Wanna Play?

This is not an original idea.

I am seeking like-minded people who want to write and publish a story. Perhaps, like me, you have a dozen story ideas in varying draft phases. Perhaps you have participated in Nanowrimo- and you wonder- how do you take your story to the next level? 

Maybe this idea is the answer for you?

I am looking for writing buddies: people willing to read a chapter or two and offer advice and feedback.

I am writing a story and uploading segments on this blog in installments. Creating bite-size pieces to work on. (Did you know Charles Dickens wrote his story in installments?) Right now, this process is a lot like reworking my FIRST draft and posting it to the blog as my second draft.

2025 when my posts become active- I plan to re-read each post before it goes live. (Thus being a third draft.) I hope to get feedback from other writers and by the end of this project, I will have a polished manuscript (that has been proofread by a dozen or more people ) And it will be ready to send off to a literary agent.

That is my goal. 

Literary agents and publishers seem to expect writers to already have a following. 

In my mind- if I have a group of people participating in this- perhaps this blog will be a social media presence that can help market the book when it is ready to be published!

What I have in mind for anyone who wants to play along-

1- Create a blog.

2- Comment on this post with your blog address and I will add a link to it on my sidebar.

3- Grab my blog address and add it to YOUR blog sidebar. (Grab a dozen other blog addresses if available.)

4- Be an active participant

Step1. Create a blog- this is where you will post your story in installments. Either weekly, biweekly, or monthly- however often you feel comfortable. For example: I am writing my story posts now (2024)- but am setting the publish date starting on Jan 1, 2025. I plan a "chapter" of my book will be released every week.

Steps 2-3 are to help build community. By sharing blog links, we are giving more people an opportunity to find authors and stories they might like to follow. 

Steps 4 Be an active participant. Meaning: post regularly your story AND read other blog stories while offering feedback. 

A note on feedback:

Not every story will be for everyone. If you can't say anything nice- don't comment at all. So if you stumble over a blog- that isn't your vibe don't comment. Go back to the list and try to find a blog/story you would like to follow.

But what about constructive criticism?

The definition of constructive is: serving a useful purpose; tending to build up.

If your comment is negative and just a complaint- that is not useful or building someone up.

For example negative feedback: "Confusing and I can't follow the plot."

Verses constructive feedback:
 I can see you put a lot of time into this. I think I need a little more backstory. I got lost when the band of bananas said they were going to find the monkeys.

To be clear: WE DO WANT FEEDBACK and for people to leave comments--- but just ask yourself if the person reading it will feel "built up" or "torn down"? If you are tearing someone down- delete the comment and move on. 

(My fingers are crossed that others might want to play along!)