In praise of writing friends - Tracy Darnton

My latest thriller - Ready or Not - was published this month with an in-person launch. 

This blog is a short one in praise of writing friends. (Spoiler alert* There will be Oscar-speech-style gushing).

We all know there are highs and lows with this author life. The last couple of years has been difficult for all of us. To have a team of cheerleading, sympathising, 'been there, done that, got the T shirt' friends behind you whether you're celebrating a book launch with fizz or weeping over a low point, is key. 

Fabulous, proud-looking editor behind me!

SCBWIs hanging by the cake stand

So here's a shoutout to my lovely agent, my crit groups, Write30 gang and MA buddies, the Teaspooners, Edge-of-the-Seat thriller writers, UKYA group, my SASSIES and SCBWI friends and, finally, all those without an acronym. 

Lovely agent  Jo Williamson 

You know who you are and I owe you all a cupcake. 

Tracy Darnton is the author of YA thrillers. Her latest book, Ready or Not, was immortalised in rather delicious cupcakes.

Why Didn't I Join a Crit Group Earlier? By Tamsin Cooke

I am normally a proliffic writer. Time is what stops me. But when Covid struck our shores and the world changed, I seemed to lose all interest in writing. My creative mojo went into lockdown. My enthusiasm went on furlough. My imagination self-distanced from my brain. I thought this was it. I wouldn't write again ...

Then I got invited to join a crit group. I've had this opportunity before but didn't think it would be for me. I thought I was a solitary writer, wanting my manuscript completed and perfectly polished before letting anyone look at it. The thoughts of sharing a work-in-progress filled me with horror. But I decided to give it a go, and I have to say that it's the best thing I could have done.

Having a deadline was brilliant. No longer could I faff about on Twitter and Facebook. If you know someone is going to read your work in X number of days, you force yourself to write. And in doing so, my love of writing and playing with words was reborn. The story that had been lurking in the back of my mind was suddenly at the forefront.

I have to admit I was terrified to press send. All these people were going to read my first chapter and I had no idea how they'd react. I didn't need to worry. They were incredibly supportive and generous with their feedback and expertise. They really liked the idea, but also spotted holes and saggy character motivations. And they made me question what is at the heart of my story - what am I trying to say? Having this advice early on was invaluable. 

I've loved reading their work too. There's something very special in watching a story grow and helping in anyway you can. We have shared ideas and shown different perspectives. 

In this time of isolation, I look forward to our meetings on Zoom. It feels a supportive community where we're free to share the ups and downs of our craft with people who understand. 

So if you're feeling in a rut with your writing, I recommend you join a crit group. They show you the world of your story outside of your own mind, and hold your hand while doing it.

Tamsin Cooke

Author of The Scarlet Files Series and Stunt Double Series

Website: tamsincooke.co.uk
Twitter: @TamsinCooke1 

Thank you, Scattered Authors! by Sheena Wilkinson

I'm a weirdo; all writers are to some extent. I can't expect non-writer friends to understand the weirdness -- I've given up trying. 

So thank God for the Scattered Authors! This is more than just a blog. It's a community. Every month when I log on to make my contribution, and glance over the recent or scheduled posts, the authors' names jump out with the familiarity of the roll call of my class at school forty years ago.  Some I know fairly well in real life, mostly from the annual retreat at Charney Manor, which I've been lucky enough to attend for the last seven years. Some I know from posting in the Scattered Authors group on Facebook. Some I have met at author events over the years. Many I know only from their insightful, warm, funny or learned posts on here. But none feel like strangers, even if we haven't met.

I don't know, dear reader, if you are a Scattered Author or just a fan of the blog. But I do know this: that at the end of a year when we have been more scattered than usual, when this author, for the first time ever, has not crossed the Irish Sea, I have been more than ever thankful for this writing community. An appreciative comment on a post; the sharing of a writerly joke on a tough day; the offer to critique a manuscript (and then showing me EXACTLY what was wrong with it); the little gift to thank me for an introduction to an editor; the phone call that made me feel like I wasn't the strangest person in the world...

Sometimes I don't know what to write on the 13th of every month. But on this last month of an extraordinary year, it was easy. Thank you, Scattered Authors. Let's hope we are together again soon, but in the meantime...