It’s funny now, as I look back from where I started in this crazy writing journey. In the beginning I was so naive and didn’t have a clue as to what I was doing. I thought you just wrote a story and then it got published. Easy, anyone could do it. Right? LOL! Wrong. My first crit partner taught me so much. Bless her heart. Thanks Brenda you’re an angel. I wouldn’t have blamed her if she ran for the hills. My first draft, of my first ms was a total mess. I had no clue what POV, structure, scenes etc were. I was running on a dream and a prayer. And on top of that I was writing by the seat of my pants. I never realized it would be so hard. But in the end maybe that was a good thing. At the time if I had known how crazy and intense trying to get published could be I might have quit. As young writers we are so fragile. So maybe it is good for new writers to pursue their dreams in complete ignorance. By the time we realize how hard it is going to be we are so enthralled we refuse to give up.  Well, I refuse to give up. I have come a long way. These are the things I did in my pursuit to learn what I needed to succeed.  Don’t get me wrong I am still learning everyday. I don’t think you ever stop learning. But I have invested in my dream of being a published author in many ways.

I joined a crit group and learned so much from some really amazing ladies. They were kind and helped me to learn the basics. Then I decided if I really wanted my dream to take flight I needed to learn more than my crit partners had time for. I took a creative writing course and it did wonders for me. I learned the ins and outs of writing a great novel. It also boosted my self-esteem. I was now able to give other writers educated guidance and it felt great. Not the fact that I knew something they didn’t that wasn’t the reason. It felt good to be able to give back to someone else like my great crit partners had done for me.

Later I was asked by one of my crit partners to blog with her. I was scared to death. Could I do it? So I went to Brenda and poor thing made her join the blog too. I tend to drag her into all my endeavors. But she always laughs and says sure. She is great! So we blogged there for awhile and the confidence built in me.

So I decided to open a blog of my own. And you know what? Yep, Brenda followed me. Wow! I had my own blog and it was so exciting! I was floating in the clouds. It was really mine. So that is how Tabby’s Nocturnal Nights got started.

Tabby’s Nocturnal Nights

http://careyabbott1.wordpress.com/

After awhile I realized a lot of writers had web pages and I thought why not. I searched and found the right fit for me. So I opened Tabitha Blake’s Nocturnal Night. Then they asked me to buy the dot com and I did. Wow! I really owned the name. Amazing. The more I did on this crazy journey the more I felt like a real writer.  SO my website was born.

Tabitha Blake’s Nocturnal Nights

http://www.tabithablakesnocturnalnights.com

For a while I was satisfied, then I got the crazy idea to open my own crit group. And yeah I took the plunge. I opened Enchanting the Muse Crit Group about week ago and it has just taken off. We have 25 members in a week. I was dancing again. Every time I turn around my journey gets better and better. So now I am a crit group owner and have the best writers to call members. Oh and yeah Brenda is a co-moderator in my group. I wouldn’t know what to do without her.  My first crit partner and my dearest friend. Thanks Brenda for supporting me in my dream. So another leg in my journey took root.

Enchanting the Muse Crit Group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/enchantingthemusecritgroup/

I am so blessed to have such great friends and devoted readers. I never expected any of this to happen in a million years. If you had asked me say six months ago I would have laughed at you. The more I write the more confidence I get to brave the waters. It all comes full circle in time. I hope you will always believe in your dreams and never let anyone take that from you.

Happy Reading and Writing,

Tabitha Blake