Early Writing Friends

A Tribute

In a week and three days, my debut novel will publish. It’s an exciting, crazy busy time. I’d never have gotten here without my many writing friends.

I found my first writing group in NJ: a group of novices meeting in a library. From those friends I learned that I needed to make my stories more active (duh), and the process became clear: when people don’t like what you write, be open, listen.

I was sorry to move to DC, but at the Bethesda Writer’s Center, I met women who formed a group that’s met monthly for over 15 years. We started at each other’s houses. Jeri lived way out the heck-and-gone. I’d often drive the hour with another writer. We’d gather in Jeri’s yard to talk (writers talk even more than they write), drink wine, snack, and laugh deep into the night. This is the magic table.

The group morphed - a move, a child - and we’d find new members at writers conferences. We started going on yearly retreats, renting a big house for a weekend (always with a hot tub). When Covid hit, we moved to zoom.

A recent configuration

I want to thank this group for support, advice, honest feedback, hilarious stories, wonderful dogs and children. You guys are in my heart.

I’ll close with a picture of Jeri, claimed by cancer. A beacon of joy. “Shit bat crazy” in her own words. Generous, talented. I remember a mystery with a dog detective, and a rodeo story teeming with love and dust. How we all miss her.