composeconceivecreate

Just another WordPress.com site

  • About Laura Kostur

Fine a place to write – Part Three a Community

Posted by kosturcompose76 on July 27, 2012
Posted in: Writing Exercises.

Do you have a writing community?  In the last year I have actively perused a writing community, to help me progress as a writer and keep myself motivated.

At the moment I attend two writing groups.  In one group we sit and read work aloud, then give and receive constructive (mostly) criticism.  In my other group (that I sadly meet with less often) we sit as a group, do a meditation exercise and then write independently for an hour, sharing our work at the end.  I’m also working with a writing partner on a novel project.

I used to think of writing as a solitary pursuit, but now I know that writing is just another extension of my desire to connect to people.  I like to share my work (even though doing so often makes me feel like I might throw up.)  I also like to hear about the challenges and triumphs of other writers (I am not alone!).  Plus I discovered there are benefits to showing your work to others:

  • Developing bravery and public reading skills. The first time I read in public my hands shook and I shot through the piece in record time.  I’m sure no one heard me properly and I nearly threw up.  But now I can read at a reasonable pace with only minor jitters.  Practice makes perfect may not have manifested yet, but practice definitely is making me better, and since I’m going to be famous one day and asked to read in public, so why not start now?
  • Getting feedback on plot and story.  I get much to close to my work to really know when there is a plot hole.  After all, more happens in the book than what ends up on the page, and I sometimes assume the reader will know what is in my head…It helps to have someone who doesn’t know the whole story read your work and tell you when things have gone sideways.
  • Proofreading and copy editing help.  Just like I get too close to my work to notice plot holes.  I also get too close to notice stupid spelling and grammar mistakes.  After the fifth time I read a sentence I have no idea what it really says on the paper.  In my mind the sentence says what I think it says, and I will pass right over over duplicated words and speelingn mistakes.
  • Ego boost.  (Sounds like an energy drink doesn’t it?)  Believe it or not, most people I have met are gentle with their criticism and generous with their praise when I read…not bad for the ego.

Writing Exercise:

What scares you about writing?  Is it writer’s block?  Are you worried about sharing your ideas?  The risk or criticism or rejection?  Terror of public speaking?  Whatever it is, this fear can be a gold mine for story.  Think about your fear objectively.  What is the root cause of the fear?  How do you deal with the fear?  Have you seen others deal with fear in different ways?  Now create a character who shares your fear and throw them into this terrible situation.  Whatever can go wrong does.  Whatever might make it worse happens.  Spend twenty minutes writing about a fearful writing experience.

Once you have a piece, go forth and find a writing community.  It could be an online forum, a community writing community, or just a friend who likes to write.  Be brave and seek out the company of other creative folks and then share your short piece of writing.  I guarantee whatever happens it wont be as bad as what happened to your character…

Happy Writing.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posts navigation

← Bechkam Coversation – About Not With
Word of the Week – WTF? →
  • Recent Posts

    • I may be a criminal at heart
    • Fire and Ice
    • Miette Resort = Kellerman’s – Dancing
    • Roadtrip!
    • Seeking a Use for My New Special Skill
  • Archives

    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • May 2017
    • November 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • January 2016
    • July 2015
    • May 2015
    • March 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
  • Latest Tweets

    • @katydyers Go to a parent teacher meeting.Tweeted 1 month ago
    • Yesterday I saw a man lick a crosswalk button.Tweeted 4 months ago
    • It's 3am and my #anxiety has decided that I need to be awake and worried about things that my logical mind says are not a problem.Tweeted 5 months ago
    • @adam_lein You have such a rapier wit!Tweeted 5 months ago
    • I broke my arm running (on roller skates) down a grass hill because I thought a boy was chasing me on a ride-on law… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Tweeted 5 months ago
    Follow @LauraKostur
  • Blogroll

    • The Bloggess
    • Pioneer Woman
    • Women at War – Veterans Affairs Canada
    • Surrey International Writers' Conference
    • Academie Duello
    • Home – ComposeConceiveCreate
  • Blog Post Categories

Blog at WordPress.com.
Cancel
%d bloggers like this: