by Kariss Lynch, @Kariss_Lynch
In life and in writing, we were made for community. We were not meant to navigate this winding road alone. Writer’s groups or critique partners are invaluable and needed.
They don’t have to be local. They don’t have to be in the exact same place in the publishing journey. They don’t have to write in your genre.
They just need to be writers, growing and excelling in their craft and willing and able to be part of your writing journey, too. A healthy partnership or group should comprise three key components.
- Compatibility
You do not need all things in common. But you do need something in common. Historical fiction, romance, suspense, or even young adult all need to carry a basic story structure. That’s what you need in common: a knowledge of how to help one another craft a solid story. The story elements for each genre look slightly different, so work to gain a basic knowledge of your partner’s genre in order to help navigate the differences.
- Confidence
Confident writers are important because they will be able to help you write YOUR story and differentiate from the story they are working on or how they would write. Every person brings their own unique voice to stories, and good writing partners will help enhance your voice. They will help you write and be creative within the confines of your story world and not the one they would create.
It’s important for every member of your partnership to feel like they are heard and understood. It’s also important that everyone maintain an open mind and not defensive spirits toward feedback. Our stories are our babies. Have the confidence to lean in on story ideas that need help in your partner’s story and the courage to receive feedback on yours with grace and discernment.
- Commitment
Different seasons call for different levels of commitment to this craft. But the commitment to pursue publication, to keep learning, and to keep writing are important. A right expectation of your support of one another is key. If one person expects their writing partner to be available at all times to provide feedback, then that person may feel disappointed and dissatisfied. Talk about how you want to support one another. Address whether you will send each other chapters or wait until you have a rough draft. Support one another when your writing seasons look different.
Above all, celebrate each others’ wins. You may publish traditionally and others may publish Indie. Someone in your group may win an award while your book goes unnoticed during that awards cycle. Celebrate your writing partners, no matter where your book is in the process.
The more you work together on your stories, the better rhythm and beautiful balance you will find with one another. This writing community is a blessing, and your partner or group will help you go further than you can go alone.
When a car almost runs over him in the middle of a snowstorm, ex-Navy SEAL Micah Richards knows he’s hit rock bottom. After the deaths of several of his teammates, Micah is sure of two things: he only hurts those he tries to protect and their deaths are his fault. He has one family left on his list to pay his respects but stranded on the side of a mountain in the middle of the night, Micah has run low on options until Casey Stewart comes careening into his life.
The last thing Casey wants is a man, especially one as charming and handsome as Micah who reminds her of her heartache from high school. And especially not when she has so much on her plate: kids trapped in the middle of bad neighborhood cycles at home and a sister who needs out from under their mother’s roof. But helping is in her nature, and something about Micah makes her want to let him in.
Now in the same city, Micah and Casey just can’t seem to stay away from one another, despite Casey’s best efforts. The more, he gets to know the community, the more he wants to stay. When a local drug dealer goes awry, Casey has only one person to turn to—the one who could hurt her heart the most. Micah must face the demons of his past to fight for his new team and new dream—a woman with the heart of a warrior who fights for others. A woman he would die for.
Kariss Lynch is the author of the Heart of a Warrior series and loves writing romance about characters with big dreams, adventurous hearts, and enduring hope. In her free time, Kariss goes on adventures with her own personal handsome hero, explores the great outdoors, and tries not to plot five stories at once. Connect with her at karisslynch.com, or on Facebook, Instagram, or Goodreads.