The Writing Life

I confess: I’m a groupie. Most often, writing is an isolated career. We tend to work within our own minds, in our homes. So if there’s a writing group that’s related to my passion, I’m there.

It wasn’t always this way. When I worked full time writing and editing for newspapers and magazines, as deadlines approached, we’d hunker down and – jointly – tackle the projects. Some of the best memories consist of staying up late, ordering in take-out and basically ignoring the rest of the world.

Now, in order to get the “me” writing time, I’m alone. And, it gets lonely.

Joining groups makes me feel like I’m not the only one out there. I’m connected with other like-minded individuals around the States, and the world.

That’s the good part. The bad part? These groups take time!

When I started thinking about this blog, I added up the various groups I’ve joined – all in pursuit of following my craft and meeting others with a common goal.

The list includes:

• SavvyAuthors – Enough said ;-)
  
• RWA – Since I’m writing in romance, it’s a given
  
• Chick-Lit Writers – an Online specialty chapter of RWA
  
• OCC RWA – The local Orange County RWA chapter
  
• Passionate Ink – Online chapter for erotic romance writers
  
• PopFiction – Took a correspondence class through Writer’s Market YEARS ago, and this is a group of fellow students.
  
• Creativity Cauldron – Discussion group of paranormal writers that use witchcraft in stories. Took a workshop and a group was created from the members.
  
• Fantasy, Future & Paranormal Chapter of RWA – my current WIP is a YA paranormal, and I’ve published some short stories in the genre.
  
• YARWA – Young Adult RWA – See above!
  
• Mystery Writers of America
  
• TallGrass Writers Group – Association out of Illinois. I’ve been in four of their annual anthologies.

Note that this collection of writing associations does not include various fan & review groups, publishers’ groups or local mom’s groups that I belong to, and receive a daily digest. And I’m sure that there are some that I’m forgetting about.

Let’s face it: I’m an addict. A groupie.

Do I need help? How about you?