When I walked into my first conference, I – like most other newbies – was blown away by the community that already existed and welcomed me in with a wide-open bear hug. The only way to describe it would be how Harry felt when he first walked down Diagon Alley: Flabbergasted that this thriving, magical world lived just under the radar.

Some of you may remember that this conference was that of the agent wanting to blow his brains out. However, I remember calling my wife beyond excited. I’d found a group of people who, on the surface, were nothing like me: stay-at-home-moms, lawyers, teachers, professors, New York Times Bestsellers, some even wore sweatshirts with kitty cats on them. Ironically, they were exactly like me in the most strange and unexpected ways.

Many had insomnia when they were cooking up a good idea. They relished the fact that they were developmentally stunted. Most remembered only bits and pieces of their “awkward” years. They loved books and discussing them to the point that dinner conversations sounded like high-school honors classes, except with engaged participants. All of them were eccentric. Many had heart and perseverance and an ambition to succeed even when there was no assurance to when, or if, success was possible. There was a strong whiff of OCD in each, too. We all wanted to spend every minute writing, though simultaneously dreading it.  Our fictional worlds were as real as this one, and our characters were separate entities.

Needless to say, my brilliant wife had no clue what I was blabbing on about. And rightfully so, she’s not a writer.

But you know what I’m talking about, don’t you?

Raise your hand if you’re an introvert.

Now do the same if you are a writer and are comfortable with nothing more than your own thoughts for hours on end.

My hand is up. Is yours?

I think a lot of us writers are introverted by nature. Years ago, I had no idea how social my writing life would ultimately make me.

I remember going to my first few conferences, back when I was just a newbie writer. I went to the San Francisco Writers Conference and SCBWI Annual Conference and a few smaller workshops. I remember feeling overwhelmed and like I was this tiny speck—so insignificant in the grand scheme of publishing. I seriously questioned whether I would ever break in, or feel part of such a vast and seemingly impersonal business.

Then things started to change. I met one writer and exchanged emails, and then another. I joined a critique group. I started going to the same conferences regularly. And little by little, I found friends. I don’t mean to sound braggy when I say this, but now I find that there isn’t enough time when I go to cons to see the friends I’ve made. There are just too many great people in this business. I’m lucky to know a lot of them.

I’ve been talking about fellow writers, but the network of awesome in this business reaches far beyond this group, to agents, editors, and bloggers.

Here are just a few snapshots of how this community makes me feel full:

-       Random acts of kindness – Recently I mentioned on twitter that I have been looking for ARC and haven’t been able to track it down. A blogger friend emailed me a week later, after she’d been to ALA. “I got it for you! Send me your addy, and I’ll mail it.” This type of generosity is not uncommon. From bloggers and readers, while on tour, I’ve been gifted with cupcakes, beautiful handmade bags, original artwork inspired by my book. I mean… there are no words. Occasionally you see eruptions of animosity in this business, but for the large part, kindness rules.

Me and Donna, at Donna's BEA
autographing for SKINNY

-       Your friends are my friends  - When I first met Donna’s editor at the autographing line for SKINNY in BEA, we hugged. I kinda love her a little bit for how much she loves SKINNY and got teary when I saw how proud she was of Donna. There were dozens and dozens of people waiting to have Donna’s book signed, but Aimee pulled me behind the table to get a snapshot with one of my dearest friends, because she knew what it would mean to both Donna and I. And it did mean a lot. That’s one of the things I didn’t expect…. Writers, agents, editors, bloggers. We love books. And while we can be competitive, we also love to support each other. What we do is so much more than 350 pages of paper, bound between cardboard. The work we do involves dreams and friendships.

Here's a view of the line that Aimee held up so we could snap the above picture.
You can't see, but the line went deep into the conference hall.

-       The Return of The Slumber Party – At various conferences, I’ve shared hotel rooms with Katy Longshore, Talia Vance, Jessi Kirby, Corinne Jackson, and Shannon Messenger. Let me tell you: few things are more fun than staying up late and chatting with friends, and in a funny little way, these girls are my girls now. I’ve borrowed their toothpaste and listened to them snore (not naming any names here.) That makes them almost family.

Now it’s your turn. I’d love to know: what does the writing community mean to you?

I’ve written before about the many stops and starts I made in the twenty years before I actually wrote a book.  Finally, in 2009, I accomplished the impossible.  I finished one.  I committed myself to writing in a way I had never done before.  At first, my 40^th birthday provided me with the motivation to sit down and write, and then do it again, because I felt like if I didn’t do it then, I never would.

That only got me so far.  About 200 pages of completely spontaneous dreck.  Writing is a marathon, and some of those miles really suck.  I didn’t know what to do, so I started looking online for help.

I found it.  To this day I don’t remember exactly how I found the Verla Kay Blueboard, but I did.  And there was a whole community of writers just like me.  Some published, some just trying to get through a book.  I was inspired by those who accomplished, and I learned so much about the industry that I would have never known.  

I learned about an online auction that led to my getting a 50 page critique from a published author and a 30 page critique from an agent.  While my work was not nearly ready at that point, there were bright spots, and the encouragement I needed to keep going. 

One thread on the Blueboard led me to an afternoon seminar on how to get an agent, which in turn led me to my first ever writing conference, which led me to the Muses.  

The way I thought about my writing changed forever once I had people to share it with.  I felt accountable in a way I never had before.  I started treating writing like a profession as opposed to a hobby, but somehow I ended up loving it more.

Having a community of people to share the experience with makes it so much more valuable.  Despite all the long hours at a computer with no one but my imagination for company, I am never truly alone.  I am never more than an email, a tweet, or a forum reply away from encouragement, commiseration or celebrations large and small.  

I love writing.  I hate it some days, but most days I love it.  But I love my writing community every day.  That is what makes the perilous trails on the publishing journey worthwhile.

Look around you.  What do you see?  I'm willing to bet that you can see at least one piece of evidence that you are not alone in the writing world.  (hint: you're looking at it now).  But there may be other pieces of evidence.  An e-mail from a writing buddy.  An Internet page opened to a Facebook group or a writing board like Verla Kay's blueboards or a listserve.  A trinket given to you by someone who supports your efforts.

I have a framed copy of the World War II-era Rosie the Riveter poster "We Can Do It!" from an old high school friend who doesn't write, but reads everything I send her.  I have the little certificate stating that GILT is a Junior Library Guild selection that was forwarded to me along with an encouraging note from my editor.  I have a button that was printed and given to everyone in the  Class of 2k12 quoting member J. Anderson Coats (it reads: "Writing?  Sometimes it's not sacred.  Sometimes it's like making ground beef by pressing a live cow through a colander.  It's messy and hard and unglamorous and really quite insane, but at the end you can still eat a burger.")

And I have the blog you see before you now.

My writing community is wide and diverse and extends further than I can imagine.  It includes all the people Donna mentioned yesterday.  It includes the YA Muses and the Apocalypsies and the Class of 2k12.  It includes book bloggers who love the same kinds of books I do and even those who don't, but who love books passionately and are never afraid to talk about it.  Librarians, especially the ones at my local library who recommend books I might like (including Robert Massie's incredible biography of Catherine the Great) and recommend books for my kids.  Booksellers who are always happy to see a reader.  Members of the SCBWI who I've met through conferences and local schmoozes.  It includes the friends of writing friends who have now become my friends because we all share the same passions.

Writing.  And books.

OK. Yes, I know this sounds like a Utopia.  One, giant, happy network, right?  I know that's delusional.  But remember, we're talking about MY writing community here.

My community is supportive, honest, pragmatic.  My community doesn't envy my success, nor does it exult in my failure.  It doesn't compare notes (well, she got to go to X conference but wasn't invited to Y signing...) or put me on a pedestal just because I'm published.  It doesn't assume my life is all diamonds and roses now, nor does it sneer when I flail over a first draft.  It picks me up when I fall and tells me honestly when it's time to get back up again (even when I'm not ready to hear it because floundering in the mud is easier than pushing that cow through the colander).

My community tells stories like Myra McEntire did on her blog yesterday.  Stories that end with You.  Can.  Do.  It.

My community is your community, my friends.  It takes a village, and we're all in it together.  You are my community, and I thank you.  For everything.

Our topic this week is The Writing Community and I immediately thought of all my wonderful writing friends, including the Muses, who support the craziness.  They are an amazing community for sure, but there is another group of people who recently became visible in my writing life.  They make up the community who support the writing after the sale.  Some I was aware of, but others  have come into my life as the process of publishing a debut novel evolved.  I made a list below, but it is certainly not inclusive of everyone.  The list is also very individual to my journey and other authors would have different people on their particular lists.

These are just a few of the new people who came into my life since I wrote SKINNY:

1.  Agent - critical match.  This will be the person who handles everything and everyone.  Ideally, he or she will be your biggest cheerleader and your most passionate supporter.

2.  Editor - another critical match, and one you may not have much control over.  In my case, my editor is a kind, enthusiastic, smart critic.  She makes me a much better writer (and that's what it's all about).

3.  UK Agent
4.  Film Agent
5. Publicity/Marketing Directors
6.  Publicist
7.  Book Club Managers
8.  Audio Book Director
9.  Actor for Audio Book
10.  Web Designer
11.  Foreign Rights Representatives
12.  Art Director
13.  Book Designer
14.  Cover Model
15.  Copy Editor (very important :)
16.  Book Bloggers
17.  Regional Sales Representatives
18.  Bookstore owners


So, why did I share this list?  Perhaps because, before I took this journey, I didn't think of writing as a "people" business.  I now realize how many people it takes to bring a book to publication and then into the hands of readers (and we're not even there yet, folks). I am now also aware of how important it is to have the right people, who absolutely LOVE your book, on this list. Every single person above now has some "stake" in my book.  

It's an awesome responsibility and one I don't take lightly. So, from everyone who is now a part of this community --- GO SKINNY!

Part of the SKINNY community - 

Deyan Audio

We all have multiple voices in our heads, it's just a matter of which ones we listen to. In "Skinny," the incredible debut title from Donna Cooner, an overweight teen battles her weight, her shyness about her beautiful singing voice, and most importantly, she battles "Skinny," the vicious voice in her head that's always trying to bring her down. This witty title from Scholastic will be out soon, so make sure you don't miss the amazing job Liz Morton does in reading this one!