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So my writing group went well today.
I was slightly peeved going into the meeting. I had to stop at Kinko's to make copies of my writing sample for everyone, and the lady at Kinko's was rude and treated me as though I were not worthy of being gum stuck to her shoe. Believe me, I will not make that mistake again. I'll do my copies at Staples from now on, where I have never had anything but great service.
I just went to Kinko's because it was by Panera Bread, and I wanted to get a Cafe Latte.
My next stop was the library, and it was about 20 minutes before our meeting was about to start, so I figured it would give me some time to browse. But to my surprise, the library didn't even open until 10. That was the time our meeting was scheduled. It seemed kind of late to me. There was already a small group of people waiting to get in.
So I hung out and eventually, I recognized the founder of the writers' group. She showed up a few minutes before the library opened. She saw me with copies of my work, so she approached me and we started talking. Then the library doors opened and we found the conference room where we were meeting.
Others showed up eventually, but we didn't have as many people as we were supposed to. Nine people RSVP'd. We had 6 people there. Anyway, after the initial introductions and figuring out the goals of our group, we got into the critiquing aspect of it, which, of course, was the entire point.
I was first to go. My voice was a bit shaky and hoarse as I read my writing sample, but I heard one of the ladies laugh in all the right places, so I knew I was doing something right. After all, it is a memoir of my time in Germany...I want so very much for it to be humorous.
Overall, the feedback was that my sample was very good. I just needed to add more detail about the sights, sounds and smells of Europe. I have every intention of doing so, but I am not far enough into the writing to do that yet. I only brought the prologue and a few paragraphs from chapter 1.
So...as one who has never taken criticism well, I weathered it like a champ. Overall, they loved my piece. I just need to add more sensory details. No biggie. That, I can do.
Two of the group members had to leave early, so they passed out copies of their work for us to read at home and email with our feedback. One of them is a bus driver for the city, so her book is about all the characters she experiences on her bus. I think it's going to be really funny (incidentally, she was the one laughing during my reading, so clearly she has a similar sense of humor to mine).
It was really great to read all the different writing styles - even genres that I'm not really familiar with, as two of them are fantasy/science fiction writers. And overall, I walked away with positive feelings about the group. I think it will be good. However, as of right now, I won't be able to attend any more meetings on account of my job. But we're trying to work out a new schedule to make it easier for us to meet.
We went over our alloted time, so it wasn't until about 12:15 or so that we parted ways. I hung out in the library for a few minutes, looking up a particular book that I really need to read, but none of the King County libraries have it. Disappointing. I'll have to just buy it then, even though it's kind of a pricey book.
On the way home, I stopped at Subway. When did it get so expensive? Geez. Their value meal is no value. I think I could've gotten lunch at Panera for about the same price.
I was slightly peeved going into the meeting. I had to stop at Kinko's to make copies of my writing sample for everyone, and the lady at Kinko's was rude and treated me as though I were not worthy of being gum stuck to her shoe. Believe me, I will not make that mistake again. I'll do my copies at Staples from now on, where I have never had anything but great service.
I just went to Kinko's because it was by Panera Bread, and I wanted to get a Cafe Latte.
My next stop was the library, and it was about 20 minutes before our meeting was about to start, so I figured it would give me some time to browse. But to my surprise, the library didn't even open until 10. That was the time our meeting was scheduled. It seemed kind of late to me. There was already a small group of people waiting to get in.
So I hung out and eventually, I recognized the founder of the writers' group. She showed up a few minutes before the library opened. She saw me with copies of my work, so she approached me and we started talking. Then the library doors opened and we found the conference room where we were meeting.
Others showed up eventually, but we didn't have as many people as we were supposed to. Nine people RSVP'd. We had 6 people there. Anyway, after the initial introductions and figuring out the goals of our group, we got into the critiquing aspect of it, which, of course, was the entire point.
I was first to go. My voice was a bit shaky and hoarse as I read my writing sample, but I heard one of the ladies laugh in all the right places, so I knew I was doing something right. After all, it is a memoir of my time in Germany...I want so very much for it to be humorous.
Overall, the feedback was that my sample was very good. I just needed to add more detail about the sights, sounds and smells of Europe. I have every intention of doing so, but I am not far enough into the writing to do that yet. I only brought the prologue and a few paragraphs from chapter 1.
So...as one who has never taken criticism well, I weathered it like a champ. Overall, they loved my piece. I just need to add more sensory details. No biggie. That, I can do.
Two of the group members had to leave early, so they passed out copies of their work for us to read at home and email with our feedback. One of them is a bus driver for the city, so her book is about all the characters she experiences on her bus. I think it's going to be really funny (incidentally, she was the one laughing during my reading, so clearly she has a similar sense of humor to mine).
It was really great to read all the different writing styles - even genres that I'm not really familiar with, as two of them are fantasy/science fiction writers. And overall, I walked away with positive feelings about the group. I think it will be good. However, as of right now, I won't be able to attend any more meetings on account of my job. But we're trying to work out a new schedule to make it easier for us to meet.
We went over our alloted time, so it wasn't until about 12:15 or so that we parted ways. I hung out in the library for a few minutes, looking up a particular book that I really need to read, but none of the King County libraries have it. Disappointing. I'll have to just buy it then, even though it's kind of a pricey book.
On the way home, I stopped at Subway. When did it get so expensive? Geez. Their value meal is no value. I think I could've gotten lunch at Panera for about the same price.