Jane Atchley's Blog - Posts Tagged "unbound-heart"

It comes from all sorts of places this need to write. Maybe you finish reading a less than satisfying novel, and, as you throw it across the room, you mutter, “I can write better than that.” Maybe your kid sister finds the stash of angst-filled poems you wrote in high school, and she tells you how good they are. Okay, maybe not.

For me, it came with a silly little free magazine two girlfriends and I decided to write and distribute. Yep. We were drunk. Wings of Fantasy only published one issue. Warring Heart’s beloved hero, Kree Fawr, first appeared in this little rag. He was sixteen, and I was on my way to a writing career or so I thought. Turns out writing, like shrimpin’, is hard work.

Thanks to all of you who entered my giveaway. Congrats, Jenn D. Unbound Heart is on its way. I hope you enjoy it.

Let’s talk allies.

My RWA chapter’s 25th anniversary celebration is finally in the books. My position as membership director kept me very busy through April and May, but now it is back to business. Again, this makes a nice segue into the next step on this writer’s journey.

Almost as soon as I sat down to write I realized I didn’t know jack. There is no better place in the world to learn than your local chapter of Romance Writers of America. I’m lucky to have several NY Times bestselling authors in my chapter, not to mention RITA winners, RITA finalists, Golden Heart winners, and Golden Heart finalist. These people know their stuff and they are happy to share their knowledge. Wonderful speakers present insightful programs each month, and the chapter sponsors helpful inspiring programs to help me not only finish my manuscript, but make it the best it can be.

“But I don’t write romance,” you say.

Not to worry, the mechanics of great writing are the same in every genre. Just to prove my point, let me share something that happened at our anniversary party. One of the events was speed pitching. Sort of like speed dating, but with a book pitch. We had two acquisition editors, both from the romance genre, and an agent, who primarily represents legal thrillers, in to hear pitches as well a multiple published authors to practice on. A couple of men came as visitors. It didn’t take me long to learn one wrote thrillers and the other fantasy. Bottom-line, I passed this info to our chapter president, who encouraged these guys to pitch to the agent and to the editor from a house I knew had two fantasy imprints. These guys left the meeting with requests for their manuscripts. They may not end up selling, but they’re closer than when they walked into a “romance writers” meeting.

Find a local writers group and get started. You’ll learn things and make friends who share your passion. Remember to give back to your club, volunteer, and run for office. Clubs can’t provide top-notch programs or last for 25th years without an active, involved membership.

Yay! My new web site is up. Same address. www.janeatchley.com.

Go by and check out July's recommendations, and let me know what you think of my new web home.