Interview with Peter Aronson

 

Today, we have an opportunity to talk to Peter Aronson, who has written MANDALAY HAWK’S DILEMMA, THE UNITED STATES OF ANTHROPOCENE,  a novel for middle-grade readers.

First, let me thank you for joining me.  I appreciate you giving me your links and I want to share those with our readers.

YOUR INFORMATION:

www.peteraronsonbooks.com 

https://www.facebook.com/peter.aronson.359

Twitter: @paronsonNYC

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-aronson-7670411b/ 

To purchase Mandalay Hawk’s Dilemma: Buy Mandalay Hawk's Dilemma  

That is great.  Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to start writing?

Actually, I have been writing for almost 40 years. Hate to date myself, but it’s true. After graduating from law school, I attended and graduated from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, then embarked on a 20-plus year career as a newspaper reporter and editor, with time also spent as a TV reporter and producer. I mostly covered legal affairs stories because of my background as a lawyer.

That's great. One of my mentors in writing had a career in journalism.

However, I didn’t start writing outside of the journalism world in earnest until about 2015. My creative juices took over and I began writing short stories and then started the Mandalay Hawk novel, a full six years ago. I wanted to write a novel for middle-grade readers that covered an essential topic in today’s world. My daughters, 10 and 12 at the time, were mostly reading Dystopian-themed books. I wanted to write a more serious piece of fiction. Thus, I began researching and writing a book about young teens fighting global warming, which I came to realize was the most important story of our time. 

Where do you get your inspiration, information, and ideas for books?

I have a strong background in news, having worked, as I said above, as a journalist for more than 20 years. Thus, current events often grab me and motivate me. I had been reading about the devastating impact of global warming for years before I decided to write a children’s book about the subject. 

What are your hobbies and do they ever play into your writing?

Interesting question about hobbies. I have always been very athletic - having played basketball in high school and then taking up running in my 20s. I have run in a lot of races and three marathons and I think the motivation I have had as an athlete, to compete and to succeed, carries over to my writing, to push myself, to always succeed at a higher level. I am an extremely self-motivated person, and I think it is somehow tied to my love of sports, my love of sweating and pushing myself, and my love of watching great athletes perform at the highest level - ie, Steph Curry! As a writer, I am always competing with myself, to somehow take my research, my thought process, my thinking, to a higher level than it was before. I am 65 and I have warned my wife, Emily, that I am really just getting started … that thinking and writing, and writing and thinking, are my new-found passions in life and pushing me forward to do more and better work. And of course, reading is a major hobby of mine. Because without reading, there can really not be any writing. Because you learn when you read and you write what you learn. Right?    

What advice would you give someone who wants to be a writer?

Writers need to follow their passion. Write about what your most passionate about. If you love to knit and find yourself doing that most of your free time, than write about knitting. If you love watching football game after football game on a Sunday afternoon, then write about that, write about why you love to watch all those games. If you love watching your five-year-old son eat a hamburger and get ketchup all over his face, then write about that. I truly believe that every person in the world has interesting stories to tell. Notice I wrote stories, as in plural. Write about what interests you. Write about what moves you. But you gotta write, gotta sit down and write. In your own words.

  

What is the best advice you have ever been given as a writer?

A writing instructor once said to my class: “You have to love the process to succeed.” By “process” she meant the writing, the re-writing …. and, then, more re-writing. I wrote more than 20 drafts of my Mandalay Hawk book, revising ad nauseam - shortening, condensing, deleting, exchanging one scene for another. I am not sure that I  “loved” every second of this “process,” but I certainly enjoyed major parts of it and loved the creative stimulation I felt as I improved the manuscript. 

Do you write full-time or around another job? How do you schedule your time to write?

I write full-time now. In 2015 and for the following three years after that, I continued to practice law in New York City as I wrote my Mandalay Hawk book and also wrote a few short stories. I got up every morning at 5 am and wrote for a few hours before going to work. I closed my law practice at the end of 2018 and have been writing full-time since then. I have written six books during the past six years, Mandalay Hawk being the third one to get published. A trilogy of middle-grade soccer novels, written with soccer legend Shep Messing, will be published in 2022.

How many hours a day do you write?

Six, ten … sometimes more. It just depends. I also have to mix in research (reading) and marketing for the various projects I am working on. I usually work parts of seven days a week, because I love what I am doing.

What is your favorite part about writing?

I love creating a story - characters, dialogue, scenes, ideas, events.  When something I have written clicks, when I think it is a novel thought that’s worth telling, and I think people will enjoy reading it - I feel on top of the world. That’s one of the reasons I love writing short stories. You can really let your mind wander and go from start to finish in a reasonable period of time - days, weeks, or a month or two, as opposed to years. There are few if any things in life where you can do whatever you darn well please. Writing fiction is one of them. You can let your mind wander, like a balloon drifting through the air, going where the wind, or in a writer’s case, where your imagination, takes it.

If you want to write, write. There is no in between.

What does literary success look like to you?

I want to write a book or stories that reach a wide audience. I am not satisfied with where I am right now.

That's a great goal to get your works in more hands. In that spirit, please tell us about your current release.

Mandalay Hawk’s Dilemma is a middle-grade novel for our troubled and overheated times. Mandalay is a juvenile delinquent who knows all about the devastating impact of global warming, but she has to stay out of trouble. Because if she doesn’t, a judge will rip her from her father and send her to juvie jail for a good long time.

So what’s a 13-year-old to do when the Big Heat comes, it’s 2030, and this new, more intense global warming is suffocating and swamping earth, causing death, destruction and mayhem like never before.

Mandalay’s only choice is KRAAP - KIDS REVOLT AGAINST ADULT POWER. Adults screwed up, so Mandalay and her pals have to fix the problem.

There’s a march on Washington unlike any other. There’s cat and mouse with hundreds of armed soldiers. And then there’s rapping in the Oval Office to a captive president. With five billion people watching, these kids aren’t leaving until they get what they want. It’s a middle-grade novel for our difficult times, for kids who care about the future. 

I am proud to say that Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review and called the book “A scathing work and an essential blueprint for youth battling climate change.” 

Can you read / provide us with a small exert? 

Late in the book, Mandalay and her friends, finally, make it to the White House, where they get to lecture a captured president. The lecture includes Mandalay standing on the president’s famous desk and rapping to him, as billions watch via live stream:

“Yo, yo, yo Mr. President, William “Bucky” Billingham, be a man with a plan ... 

Our Democracy made you electable, the people made you selectable.

 

Don’t let us become perishable, avoid being the Prez who’s a Fool,

Make sure we’re sustainable, so you’re remembered as the Prez who’s cool.

 

Sustainable, sustainable, what a beautiful thought, make sure  Mr. President, 

you can’t be bought.

Global warming, the scourge of our earth, renewable energy, the gem of our 

rebirth.

Swimming in the Hudson in winter, what a freaking blast, but the reality, this 

great warming stunner, is really a big fat bummer.

99 degrees in the shade, we no longer have it made.

 

Glaciers melt and fall, oceans warm and rise, coastal cities drown and 

crumble under, people tumble all asunder. 

Insects populate, diseases propagate.

Droughts desecrate, starvation escalates.

The masses migrate, epidemics depopulate. 

Civil unrest spreads and so does hate, then civil wars come and devastate.

And forests burn, destroy and kill, those knowledgeable yearn, but hesitate.

Eliminate carbon pollution, renewables are the solution.

Solar, wind and water, if we don't make that call and convert it all, we’ll find that we all fall ... fall ... fall ...

We face the probability, we really do, of having the grand distinction, of

dooming our human race to eventual extinction.

Do you want that Mr. President?

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am now in the final polishing stage of a trilogy of soccer novels written with my co-author Shep Messing, a legend in the soccer world as a former U.S. Olympian and now current broadcaster for the New York Red Bulls. These books will be published in 2022.

Also, I sometimes write non-fiction. My essay on race, called My Reckoning, was recently published by Evening Street Review. The essay can be read by clicking here and going to page 6 or 7:

https://www.scribd.com/document/545372849/Evening-Street-Review-NUMBER-32-Winter-2021

Who are your favorite authors? 

Roberto Bolano opened my eyes to fiction that shows anything goes. 

What part of writing and publishing was most difficult for you?

Definitely the self-publishing part is the most difficult. I want to write, not market myself.   

I totally understand. I feel the same. Anything additional you want to share with the readers? 

If you want to write, write. There is no in between.

One more time, where can someone go to purchase your book?

Amazon: Buy Mandalay Hawk's Dilemma

Or go to IngramSpark. 

Add your links here again:

www.peteraronsonbooks.com 

Interview and Review: Purple Snowflake Marketing

Interview:

Lillian Brummet

Today, we have an opportunity to talk to Lillian Brummet, who along with her co-writing husband and business partner - Dave, have 6 books available including the recently revised Purple Snowflake Marketing - How To Make Your Book Stand Out In A Crowd (May 2021)... and also From One Small Garden - Over 300 Delicious Nutritious Recipes (Feb 2021).

 

 

First, let me thank you for joining us. I appreciate you giving me your links and I want to share those with our readers.

 

 

Jerry - I'm so very glad to be here today ! I'm very active online and can be found on dozens of sites however these are the main ones:

 

Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/lillianbrummet

 

Brummet's Website: http://BrummetMedia.ca

 

FaceBook: http://facebook.com/lillian.brummet

 

 

"Be patient with the process; 

be patient with others." 

That is great. Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to start writing?

 

 

Well, I'm in my early 50's, comfortably married for more than 30 years and living in my dream location - the Kootenay Region of BC (Canada). We have a modest home that we've been working hard on to make it more energy efficient, water conservative, etc. and creating a wildlife habitat, food production property. 

That is fabulous! I have seen a real flourish of interest in conservation, energy efficient, and over all simpler living. How has that process been for you?

It has taken 11 years of hard work here, but we have reached the point where much of the work on the property and the home are updated - except the main carpet and kitchen on the main floor, they still need updating. Sadly we ran out of funds. lol I hope we can continue the final updates in the future, of course. 

Hubby, Dave, and I work as a team to manage our many business endeavors. Dave is a musician and teaches drums and percussion through the studio in our home. He also runs a non-profit volunteer service where he will occasionally visit a school to maintain, fix, assemble, etc. old equipment, making it new for the students to play. 

That is great. One of my best friends is a band director. They are also always tinkerers on equipment, I think. How about your books and marketing?

He manages the website, online and print images, ads, audio and graphics. He also handles the proof, format and book cover designs - when it comes to the books - while I do most of the marketing. After working together for more than 2 decades, we've ironed out most of the kinks in working together and operate as a fairly smooth team. I'm 5'2", brown hair, kinda chubby and have a flushed appearance. I love being in the gardens, hanging out on the deck or in the sitting area in the yard, and spending time with our beloved fur kids. Dave works a day-job, keeping a steady income coming in to make up the difference during gaps in business income generation.

 

 

Where do you get your inspiration, information, and ideas for books?

 

 

Typically, I will discover a problem, or a common question, that I can provide a simple solution for and then I use that as my basis for starting a book or article project. As you probably saw, most of my published books and articles have been non-fiction, how-to genres. For me, it is important to feel that I have utilized my skills to contribute to a more positive, proactive society. My ultimate goal is: To create one little mist droplet at a time, hoping that eventually my career would have created a small ripple of positive change in the pond of humanity. 

 

 

What are your hobbies and do they ever play into your writing?

 

 

I'm a creative person - if I am not painting with words, I can be found painting with plants (a.k.a. gardening) or playing with the fur-kids. I enjoy the arts and at times have dabbled at sketching, painting, some crafts and carving. I'd love to have the time and headspace to do more re: painting and carving... perhaps wood burning too. Running a home business with Dave, and being 80% sole manager of the home, pets, meals, and yard work... doesn't leave me a lot of time for playing with too many artistic activities right now. Dave is a musician, and so he's in a couple bands and when he isn't tackling his "honey-do" list, he can be found in the studio making noise or puttering on an instrument. Dave, too, is an artist and his painting projects mainly cover drum shells.

 

 

What advice would you give someone who wants to be a writer?

 

 

Research every single step you plan to take, before you take it. Never make anyone work for anything; have it all ready for them ahead of time. Be professional, be gracious, express gratitude, and promote every event in every way they can. Writers need to look at their work as a business - their products include books, blogs and articles. Determine how they are different from others in their genre, how their product is better than others, and create a marketing plan that fits with their unique situation. 

 

 

That is some great advice. What, apart from the above, is the best advice you have ever been given as a writer?

 

Actually the best advice came from my brother during the loss of our parents... he said: "Be patient with the process; be patient with others". I found this applied to our business activities as well. One of the many courses I have taken explained that it is better to focus on what you do well, use those skills and outlets to the best of your ability. I learned then that I can let the frustrating guilt go, the guilt I felt from not accomplishing every single thing right now. I also learned that not every outlet works for every single situation. One book or one person may do very well using LinkedIn, while another finds Instagram is their key to success and another may find they don't use social networking sites at all but rather focus on social media like e-zines or blogs and another author might live in a large center and therefore will focus on book signings and similar events. What works for you now, may not work tomorrow - so you have to be flexible. Each new product you release needs to have it's own unique marketing plan that lasts for the life of that product, including new editions, revisions, contract changes with publishers, etc.  

 

 

How do you schedule your time to write?

 

The amount of time I spend writing will vary from day to day, project to project. When I'm in the throws of writing a manuscript, I can be at the keyboard for several hours at a time. I have to get up and move around frequently, whether I'm sitting, standing or laying down - I have to change positions frequently. This is due to a car accident I was in a long time ago. Therefore I get up and take breaks and then go back to it. If I'm assigned an article I'll write it all at once, do the research take the notes, draft it out... all in one session. I hate absolutely loath leaving projects unfinished - my natural tenacity and self-disciplined mindset will not let me take time off if I have a project on the go. Therefore I do schedule projects with a break in between so that I can recharge my batteries. 

 

 

What is your favorite part about writing?

 

 

Would it be weird to say almost EVERYTHING? (she laughs) I truly love coming up with an idea that could make a difference in people's lives. Doing the research comes naturally to me and I really enjoy the information gathering stage. Putting it all together, well organized, and in draft manuscript stage. Then the rewrites happen the following day and this is the creative part, writing for the intended audience. The part I have difficulty with is the editing and proof stages. These stages require long hours of tedious work. I would have already found a publisher for the product before writing it or while writing it, but waiting to see the art or graphic work that Dave creates to go with the piece is super exciting too. One of my favorite activities is, in fact, marketing and networking. I realize most authors loath this stage, but I feel that once you know the ropes and have everything prepared well in advance - this stage can be quite enjoyable!

 

What does literary success look like to you?

 

Every published product is a success - we had the idea, completed it, got it out to the public, marketed it and got some sales.... that is success. So many people dream of sharing their thoughts, story or skill but never get around to it or never complete it. 

That is very true. I know for me personally, there was a great sense of accomplishment and worth in self publishing as well as with a small indie press. It is important, I think to know what your goals as an author are.

For me, the goal is to make a difference. Of course I aim to contribute to the budget via book sales and article sales and making a living. However the main reason why I started writing in the first place was to give my life meaning, a reason for my existence and survival, and to feel like my life had value, the hope that there is a reason why I am here. 

Now, I believe you have also garnered some praise for your work?

We've won numerous awards and the one that means the most to me personally came from the Recycling Council of BC (Canada) for "outstanding work with the media" re: waste reduction (... reuse, repurpose, etc.) - a topic I wrote about for many, many years and we have a 2-book series on the topic of living green as well (Trash Talk - It Is Easy To Be Green). Dave loves to tell stories, share experiences, and strives to entertain while educating. He has a real talent for taking dull writing and jazzing it up for the reader.

 

Most recently, you revised a work and published a new book? Can you tell us about those?

 

Omgosh I'd love to, Jerry, thank you for asking. The most recent release is actually a revision of a book we published in 2012: Purple Snowflake Marketing - How To Make Your Book Stand Out In A Crowd (revised May 2021). It has been totally updated and revised, released again just a few weeks ago in late-May. I'm super stoked about it as it shares more than 2.5 decades of experience in the writing and media industries, as well as experience in running and managing businesses. This book will walk writers through the process for each product they release, and create a marketing plan that will help them stand out from a snowstorm of other authors, that will last for the life of their book. This year has been incredibly busy, as we had released our cookbook From One Small Garden - Over 300 Delicious Nutritious Recipes in February (2021), just a few months before the new revision of the guidebook for authors.

 

 

Can you provide us with a small exert? 

 

Sure, Jerry. This is an expert from a section found in the first few pages of the book: A Reality Check - For a Home Office:

 

"Writers often find it astounding that there are so many people who would love to have a free book from them – and often expect it. Friends, family – they can be included in these numbers of people who behave this way. While a writer should expect to give copies away to the media, it is important to not fall into the guilt trips or any other emotional trip that your friends or family try to lay on you. If they want to support you, they will.

 

Some people lie about supporting you and say they’ve bought a book but didn’t; a white lie – they think – to save your feelings. The thing is they may be embarrassed that they forgot, or couldn’t afford one, or they just don’t want to admit that they are not interested in your book. You’ll also encounter family and friends who are unsupportive in other ways: jealousy for instance is a big one – these people will often tell you about the obstacles of the writing business, how people rarely make money at it and other depressing bits of ‘helpful advice’. There are always surprises and hurtful events for all authors, but we can learn how to keep expectations on a more realistic level.

 

Support, too, can come from unexpected places – while a close friend appears very reluctant to put a stack of bookmarks on her store counter, a stranger will be more than glad to have met you and will go to great lengths in unexpected ways to support you.

 

Self-discipline is another hurtle that authors face. The intense amount of time and energy that goes into the business and marketing aspect of running any self-employment business venture – like writing – can be really depressing sometimes…but it must be done. You must also be passionate about your work, reminding yourself why you are writing can help. 

 

Having been self-employed since 1992, we have learned a lot about the balancing act that comes with running a business. Entrepreneurs have to make choices as to what is practical and what takes precedence. We have to prioritize and when we choose something, we have to be willing to make the sacrifices to make that new task happen. It doesn’t take long before new entrepreneurs discover that some activities are very time sensitive. Sometimes it feels like the pressure is on and the emotional pain and stress arise when we have to let something go in order to accomplish what has to be done."

 

 

Thanks for sharing that exert. It really gives our readers a chance to sample your work. What is next on your publishing list?

 

Actually, we are producing Dave's Dad's writings... he passed away about 4 years ago, leaving us to handle his estate, funeral and will... and his written materials. Dad (Frank Brummet) was active in writing groups in Kelowna, Grand Forks and Creston, and was also a treasured member of the local Toastmaster's branch. In honor of this, his life, his writings... we will publish them this year. I hope to embark on Dave's Dad's writings within the next week. We will publish it in a trilogy (Frank's Wanderings - quirky photos, Frank's Ponderings - poetry, Frank's Tales - short stories/memoir). We will donate copies to the libraries, toastmaster group, and writing groups he was a part of over the years. So we will be busy putting this trilogy together, formatting, cover design, etc. for the next couple of months. Once this is done, our slate is clear and we can move on to the next goals :) ....and yes, we have lots of other goals.

 

 

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

 

On a personal level the best money we ever spent was going on tour... we packed up the dogs, got a house sitter and went on the road on 3 separate occasions. Taking our camping trailer (we sold it a couple years ago) from the southern coast of BC, through the Okanagan, Boundary and Kootenay regions. This was so much fun - kind of like a working, tourist, camping vacation. We've done various types of print and online advertising and while many have helped in various ways, the most effective marketing tool has been bookmarks... everybody likes a free, beautifully designed bookmark. They are easy to hand out, but also it is easy to get a business, hotel or delivery service (i.e. a pizza outlet) to distribute them for you. 

 

 

 

Anything additional you want to share with the readers? 

 

Oh yes! We love networking and would welcome your readers to reach out and connect. We have two blogs that your readers may enjoy. The Brummet's Conscious Blog focuses on inspiring, positive, proactive topics offering a fresh outlook on the world including author interviews, product reviews, inspiring quotes and refreshing articles; celebrating amazing individuals, businesses and organizations doing wonderful things. We have several pages on this blog, featuring local volunteer opportunities, our book reviews, about us, and more. The second blog focuses on topics for musicians, particularly drummers and percussionists: https://DrumItWithBrummet.blogspot.com Where you will find quotes, articles, interviews, product reviews, amusing stories, memes and whatever else we feel will interest our readers.

 

 

 

That is excellent. I think a lot of my readers subscribe and like blogs. Where can our readers go to find and purchase your books? 

 

They can visit our website, where we have a special page listing all the books we have written:

http://BrummetMedia.ca

 

Or they can visit our Amazon Central page... where they can choose the formats such as kindle or print.

Our Author Central Page on Amazon 

Perfect! Thank you for spending some time with us at circumlocution.net.

BELOW IS MY REVIEW POSTED ON THE ZON:

“Many new authors feel the only way to succeed is through book signings and getting bookstores to stock their book. They are mistaken.”

Dave and Lillian Brummet set out to give writers a clear path to success. They offer various preparatory steps, including some good material on self-care and time management. Then they seek to demystify the bookselling process in face-to-face venues. They discuss bookstores, smaller venues, libraries, and alternative places. “If your book has ski content, for instance, visit ski shops to hold signings…” The also lead you through your target groups to help you better identify your customer. The book offers several antidotes, encouragements, and examples along the way.

 

I often ask people why they got into writing. Seldom is it “to make lots of money.” Most writers wouldn’t turn down fame and fortune, but got into writing to tell a story. This book is a refreshing counter to the many, many, many, many, many books out there on digital sales, FB ads, and internet marketing. There is something special about the live, in-person connection of an author and reader, perhaps even moreso now as we come out of Covid and quarantines.

 

WHY WE WRITE: A Writing Group?

 How to choose a group:

I have interviewed now over 25 independent authors self-publishing and working to bring their book to market. Of those, I have read nearly 20 of their books in the past two years. I ask a set of interview questions to each author. If there is one question that I have found directly relates to the quality of their work it is their answer to "Are you part of any writing groups?"

A "yes" almost always, translates into a stronger story, a better book, and a more marketable (corrected and edited) edition. It is not universal, and there are exceptions on both sides. However, it is enough that I would suggest some causality.

If you have been reading this series, you know already that much of my journey came about because I enjoyed the friendships I formed. I came to writing as an avid reader with stories to tell, who loved BBQ, and met a few friends who wrote. Since then, I have participated in several types of groups. It is true that most groups may serve in multiple arenas but I would venture to say most pendulum swing to one side or the other. Here are my classifications:

-1. Geographic Group - Primary Goal: Encourage

    I am a member of a group called Crazy Buffet Club. 

SEE OUR WEBSITE HERE

https://ribandloin.com/

We got our name because the original members met at a Ryan's Steakhouse twice a month. Ryan's closed down and a hibachi style buffet opened called the Crazy Buffet. The Crazy Buffett closed as well and the group moved to Rib N Loin - a delicious BBQ place in Chattanooga. 

  Well... The next time we didn't curse the restaurant but the entire world as Covid sent us virtual. 

Our group meets with all levels of writers. The first of the month we discuss the craft of writing and check in on each other's progress. The second we look at a writing sample to discuss (Maybe more along the lines of the second style group though we are pretty informal)

The name Crazy Buffet stuck because we have an anthology we put out from time to time. All proceeds go to support the Chattanooga Young Writer's Group based in our local college. Since we are an eclectic group the stories are not themed. It is indeed a bit of a crazy buffet of southern fiction.

Buy on Amazon Here!

   

In some ways, it seems like a group that doesn't move the writer forward. But, I would suggest it is a pivotal group to join if you are a new writer looking to move toward publication. For one, there is an easy access point to get your work in print. There are also many seasoned members to coach, teach, mentor, and help. Most of all, there are friendships that make worldbuilding, character sheets, and discussions of "what if's" fun. The group needs a strong lead to keep things between the rails. Such groups can often be found in local writing guilds. I know such groups exist in Atlanta, Huntsville, Knoxville, and Birmingham - cities near me. I know that my own city of Chattanooga has such an umbrella to help locate a good group. Ours is the Chattanooga Writer's Guild.

-2. Professional Groups 

    A professional group gives opportunity to join a set of writers (and possible other artisans) for the purpose of benefiting from each other collectively. Above I mentioned the one in my city: Chattanooga Writer's Guild. While it helps people locate a group, it also offers contests, open mikes, public gatherings, workshops, and other activities. 

The Atlanta Writer's Club, located in a bigger city, actually offer paid opportunities to set your work in front of real agents and editors. I have done this a time or two. While the cost for such a venture can be steep ($700+ depending on the hotel and extras you purchase), you will learn the craft in a way that you may not be able to otherwise. Sitting in front of an agent or editor who plows through slush daily for the gems offers you feedback about your own writing as well as market trends. 

There are also professional groups that are genre specific. For myself, I joined the Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators.  It is a group organized around the writing of picture books up to young adult fiction. They have conferences (including group gatherings at the bar that often feel more like the geographic encouragement and friendship groups) as well as contests. They take submissions and winners get mentorships with established authors and illustrators. They also have tremendous boards to ask questions, research what others have done, and learn. The boards range from everything from "How to have a presence on Goodreads" to "The use of present tense in first POV" to "Marketing tips for FB." If you are just learning the business side of writing or feel stuck, I would highly suggest joining at least one professional organization and taking part in their activities. Usually the membership is low cost and much of their offerings are free. The "add ons" usually are when they have cost due to bringing in someone with expertise.

-3.Critique  Driven Group - Primary Goal: Discuss, celebrate, critique member's work. May only accept members inside a particular genre(s).

    I had a book I was working on that was middle grade fantasy. I joined an online group. We had four members. Each week we edited and critiqued up to 3,000 words of a manuscript. That measn once a month you had three highly motivated writers in your genre reading 5% or more of your novel (Middle Grade often is 30,000 words). The feedback is tremendous and best of all, happens while you write so you don't have the whole draft done, facing a massive overhaul to fix problems. The pace is demanding. However, the benefit is spectacular. We found people who are writing to share their story with family or friends are probably not a good fit as the critiques can get honest. Sometimes there is a lot of blood on the page. It makes you better if you are in it for the long haul. Those wishing to write their memoir or one story might want to pass.

-4. Craft Groups - Work on the more general aspects of writing. Focus on things such as sentence style, openings, query letters, etc...

    Often these are paid (see below paid services) but here I would mention a writer can learn an awful lot without ever paying. Many agencies online offer free content. Many more offer free workshops (check your local writer guilds, libraries, or schools). 

In addition, there are groups that focus on the craft of writing and many more that focus on the expertise of a genre. Want to know about dragons? Military jargon? Bakeries? Seaside towns? There is probably a way to get with the experts in those areas even if they aren't necessarily writers. 

In the paying department, these can often be found inside the content driven world of the genre. For instance, in the fantasy world there is a writer's track at DragonCon and other such fan conventions. A quick search of "(genre)" writing conference (or convention)" probably pulls up a list. Some genres have more than others. But even if your thing is cozy mysteries there is a benefit to going to a writing group working in a small town or if you love science going to an engineer's convention and listening to their foremost speakers.

-5.Task or Genre Specific Groups -

Groups who identify a very narrow niche. Often built around a task the group does together. In some ways, my Crazy Buffet group fits this build with its Anthology. But a better illustration would be another local group I am familiar with termed The Corner Scribblers. They are specific to fantasy, sci-fi, military sci-fi, and steam-punk. They dabble a bit in horror in so far as it touches those elements. They produce quarterly flash fictions based around specific prompts the members must adhere too. They work to feed a small Indie press as well as to support each other in their writing. In many ways it is similar to the first group with the biggest difference (and why I list it here) being that everyone in the group has something in common regarding their genre. It allows for more specific discussions of craft. Groups like this often clean their rosters more often and frequently have more deadlines for members to me to keep an active partnership. 

A great example of these types of groups are NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month) or STORYADAY in May.

SEE THEIR SITE HERE

SEE STORY A DAY HERE

    Both of these groups offer paid extras, but you can join for free. For the entire month of November you can try and crank out a book with others, blog, talk to friends, meet other writers in forums, see cool motivating graphics, and hopefully get close to a first draft. 

Story A Day ocuses on short stories and each day a prompt is sent out. "Write a fairy tale in a modern setting." "You are in a house with no windows. Why?" Or "Tell about a time when there was no sun." The prompts are great and if you join the chat groups you get to bounce off ideas with other authors. It is a great way to get juices flowing. If you do thirty days you are likely to have a few great stories ready for polish when done. After all, can you really write a bad story thirty times in a row?

-6. Paid Service Groups

See the Site Here

Last year I joined NetGallery. It is a site designed to connect readers with ARC copies (Advance Reader Copies) or new releases for the purpose of garnering reviews. I had limited success, but largely due to my work being outside most of their reader's preferred genre. However, I offer it as an example of a group that is designed for a particular service.

Others, such as the highly recommended the Apex Writer's Group. Their tag line is awesome:

"J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis had the Inklings as a writing group. Hemmingway worked with Faulkner and Steinbeck to achieve greatness. No it's your turn."

Apex is a group where qualified mentors teach you the craft to prepare you to be a bestseller. It is not cheap, it is not easy, and it is not for everyone. It is on my "must do" list for sure, though the price tag has kept me from it thus far. There are many more like it. Some are scams and some are top notch opportunities.

In close, there are many options when we say "Are you in a writing group?" My hope, for you and your journey, the answer will be a "Yes" at least in some regard. Find one that helps you write better, encourages you to write more, and gives you opportunity to join others in their journey.