It was good to see new faces and we were finally rewarded with the first return of our day one member, Gordon Tucker. He's been ill and unable to attend since last January! Welcome back, Tuck!
Our first general meeting of the new season was pretty much devoted to a recap of where we are and where we need to go. Input was generous and some courses of direction set. We've put a lot into this group over the last five years and I have faith in its ability to keep up the growth and change we've always pursued. Our goal is to present a variety of offerings that will offer many outlets for all kinds of writers at all different points in their goals.
It's not really the group that focuses on only one area of the writing world. It's a group of camaraderie and rounded learning. We do offer specialized workshops when the group wants it and there aren't many areas we've not studied indepth. What we aren't, is a specialized group for, say, just critiquing, just publishing, just pitching an agent. We bring the experiences of all these things from people who've already traveled the path.
Most of the information a new author needs about publishing and agent finding requires astute and dedicated Internet Research. I've long recommended magazines such as The Writers Digest and The Writer for more information than any one group or workshop can give you. They have a host of articles and contributors that tell you how to use the information. That is the place for all novices to start. The process requires as much dedication and work as the writing itself. A writers group that meets once or twice or even every week of every month can never substitute for your own research and efforts. What they do provide is support, encouragement, and inspirtation.
There also will be some additions and updates done and managed a little differently on the far left information column. It seems the information is not real clear for a brand new person searching out a group. I was happy to learn that we were found on Google! So our local blog is out 'there' as its own listing.
The best news I have to offer this minute is about our beloved Kris Palmer! I got a call this morning from an overjoyed Kris! This girl has captured the heart of every one of us at the Sarasota group and other groups as well. Her courage has astounded all of us! Kris has written a beautiful book on surviving and building a full life while afflicted with young-onset Parkinson's Disease. It's titled "Dancing With An Elephant" and has not only given us wonder at Kris, herself, but an education on just what this disease does to young people as well as older folks.
Kris had contacted the Michael J. Fox Foundation in hopes of getting an endorsement for her back cover from Michael J. Fox. Today she was told Michael is, indeed, interested and to send him her work to his personal mail. He will be watching for it. I think I shed as many tears as Kris at the joy of it all. How many people are blessed with this almost instant access to sure success? No one deserves it more. Maybe that's how it works, after all. What you give, does in fact, come back to you! You go, Kris!!!
Susan
