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Romance author Jan Scarbrough shares her thoughts on writing in today’s special guest post at Book Addict.

When I started writing romance novels in the late eighties, I realized family and friends didn’t speak my language. They couldn’t talk POV or GMC with me. They didn’t appreciate the difference between a “form” rejection letter or a “good” one. I soon discovered the highs and lows of being a writer were best understood by other writers.

Award-winning author Toni Blake agrees: “I count myself lucky to have many friends and acquaintances in the industry, and in such a crazy, unpredictable business, it’s often my writer friends who keep me sane during all the ups and downs.”

Our writing buddies keep us grounded and as Toni says “sane.” They give us shoulders to cry on and often provide a needed kick in the pants when we need it.

When asked if she has writing buddies, New York Times bestseller Teresa Medeiros replied: “I consider my writing friends to be one of the greatest gifts this profession has given me. I have a regular group of peeps and we exchange daily e-mails about writing, publishing and life in general. Writing can be a very lonely business so it helps if you create your own virtual office where you can discuss how much you love or hate your current work-in-progress, your latest publishing heartbreak or triumph or last night’s episode of Lost.”

Depending on an author’s style, a writing buddy can play a part in a career. Toni Blake doesn’t rely on other writers for help. “I am a very solitary writer,” she said “so I don’t seek any input or brainstorming help on my work from writer friends.”

However, Harlequin bestselling author, Joanne Rock has another viewpoint. “Of all my writer friends, my critique partner is the most firmly invested in my career,” she said. “We read all of one another’s work at three-chapter intervals, making suggestions for changes or encouraging strong story threads. We brainstorm stories, talk through emergency plot problems, and critique drafts. Not only does her savvy involvement give my work more polish, but just knowing she’s in my court gives me confidence as a writer.”

One of my writing friends and I have crossed paths many times in the past ten years. I was unpublished in the late nineties, and Maddie James urged me to submit to her publisher Kensington. I did and shortly after that received “the call.” Later Maddie took a break from writing romance, and when she got back into it, I reintroduced her to the market. Maddie then introduced me to a new small press, and now we collaborate together on a series for our publisher with two other writers Magdalena Scott and Janet Eaves. Our Ladies of Legend novellas and anthologies and Maddie’s Matchmaking Chef series, a spinoff from the original Legend stories.

The four of us share a blog (http://sisterwriters.blogspot.com/) and an e-mail group. We talk about more than writing, but our conversation often turns to the latest plot point or the strategy for selling the next book. Without my writing buddies, life as a romance novelist would be much more difficult.

Teresa Medeiros puts it this way—“When I’m lying on my deathbed, I doubt I’ll remember what number I was on the New York Times for any given book. What I will remember is sitting around a table at an Italian restaurant in New York City sharing a bottle of wine and publishing war stories with five of my dearest writing friends. Making friends in this business helps you keep your priorities in order.”

About Jan:

Jan Scarbrough writes for Resplendence Publishing, a small press that publishes e-books in various formats, including Kindle, and then uses print-on-demand technology to publish trade paperbacks. Her latest novel is Kentucky Flame, a romantic suspense set on an American Saddlebred horse farm.