A smile. An encouraging word. A thoughtful gesture. Each day people interact with us, help, and make our day a bit brighter and full. This is especially true in the Writing Community.
Take a second to think about writers you know, like the critique partner who works with you to improve your manuscript. The writing friend who listens, supports and keeps you strong when times are tough. The author who generously offers council, advice and inspiration when asked.
To commemorate the release of their book The Emotion Thesaurus, Becca and Angela at The Bookshelf Muse are hosting a TITANIC Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ. And because KINDNESS is contagious, I’m participating too!
I’d like to give a shout-out to my critique partners, Marcy Hatch and Krystalyn Drown, who read my awful first drafts chapter-by-chapter as I write them — no matter if they appear 1 day apart or 6 weeks apart. I’m not sure I’d keep going if Marcy didn’t nudge me with emails asking when the next chapter is coming. And if Krystalyn didn’t ask the hard questions that send me back to the drawing board, I’d never discover the plot potential brewing under the surface that I’ve been too lazy to breach.
To thank Marcy and Krystalyn, I’m going to recommend you follow their blogs, if you don’t already. Also, each of them participate in an auxiliary blog. Marcy is one of the bloggers at The Unicorn Bell, which offers critiques, and Krystalyn is one of the writers at Fiction Femme Fatale, which specializes in flash fiction.
I am pretty sure that both Marcy and Krystalyn would love a copy of The Emotion Thesaurus for their own writing (as would I), but we’ve been asked not to give those away as gifts. Becca and Angela want to keep this a celebration. They’re not looking for a chart rush. So, I’m sending both my fabulous critique partners a $10 Amazon gift certificate — just to say thanks for all the countless hours of reading, responding, and patting my head. How they spend it is totally up to them. π
Do you know someone special that you’d like to acknowledge? Don’t be shy–come join us and celebrate! Send them an email, give them a shout out, or show your appreciation in another way. Kindness makes the world go round. π
Becca and Angela have a special RAOK gift waiting for you as well, so hop on over to The Bookshelf Muse to pick it up.
Yay for critique partners! Knowing someone will be reading the pages as you crank them out definitely helps keep up motivation and enthusiasm!
That kind of encouragement and feedback (both!) is essential. I have crit partners who have made the difference between completing a book and letting it go, and I’m glad I listened to them!
Marcy is fabulous! She was my first CP and we still chat often. I feel blessed to know her. ;D
YAY for Kindness! I’ve followed all four blogs. What a great way to honor your CPs!
Becca @ The Bookshelf Muse
wow. I’m practically speechless! Thank you π
Congrats to Marcy and Krystalyn!
You may want to check my blog today. =D
Congratulations to Marcy and Krystalyn!
So much fun and so hard to chose who to spotlight. π
A good critique partner is worth her (or his) weight in gold. π I think mine are the kindest when they’re being “cruel.” π
I agree: Marcy rocks. Love this post. π
Thank you so much, Dianne! It meant a lot to me to wake up this morning to such a wondrous thing. I will pass on the RAOK to my sister, who is working on her very first manuscript!
So exciting to hear about all this! Kindness is contagious.
Congrats to Marcy and Krystalyn!
I talked about my CP today as well. What would we do without them.
Yay for Marcy and Krystalyn! Critters are the best people in the WORLD! Love them. And you’re popping up quite a bit today, too, missy! π
Yay for RAOK! <3
Perfect!!! Off to follow them!
Yay for crit partners. Congrats to both of them. =)
What a great blogfest! I adore my crit partners… it’s invaluable to find people you can trust to understand your work and make it better. And who send you chocolate in the mail like mine do π
Hi Dianne! I enjoyed your post. Sounds like you have awesome critique partners.
I was sent over from Donna’s blog. Congrats on being blitzed!
I see what you did there. π
Critique partners are awesome, aren’t they?
Critique partners rock don’t they? I’m definitely going to check out their sites.
I LOVE this. =)
I just found your blog by way of Donna’s RAOK Blitz–congratulations on that. And congratulations to Marcy and Krystalyn! Isn’t this RAOK Blitz fun?
God did a special thing when he created critique partners. Hi, Dianne. I’ve been to so many RAOK blogs today, I can’t remember who recommended I visit yours.
Joylene Nowell Butler, Author
Great critique partners are difficult to find! Consider yourself blessed π Hope you had a fantastic RAOK week. I’ve had fun visiting everyone that posted! Writers are a pretty supportive community π