Blog

There are so many ways that being in a writing group helps guide a writer on the long and winding path of the writing process. But I never expected this! Mary, one of the members of Shoreline Writers, has taken her commitment to our group further than I could have imagined. On her months-long trip out west, Mary is taking my book, All Write , and promoting it for me at bookstores and libraries. Here she is in Santa Cruz! While I have not met formally with the group since undertaking the publication and promotion of my book, we have stayed in close contact. The next edition of All Write will need a postscript on what happens when a group disbands, partially or fully. We have discovered that we will always be a group. What we forged united us in a way that even if we never have a formal meeting again, our commitment and connection to each other remains intact. In future blogs you will read about Mary’s journey as she finds a publisher for Cockeyed , her novel about a quirky reporter, Lizzy, who goes on a quest to uncover her mother’s secret life. Claire is close to finishing the editing of Georgiana (held up by those pesky endnotes), the epic life and times of her husband’s great-aunt, in whose house they live. And once I figure out how to insert links in my blog, I'll be sharing Dianne’s blog, Brainy (in utero) Baby, (and, hopefully, future book by the same name) about how to promote the in utero development of a baby’s brain. https://brainyinuterobaby.com/ Four writers: four finished, or almost finished, projects. That’s the power of a writing group!

What is the power of a writing group? This photo says it all—I have a book coming out tomorrow, June 15th. All Write: How to Start, Structure, and Sustain a Writing Group . This never would have happened without the support of my writing colleagues. Not only were they the impetus behind the book, but they also cheered me on every step of the way. When I began this blog, it was specifically for the purpose of creating a platform for my book. I was on my own for this part. In those early posts, I talked about the challenges I faced and my discomfort in the whole process. This is the first paragraph of my first blog: An important guideline in writing is to write what you know. So that is where I'll begin. I know that I don't know how to promote the book that I am going to self-publish this spring. I'm told I need to beef up (sorry vegetarians) my Twitter followers and my Facebook followers. I need to create a new page on my Chrysalis Copy Editing website for the book. I need to spread the word. I do not enjoy any of that. Some people are born schmoozers and salespersons. I'm not one of them. But I know that if I don't do it, no one will buy my book. So, I need to figure it out. I’m happy to report that I have increased my Twitter followers 10 fold. I wrote a blog on my website twice a week and posted them on Facebook and Twitter. Some followers other than my friends or family even liked or shared them! Finally, my website, chrysaliscopyediting.com, has a dedicated page for the book. The most satisfying part of this process was that I wrote the blog twice a week. Monday and Friday mornings became favorite times because I gave myself permission to sit and write, something I haven’t done much of in the past six months as I’ve been getting my book ready for publication. That was a big win. And while I will be taking a break from my blog until the fall to work on selling the book (and spend time with family in Connecticut), this reinforced how much I enjoy the process of writing. I look forward to starting the blog again and seeing how it evolves. I also look forward to getting back to my young adult mystery, My Dead Body , and getting it in shape to send to agents. What happens now with All Write is anyone’s guess. But should you want to buy a copy, they are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle, on Apple Books, at StillwaterBooksRI.com, Ingram Library Services, and select bookstores. You can also email me at debbielmandel@gmail.com for a copy. Thank you for reading this blog. Have a wonderful summer and see you in the fall! And if there’s a book wiggling around inside you, find a writing group and let those words find their way onto the page. All right?

“Should you find a wise critic to point out your faults, follow him [her] as you would a guide to hidden treasure.” —Buddha One of the benefits of a writing group is the invaluable critiquing you will receive on your work in progress. But good editing is a learned skill and takes practice. In many ways it’s as demanding as the actual writing process, maybe more. In my writing group, we evolved our editing skills over time. And the bottom line: writing is rewriting and editing and more rewriting and editing and more rewriting and more editing and more rewriting . . . Good editing means having at least one guidebook on grammar handy. Dreyer’s English by Benjamin Dreyer is a good resource, as is The Chicago Manual of Style . Strunk and White’s Elements of Style and Lynne Truss’s Eats, Shoots & Leaves are oldies, but goodies. Also consider taking an editing course. Classes are accessible online or at local colleges and community ed programs. But knowing what tense verb to use and what type of punctuation is called for is only half the equation. The other is to understand how to constructively critique. The goal is not to criticize one another’s writing but to offer practical suggestions. If something can be better said, give the author substantive recommendations on how they might work the passage to encapsulate the idea they are trying to present. Brainstorm ideas as a group, but always leave the writer with the final say. It’s their writing, not anyone else’s. The tone of your critiquing is also crucial. Be as clear as possible on why something doesn’t work for you. It’s one thing if you are recommending a colon instead of a semicolon—there are specific rules about that. But if you don’t think a passage is clear, or you think the author has missed an opportunity, chose your words carefully. • Practice kindness—I may be wrong, but . . . • Be honest—I think it would be stronger if you could . . . • Present a balance between the positive and the critical—This is good, but I wonder if . . . • Start with a positive, move to a critique, end with a positive—I like the way you use great action verbs and metaphors, but how about you give the reader more detail on the protagonist’s motivation. Otherwise, this chapter is really a page turner. • Be supportive—Have you considered trying this . . . These tips can be applied to every situation in life, not just writing. But always remember—the writer gets the final say. It’s their work. Your job as a group member is to help them achieve the best result possible. And that’s their responsibility to you. It’s the power of a writing group. If you find a group of wise critics, follow them. They will help you find the treasure. Photo: J. Ross

I borrowed this quote by David Bowie from a blog post by Sarah Selecky on writing.* If you feel safe in the area that you are working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you are capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you are just about in the right place to do something exciting. —David Bowie In her post, Sarah discusses the paradoxical characteristics of writing—how it can be the most pleasurable experience and hard work, both at the same time. We’ve all experienced these opposite emotions: how great we feel when we’ve written a super sentence or paragraph or chapter, and how impossible it can feel to get there. A writing group will help with the difficult times. There is always someone to call, to run things by, to get a pick-me-up from, to commiserate with, to brag to, to brainstorm with, to laugh with, cry with, celebrate with, or drown your sorrows with when you are part of a circle of writers. We all have do so many things alone in life, but in writing, you have a choice to get the support. Connect with a group of like-minded individuals and see how much easier the process of writing can be. But it’s like any other relationship—there must be reciprocity in giving and taking, mutual respect for each other, and a commitment to the group and the process. This, too, takes work. But the benefits are exponential. And if finding or starting a group feels like a challenge to you, take David Bowie’s advice: “Always go a little further into the water than you feel you are capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you are just about in the right place to do something exciting.” The rewards are immeasurable. My soon to be released book, All Write: How to Start, Structure, and Sustain a Writing Group, offers step by step instructions on how to create a writing group—from figuring out what you want from a group to finding other members who share the same dreams to creating a workable group and much more. Pub Day is right around the corner, June 15th. All Write will be available from Amazon in paperback and on Kindle; Apple Books; select bookstores; StillwaterBooksRI.com; or by contacting me at debbielmandel@gmail.com. *Enjoyment vs. pleasure. (sarahseleckywritingschool.com) Photo: D. Mandel

These last few weeks have left me feeling like I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. But with the help of daily meditation and a twice-weekly (zoom) yoga class, I am starting to settle back into myself. Which feels good, because that scattered, oh-no-what-am-I-doing feeling is my least favorite state of mind. Which leads me right to the topic of this blog . . . the power of a writing group. I cannot tell you how many times I came to group stuck, not knowing if I was coming or where I was going in a particular passage. And I wasn’t alone. Everyone in the group experienced that over the years. You can get so lost in the fine details that the big picture becomes obscured, or the opposite, so lost in the big picture that you miss the important and necessary particulars. A fresh set of eyes, or in our group, three fresh sets of eyes, can make all the difference. And the resolution is so simple when it’s worked through in a group. In our writing group, each member was invested in the outcome of everyone’s writing, which provided a myriad of benefits. Besides being there to bounce ideas off one another, we had a built-in team of researchers, ready-made experts on a wide variety of topics, and someone there who either knew the answer to a grammar/writing/editing question or would find the answer and bring it back to group. We never had to do it alone, a rare treat in life. It didn’t matter whether we were working on Claire’s biography set in the 1800s, Mary’s women’s fiction novel with all its quirkiness, Dianne’s nonfiction book on how to build baby brain strength in utero, or either of my books, nonfiction or fiction. We always had all the bases covered. Not all writing groups will be the same, of course. But if you take the time to find a group of people who are looking for the same writing support you are, create a structure to meet the needs of the members, and work to establish the comradery necessary to sustain a group, the result is magical. That is why I wrote All Write: How to Start, Structure, and Sustain a Writing Group . In this book, I outline the steps necessary to create your own powerful and supportive writing circle. Publication Day is just around the corner. Stay tuned. As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” Photo: J. Benn

Today’s post looks at an unexpected positive and powerful aspect of a writing group. This is Memorial Day, which you may not know originally was called Decoration Day and observed on May 30th. Decoration Day started shortly after the Civil War ended when the graves of soldiers who died during the Civil War were—yes, you have it right—decorated to honor them. While Decoration Day was observed prior to 1868, it was officially declared a holiday then by Maj. Gen. John A. Logan who said: The 30th day of May 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit. * I never knew this bit of history about Memorial Day until we began editing one writing group member’s book. While Claire’s book is primarily about her husband’s great-great aunt, Georgiana, it takes place in part during the Civil War. The book includes letters written by Georgiana’s father, Abner, which he wrote from various battlefields during the war, including Gettysburg. Despite blazingly hot days, freezing winter days, and rain drenched days, despite never being adequately clothed, frequently having no roof over his head at night, and on several occasions with bullets whizzing feet above his head, he faithfully wrote home to his family. And for the most part, he did so with humility and grace and optimism as he fought for the freedom of Blacks. For all the history classes I took, all the movies I saw, all the books I read, nothing brought home the reality of this war as did his letters. So this morning, because of my writing group, I woke predawn to be at the flagpole of our condominium complex to lower the flag to half-staff at 5:19 a.m. While I’ve always enjoyed flag duty—first learned during my years in Girl Scout camp—the flag would be raised or lowered at my convenience. And never at such an early sunrise. Especially on a 45 degree, wet spring morning. But how could I, in good conscience, not walk ten minutes on a damp, cool morning to appropriately honor the men and women who have sacrificed all for our country? Abner would have thought the day quite mild. I had to do it. The power of a writing group. And the power of those Civil War letters preserved for posterity that demonstrate a commitment to do what is right despite the difficult and treacherous conditions. And demonstrate as well, the commitment to write despite these same difficult and treacherous conditions. Thank you to all the fallen women and men who have served this country. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/5-facts-about-memorial-day-and-meaning/2521561/ Photo: D. Mandel

“If a writer of prose knows enough of what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an ice-berg (sic) is due to only one-eighth of it being above water. A writer who omits things because he does not know them only makes hollow places in his writing.” –Ernest Hemingway My writing group adhered to this principle of immersing ourselves in understanding everything we could about our subject matter. That looked different for each of us. One member’s book, women’s fiction, is set in the early 20th century in Texas. She had a lot to learn—from the dialect to the customs to the social structure of the times. Claire, who I wrote about in the last blog, is writing biographies of family ancestors and needed to immerse herself in the late18th, 19th, and early 20th century—the clothing, the politics, women’s rights (or rather lack of), Prohibition, and so much more. The third member has written a book and is blogging about the development of a baby’s brain in utero. Talk about research. Hers is heavy duty. I began this blog series by discussing the importance of writing what you know. It’s the only way to write, really. If I were to write about cryptocurrency, I’d squeeze out a paragraph or two, and you’d have everything I know. And even that probably wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny. But in writing about writing groups, while I don’t profess to know everything there is to know, and I am limited by my experiences in the two writing groups I’ve belonged to over the years, I feel confident that I am steeped enough in the experience to share useful information. For writers just starting out, an important point to keep in mind is to write about what you know. I read that the majority of first books are in some way autobiographical, which makes perfect sense. What other topic do you know as well as you know yourself? The first book I wrote (and have yet to finish editing) is a young adult mystery, My Dead Body . It is loosely based on my experience of finding a dead body on the beach when I was fifteen. Having that level of involvement in the story gives it a depth that doesn’t need explaining, as Hemingway said. Write what you know. Do research into your subject matter so that you fill the mass of the iceberg below the surface. Then use symbolism, metaphors, and other descriptive techniques to allow the reader to discover for themselves the meaning hidden below the surface. Photo: D. Mandel

Today I can finally say, “It’s happening!” On June 15, 2021, my book, All Write: How to Start, Structure, And Sustain a Writing Group , will be available for purchase. And I owe it all to my writing group . That is the power of a writing group. Not only did they provide the material for this book, but they edited and critiqued and supported me every word along the way. Everything I discuss in the book has been thoroughly tried and vetted by the group. I began this blog a few months ago by asking the question, “What do I do now?” As a first-time author who had hired a hybrid publisher, I had no idea how to go about the process of marketing my book. A few months later, I’m in the flow. I’ve been writing this blog twice a week, a task I look forward to every Monday and Friday. I’ve built up my followers on Twitter. I’ve added to my website https://www.chrysaliscopyediting.com/. I’m posting regularly on Facebook. I may even tackle Instagram with the help of my grandchildren. So many of us have a book inside just waiting to be written. All we need is that push to sit down and do it. Writing a book is a daunting undertaking, but if you’re like me, having a commitment to someone else makes sure that it gets done. That’s one great thing a group provides— accountability. If I say I’m going to bring in a chapter, well, I’m going to bring in that chapter. If I tell myself, Oh, yeah, I’ll write a chapter this week, that’s not necessarily going to happen. Sound familiar? One member of my group, Claire, put it like this: "I don’t think I’d be writing without a writing group. They give me the discipline of deadlines, the guts to omit or add, and a fresh look at the chapter I’m sick of . . . When they say, 'I'd like to know more about something,' I make the addition." Claire has already published one biography about her great-grandmother and is on her final edits of a second biography—this one about her husband’s great-great-aunt. Both books give the reader a detailed look into the life and times of these women. Her goal? A biography for every woman on her family tree. Now that’s dedication! If you have that yearning to write, try a group. Start a group. Find a group. But don’t deny yourself the joy of being able to say, “It’s happening!” It’s worth it. I can tell you that from firsthand experience. And I owe it all to my writing group.

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with the camera on my iPhone 12 Pro, which takes amazing pictures with its wide angle and telephoto lenses. It has many more sophisticated features than I’m used to, and slowly, I’m trying to learn them. Yesterday, I was playing with taking delayed action photographs—that was cool. Later, on the way back to my condo—the sprinklers sprang to life, which inspired this photo. Which reminded me of one of the exercises my writing group employed to hone our skills. It’s a technique called “Can the camera see it?” ( The First 50 Pages by Jeff Gerke). Following this method, you imagine you are filming a scene and look at what you’ve written through the lens of a camera. Ask yourself, What can the camera see? That’s what your reader will see, so you need to be sure you have focused in with your wordsmithing to get the desired effect you want. Look at the picture at the top of this blog. What do you see on the right side above the water spray vs the left side which is enveloped by the water droplets? Take a minute and think about the differences. Your reader will only see what you show them, so what words will help them see a shadowy world shrouded in mist and fog? If the camera can’t see it, your readers won’t either. This exercise will help you put down on the page exactly what is in your mind. One of the benefits in being part a writing group is that you learn new techniques like this one together. When you are in a group, a technique that may not make sense when you first read it is clarified under the inspection of multiple sets of eyes. You don’t have to do it alone. The difference between the almost right word and the right word is . . . the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning. —Mark Twain