It is my pleasure to welcome Author
Barbara Barth to Thoughts in Progress today as part of her WOW! Women on
Writing Tour for her book, THE UNFAITHFUL WIDOW TEN YEARS LATER.
Please join me as Barbara stops by to
talk about her book and about starting a writing group. First, let me tell you
about her delightful book.
Picking up where The Unfaithful Widow ended, Ten Years Later continues the
author’s journey from widow to a slightly askew woman. A memoir written with
warmth and candor on being single again, aging, and finding a creative path
surrounded by dogs, friends, laughter, and a bit of craziness.
Barbara Barth shares stories on the
adventures that followed her first year alone as she moved headfirst into a new
life, listening to her heart, sometimes not so wisely, but always full speed
ahead. Join her on the ride of her life, from owning an antique shop to moving
to a Victorian cottage outside of Atlanta, and all the follies in between.
Going into the next decade with six
dogs by her side, the author proves you are only as old as you feel, and
happiness begins with a grateful heart. A funny and engaging memoir for anyone
who wants to be their own superhero facing life’s good and bad moments.
* Print Length: 374 pages
* Genre: Memoir
* Publisher: Amazon Digital Services,
LLC
* ASIN: B07YBNHXZG
Now join me in welcoming Barbara as
she talks about starting a writing group. Welcome, Barbara.
One of my favorite things to do is to put people together
with common interests. I’ve started social groups for dinners out, book clubs,
and two writing groups over the past ten years. It’s good for me, keeps me busy
and meeting new people, and great for others who are looking for kindred
spirits.
When I had my shop
in Old Town, Lilburn, in 2011, I immediately started the Gwinnett County
Writers Group. While the purpose of The Little Shop of Arts and Antiques was to
sell antiques and gift items, I had discovered writing and published my memoir The
Unfaithful Widow in 2010. Instead of focusing on the business of selling, I
decided to follow my heart and make the shop a place for writers and artists to
gather. We had local author book signings and a few writing classes. The next
step was to start a writer’s group.
A fantastic tool
to help kick-start any group is Meetup.com (https://www.meetup.com/).
I joined the online site and paid to become an organizer, so I could set up a
page and post all our meetings and events. The grand thing about the site if
you’re not familiar with it, people join for free, pick out the things they are
interested in within a certain mile radius, and locate groups that are exactly
what they are searching for. Keywords help, too. I put up every writing term I could think of
in the space allowed. Then I waited. There was interest and we had our first
meeting.
While I’m full
of knowledge about writing, learning from the hit and miss self-taught
technique, I wanted a more experienced writer to plan and run the meetings.
This was not about me, but about helping others learn how to write. A local
Steampunk author came by my shop and the rest was magic. She spearheaded the
programs and I did the advertising and press. Our meetings were held in my shop
space, but when I closed the shop’s doors permanently, our meetings moved to a
local pizza restaurant. My favorite combination, pizza and writing.
As with most
everything I do, I did not charge a membership fee to join. My thought process
was simple. This was a new adventure in a smaller town, and I wanted to draw
people in. Initially, I wasn’t sure anyone would turn out. When I saw how
nicely we were doing, I didn’t want to ask for money. A few folks kicked in to
help cover my organizer fees on Meetup.
Metro-Atlanta has
many excellent writing groups, but I was not in a metro area. The great news,
the folks in a few of the groups around me in Atlanta wrote about our Gwinnett
County Writers and what we were accomplishing, with classes and a mini one-day
conference, which helped us build our audience, too.
My only advice
for starting a writer's group is to have someone run the meetings that has more
knowledge than you do. I do things my way with my writing and don’t follow
traditional paths. I’m also in the learning process myself even after all these
years. I wanted to offer programs that were more mainstream to give a good
foundation to those wanting to learn the craft. It’s easy to find writers who
want to give back by teaching others.
Barbara, thanks for stopping by to share these tips with us.
Sounds like a great way to help one’s creativity.
 |
| Author Barbara Barth |
For those who aren’t familiar with Barbara, here’s a bit of
background on her.
Author, blogger, sometimes antique
dealer, dog hoarder, bedazzled by life. Widowed ten years ago, Barbara writes
about finding a creative path back to happiness. Her recent move to a 1906
historic cottage brought many surprises, including discovering the Monroe–Walton
Center for the Arts where she started the monthly Walton Writers group and is
on the MWCA Board as Literary Arts Chair.
Barbara is a contributor to Walton
Living Magazine and a former blogger for The Balancing Act, Lifetime
Television’s morning show for women. Currently she lives with six dogs, rescue
dogs that rescued her.
---
Blog Tour Dates
Today @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a
muffin? Grab your coffee and join us in celebrating the launch of Barbara
Barth's new book The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years Later. You can read
an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of the book.
November 12th @ All Things Audry
Author Barbara Barth is a guest writer
over at Audry's blog today and will be talking about women friendships.
November 13th @ Words from the Heart
Stop by Linda's blog and you can read
a guest post by Barbara Barth about publishing anthologies.
November 15th @ The World of My
Imagination
Visit Nicole's blog and read her
review of Barbara Barth's book The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years Later.
November 16th @ Lori Duff Writes
Stop by Lori's blog today where you
can read her interview with Barbara Barth and read her review of Barbara's
book The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years Later.
November 16th @ Jill Sheets Blog
Visit Jill's blog today and you can
read Barbara Barth's guest post about self-publishing.
November 17th @ A Storybook World
Be sure to stop by Deirdra's blog
today and check out her spotlight of the book The Unfaithful Widow Ten
Years Later and enter to win a copy of the book!
November 18th @ Beverley A. Baird's
Blog
Be sure you visit Bev's blog and read
Barbara Barth's guest post about starting over at 70. You won't want to miss
this!
November 19th @ Look to the Western
Sky
Be sure to visit Margo's blog and read
her interview with author Barbara Barth. Don't miss it!
November 20th @ Anthony Avina's Blog
Make sure you visit Anthony's blog
today and read Barbara Barth's guest post about publishing anthologies.
November 21st @ Cassandra's Writing
World
Stop by Cassandra's blog today and
read her review of The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years Later. You
can also enter to win a copy of the book as well!
November 22nd @ Karen Brown Tyson's
Blog
Join us at Karen Brown Tyson's blog where
you can read a guest post about self-publishing by author Barbara Barth. Don't
miss it!
November 23rd @ Beverley A. Baird's
Blog
Visit Bev's blog again and you can read
her review of Barbara Barth's book The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years
Later.
November 24th @ Choices
Be sure to stop by Madeline's blog and
read Barbara Barth's guest post that will be talking about women friendships.
November 25th @ Wild Woman Writer
Visit Anne's blog today and you can
read Barbara Barth's blog guest post about starting over at 70.
November 26th @ Life Like A Galaxy
Girl
Stop by Alanna's blog today and you
can read her review of Barbara Barth's memoir The Unfaithful Widow Ten
Years Later.
November 27th @ Lisa Haselton's
Reviews and Interviews
Visit Lisa's blog today and you can
read her interview with author Barbara Barth and find out more about this
incredible author!
November 28th @ Bibliotica
Stop by Melissa's blog and make sure
you read Barbara Barth's guest post about grief over the years and finding
happiness again.
November 29th @ Stranded in Chaos
Visit Sara's blog and you can read her
review of Barbara Barth's book The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years Later.
November 30th @ Anthony Avina's Blog
Visit Anthony's blog again and read
his review of Barbara Barth's book The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years
Later.
December 1st @ Words from the Heart
Visit Linda's blog and read her review
of Barbara Barth's book The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years Later.
December 2nd @ Women's Writing Circle
Stop by the blog Women's Writing
Circle and you can read a guest post by Barbara Barth about adopting dogs while
all her friends are having grandkids. Don't miss this one!
Thanks for stopping by today. Are you
a part of a writing group or have you thought about starting one yourself?
This does sound like an interesting memoir, Mason. It's a good reminder that, really, life is a journey more than a particular place we get to in our development. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like it would be very funny.
ReplyDeleteI've looked for book groups as well as writing groups through Meetup, for author visits for my authors and myself, but most either don't respond or aren't interested, which is a shame.
Thanks Mason for hosting me today on your wonderful blog! Just saw the photos of your sweet pets on the side bar. So hard to loose them, but what a lovely way to remember them here. And thanks for the comments above. I'm sorry you had bad experiences with Meetup. I don't do PR for them, but in my community it is a good way for folks to find out what we have to offer both with my writing groups and the art center. If you were nearby I'd love to have you come speak. We have a small, but strong, writing community in Walton County. Everyone knows everyone so it is easy to share. We're working hard to make Monroe the writing hub for Walton County. Have a great small independent book shop now, too. Lots going on. Would love to know more about your work! Chatty this morning with my coffee. Happens when you just live with dogs. Thanks again all.
ReplyDelete