First, if you don’t have one, make one. Find a group of writers who would like to meet and discuss each other’s work. This is so invaluable, for so many reasons. Writers live very solitary lives – all that time alone, working, living in invented scenarios with invented people. I’ve been in several writers group, usually until the group breaks up from reason, and have always valued both the friendships I’ve made, and the discussions in which I’ve participated. The food is usually pretty good, too, when we meet in person rather than zoom, and sometimes someone opens a bottle of wine, but I’m getting off focus here.
In addition to a bit of social life and conversation, critique groups provide writers with deadlines. Four pages (or whatever) by the next meeting. Some people in my current group often write those required pages the day before the meeting…but they are writing! This is how books get finished. Deadlines. They are never to be underestimated.
And, the critique group may provide valuable feedback. Good readers could point out problems with dialogue, continuity, plot points, even typos….anything that can go wrong in early and even late drafts.
But most importantly, the group should provide support. Bottom line: it should make you eager to get back to your desk, rather than push you away from it. There should be plenty of good will and praise as well as critique. Writers can be thin-skinned and easily discouraged. At least this writer is. Your group should be one of your supports, not another hurdle. Make this clear to the other people in the group and follow this rule yourself. Writing is hard enough. We need friends to ease it a bit as well as provide critique.
Paris, 1938. Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli are fighting for recognition as the most successful and influential fashion designer in France, and their rivalry is already legendary. They oppose each other at every turn, in both their politics and their designs: Chanel’s are classic, elegant, and practical; Schiaparelli’s bold, experimental, and surreal.
When Lily Sutter, a recently widowed young American teacher, visits her brother, Charlie, in Paris, he insists on buying her a couture dress—a Chanel. Lily, however, prefers a Schiaparelli. Charlie’s beautiful and socially prominent girlfriend soon begins wearing Schiaparelli’s designs as well, and much of Paris follows in her footsteps.
Schiaparelli offers budding artist Lily a job at her store, and Lily finds herself increasingly involved with Schiaparelli and Chanel’s personal war. Their fierce competition reaches new and dangerous heights as the Nazis and the looming threat of World War II bear down on Paris.
“And now,” Charlie said, taking back his cap and tilting it over his forehead. “Schiaparelli it is. Your choice. But I have to make a quick phone call. We were supposed to meet someone at the Chanel salon.” He went into the café and was out again a minute later, smiling sheepishly.
We prowled down lanes and avenues, dodging around fruit and vegetable carts, policemen on horses, jaywalking pedestrians, and other automobiles. We crossed over the Seine. “Pont Royal” Charlie shouted. “Remember?” A silver Seine, trees in full leaf, pots of geraniums on every stoop, under windows, rows of schoolchildren in uniform following black-and-white nuns, handsome gendarmes, and over it all, hanging like an invisible presence, the sense that this was the best place to be. June in Paris.
Jeanne Mackin ‘s latest novel, The Last Collection, A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel takes the reader to Paris, just before world war II, and the intense, dangerous rivalry between the two queens of fashion. Her previous novels include A Lady of Good Family, the award winning The Beautiful American, The Sweet By and By, Dreams of Empire, The Queen’s War, and The Frenchwoman.
Her historical fictions explore the lives of strong women who change their worlds…because we know the world always needs a lot of change! She has worked all the traditional ‘writers’ jobs’ from waitressing to hotel maid, anything that would leave her a few hours each morning for writing. Most recently, she taught creative writing at the graduate level. She has traveled widely, in Europe and the Middle East and can think of no happier moment than sitting in a Paris café, drinking coffee or a Pernod, and simply watching, while scribbling in a notebook.
WEBSITE: http://www.JeanneMackin.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.Facebook.com/JeanneMackinauthor
TWITTER: http://www.Twitter.com/JeanneMackin1
Penguin Random House: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/531859/the-last-collection-by-jeanne-mackin/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H71Q5FQ/ref=dp-kindle-redirect
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ReplyDeleteso pleased to be visiting your page. Thank you. Are any of you in a writing group? How do you like it?
ReplyDelete...and thank heavens for zoom!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking time to bring to our attention another great read. I appreciate it and thank you also for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful book I'll enjoy reading!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing, this sounds great
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