You’ve heard it before: “Writing is a solitary endeavor.” Yes, that’s true. The responsibility for getting the words on the page rests on the writer’s shoulders. And yet, we don’t have to be Lone Rangers. In fact, if you think about it, the Lone Ranger wasn’t alone! He had Tonto. And a whole network of sheriffs and people that he’d helped, all of whom supported and were rooting for him.
Anyone who has ever been involved in sports know the power of cheerleaders and coaches. Of the folks who stand beside us, people who can guide and goad us. Give us a kick in the pants when we let ourselves give in to defeat. Put an arm around our shoulders when things get ugly. Hoist a celebratory cuppa (of coffee) when things go well.
Writers, we need a “team.”
In the next few posts, I’m going to talk about some of the partners you should consider having on your team. I’m not talking about publishers or in-house editors, thought clearly they’re important team members if you’re contracted with a publisher. Rather, I’m talking about folks who walk the path with you from the beginning…or from where you are right now, including an advisory board, accountability partners, and freelance editors. But first, I want to know your thoughts.
Do you have a “team” working with you? If you don’t already have a team, what’s holding you back? Who would you like to have on your team? If you have a team, what works well and what benefits have you seen from their involvement in your work?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
If you don’t have a “team”—hit your knees in prayer. Then reach out and test some waters. It takes time and investment to form the team God wants for you. When I didn’t have one, I felt lost and batted down in the sea of doubt. But trust Him. Be patient. You may be surprised. I’ve learned that God often has divine appointments waiting for you.
My team has grown, and one powerful insight that I’ve learned is that each person on the team will “gift” you in a different way. I have two wonderful crit partners–one hits the big picture hard, the other the line edits. I have one beta reader, still looking for a few more. I sent out the full MS to another “big picture” person a few weeks ago. Recently, I was blessed by a person who targets the craft work–the wordiness, action beats, etc.
Learn what you need on your team.
Honestly, no. Not a formal one anyway. I have a partner in Gina Conroy, and I maintain a presence with groups like MBT, but not what I’d call a team. Guess I need to read your upcoming posts!
I had a great team to get me started. DiAnn Mills took me under her wings and introduced me to other writers who became my critique team at various points before I was published. DiAnn also persuaded me to join ACFW (then ACRW). Without this great team at various points, I would never have polished my manuscripts to the point they would be publishable.
Janice Thompson and Kathleen Y’Barbo Turner are still my “go to” partners when I need input about a manuscript.
My friends at church are another “team” as they are quick to let others know about my books and praise them. At our “mega-church”, my books have sold out of our book store several times even though she orders more with each new book.
Teams have helped me further my writing career. Couldn’t do without them.
I’m looking forward to this series, Karen. My team is very small at this point. I have a friend who is a beta reader—and I’ve “trained” her to be brutally honest about things she sees in my stories. I have a mentor I can call at any point and say, “Help!” And I have another mentor, published, who I can go to when I’m really stuck. I know I need others on my team, but I haven’t figured out who they are yet. 🙂
My craft partner is a huge piece of my support team. Sometimes I wonder how I ever managed to write anything of value before God brought her into my life. I prayed for a craft partner for a long time and I feel so blessed to have her. My Book Therapy is also a vital part of my team. I’m not sure where that fits on your list. I learn and grow through the classes and tools there and the MBT staff are always willing to answer questions and be a guide and encouragement through my writing journey. I also have a few beta readers and a great brainstorming group.
I’m looking forward to your future posts. This is a great subject. Thanks Karen!
This is going to be a great series! Looking forward to it.
One of my team members is a friend of mine who loves Christian fiction. She’s the first person to read each one of my scenes. She reads them as I write them and gives me instant feedback on big picture stuff (did I set the right tone, did that decision make the character unlikeable, etc). She saves me so much time!!
Oh, I do!! I have the sweetest team of all. I met my crit partners eons ago when we were all just starting out. We grew in the craft together, built our platform together, and finally have all published. We’re still together, cheering each other on, critiquing at a different level, and brainstorming. They’re my tribe, my village, and I couldn’t do this gig without them! We even have special names: Attila the Holmes, Hannibal Dotta, Genghis Griep and Ludwig von Frankenpen. Oh, and I’m Ane of Mean Gables. Kinda tells you what our crits have been like. ;o)
I’m really looking forward to this series, Karen, since I know I need to reach out more. However, as I think through your questions and read the other comments, I’ve realized I have more of a team than I thought. I have one solid beta reader and a couple others who are interested and available if I would contact them. I have a CP now, and I met a soon-to-be-published author at ACFW with whom I’ve been in contact. There is also a multi-published author who lives within a hour or so of me. I just need to muster up the courage to ask her to meet for coffee. 🙂
The only team members I have right now are my online critique buddies through ACFW. Our wonderful leader had his first novel published in September, and another has her first coming out in the spring. Having those built-in CPs and cheerleaders is invaluable!
I’ve never officially formed a prayer team, though I know of some authors who have. I’ve definitely reached out and asked for prayer over specific projects, though, and know that made a difference.
Thanks for starting this series, Karen — I’m sure it will be interesting!
I can’t tell you how much my team means to me. Before I start a big project I hand select a group of prayer warriors. I make a closed FB group where I send out updates, requests and praises. They are with me from first draft to finish. I know when I feel battered and defeated..I have a team of sisters who have my back..WOW .
I also get team Seither on board since the home team needs to know why the cookie jar is empty and that everyone needs to pitch in a bit more and complain a bit less. I am a MOM who writes so I make sure my family knows how they can pray for me..even the ones who are moved away.
Right now I have a book being published through a traditional publisher, but I still used a a sizable amount of my advance for content editing and line editing. They are people who are on my team, my personal trainers, so to speak. As a result, my edits for that project consisted of re-writing 1 sentence. Next time I have a book contract ready, they will remember that my team hit it out of the park so their team didn’t have to spend so much time on clean-up.
Building a team is not selfish..it is smart. We as authors need others and those we have on the team are thrilled to be apart of something they believe in as well. The victory is a shared one and I think the more people we can crown onto the podium the better!
Great post Karen, I know others will be inspired and encouraged by this series!
love you oodles and bunches..marci
I can’t tell you how much my team means to me. Before I start a big project I hand select a group of prayer warriors. I make a closed FB group where I send out updates, requests and praises. They are with me from first draft to finish. I know when I feel battered and defeated..I have a team of sisters who have my back..WOW .
I also get team Seither on board since the home team needs to know why the cookie jar is empty and that everyone needs to pitch in a bit more and complain a bit less. I am a MOM who writes so I make sure my family knows how they can pray for me..even the ones who are moved away.
Right now I have a book being published through a traditional publisher, but I still used a a sizable amount of my advance for content editing and line editing. They are people who are on my team, my personal trainers, so to speak. As a result, my edits for that project consisted of re-writing 1 sentence. Next time I have a book contract ready, they will remember that my team hit it out of the park so their team didn’t have to spend so much time on clean-up.
Building a team is not selfish..it is smart. We as authors need others and those we have on the team are thrilled to be apart of something they believe in as well. The victory is a shared one and I think the more people we can crown onto the podium the better!
Great post Karen, I know others will be inspired and encouraged by this series!
I have three teams!
I am so blessed!
The one I’m involved most in is an online critique group that’s all about writing for a Higher purpose. It’s actually called that. There, I’m surrounded by Christ followers who are pursuing God’s call to write the story(s) He’s given them. What works well is that it’s a safe place, where it’s ok to be honest about writing fears. But also it’s been killer educational. There is stellar talent on the site and I’ve seen my work improve tremendously from the variety of genres represented and different levels of a critique eye. It’s been a God send indeed. My writing wouldn’t be what it is today without that special and beautiful group of people.
My second team consists of an in town writing group that meets once a month. Their an older group (except for one newbie my age) and many have been published many years ago so they’re a bit out of tune with the latest publishing trends (and say tisk tisk to it all), and I love it! They’re a fiery bunch and I soak up their wisdom every month. What benefits me about that team is the desire to pray for the writing journey and root for one another along the way. They really are my own personal cheerleaders.
My third is a dear friend I met at a writer’s conference 3 years ago. We just clicked. And have been sending stories back and forth since that time as beta readers. She is having her fourth book traditionally published next spring! I’m working on getting my first out there. Gulp. What works well about that team member is we don’t mess around. Ok, maybe a little We push one another to make our work the best it can be. We share articles or links about various topics… filter words, character arcs, dialogue, how to move the plot along without rushing it… etc. All sorts of fabulous tips!
Good food for thought for this introverted writer with lone-wolf tendencies. I haven’t thought in terms of a formal team, but when I myself, “Who are the first people I tell when I have writing-related news (good, bad, or neutral)?” it would be my critique partners, agent, certain prayer partners, and fellow writers, readers, and publishing folk who “get it.” It’s also startling (and humbling) to see who’s not on the list–people I cherish who, for one reason or another, don’t share my enthusiasm or interest in writing. Just because someone’s a close family member or BFF in other ways doesn’t mean they’re on board when it comes to my books, or the whole writing thing. Sometimes awkward, always interesting. 🙂
I couldn’t SURVIVE without my writing team!
1. My husband who totally does NOT get fiction but gets my passion and therefore supports it (with a raised eyebrow at times when I’m sniffling in my chair over a scene)
2. My mentor – She’s a published author and talks me off the ledge or brings consistency to my ideas so I’m not branching into unexplored territory blind
3. My crit partners – a big pic person, a line editor, and brutal scene-cutter
4. My beta readers – who tell me when it stinks. You MUST have HONEST beta readers or it’s just praise with no foundation
5. My daughter – who’s 3 – and makes up these horrendous situations for my characters to get out of. 🙂 (the giant man-eating grizzly bear being one I’ll save for another day)
6. My admin assistant at my day job – who makes me coffee and routes my phone calls when I’m on break so I can write without interruption AND who goes on my research trips with me to “take notes” bc I stink at it and later ask her everything anyway.
🙂 I couldn’t LIVE a solitary writer’s life. I think I’d … shrivel.
I’m going to love this series.
God is leading me into the world of writing. My family support me, and I am part of a critique group which helps a lot.
I can’t wait to find out more about support teams.
Thanks!
The “team” is so indispensable.
Mine looks like three freelance editors and a picky young proofreader, 🙂 a critique partner, and a handful of more-established professional advocates/encouragers. And then there’s those of us who share journey encouragements, prayer requests and discussions back and forth. They are all amazing people.
But I also have to mention blog readers. These are the people who’ve taken time over the years to stop and comment and tell me their gut reaction and thoughts–I use my blog to do writing rather than to talk about it. They’ve helped me refine my voice, my themes, and all those nuances that go into the nefarious “brand” aspect. It hasn’t been painful or confusing because it’s been an organic process of responding in real-time to audience feedback.
I highly recommend using blogging to open up the throttle, write freely, and take risks of thought and emotion. When it clicks, people respond, and it’s a fantastic way to learn your natural readership and develop writing maturity by listening to feedback.
Those people who engage continually also become a nucleus of support. They may or may not become influencers later on. But if they already know they love what you write, then there’s a higher chance of them choosing to engage with published works.
I am getting such great insight from these responses…so inspiring and informative. Thanks everyone for sharing!
When I first started writing fiction I realized I needed a “team.” For four months I prayed for a critique group with at least one published novelist. The Lord provided three! I thank Him everyday for these ladies. This “newbie” couldn’t do it without their honest critiques. I also learn from my critiques of their work–how scenes, chapters, and an entire book is put together.
My other team is my writing prayer team. After attending my first writers conference in 1999, I realized I’d never make it as a writer without being covered in prayer. I formed a team of ten people (none of them writers) who’ve prayed for me and held me accountable since 1999. They organized a launch party for me when my first book released. I send them periodic updates.
Can’t wait to read this series, Karen!
A writing team. This is definitely a new concept for me. I never thought of having a formal writing team but I definitely have had key people in my life who’ve shaped the course of my writing journey to date.
Thanks for reminding us of the need for support. I am in rwo groups on a regular basis and a third occasionally. It makes such a difference. Last Saturday, I attended a Writers’ Retreat at a local church. I came home more inspired and better educated. Still, I find that it doesn’t help if I don’t take time alone to write.
I’m actually praying about building a prayer team right now. I have some great mentors and I mentor other authors. But I am looking for people who’d like to be a prayer covering for me now for my writing and speaking journey. I have some wonderful beta readers and it seems I have a rotating circle of critique buddies. Like all the hats we wear, our team wears different hats too. So I don’t think the same person fits all arenas.
My team is a list of mentors and my paid editor. Sometimes the interaction of ACFW loop writers though I’ve weeded that back substantially over 6 months ago when spending too much time in the op-ed mode. It takes real work and discipline for me to stay focused on writing the WIP, editing and working towards being published. I have a few for whom I cam be honest, share fears/concerns, ask questions and find encouragement if not be encouragement to them in return. It may be a team but in reality it is a circle of friends. I will look forward to more posts from you Karen on the subject.
I have a team:
A Semi-Professional Photographer: we are teaming up to promote each other.
A critique group of six people who tell me honestly where my work needs improvement.
A small but growing fan club–one woman is especially enthusiastic about my work and is sharing it in every way possible–I thank the LORD for her every day.
Some published authors who give me guidance. I promote their work in exchange. I don’t ask questions too often, though; I try to find the answers on my own.
An amateur Christian musician: We are teaming up to promote each other also.
My husband–he is surprisingly a good editor and gives great critique.
Some friends I’ve met through their blogs. I am working to have us guest post on each other’s blogs. My latest guest blog endeavor really helped both of us and is still getting views.
A couple of other friends who own businesses. I am going to write about their businesses on my blog, and they are going to promote me on their websites.
I am looking forward to learning how to further build my team and how to make it work so that I can get published. Thank you so much for writing about this!