Vellichor Ink

I am someone who is constantly looking for ways to better my craft. I don’t for one second count myself as a success because I’m published. Or as not having room for improvement. There’s always room for improvement.

One thing I’m doing is looking to other writers for words of encouragement and wisdom.

I have an amazing writers group that meets every Tuesday and it has quickly become the highlight of my week! We gather around a table and bring to it our weekly struggles, triumphs, and words. We share, we cry, we laugh, we brainstorm, and we celebrate each others victories great or small. Writing can be such a lonely thing and to have people who understand what it means to have an idea that needs to get out or what it means to stare at a notebook or a computer screen and not be able to write is just…there are no words for how vital it has become.

I’ve also taken a great class taught by Sabaa Tahir (!!!) on Finding Your Voice on The Writers Conservatory and it was challenging in the best ways! Finding an aspect of my writing that is important–like voice–and dedicating time working on it from someone who is one of my favorite authors was invaluable.

Another resource I’ve found and really love is VE Schwab’s podcast No Write Way. She interviews a different author each episode and the goal is to show that there is no right way to write. And that everyone is different, their paths are different, and that’s okay! It has not only been inspiring, it’s been really validating. To hear all these really successful authors talk about rejections from agents or how their first books didn’t sell like their later ones and how much they’ve grown has just been exactly what I’ve needed to hear right now.

If you’re far along in your writing journey or just starting out or somewhere in the middle, find whatever works for YOU and your process and jump in. There are so many wonderful books written by other authors out there, podcasts, blog posts, newsletters, you name it! If there’s anything that you particularly love, post it in the comments and I’ll check it out!