Please substitute in the words  “Wordsmith Studio” for “Swanee”

The truth of the matter is that I seem to stumble around a bit. Not from drink but from not knowing what I am doing. Don’t get me wrong, there are things that I am very capable of doing but then there are those other things that I just feel my way through.

When I decided to write a blog, I gathered information and then started working on it. I had a business background and really knew little about writing or the writing world. But fate must have decided to take me by the hand and give me a bit of guidance. Somehow I was led to a blog with the unlikely name of “My Name is Not Bob.” I read it several times and liked what the writer had to say so I kept reading.

(This was the most amazing thing – writers were more than willing to share anything they had learned. They were so free with information and I needed so much help. I was a lot like a thirsty man reaching a stream.  I drank and drank.)

Robert Brewer of “My Name is not Bob” fame started a 30 day program to improve your writer’s platform. So first I had to figure out what a platform was and why I needed one and why I needed to improve it. But once past that, Robert shared incredible information.  I learned so much. Okay, in some instances, I learned about social media outlets that I had never heard of and may not have exactly understood. But the exposure was a great start.

A group was formed of the people who were also following all the tips in the 30 day program. I went over to see about the group. The great thing about the group was that we could use some of the things that Robert talked about in his posts. We could have a twitter chat. We could learn how to use Hootsuite to plan a twitter chat.

It was the exposure to the concepts followed by the application that hooked me. And then I got to know the people. And there was the best part of the whole program. We made connections. We had a group that we could depend on for help, support, and camaraderie.  I have met people through the organization that I communicate with almost every day now.

(This is where that debate about making friends on the internet could be played out. Yes, you can make great friends on the internet without ever seeing them in person. This group is how I know this to be true.)

To be honest, that first year (or two) I had so much to learn that I was almost numb.  There was just so much to learn. It was overwhelming but wonderful. Okay, I am still a bit that way but it is better. I have learned to slow down and really try and understand one thing at a time.

Wordsmith Studio is now three years old.  This group has been a wonderful part of my life. I have learned so much through the members of the group and have been able to learn from actually participating with the members. I have run a Tuesday twitter chat, led book twitter chats, somehow get to be cheerleader for the Goals Group, and been to meetings via Google Hangout. If I don’t know how to do something, I can ask everyone on the Facebook group page and get answers.  There are weekly twitter chats, there are weekly prompts, there are Friday night bar napkin poetry sessions and there is company when you decide to take up challenges. One of the things that really helped me with completing my project for NaNoWriMo 2013 (National Novel Writing Month) was doing “word sprints” with other members of the group. Heck, I heard about NaNoWriMo from being in the group!

So much support. Such a free exchange. A warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day. That is what Wordsmith Studio means to me.

If you are a writer and you are looking for this type of group, I urge you to go over to www.wordsmithstudio.org and check it out. We would love to have you join us! Don’t hold back because you are just starting and don’t think you know enough. There are people here that will help you.

So there we have my annual love letter about Wordsmith Studio. I am so appreciative that I have been able to be a part of the group. It has been a great experience.

Thanks for reading!