As writers, we’re all used to talking to imaginary characters. But I have to admit, I’ve never had my pencil talk to me! I’m afraid if I was in Arthur’s shoes, I’d be checking the expiration dates in my medicine cabinet. In this case, however, I have a feeling he’s found a rather unusual mentor.
Writing can be a lonely endeavor, yet it still surprises me how many dedicated, serious writers I meet who have been going it alone for years…or decades! Not only lacking support from family members who dismissed their author-ly ambitions after the first year passed without a six-figure contract from a publisher, but also forging ahead without asking advice from those who have successfully navigated the tangled path of getting a book finished, edited, re-edited, revised again, and ready to publish. This isn’t a business to be shy in; the international best-seller you just met at a conference was a stay-at-home mom five years ago who stumbled into a local chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA) or a Houston Writers Guild meeting with a first draft in hand and a burning desire to take the next step. She may not have the time to mentor your journey herself, but she can help you find a community and would love the chance to “pass it forward”. So get up, get out of the house, and get in a place where your kind of crazy is normal!