The world of writing can be an overwhelming one - once

you step off the page. It's like being expected to

participate in a race when nobody has told you where the

venue is let alone the starting line.

Here's where I come in. Being the editor of PASS IT ON, I

cannot stress enough the benefit of networking. As children

we were taught to share, but in today's dog eat dog world

this simple lesson is often forgotten. We can all benefit

from sharing and through this column I hope to share with

you, my journey through the writing world. I have found the

venue, I may even have found the starting line - so come on,

let's jump the hurdles together!

Now before I get too carried away with analogies and

metaphors let me tell you a bit about myself. For a general

overview please see an article that I wrote for Writing for

Success Newsletter - Issue 22 / Dec 2004 - Jan 2005, titled

-

How I Became Editor of a Writers' Network Newsletter.

For a more detailed breakdown - please read on.

2002

• Enrolled in a creative writing course at my local

  community house.
  

   

• Subscribed to "Write On" The Victorian Writers'

  Centre monthly newsletter. A comprehensive list of your

  state's writers' centres can be found at the ASA's

  (Australian Society of Authors) website. Go to

  http://www.asauthors.org/cgi-bin/asa/services.cgi/Resource?search=Writers

  Centre
  

   

• Subscribed to my local writers' newsletter.

2003

• First publication (non-paying market found in the

  Opportunities section of "Write On"). I read my piece at

  the book launch - nerve wracking but very exciting.
  

   

• Second publication (same piece but I was paid this

  time.) Very, very, exciting.
  

   

• Same paying market bought and published five other

  pieces.
  

   

• Began to experiment with writing for children.
  

   

• Found Virginia Lowe's workshop in "Write On" then

  signed up for her Bulletin. (March)
  

   

• Attended Virginia's workshop (July) and received

  great feedback on a story I had written.
  

   

• Made contact with Dianne (Di) Bates via Virginia's

  Bulletin, when she was soliciting poems for a project

  she was working on.
  

   

• Subscribed to Writing for Success newsletter -

  mentioned in Virginia's Bulletin. (August)
  

   

• Joined a number of online Yahoo writers groups

  (August) - see below if you're unsure how to do this.
  

   

• Finished creative writing course. Started a

  publishing course.
  

   

• Published "A House Full of Mirrors"
  

   

• Launched "A House Full of Mirrors" thrilling stuff.

2004

• Joined a couple of online critique groups. I will

  talk about critique groups in more detail next month.
  

   

• Purchased The Australian Writer's Marketplace 2004 (QWC).

  The 2005 edition is now available.
  

   

• Worked with Anita Bell (children's author)

  researching web content for her Crusader Club

  Newsletter. Also wrote four "Mad Scientist" articles for

  the website.
  

   

• Made contact again with Di Bates after reading her

  article:

  How To Get Both Feet Past The Publisher's Locked Door

  in Issue 18/May 2004 of the Writing for Success

  newsletter.
  

   

• Worked with Di for a few months as a research

  assistant and can I say that the relationship that has

  developed between Di and myself has been invaluable.

  There is nothing more reassuring, when crossing a busy

  road, than having a firm hand to hold. Make friends with

  an author - that's an order - but remember that this is

  a two way street. You will find that, not only will your

  career progress more smoothly but, and more importantly,

  you'll make a great friend too!
  

   

• Subscribed to and enjoyed Di's free online

  networking newsletter CAINON (Children's Author &

  Illustrators' Network Online News)
  

   

• Volunteered to continue the newsletter under another

  name, which saw the birth of PASS IT ON. You can

  subscribe to this free online newsletter by emailing me

  at

  jacket@smartchat.net.au
  

  Back issues can be found at

  http://uk.geocities.com/daisydoright2003/wordsbyjackie.html

Today

So where am I today, exactly? Well thanks to my wonderful

husband I am in my office - my very own office! This is more

important than it sounds. To be a professional you must

firstly feel professional and I am feeling extremely

professional, which is a good start.

Okay, where am I really…I am a mother of three - 13, 11 &

4. I am the editor of PASS IT ON. I write children's stories

with one published online and one being held for

consideration. I write children's poetry with two published

and two accepted to be published. I write humorous poetry

with four published online. I write serious poetry with five

published in print and online. I write adult short fiction

with ten published, again in print and online. I have

participated in three readings of my own work, which was

both terrifying and exhilarating. Last, but by no means

least, I have been invited to contribute a regular column

(this column) for Marg McAlister's wonderful new website.

I mentioned Yahoo! groups before. So how exactly do you

join a Yahoo group?

1. Go to

   http://groups.yahoo.com
   

    

2. Click on new user sign up.
   

    

3. Sign up!
   

    

4. Once you have registered you can browse through the

   listed groups or search for specific ones.
   

    

5. In the search box type - 'writers' or 'poetry' or

   'children's writers' or whatever takes your fancy.
   

    

6. Scroll through the groups offered to find one that

   suits you. You can join more than one, of course but be

   aware that some groups are very active and keeping up

   with their emails can be time consuming. An option is to

   choose 'digest' rather than 'individual emails'. That

   way you receive one email that contains 25 messages or

   less, every so often.
   

    

7. Once you are signed up and receiving emails - ask

   questions - lots of them.

Before I close may I suggest some homework - for all

of us.

I will create a Yahoo! group. It is your job to find this

group and join it. I will call the group The Writing Journey

- I hope that doesn't sound too corny!

I'll leave you with the three "P's" - Be Proactive. Be

Persistent. And as all writers know - Be Patient.

Till next time - enjoy the journey.

Your writing buddy

Jackie

© copyright Jackie

Hosking