In February of 2012, I started a blog about my family’s adventures with diabetes. That blog, The 9 Inch Plate, was the first time I “put myself out there” as a writer. I, of course, anticipated fame and fortune. To no one’s surprise, that didn’t happen.
I was working in a bit of a vacuum. (that is a giant understatement) Once I started the process, I started to find out how little I knew about writing. Somehow, I thought that you just wrote and it would all work out. Okay, I was not that naive but I didn’t have great expectations so I thought it would all work out.
HA!
But I did start reading and learning. Last April, I was led to a blog with the unlikely name My Name Is Not Bob. Really, that is the name. Not really the catchiest name but then again who was I to judge? I had no idea who the author, Robert Lee Brewer, was or why I should read his blog. But I did.
(Cue Blessings fall like rain)
The blog in April of last year was about platform building. It was a month long challenge to take steps to build your writer’s platform. Right. So, I decided to find out what a writer’s platform was, how to build it, and why I should do this. And I found out during the month.
I Facebooked, I Goodread, I set up a Twitter account, I Google+ed. It was all interesting and new to me. It was a great first step. Toward the end of the month, Robert mentioned that there was a Facebook group forming of people who were also doing the challenge.
I went to Facebook and joined the group.
Such an innocent step.
Little did I know what I was signing up for with that group.
The group started as MNINB or the Not Bobbers. After a period of time, it was decided that a new name was in order. After taking suggestions and voting the Wordsmith Studio was born.
I would like to tell you a little secret. I tend to come at situations from a business perspective. I learned years ago that my mind works differently than the mind of some of those “artsy” people. I was involved with a group and had to leave because I was so baffled by the thought process of the group. I was the square peg in that round hole.
So, I was a bit trepidatious about this group.
I was wrong. I am so fortunate to be a part of this group. They are the most wonderful people. They are supportive and helpful and just all around good people. They want to help. They want to give you the information that you need to succeed. They are there to hand out cheers for successes and kleenex for rejections.
They are the ultimate kindergarteners. They know how to share. And they are so creative and fun. So, I now can twitterchat with the best of them and post to Google+, and even create a Storify. There are still so many social media worlds to cover but I know that I will not be alone. I will have someone at WSS that will know how to do it or will work with me on figuring it out.
I even found a group that sits in the back of the class with me.
So on the first anniversary of the group, I want to thank all of them for their help and support. What a fantastic year it has been! I have so much respect for all of them and I appreciate their willingness to share with such a neophyte.
On to year two!
Carol Early Cooney 
From the heart. So easy. You’re a blessing to me, back-of-the-class friend. Salut!
I am reminded of Anne Shirley talking about her kindred spirit, Diana Barry.
“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
What will we do next?
So you’ll be my “bosom friend?” Whatever it is we do next, please let it involve wine and chocolate…
Yes, I will be your bosom friend. I think it involves MASSIVE quantities of chocolate and wine. Did you know that (what used to be at least) the Coppola wine club has one shipment that they send chocolate to compliment the wine. The best shipment ever!
Now THAT’s what I call a business plan.
Woo Hoo and Cheers to the Wordsmith Studio!! This has been a fabulous part of my writing education and I can’t wait to learn more. Thanks for being there with me!!
So glad that we were able to meet this way! Oh what a ride! What fun we will have!
I see you back there, back-of-the-classers! I’ve always been a front row girl but I admit it took me a while to fully dive in to WS-ness. Thanks for being a welcoming spirit and a friendly face. Cheers!
Kasie, you are welcome to come to the back (might be the dark side….) We are fun and we drink wine!
I agree with the sentiment “Woohoo!” 🙂 Or Wahoo! Or Yipee! Carol, I always enjoy tweeting with you. We thank you for your help and support, more like 🙂
Thanks, Sarah! What a great team we all make!
Carol, as a fellow struggler with diabetes, I read your blog every day. At the moment, my 20-month old granddaughter is being closely monitored by Stanford University doctors because her half-brother is Type One and she’s considered at risk. This cranky old Type Two has his fingers crossed for her.
Oh, I have my fingers and toes crossed for her. Since starting the blog, I have learned so much about Type 1. I am in awe of the parents, caregivers and patients with Type 1. What a hard hard road.
So, the business lady has traded her pens for crayons . . . and learned to accept the artsy fartsy crowd. Or just maybe that side of you needed a plunger to release your hidden art . . . of words. Happy Anniversary, Carol!
Happy Anniversary to you, too! Oh, the fun we have. I always liked the box of 64 – coveted actually. So many colors! Did you like green yellow or yellow green?
I liked magenta. And silver. And gold. I never had silver or gold. I liked teal. I never had a teal either. . .
So glad to be in this classroom with you, Carol. You are one of my highlights each week! I’m so happy to call you my friend. xo
So what did we do before? Your friendship has been such a great part of this whole experience.
Happy Anniversary, Carol. The Back of the Classers rock. The development of the #wschat has definitely been one of the highlights of the year. Robert could have never imagined what we would do with that skill! Kudos to all those who host.
It is fun! My fear is that someone will decide tha they should cut off those open discussions – we get in the most trouble (i.e. fun) then!
Love being in kindergarten with you all! So glad you checked out Robert’s blog and joined in on the fun. Happy anniversary, Carol!
Thanks, Jennifer! It has been great checking out each other’s work and having so much support.
We are a good group, aren’t we? Mostly, we behave, except when we’re having hilarious fun, which is often. And we have big shoulders for the times when things aren’t so easy. Thanks for all the work you’ve done to make WS work, Carol! It’s good to know you here. Back of the class, here I come!
Aren’t we all so fortunate to have found this? It is so much fun and so interesting all the time.
Carol, What a great post. I love the “They are the ultimate kindergarteners” line- remember the book/poster/ whatever about “Everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten”? Perfect. I’m so thankful for this group too, and I don’t think I’ve even begun to realize all the benefits.
I’m planning on starting a new manuscript in which one of my main characters ( a teen) has Type I diabetes. I think it’s an issue not addressed enough in young adult lit. Would you be interested in talking sometime about the difficulties of Type I?
Thanks!
Thanks, Julie! I think you are right – we all have so much more to gain from the group.
My husband has diabetes Type 2 but I have been in contact with another blogger who is a Type1 (and has been for many years). She is very active in the diabetes community. Let me know when you are ready and I will connect the two of you. She is so nice and really helpful.
Thanks Carol! That sounds great. I will let you know when I’m ready. And, just a gentle correction, my name is Julia, not Julie.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Have a great weekend.
Oh Carol! Whenever I am “around you” or read your writings or get a message from you checking in with me, I can’t help but smile. 🙂 I think for a lot of the folks in this group, the grp has provided some sort of meaning – and definitely a great support system. This was a great first year for the grp – I am happy to be making my way back to the group to you and other good people. So I hold my glass of bubbly and raise it to you and the others and wish you a Happy Anniversary!
Monique