Talking About Writing

I got back from a Scribes & Scholars meeting about two hours ago. We meet every two weeks and read something we have given birth too during the time we have been apart. Tonight we did that but instead of following the reading with a timed writing exercise, we spent over an hour debating several issues, not least of which was our decision to put Scribes & Scholars onto facebook as another closed group. We are limiting the number in the group to ourselves plus a further two (maybe) because we don't think it would be a good idea to split people between Scribes and The Writer's Pen. All members of Scribes are also members of Writer's Pen.
 This decision to go on facebook came about after finding it difficult to meet over holidays and birthdays. It seems logical to find a way for us to meet no matter what is going on in our lives.
We were also concerned that with the membership rising a lot of general posts regarding ongoing discussions on the page might be getting overlooked as members posted samples of work for critique. These have ranged from 250 to over a 1000 words. I am going to suggest to members that they should write their sample on their blog. They can then simply type the blog link on Writer's Pen with a note, asking members to go to their blog and read the sample. When done, they can go back to Writer's Pen and click comment under the blog address and post a critique.
Not only will this help us to follow all discussions but it will encourage more people to each member's site and attract followers.
I am extremely pleased with how the Writer's Pen group is progressing. We are only 17 members strong but all are very passionate about writing and getting published. Linked to Suraya Dewing and The Story Mint, I can see our membership growing. Our names, for those who are writing chapters in the on going serials at The Story Mint, are being displayed individually on each chapter. Another great way to attract a following. All in all, a very successful evening.
My target for membership is 25 by January 31st. 2012. Our members come from 5 countries. It is exciting to think that our page started just 4 months ago.

I started today in a downbeat mood. I felt frustrated that I had done a lousy job editing a chapter in my novel. For some reason I cannot master seeing  'passive sentances', and I keep letting fly with the odd adverb or redundant adjective. So I sulked today and then found that I can check 'stats' on Windows 7 for percentage passive sentences, along with other useful info. Now I feel better but whatever, being frustrated and upset does not mean I give up. Quite the reverse. I am in for the long haul and am determined to fight the red pen wherever it strikes and put things right.
I hope all our members have the same mind set. 'One day it will be your turn' is what used to be said. Not true any more. Today we can write and be recognised once our work reaches an acceptable editorial level. E publishing is here to stay and we should all be pretty pleased with ourselves at the part we are playing.