A Group of Support

When I started down the road to becoming an author, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. Writing seemed a job that required a lot of alone-time, not something I’m good at, as I’ve learned since the COVID-19 pandemic started. However, the further into this career I traveled, the more I discovered it’s not one that you have to do by yourself.

God has blessed my writing journey in so many ways. In college, I met Wilburta Arrowwood, a new author who came and talked to my English class. She became a mentor to me early on and included me in an email group (yes, I know I’m dating myself a bit, but we didn’t have Facebook back then). Through that group, I met people like Kathy Cretsinger and Sandi Rog. Both of these amazing ladies have since published books for me. And that might never have happened if I hadn’t gone up to personally meet Wilburta way back when.

But even more than my first mentors and people full of faith in my ability, my borders have spread amazingly. Some of my writer friends I have met in person and others I’ve only met through the vast world of the internet, but we have a connection, none-the-less. Who knew that becoming an author would open the door to “meeting” some of my favorites to read, too? It’s like a bonus blessing!

The last few years I’ve attended the KenTen Writers’ Retreat. It’s three days of honing craft, working on new projects, bouncing ideas off each other, and making new friends. Two of my best writing friends have come from there. Because of the retreat, Heather Greer and Erin Howard and I have become something of a support group for each other not only at retreat, but through the year. We can let out steam over frustration with the process, help tweak ideas, edit, support and encourage, tease (a love language of all three of us), and even spur on to new ideas. It’s been amazing.

Other friendships I’ve developed locally through a few girls who are aspiring authors themselves and it’s fun to help them find their way in this crazy jungle of a career.

Needless to say, writing can be lonesome. There are times (many times) when you might doubt yourself, wonder why you’re doing any of this, or even just be in a slump. Having a support system of other writers and readers can help you work through it and get over the hill to carry on the work given to you by God.

Do you have a group of support? I hope yours is as good as mine! I’d be lost without them.

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Amy R Anguish, author of An Unexpected Legacy and Faith & Hope, grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

Check out her book, Faith & Hope, available now.

Her new book, Saving Grace, releases September 2020.

Follow her at http://abitofanguish.weebly.com or http://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor