique sessions with potential partners. It's like trying on shoes; you won't know the perfect fit until you walk around in them.

Trust Your Instincts

Ultimately, your gut feeling is your best guide. If something feels off, it probably is.

Conversely, when you find the right group or partner, everything clicks into place—ideas flow freely, feedback is constructive, and you'll likely find yourself eagerly awaiting the next meeting.

You are Worth it!

The journey to finding your ideal writing companions can be as rewarding as it is challenging. It's a quest for your creative soulmate(s), and when you find them, the benefits to your writing and your spirit are immeasurable.

Remember to keep an open heart and an open mind and to always trust in the wisdom of your own reactions—both emotional and physical.

Happy writing, and may you find your perfect writing tribe!

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I hope this post helps light the path to your writing community.

Write~on

Angie

Remember, in the world of words, the right companions make all the difference.

Keep following us here at www.teazurs.blogspot.com for more insights, tips, and tales from the writing life.

Interview with Bobbie Pyron - Middle Grade Author & Dog Lover

KidLit ALERT!

Interview with Dog Loving

Middle-Grade Author

Bobbie Pyron

Welcome back, readers!

This next author is one that I know personally. We met in an amazing critique group here in Asheville, NC where I got to read some of her wonderful chapters. She's a dog lover, a middle-grade author, and an amazing critique partner!

What I absolutely love about Bobbie is her willingness to talk with you and share her advice on writing or any topic. She is a truly caring person.

Hello, Bobbie!

Thanks for being on Teazurs blog. Let's get to it...

Your connection with the ocean from your earliest days is quite remarkable. Do you find that your affinity for the sea often influences your writing, maybe even subconsciously? 

That’s an interesting question! I think all of nature influences my writing, but yes, there’s something about the ocean that is very powerful for me. It feels very maternal to me. It’s one of the few places I can feel completely calm.

Maybe it’s because I’m a Cancer, which is a water/moon sign!

 

The loss of your father at a young age must have been incredibly difficult. How did literature become a source of solace and inspiration for you during such a challenging time? 

I loved reading from a very young age. One of my best memories of my father is sprawling out on the living room floor and reading the newspaper comics together. That’s how I learned to read! After my father died in a car crash when I was seven...

...books were a way to escape

all the sadness around me.

My mother was extremely depressed and scared and overwhelmed after he died. She was suddenly thrust into the roll of being a single mom to two girls. She didn’t have the energy or time to manage my feelings too, I guess. So I turned to books, to stories to help me feel less alone and, to some degree, make sense of the world.

 

Your career path has been wonderfully diverse, from being a singer in a rock and roll band to working as a librarian. How have these experiences enriched your storytelling?

LOL, yes I have done a LOT of different things before settling into a long (and happy) career as a librarian: Dog trainer, gladiola harvester, wilderness instructor, bookstore manager, and professional singer. Although I’ve never expressly written about a character(s) who’s done these things, certainly having such diverse experiences has enriched my storytelling. I hope.

 

Your latest novel, "Stay," delves into themes of homelessness, friendship, and hope. What inspired you to tackle such poignant subject matter? 

There were numerous things that lead to the idea of writing a middle grade novel about people experiencing homelessness. When I lived in Utah, I volunteered with a couple of organizations who helped people with pets who were experiencing homelessness. It was a real eye-opener for me!

I had no idea that most unsheltered people

with pets couldn’t go into a shelter

without giving up their dog or,

in some cases, cat.

Could you imagine giving away that one being in your life who loves you no matter what? I was in awe of the bond between these folks and their four-footed best friend. Also, the library where I worked at the time had a family shelter nearby. Once a week, we’d go there to do story times, help the older kids with homework, etc. I had no idea how many reasons there were for a family, often with two working adults, could find themselves without a permanent home. I kept seeing in my mind a young girl (who would become Piper) on a bus, traveling at night, looking out the window. I kept seeing a little dog in my mind who would become Baby. I just had to explore and write their stories.

 

Could you share a bit about your creative process when crafting the alternating points of view in "Stay"? 

I wrote a couple of novels before STAY that had alternating points of view—A DOG’S WAY HOME and, to some degree, LUCKY STRIKE. It seems to come easily for me. What was different with STAY was that the dog, Baby’s, chapters were written in free verse poetry. It just seemed to me a natural fit for the way a dog most likely thinks. Baby’s chapters were fun to write because I love novels in verse.

 

What do you hope readers will take away from "Stay" after turning the final page?

I hope readers will look just a little differently at that person sleeping in a doorway or flying a sign asking for help. I hope they’ll have come to understand that there are many reasons why people and families can find themselves without a home. We tend to dismiss people who are experiencing homelessness as addicts, mentally ill, or lazy. I hope the reader of STAY will see that everyone has a back story. Everyone has a “why.” I’ve been immensely humbled by the number of letters and emails I’ve gotten from kids who have, with their family, experienced homelessness at some point. They never in a million years thought they would see themselves represented in a book. That means so much to me.

 

Do you have any rituals or habits that help you get into the writing zone?

I don’t know if I have any rituals, but I do always make myself a cup of tea before I sit down to write. And I always have music on.

 

 

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are just beginning their writing journey?

My best advice is to enjoy the journey

of writing and creating!

I’ve taught at several adult writing workshops. I’d rarely get asked for tips on revising or character development. What I did get asked was, “How do I get an agent?” “How do I get an editor?”  It’s hard, very hard to get either. And even once you do, it’s a profession that’s not for the faint of heart. Write for the love of creating. Write for the magic of seeing a whole world created from your imagination. Write for the curiosity of seeing where the story and the characters will take you. But don’t write just for the goal of getting published.

 

Can you share any insights into your upcoming projects or ideas you're currently exploring? 

I have a new book—

my first in five years!

—coming out next March.

OCTOPUS MOON is a middle-grade novel in verse about an 11-year-old girl struggling with chronic depression. It’s probably my most autobiographical work to date.

Depression among children and teens is at an almost epidemic level, especially because of the pandemic. My great good hope with OCTOPUS MOON is kids who are struggling with depression and anxiety will find solace, hope, and feel less alone.

 

What's the one question no one has asked you about writing and you want to answer?

Please ask yourself a burning question and then answer it. Ok, here goes: I’ve never been asked if I’ve noticed one particular thread that runs through and connects all my books. I’ve had seven, soon to be eight, books published. It took me a while to see that they all deal with loss. All the main characters have experienced or are (at my hands) experiencing a major loss in their lives. How do they deal with it? Can anything ever fill that aching hole in their life? These are questions I seem to keep exploring.

Animals play a significant role in your life and work. How do they inspire and inform your writing process? 

Of course, the unconditional love of animals, particularly dogs, is a central theme in my books. Even if the book is not a “dog story,” there’s always a dog in the book. Dogs and animals inspire me constantly. I find them much more interesting than humans! I always say, animals are the best people I know. As far as how they “inform” my writing process, my two dogs are very good at “informing” me when I’ve spent too much time on my computer and it’s time to play!

 

When you're not writing or immersed in the world of books, how do you like to spend your free time? Do you have a favorite hike or waterfall?

I am a passionate hiker. I love being in the woods, on a trail, along a river, by a waterfall. I’d hike every day if I could. It’s where I feel the most at home, the most myself. I also love growing a vegetable garden, creating with clay, reading, going to movies, playing and exploring with my husband and dogs, and spending time with friends.

Thank you, Bobbie,

I agree! Nature always makes me feel like I'm at home, too. And thank you for all of your open and honest advice to us aspiring writers. You are generous in your sharing and your knowledge.

I cannot wait to read Octopus Moon!

And thank you for all of your wonderful critiques of my writing. I am forever grateful to you and your sharp eye and compassion. I hope someday to share my work with children just like you do.

You are an inspiration to me!

If you would like to cheer Bobbie on while she readies for her new release please contact her below:

Bobbie Pyron:

Author Website

Instagram

Facebook

If you would like to be featured on Teazurs Blog, please reach out to me via email or Instagram. 

Until then,

Write~on