Life is getting in the way of my writing. My roles of wife and mother got a little busier, and while the situation is temporary I find myself with more excuses not to sit down at the computer and drag words from my brain to the page. If it weren’t for my critique groups, I might have shelved the next book in the Chenille series.
The first advantage to critique groups is the accountability. I made a commitment to them, they’re expecting at least four pages from me, and I’d better have something in hand on meeting day. Of course, they would understand if I didn’t have new work to show them, but a promise is a promise.
That is the second advantage of critique groups–writer-specific support. Tell any of your friends about a change that impacts your writing and you’ll get sympathy. Tell a writing friend, and you’ll get sympathy, then stories about what happened to them when life got in the way of their writing. Those tips are invaluable.
The third advantage is that critique meeting has been on the calendar long enough that my family remembers. They have no issue with me leaving for the meetings, and are rather proud that they can manage without me for the afternoon. When they see me at the computer, they ask if I am writing before they switch on the TV or ask me to do something.
Now, if only I could find a way to prolong this attention to my writing when life gets back to normal in a couple of weeks.