WRITING JOURNEY TOURNIQUET - Coming Out of Your Shell

Well, this time I'm going to talk about something truly scary that can paralyze a shy person just by mentioning it to them. After you've written your first novel and you've polished and had others read it, its time to venture out of your shell. As writers we are usually alone a lot of the time with the characters we've created and learned to trust. We're either shut up in a room or maybe camped out on a couch somewhere with our laptops writing by ourselves. We can get pretty comfortable in our own shells, away from anyone who we feel might judge our writing. But there comes a time when we have to come out of our shells if we want to grasp the success awaiting us beyond our protections.

I can remember when I was afraid to venture out. I started with baby steps, joining sites like Query Tracker and critiquing the work of others and having them critique mine. Then I set up a blog, not really planning on what I'd write on a blog, but I'd find something. Slowly, my follower list grew to ten. Then I came across a blog that was sponsoring a blogfest, so I participated in it and added more to my follower list. As time went on, I friended more writers and  followed them. I'd read my new friends' blogs and learn new things from them. Then I attended the online conference WriteOnCon and got more critiques and met more writers. And finally, I decided to join NaNoWriMo and met some of the best partners in writing--the lovely ladies who share this blog with me.

On twitter, I've found a few more friends, those who cheer me on during my highs and listen to my whining at my lows in 140 characters or less. It is moments in need that you find the best in people, especially the writerly types. We are there for each other, to bounce off ideas, complain about rejections, and just laugh at the silliness of it all. If I hadn't come out of my shell, I would never have found the treasures awaiting for me out there in the scary world. My friends. They are the ones I smile at each time I see their pictured faces scroll down my twitter feed or pop up in the comments of my blog. The ones who'll stay up till three in the morning helping me get my darn twitter pitch together so I can enter it in a contest the next day.

If I hadn't come out of my shell, no one would read this post, but as I write it, I know my friends will be there and I'm safe in their generous spirits. And the only way I know how to show my appreciation to each and every writer who makes this journey easier, is to give back. If ever you're in need and you just need someone, seek me out. I'll never let you down. Come on out, the light is better on the outside of your shell.

If you haven't checked out WriteOnCon, go here and join the next online conference August 16-18, 2011. 

That's it, until next time.

 

You can find Brenda on her blog http://brenleedrake@blogspot.com

 or on twitter here http://twitter.com/#!/brendadrake