A Writers Group Can Lead to Intergalactic Fame or Not

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

Many writers join writers groups but are initially unaware of the reason other than being with their own, those that love to write, love to read and love the art of being a wordsmith. They eventually learn that it enforces their belief of being a writer and from the fellowship comes strong and lasting bonds, working relationships and the like. Caryl McAdoo of the Northeast Texas region is a great example of this.   

“I wanted to write a book and be an author since my youth. Assigned a homework essay on what I’d be doing in the year 2000, I wrote about being an intergallacticly famous author hopping from planet to planet autographing books! Not so totally ridiculous in the mind of a twelve-year-old since they were talking about sending men to the moon, but what can I say? The space program didn’t live up to my expectations.”

Caryl McAdoo always wanted to be a writer but it was her husband Ron that inspired her and led the way. An early manuscript led her to the Dallas Fort Worth Writer’s Workshop in the summer of 1993. She joined and right away offered up her manuscript for critique. After a brutal critique, Don Whittington, a published author in the group, took us aside and asked if were ok. This led to a mentor relationship with Wittington, John McCord and Jack Ballas. “They took us under their wing.” They would stay after the meetings and work with us until the wee hours of the morning if necessary.

Caryl was also able to meet a member of the group that had ties with a publishing company. This relationship led to having several books published and recommendations for others.

Caryl highly recommends to anyone wanting to write, get into a good writing group. Caryl said, “one that won’t always slap you on the back and tell you what a great chapter you wrote. A writer needs critique to improve.” Today Caryl and Ron are mentors. They enjoy a read and critique session every week passing their knowledge forward.

You too can experience the benefits of a writers group such as the McAdoos did. Being a part of one myself I can say many of their experiences I have seen occur in our group. Find a group near you and begin an exciting relationship with writers in your area. The benefits may not lead to intergalactic fame but they can be unlimited.  

Look for Caryl in the March/April issue on Southern Writers Magazine. Caryl’s latest book Vow Unbroken coming out on March 4^th. Caryl McAdoo and husband Ron are the Directors of the 2014 Northeast Texas Writer’s Organization Writers Conference, April 24^th and 25^th. See our Conference Site for more details.