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How I Found the Write Path

Posted on May 19, 2014May 21, 2014 by Loni Townsend

How I found the Write Path Carrie Butler is celebrating her blogiversary! She’s hosting a blogfest called How I Found the Write Path. See who is participating, and sign up yourself.

The Prompt: Please write a letter/note to yourself when you first started writing toward publication.

Since I often talk to myself (in third person even), this was easy. Below is the advice I’d give, if I could send a letter back through time.

╰☆╮ ╰☆╮ ╰☆╮ ╰☆╮ ╰☆╮ ╰☆╮

Dear Loni,

Hi, it’s me, your future self. No, this isn’t some scam trying to get your money. Go on, I’ll wait while you check the headers and track the IP.

You done? Okay, fine, so you’re still skeptical. I’ll prove it.

You know that masterpiece you’ve had stewing in your mind since you were 15? Yeah, Thanmir War. Guess what! It’s going to completely change. First-draft beta readers will hate your main characters, not to mention all your info-dumping confuses them. You’ll spend hours reworking both.

Before you start tossing out all your work, let me tell you two valuable words that will save your caboose—ones I had to discover on my own.

Critique Partners.

Remember those words. Find them online. Actively seek them out in your community. These people will change your life.

No, that’s not me being melodramatic (kinda sounds that way, though, doesn’t it?). I know what your life is like right now. Limited connections with absolutely no idea where to start. It’s just you and that story you’ve been terrified to show to anyone, afraid they’ll judge you.

Get over it. They’ll judge your writing before they judge you.

Critique partners will help hone your skill, point out flaws you never noticed, and suggest rewording that gives a whole new perspective on word delivery. Not only will these people turn you into a better writer, they’ll become your friends.

Okay, maybe I am being mushy now.

Well, my dear past self, another thing critique partners teach you is brevity. Yes, you, Miss Long-Winded, can learn to write something quick and snappy.

With that, I leave you to your writing.

Sincerely,

Loni Townsend
Author of the Niniers Series

“I give permission for my entry to be included in the e-book compilation without royalties and/or separate compensation.”

╰☆╮ ╰☆╮ ╰☆╮ ╰☆╮ ╰☆╮ ╰☆╮

Are you participating? What advice would you give?

53 thoughts on “How I Found the Write Path”

  1. Elizabeth Seckman says:
    May 19, 2014 at 8:12 AM

    I talk to myself in third person too. I can be such a whiner, I have to have continuous butt kicks to keep me moving in the right direction! My CPs have become some of my best friends.

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 19, 2014 at 7:36 PM

      Glad I’m not the only one who does that!

      Reply
  2. Alex J. Cavanaugh says:
    May 19, 2014 at 8:35 AM

    Those two words are powerful!
    What we wrote as teens needs a lot of work, but it is possible to produce something of value.

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 19, 2014 at 7:40 PM

      Yeah, what I originally stewed up is totally different from what it turned into.

      Reply
  3. Eleyne-Mari says:
    May 19, 2014 at 8:53 AM

    So glad to read a POSITIVE post about critiquing. Good job, Loni!

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 19, 2014 at 7:40 PM

      Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Sarah Brentyn says:
    May 19, 2014 at 9:14 AM

    What a fab letter to your old (young) self. And I love what you wrote about people judging your writing, not you. And helping you.

    This looks like such fun. Thanks for sharing the link. I’m headed over to Carrie’s blogfest!

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 19, 2014 at 7:41 PM

      Sweet! Looking forward to reading your letter!

      Reply
  5. Emma Adams says:
    May 19, 2014 at 9:41 AM

    Yes! I don’t know how I coped before I found my critique partners. They’ve definitely helped me become a better writer! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 19, 2014 at 7:45 PM

      Me too!

      Reply
  6. Melissa Maygrove says:
    May 19, 2014 at 10:14 AM

    Track the IP address. hahaha Too funny!

    Agreed! Critique partners are wonderful!
    …a necessary evil, but wonderful. 😛

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 19, 2014 at 7:45 PM

      Aw, come on, I’m not that evil. 😀

      Reply
  7. Gina Stoneheart says:
    May 19, 2014 at 12:19 PM

    Critique partners can be invaluable when it comes to our manuscripts. This is something which took a while for me to succumb to, especially since I’ve felt overwhelmed with the whole having to become an extrovert thing. Finding others to read my work meant having to navigate and get a feel for the writing community… scary stuff this previous introvert! (But I still love hiding behind my desk with two, three, sometimes four cups of coffee in the wee hours of the morning=)
    Lovely letter, Loni. I’m happy to be connecting with new authors and bloggers through Carrie’s blogfest.

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 19, 2014 at 7:55 PM

      I’m not quite what you’d call an extrovert, but I’ve forced myself to interact. I particularly like meeting other people through these blogfests. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Catherine Stine says:
    May 19, 2014 at 1:12 PM

    My crit partners are the greatest! I’ve been workshopping with some of them for years, and the new members are amazing too. Essential pieces of the puzzle.

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 19, 2014 at 8:06 PM

      My local critique group meets every other week and it’s loads of fun!

      Reply
  9. Sarah Brentyn says:
    May 19, 2014 at 3:17 PM

    How’d you get the cool blogfest button, Caffeinated Critter?

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 19, 2014 at 3:21 PM

      You should be able to download it here: Link to blogfest button.

      Reply
      1. Sarah Brentyn says:
        May 19, 2014 at 3:25 PM

        You’re the best!

        Reply
  10. Dean K Miller says:
    May 19, 2014 at 3:50 PM

    I liked this, especially since I’ve been looking at my “teen-age stuff” this past week. I might re-work them, see what happens. I haven’t been in a critique group for a couple of years, but do have a buddy or two I count on. When I pull my behemoth first draft out of the drawer though, I know right where I’m headed!

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 19, 2014 at 9:35 PM

      It might need to undergo major changes, and might not even resemble the same beast, but if the story is good, then it might be worth it. 😀

      Reply
  11. Kirsten says:
    May 19, 2014 at 6:48 PM

    What a great letter.
    And this is such wise advice. I would tell myself something similar–to stop listening to people who tell me what I can’t do, and find myself some people who encourage me and tell me that I can do anything I put my mind to!! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 21, 2014 at 8:28 AM

      Exactly! The right people make a world of difference.

      Reply
  12. Stephanie Faris says:
    May 19, 2014 at 8:06 PM

    It’s awesome that you were able to bring an idea you had at 15 to fruition! Like the realization of a childhood dream. I don’t think any of the ideas I had at that age made much sense!

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 21, 2014 at 8:30 AM

      Oh trust me, the only thing that resembles what I stewed up at age 15 is that there’s this guy named Derek and he’s good with plants. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Jeri says:
    May 19, 2014 at 11:38 PM

    CPs are a definite. I’d tell myself not to fret so much and just get ‘er done. Somehow that might be a bit more manageable when I get to the second book.

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 21, 2014 at 9:00 AM

      Get ‘er done!

      I think some of us (myself included) will always continue to fret. But then, what is there to fret about if nothing gets written, right?

      Reply
  14. Nick Wilford says:
    May 20, 2014 at 4:38 PM

    CPs changed my writing completely and gave me great advice. Don’t know what I’d do without them now. Reading over and over our own words can only go so far!

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 21, 2014 at 9:04 AM

      I miss so much with my own reading, because my brain knows what I meant to say. Thank goodness for critique partners.

      Reply
  15. Tammy Theriault says:
    May 20, 2014 at 11:58 PM

    Funny that you speak often to yourself because this sounded just like you were offering advice to any one of us and it was some amazing advice!! Especially about critique partners!! Such a love hate relationship. Lol

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 21, 2014 at 12:22 PM

      Yes, it was a touch of, “take my advice, I don’t use it anyways.” 🙂

      Reply
  16. Carrie Butler says:
    May 21, 2014 at 12:57 AM

    The fact that you had your past self check the IP is one of the many reasons I heart you. LOL Thank you for participating, Loni!

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 21, 2014 at 12:22 PM

      Thanks for making this awesome endeavor possible!

      Reply
  17. Crystal Collier says:
    May 21, 2014 at 9:30 AM

    CRITIQUE PARTNERS! Yes. Totally! I’ve been blessed with such wonderful ones. Don’t know what I’d do without them.

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 21, 2014 at 4:05 PM

      Me either!

      Reply
  18. Liz Blocker (@lizblocker) says:
    May 21, 2014 at 10:06 AM

    ” I’ll wait while you check the headers and track the IP.” – LOL, you’re a coder through and through!

    Great letter, Loni. I love the blend of humor and honesty (which what I love about your writing, too 🙂 ), and I love how you highlight the priceless value of CPs. SO TRUE.

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 21, 2014 at 4:06 PM

      😉 Probably one reason why I won’t quit my day job. I actually enjoy being a programmer.

      Reply
  19. Tyrean says:
    May 21, 2014 at 1:33 PM

    Critique partners are definitely wonderful!

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 21, 2014 at 4:09 PM

      Agreed.

      Reply
  20. Theresa Milstein says:
    May 22, 2014 at 11:41 AM

    I was the QUEEN of tell instead of showing. Critique partners cured me of that!

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 22, 2014 at 3:51 PM

      I still haven’t been completely cured yet, but I’m working on it!

      Reply
  21. Elizabeth Hein says:
    May 22, 2014 at 6:53 PM

    My Critique partners are invaluable to me. Thanks.

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 23, 2014 at 11:09 AM

      Mine too. 😀

      Reply
  22. Lexa Cain says:
    May 23, 2014 at 12:25 AM

    Yes, indeed – CPs have saved my caboose countless times, and still do. Yay for getting mushy about fabulous, helpful, encouraging, delightful CPs!!

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 23, 2014 at 11:45 AM

      Yay!

      Reply
  23. Arlee Bird says:
    May 23, 2014 at 1:32 PM

    Good advice, but when you were that age would you have listened?

    Lee
    A Faraway View

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 23, 2014 at 2:03 PM

      I think I would’ve, or at least I would’ve started researching the idea of critique partners a lot sooner.

      Reply
  24. chemistken says:
    May 23, 2014 at 5:00 PM

    Critique partners have kept me from making a lot of mistakes in my writing. Of course, if I had had any idea what I was getting myself into with this writing business, I propbably never would have started. Nice letter.

    Reply
  25. Meradeth Houston says:
    May 23, 2014 at 8:42 PM

    Such excellent words of advice! I certainly don’t know where I’d be without my critique partners–definitely not where I am today, that’s for sure!

    Reply
  26. Milo James Fowler says:
    May 25, 2014 at 7:32 AM

    Our future selves are so wise, aren’t they? But even they don’t know everything — unless they’re our deathbed selves… SO important to get feedback on our work. I’m indebted to the editors who have helped me fine-tune my short stories over the the past four years. It’s definitely helping my novel edits move right along.

    Reply
  27. Aldrea Alien says:
    May 25, 2014 at 2:25 PM

    Eerie how alike our journeys have been. And yes, critique partners … my stories wouldn’t be this good without them.

    Reply
  28. Cherie Reich says:
    May 27, 2014 at 12:57 PM

    Critique partners are worth their weight in gold. I’d be lost without mine.

    Reply
  29. Lynda R Young says:
    May 27, 2014 at 7:15 PM

    Great letter! Critique Partners are truly invaluable.

    Reply

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Welcome to my blog. I post here on Wednesdays most of the time, but you can find me on social media any day of the week. My topics include my stories and writing, life at the Town's End, creating and tinkering with graphics, things I learn and think might be helpful to others, and the occasional amateur photo. Thanks for stopping by! I hope to see you around.

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