Photo of a little white plastic skeleton riding atop a pink plastic flamingo on a green lawn.

Boo! + Importance of Mixing with Other Writers by Darlene Foster

Posted on by da-AL

Halloween is soon upon us! I love how low-expectation it is, so anything about it is easy to appreciate as a bonus. My doggie takes barking seriously when visitors knock at the door, so I enjoy halloween vicariously, through kind neighbors who decorate their lawns. Sweet friends scoot their fire table onto their driveway, where my husband and I join them to marvel at the stream of ghouls and goblins. Generosity, whimsy, creativity, it’s all there, and it feeds my soul as a novelist (about my novels here).

The other day, while walking my dog, I was totally tickled at seeing this on a nearby playful soul’s lawn…

Photo of a little white plastic skeleton riding atop a pink plastic flamingo on a green lawn.

Today’s guest post is all about the wonderfulness of people connecting. You might remember Darlene Foster from when she guested here before.

Click here to visit her blog, where you can find out more about Darlene and her Amanda Travels series of delightful books!…

Author/blogger Darlene Foster at a book signing for one of her Amanda Travels series of books.
Author/blogger Darlene Foster at a book signing for one of her Amanda Travels series of books.

The Importance of Mixing with Other Writers by Darlene Foster

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” -Jane Howard, novelist

Because writing is a solitary activity, it is beneficial to spend time with other writers by attending writer’s conferences and retreats, joining critique groups and reading the blogs of writers.  Other writers possess a wealth of ideas and offer encouragement and motivation, something all writers need. Without the support of the writers I have met in person and online over the years, I would not have completed and published ten books in my Amanda Travels series. 

Four years ago I was invited by a blogging friend to attend a small writers’ retreat on the Isle of Arran off the coast of Scotland. It was just what I needed, time with like-minded people and uninterrupted time to write in an inspiring location. Since we all found the retreat so valuable, we decided to hold it every year since. Although the focus is on writing, attending morning workshops and discussing writing, we always manage to get out and explore the island. After completing my work-in-progress, I began to think about my next book in the series. Why not set it on the wonderful Isle of Arran? After all, I had plenty of material.

I subsequently completed book #10 of the series, Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones and launched it in June of this year. One of my writer/blogger friends provided the photograph for the front cover while others beta-read the manuscript. Many others helped me through the process of self-publishing.  My three excellent critique groups offered valuable advice and suggestions which helped make it a better book. 

It may take a village to raise a child, but it also takes a network of writers to see a book to completion. If you can’t travel to conferences and retreats, check out the many blogs, like this one, by and for writers. You will be amazed at what you will learn, the contacts you will make and the encouragement and support you will receive. 

Cover of Amanda in Scotland: the Standing Stones by Darlene Foster.

A little about my latest book — Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones

What could possibly go wrong on the magical Scottish Isle of Arran? It’s such a peaceful, charming place with castles, mountains, old graves and ancient standing stones.

Amanda Ross and Leah Anderson are visiting Aunt Jenny who owns an old house on the island. But something is not right. A mysterious woman, who seems to have stepped out of the past, keeps appearing, Leah’s father hasn’t contacted the family for some time, and Aunt Jenny’s house may have an uninvited guest.

Amanda is intrigued by this picturesque island, often called Little Scotland. She watches exciting sheepdog trials, attends a lively ceilidh, makes friends with the locals, and visits the mystical Holy Island. Join Amanda as she tries to solve the mystery of the strange woman and the disappearance of Leah’s father. Will the past catch up with the present?

Do you have a creative tribe?

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Published by da-AL

Happiness Between Tails speaks to and from the heart. It connects lovers — of pets, authors, books — and of my still-unreleased novels, “Flamenco + the Sitting Cat” and “Tango + the Sitting Cat.” The stories are my love letters to all who fear they're too odd, too damaged, too old, too whatever to find happiness. ContactdaAL@gmail.com • BuyMeACoffee.com/SupportHBT

86 thoughts on “Boo! + Importance of Mixing with Other Writers by Darlene Foster”

  2. It is an interesting discussion. Thanks for hosting this.

    My mind wanders to many writers who preferred isolation. Like Emily Dickinson. And
    J.D. Salinger who retreated from public life, moving to a small town in New Hampshire where he avoided interviews and rarely published, focusing on writing in isolation.
    I also think of Thoreau, who sought solitude in nature, famously living alone for two years at Walden Pond. Also,
    Virginia Woolf – though not entirely isolated, Woolf sometimes withdrew to her writing room, famously advocating for “a room of one’s own” where women could write without interruption, nurturing her stream-of-consciousness style. Also , Franz Kafka – who led a secluded personal life, writing at night after working long hours at his day job.

    I think whereas we whom reside in the blog universe, subscribe to collaboration; I can acknowledge that not everyone is built like me. (Thank Goodness!)

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Chuckster those are great points! Maybe it adds up to different strokes for different folks? Also though I’m thinking at least some of those authors rubbed shoulders with other writers some of the time. And many greats have noted how the encouragement of their agents was essential

      Liked by 2 people

    2. This is true. I wonder had they had more support from and interaction with other writers, if they would have been happier. Then there was Hemingway who was very social and mixed with many other creatives. He also came to a sad ending. Things to ponder. And I completely agree with Ms Woolf that writers need a Room of Our Own. Thanks for these comments.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hemingway would definitely be the ‘no man is an island’ type. He seems much more peninsular than Kafka or Thoreau. Which turns the spotlight back on us, does our writing thrive more in isolation or shepherded within a flock? I think I might be a mix of both.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. I agree, it is a mix of both. I am an extravert and love being with people, they inspire and motivate me, but I need blocks of solitary time as well to get the ideas down on paper. I have friends who are more introverted but they still enjoy meeting up with like minded folks from time to time. I like the no man is an island idea.

          Liked by 2 people

  3. Hi, Darlene, how wonderful that your author groups help each other in this generous way! 10 books, congratulations!

    And Daal, I don’t have a creative family as far as writing goes, but for my art projects I do. I seem to be a loner in many ways.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I’m the same way. For instance I’ve heard many times that having a workout partner is helpful but mine have often turned out to be dangerous influences because they would soon want to skip workouts 😆

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Hi Darlene, that sounds like a great series, going on my tbr! My tribe is mainly the international alliance of independent authors. They have a wonderful online conference – free for members! – starting tomorrow, 19 October 2024. Cheers, Kirsten

    Liked by 3 people

      1. It is Darlene, the conference was amazing, I only went to three sessions, but you can eatch the replay indefinitely if you are a member. Maybe I will see you around!

        Liked by 2 people

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