I’m always struggling with what to say to you all, which is kind of odd. I guess I feel like you get the touch-and-go version on Twitter and Facebook, and most of what happens doesn’t need that much more depth to it.
However, I also don’t want to simply become a book review site, and there’s a real danger of that happening if I’m not careful. Nothing wrong with book reviews if your interests run similar to the postee, but even if they do, seems like enough is enough. I’ve removed a few blogs from my roll because of that–eep! (I guess consider yourself forewarned that this upcoming week is a review week again!)
I’ve been a member at American Christian Fiction Writers for two and a half years now. I joined mostly for the Genesis contest–other than that I mostly lurked until the past eight months or so when I began dusting off the contemporary romance novel I’d written a few years back. ACFW is a far more romance-friendly place than fantasy, though I’ve met some cool SFF folks through that organization as well.
In June ACFW started a bulk critting e-loop and I joined it with the purpose of running my rererevised romance through it before conference. It was pretty intense for awhile. Some mornings I’d wake up to over a hundred new emails. Trying to determine what to critique and what to let slide was time-consuming. A few times I just hit ‘select all’ and ‘delete’.
The purpose of the bulk loop was to allow smaller groups to form naturally. Because I didn’t start submitting my manuscript until July (because of our June vacation) it took a bit longer for me to find a small group. Now I’m happy to be out of the fast flowing Niagara River and into a smaller stream with four other gals writing a variety of Christian fiction. (They’ve even said they wouldn’t mind critting an occasional fantasy!)
Smaller stream, yes, but the water is moving pretty quickly here, too. I’ve been happy to help out Nicole O’Dell who not only has two books coming out on August first, but also has two books DUE that day, so she’s a bit under the wire here.
My chapters (along with the others) will start circulating soon. I’m really looking forward to this new group and the friendships that are already starting to form.
No shortage of busy. Ever.
I’m thrilled you’ve found your small group! I love your analogy to the main one … Niagara River! LOL