I went to a slumber party this weekend, for the first time since sixth grade. My writing group has been together five years (count ‘em--five!), so we celebrated with a major session of goofing around, followed by a tiny bit of sleep, followed by a writing retreat.

I can’t say enough about these women. They taught me what to do, they showed me my mistakes, they cried with me at my rejections, they celebrated with me at my successes, and they took me seriously. Each of us does these things for all of us. There is no jealousy--one member’s success is everyone’s success. And we’ve had a few successes--three agents acquired (one lost in there), one sold book, one Pushcart-nominated nonfiction piece, myriad drafts of book projects and stories (some of them final drafts), smaller publications in large and small venues, the list goes on. We give each other courage and strength to keep going. We love each other and push each other.

Every writer needs a writing group. I am convinced of it.

So here’s to you, sisters in ink. Thank you a million times over.

Tags: writing community, writing life