Home » Writing & Publishing » Resources for Writers » Starting From Scratch

Starting From Scratch

© Deb Jones

I'm new to this topic, and relatively new to the world of freelance writing, but not a total stranger to Suite101, having had a topic in another area for over a year now. I'll work hard to keep these articles fresh and interesting; your feedback will be of great assistance to me in determining what direction to take down the road.

"Resources for Writers"...the phrase initially brought to mind thick and dusty leather-bound books--dictionaries, encyclopedias, and the like that pre-Internet writers depended on. Then I wrapped my mind around the myriad of websites available (check out the links here for a sampling). But the first and greatest resource we have is one another.

Granted, there are lots of other writers out there, and while yes, we may be competition of sorts, in a greater sense we are simply people with the same types of goals and facing the same sort of roadblocks. There is no good reason why we shouldn't encourage and support one another. Who knows, we might be one of the largest support groups around!

Have you looked into whether there are any writing groups in your area? Do you belong to any? If none are available, have you considered starting a group? Is there perhaps a bookstore, coffee shop, or college nearby that might sponsor such a group, or at least provide a meeting place?

Might you consider joining one of the many on-line writers' groups? Or, on the slim chance that there is no group that deals with your interests, have you considered developing a group of your own? Most providers allow such groups to be formed at no cost, and geographic limitations pose no boundaries for such groups.

Keep someone in your corner who will provide encouragement; it can be anyone, writer or not. But it is important to have someone who will see you through your peaks and valleys. I see this sort of person more as a "cheerleader" than a true resource, but essential to your well being just the same. If you don't have anyone who fits this description, make your self-talk as positive as you can and keep working at self-affirmation.

Many, many successful writers have taken the time and energy to share with the rest of us a secret to their success, or an insight that we might not be able to garner anywhere else. THE WRITER'S HANDBOOK is a book that offers a collection of just that-- articles from authors who have "been there and done that." The 2004 edition of THE WRITER'S HANDBOOK offers fifty essays by some of America's best writers, including Ray Bradbury and Dennis Lehane; in the 2002 edition of the book I found sixty or so such essays, with Stephen King offering his insight there. The essays are in addition to the thousands of writer's markets the book also provides.