| It's always easier to accomplish things when you | | | | glaring problems but far be it for your friends to |
| have someone to guide you, and the process of | | | | point this out to you. |
| writing your first novel is no exception. Sure, you | | | | So what next? Well, you can join a writing group |
| can "get 'er done" on your own, but if you have a | | | | and have the other members of the group guide |
| helping hand standing next to you, all the better. | | | | you. The problem with this method is most of the |
| There are many ways to go about finding | | | | time these groups are great for critiques of your |
| someone to help you, and I'll talk about a few | | | | manuscript, but they are not really "mentors" per |
| here. First of all, you can do what most beginning | | | | se. In other words they are not going to be |
| novelists do which is ask their friends or family | | | | around to help you out when you are sitting there |
| for help. Often they are more than willing to help, | | | | stuck and staring at a blank page or screen, |
| and of course read what you have written and | | | | unsure of what to write next. |
| offer helpful critique. | | | | Or perhaps you have painted yourself into the |
| But there is a downside to asking for help from | | | | proverbial corner. What now? It's possible you can |
| your loved ones. These folks generally want to | | | | call one of the members of your writing group |
| see you succeed. They'd love for you to get | | | | but pretty unlikely really. They are probably hard |
| your first novel written and on the way to the | | | | at work on their own first novels. |
| publisher, and they are certainly not going to want | | | | The other option is to invest in one of the writing |
| to hurt your feelings. So, more times than not, | | | | programs available these days. Some of these |
| these friends of yours and family members will | | | | programs are able to really do a great job guiding |
| offer, well, not too much of value. For the most | | | | you through writer's block, plot decisions, |
| part they are cheerleaders (which is nice!) but | | | | characterization, and many other elements of |
| they will hardly ever give you serious and helpful | | | | your story that may have you stumped. At the |
| criticism of your novel in progress. | | | | very least they'll motivate you to get moving and |
| While this is good for your self esteem, it might | | | | get your novel finished. |
| not be good for your novel! You may have some | | | | |