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Have You Tried A Writer's Chat Room?
by Christine Collier

How important is a writer's chat room in keeping writers writing and submitting? I feel it is very important. When you hold a conversation with writers in a chat room it's basically an online writing group. You become friends; and learn new things about the writing business all the time. Fellow writers can encourage and support you, help each other with titles and story plots. We often get into 'brainstorming' sessions and in the process of helping someone often end up with new ideas for our story.

We share markets, Web sites and e-mail info. This is extremely important! Several of us have sold to the same market soley due to word of mouth in a writer's chat room. Also, we share news about markets that have gone out of business, ones that are unprofessional in replying and markets to avoid.

We share our disappointment over a rejection. We share our joy over a sale! I've heard writers say the first thing they think of when hearing they made a sale is to tell it to their chat room. Chat room friends are often more excited about a sale than a writer's family is. Only writers really understand what an accomplishment a sale is!

What About Silly Chatter?
Yes, we do talk about our kids and grandbabies! We talk about the weather and what we are making for supper. We talk about how we can't stand waiting for the mail one more day. We talk about how we hate rejections. I have heard the remark made many times from a chatter that they came into chat depressed but left it invigorated. Why? Someone shared about their rejections and how their writing suddenly turned around. someone read their story via e-mail and praised it. Someone just said don't give up. Sometimes silly chatter is good for a writer, we often need to lighten up.

Writers In All Stages Meet
The people that log into chat are in all different stages of their writing career. It is almost like the freshman meeting the seniors at high school. It runs the gambit from the person that has just started a writing course to the author with many books. It continues with a person composing their first cover letter to the published author that just got a new agent. The new writer learns from the experienced one. The experienced writer remembers what it was like when he or she started. Each comes away with a new vision. Accomplished authors may give insight into what it's like to work with editors. What it's like to go on a book signing tour or speak to large audiences.

Check Chat Out
Make sure the atmosphere is friendly yet professional in the chat room you hope to become a member of. If there is gossiping or jealousy don't join it. Look for the one that will help you grow as a writer.

Christine Collier began her writing career as an "empty nester Mom" after Amy, Adam and Andrew flew the nest. She became a first time grandmother of Emma this past fall.

Collier completed a writing course at the Institute of Children's Literature, and is presently taking the advanced writing course at ICL. She enjoys writing middle grade fiction, especially mysteries. Recently Christine wrote a short adult "cozy" mystery which she enjoyed very much. Her work has appeared in Holidays & Seasonal Celebrations, WeeOnes online children's magazine, Once Upon A Time, and the Institute of Children's Literature. 

Collier also writes a chat news column for the newsletter for children's writers, From Dolly's Desk dollydsk@bellsouth.net telling of sales, markets and good news about her fellow writers. She can be reached at ccollier@stny.rr.com

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