I have a secret place I go to connect with writers. It’s my safe place, where I can be vulnerable and talk about everything related to writing and publishing, especially the hard stuff. It’s where I feel the most support, and other than my writing retreats, where I give the most, too.
Okay, it’s not technically a secret, but The Beautiful Writers Group, my membership community, could be seen that way for all I talk about it. Meaning, I’ve practically
But, FREEDOM! Finally done with my latest book (Beautiful Writers, the creative dream of my life, which took over a decade to complete), my schedule magically changed. Now that the BW audiobook has recently launched, I joke that I can die happy, and I’m not totally kidding. As I say in Beautiful Writers, “Books unborn weigh on you.” With most of my creative energy going to finish her in the pockets of time that weren’t devoted to my many clients, animals, and family, I didn’t have as much energy as I wanted to devote to this precious group.
With newfound time at my disposal (ahhhhhh), I’ve had the joy of diving headfirst into my community by contributing more detailed posts each week to our newsletter, starting my own Monday afternoon Write-Ins (in addition to the one on Wednesday, hosted by Jenny McKaig-Speed), and now launching a THIRD Write-In starting on Thursday mornings at 10:00 am PST! (It’s purely selfish; I get more done during these three-hour windows than any time during the week, and I love the company. Mama needs connection and accountability as much as anyone.)
Check out the new site with the new vibe and all the membership benefits. Julia McPherson and I had so much fun completing a near-total overhaul of our public page, something I’d wanted to do for a long time with so many members and publishing successes to celebrate. We’ve attracted fantastic new writers and invigorated existing ones. Even past members are coming back to the group. How fab is that?
My new favorite thing: Our Weekly Zoom Write-Ins: I just posted a video talking about how much I love these sessions, which you can find on the BWG site, or here on my Instagram feed. Accountability is the bestest way to get ‘er done. We log on, say hello, tell everyone what we’re working on, and then hit mute and get to work before reporting back 3 hours later. When do we meet?
Mondays from 4 pm PT – 7 pm PT with yours truly.
Tuesdays from 3:30 pm PT – 6:30 pm PT with Jenny McKaig-Speed.
Thursdays from 10:00 am PT – 1:00 pm PT with me.
Those who can meet up at the end of our 3-hour sessions to say what they accomplished. Some hop back in the Facebook thread and record their accomplishments for posterity (or to motivate others). Regular Write-In participant Sonia, who logs in from her garden in Northern California, recently said that she “cooked and wrote, wrote and cooked, and each nourished the other.” (Poetry. Sonia can’t help herself!) During that same session, Pip called in during her morning commute in Australia (the commitment!), calling these meetings “Shut up and write,” which made us laugh (common with Pip). Polly, who comes to us from her sustainable farmhouse in Maryland, said our sessions are “very productive,” and she plans them, to which we agreed. Amen. That’s what I was hoping for when I envisioned these meet-ups.
The one thing we keep hearing in these Write-Ins is that the very act of showing up helps us to get a lot more DONE. Creativity is squirrely, y’all. We’ve got to wrangle ourselves continually. And it’s supposed to be fun.
In closing, joining groups used to make me want to hurl. I never learned my sorority handshake and moved off the grid to a primarily empty forest in Northern New Mexico to avoid humanity. But I am so grateful I somehow figured out that God works through people, that writing in isolation can make you positively nutball, and that friends don’t let friends write alone.
We can’t wait to meet and support you on your beautiful writing journey.
Write on!
Linda xo
PS. Membership in the BWG is super affordable (at $50 per month, with two months free with a yearly membership) and loaded with sweetness and RESULTS. Join us!
