The other day, I was thinking about how much of a difference a year can make. Truth be told: I was also comparing myself and my (slow) progress to other authors I know.
But as I tried to console myself and remember that I am not “behind” (because this writing thing is not a race), something new occurred to me. I am not where I was.
Have I published a book yet? Nope.
But do I have a mammoth of experience just showing up week after week as a writer? Yes.
So in this year-in-review, I’d like to highlight some of the writers who have helped me along the way. I’ll be linking to their newsletters and websites so that you can follow them too.
Christa Vande Vegte
We met through the #writerfriendschallenge and realized we had much in common. She and I are in the same regional group, and we decided to become critique partners.
Both of us have been working on fantasy novels for the middle-grade market. Hers is whimsical and funny and takes readers to a different land. Christa has excellent world-building skills, and I have learned as much from her own writing as from her critiques of mine.
In fact, she’d finished up the edits on her novel and is about to start a round of queries. I am getting ready to start the second draft of my novel with a cohort of other middle-grade writers.
Christa has helped me to better understand the critique process and how to look for the kernel of truth in each suggestion, comment, or edit.
Jenny Shannon
While I don’t write memoir, I always admire people who do. It’s one of the gutsiest forms of writing, in my opinion.
My friend, Jenny, wrote a food memoir that tackles a tough season in her own life with wit and wonder as she allows her reader permission to take a peek.
Her Substack letter, Eat My Words, is written with the same candor and you should definitely check it out.
What I am still learning from Jenny is how to incorporate honest emotion and admission into my characters’ lives. I’m not a huge nonfiction writer, although I do occasionally write for other blogs, so this courage to be who I am as a person — and to let my characters be who they are — is an aspect of growth that I look forward to exploring more in 2023.
Kelton Wright
Kelton, I’ll call her as if I know her personally and we’re on a first-name basis, is an incredible writer. It’s true. Substack says so and has featured her at least twice.
What I love about Shangrilogs is the detail she gives into her world. It might be a world where she learns to love a dog or a world where she has taken a giant leap from city living to small-town mundanities. But either way you slice it, she is a keen observer.
I often move through life with a pace that is unmatched by my weary mind. I drive people to their part-time jobs, I drop people off at other houses to play, I then pick them up to attend their sports. Much of my time is spent behind the wheel of a white Kia Sorrento that’s starting to show her age. (She had to get all new tires and new brakes this year.)
So when I come upon someone like Kelton who squeezes only the most pertinent details into a story, I pay attention. I want to learn how to notice life, even at my pace, in a way that translates to my writing.
I’m not there yet. But I am watching others who are.
Daniel Cozart
Daniel Cozart is funny. Well, let me backtrack. I don’t know him personally except that we’re both in an Atlanta-based writing group, and I have read some of his stuff. So I should say that I do not know if he is funny as a person. But he is very capable of injecting humor into his writing.
And that’s what I admire.
Since I am working on a middle-grade novel, I am also working on learning the art of humor within a story.
Daniel does a spectacular job of recycling his own middle-grade years into the current. He knows what kids will think is funny and he is able to write it well into the stories he tells.
I can’t vouch for everything he has written, but from what I have read, he is one to watch.
Connie White
I met Connie through instagram. She and I both write fantasy, but she has also co-written a nonfiction book for single adults that I think fills a much-needed void in the Christian market.
We realized that we don’t live too far from each other, so we met up one chilly fall day for lunch.
She was so gracious to share with me her journey into self-publishing: what she did well and what she’d do differently.
I was struck by her willingness to freely give out advice, meet a random stranger for lunch, and reach out to other authors with the same generous offer: friendship. She understands the loneliness that a writer can experience, and her group Virtual Coffee for Women Authors has been a wonderful respite to just “be seen” as a person, not only as a writer.
May we all be so generous with our time and our gifts.
Speaking of gifts…
(Click the image to get the book!)
I want to invite you to read a book with me as a fun way to round out the year. I’m hosting a virtual book discussion of Ruth Hogan’s “The Keeper of Lost Things” the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
To weigh in and let me know you’re interested, tell me what time/day works best for you to talk about this gem of a book.
Want to start following some of the writers above?
If you’ve decided to subscribe to any of the previously mentioned Substack newsletters, I’d love it if you can use my referral link: https://substack.com/refer/brooketurbyfill
It helps me do three things:
Pass along great writers for you to read.
Get a little “atta-girl” for sending you a recommendation.
Help a fellow Substack author grow his/her readership.
One more thing:
Next Tuesday, I am excited to share a guest post from fellow author Richard Collins. He has just published a new novel, House of Souls, and he’ll be sharing about his writing process.
Thank you so much for the shout out!