Ask most people what they imagine an author looks like, and they’ll probably describe a solitary figure hunched over a computer keyboard. There’s some truth to that, of course, but the business end of publishing now requires writers to be more extroverted than many of us are comfortable with. To be successful we’re expected to network, write guest blog posts or blurbs, give interviews, Skype into book clubs, and even do some public speaking.
If local writers’ groups are hard to come by in your area, there are many places on the internet for authors to mingle. Not all of us shell out the subscription fees for paid forums, and it's not absolutely necessary.
I’ve found most of my writer friends on Facebook. I joined several groups on there to begin with, but most boards struck me as a long line of commercials. Read my blog! Buy my book! Follow me! Buy my book! Like me! Buy my book! Actual conversation rarely happened.
The purpose of the WU Facebook group is to give writers a place to come together and discuss the craft and business of fiction without the pressure of building platform. I was one of the first members and in October of last year Therese Walsh invited me to join the moderator team.
As of today, Writer Unboxed (FB) has over 1,400 members ranging from respected published authors to newbies to top agents like Donald Maass. This is a community where you can ask an obscure research question and have a dozen answers in an hour. (My question, in case you’re curious, was how one might attach a prosthetic leg onto a rooster in the 1930’s. One of the answers from WU is now in The Oak Lovers.)
If you haven’t already done so, I invite you to come on over and check out the WU Facebook group here. Once an administrator has let you into the group, take a look in the menu marked ‘files.’ In there you can read the rules of the group and add your FB profile, twitter handle, blog, or website to the appropriate places. If you want a critique partner, we have a file for that, too. Any questions? Ask me or any other members of the Mod Squad – Vaughn Roycroft, Heather Reid, or Valerie Chandler - and we’ll help you out.
Writer Unboxed is AMAZING! That site has been a huge resource for me as I've started preparing for publishing! It also hosts my favorite author of ALL time as one of their guest writers! Fabulous site. Everyone should check it out immediately. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful resource, but WU's resource is wonderful people. And I have met more through WU that continue to make a meaningful impact on my writing journey than anywhere else. Many of them I now consider friends, in the very best sense of the word (not just the fb distortion of it), and others I've come to consider my writerly family (like you, Kim, as well as Therese, and the other Mod Squad members--past and present). Thanks for featuring our WU tribe with your WWW tribe!
ReplyDeleteWU is by far the best resource for writers and one of the friendliest and helpful groups I’ve been a member of. I’m proud to call it my tribe. Thanks, Kim!
ReplyDeleteWell, you know I adore you - and I love WU! It is a wonderful community- and one of the great things about it is there isn't the Me me me me me BUY MY BOOK/SERVICE/WHATEVER because it isn't allowed - it's a safe and supportive place and I feel grateful for all of y'all!
ReplyDelete*muwah*!
L.M. Sherwin - Thank you so much for stopping by! WU is the best blog out there for writers, IMHO. I'm so proud to be associated with it.
ReplyDeleteVaughn - You know I consider the whole Mod Squad as family. We have all GOT to meet up somewhere and meet in person.
Heather - I'm so glad I've gotten to know you through WU. Thanks for stopping by.
Kat - you know I adore you, too. I completely agree about what a relief it is not to listen to commercials all the time. I think it takes the pressure off everyone because no one is forced to promote themselves either. We can just be ourselves. It's a big group, but it feels small.
Thanks so much I had no idea WU was on FB. I just tried to join the group and awaiting my invite!
ReplyDeleteI just added you Miss Pride! Thanks for joining us!
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