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The Writer’s Secret

MasterMind Your Way to Publishing Success

Jennifer Basye Sander, co-author of the bestseller

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Published

and

JT Long, founder of

The Capital Writers’ Bloc

Chapter One:

The Writer’s Life

Ah, to lead the life of a writer… start off the day with a quick call from your agent reporting on the latest piece of good news, sit at the computer for an hour or two of free-flowing and perfectly polished work, lunch with an illustrious colleague, an afternoon spent browsing in a bookstore and reading fan mail from adoring readers, followed by an evening at a glittery literary gathering to accept yet another award. Life is sweet.

Is that the way most writers live? Sadly, no. In fact, we don’t know anyone with that kind of posh and glossy life. Instead, here is how the day goes for so many of us trying to survive in the world of writing:

Another day alone at the computer… another day in which the phone doesn’t ring. Another day in which you might spend time staring out the window trying to decide what to cook for dinner instead of writing another chapter. Another day in which you decide, “I’ll start my novel tomorrow.”

“The artistic life is a long, lovely suicide.”

~Oscar Wilde

Sounds lonely and grim, doesn’t it? Is there a better way? We think so. Many successful writers share a powerful secret—one you can learn to use it too. We can’t promise you will be instantly transported to the dream life in the beginning of this chapter, but the information in this book can help pull you out of the creative doldrums and let you forge ahead to new creative achievements, no matter where you live!

Time for a New Approach?

With the power of The Writer’s Secret, you can build a different kind of writing life. One in which you are surrounded and supported by other like-minded creative people who are dedicated to helping you succeed and achieve your dreams.

Ready to meet these people? Listen to what Candy Chand has to say about the secret that worked for her:

I’ll admit it, I like being a loner—composing some of my best work (six books and counting) at 2 a.m., propped up to my computer, wearing non-sexy (just ask my husband) baggy, faded pajamas. Get the picture? If not, let me assure you, it ain’t pretty. Let’s just say, if I smoked cigarettes, that’s exactly what I’d be doing — in a disturbing chain-like fashion.

But a few months ago, I was invited to join a writer’s MasterMind group and I found that, despite having to put on real clothes, I love the meetings. Why? Because these serious writers share ideas, network, and encourage each other to take on new writing challenges.

 

Now, I’ve done well with books over the years, but secretly longed to see my ideas in print in the newspaper. After I shared this at a MasterMind meeting, another group member challenged me to follow through. Not one to back off a challenge, I submitted a guest piece to a newspaper and had it published that very week. Two more articles soon followed. Another writer in this group received a personal recommendation to an agent, had her proposal snapped up, and is now happily on her way to her first book deal.

 

Although I still love the solitary life, I have to admit, my best work is now stemming from the support of the incredible people in my writers’ MasterMind group. God, I miss my P.J.s.

Candy Chand

Good for Candy, but how are you ever going to find other writers to form one of these supportive groups? And once you gather them up, then what? Don’t worry, we will tell you how to run the meetings and keep all of the members on task. And finding other committed and serious writers who want to pump up their professional careers isn’t that hard.

“Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.”

~Winston Churchill

The Writer’s MasterMind

So what’s the big deal about forming a writer’s group? They’ve been around forever. The meetings are always the same – endless critiques and discussion of a poem that someone wrote in graduate school and is still trying to tweak and work up the nerve to submit to a small literary review. Been there, done that. How is that a powerful secret?

No, that isn’t the kind of writing group we have in mind. Did you read Candy’s account? Did she say she was reading people’s old essays? Nope. Was she sitting and waiting to hear what the group had to say about what she’d written? Nope.

Candy was in a Writer’s MasterMind Group— swapping contacts and leads, challenging her fellow writers to try something new and holding them accountable for what they said they’d try to achieve. All the while, she, herself, was being pushed, prodded and propelled toward success by the other MasterMind members. With their help and encouragement, she was able to take her career to the next level.

It Worked for Us!

Why do we believe in this so strongly? Because we’ve been there, too. Jennifer is a bestselling author— you’ve probably read one of her books. But what you don’t know is that she really didn’t try very hard to write and publish and increase her output until she was challenged by her mentor – Mark Victor Hansen of Chicken Soup for the Soul fame.

Since then Jennifer has written more than 50 books – including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Published – but the fact is she has a real problem with the isolation of the typical writer’s life and works hard to create a different kind of environment in which she can work. One in which, instead of sitting alone with her laptop in the quiet of the morning, she is continually sharing information online, in meetings, and on conference calls with a group of other dedicated writers about how their progress is proceeding, what kinds of snags they are trying to overcome, or what the new hot selling topic will be next year.

As an editor with Random House, Jennifer has heard every excuse in the book about why an author missed a deadline. Writer’s Block, family emergency. Much of it has to do with lack of feedback when working alone, so why not form a group that will help you stay on task? You will never miss another deadline again!

JT Long worked for years as a newspaper reporter, a magazine editor, a content developer, and then a freelance writer. With our high-tech world JT has not needed to go into the office in years in order to keep employed in the same field, but found that she missed having colleagues and compatriots around her.

How to address the problem? Simple – she formed a writers’ MasterMind group to overcome the isolation, and saw her career flourish! The diverse strategies and niches represented by the writers she met with each month opened her mind to how she could be more efficient with her time and selling her stories.

Because of encouragement from this group, she overcame the mental barrier that locked her into writing only for local markets. She started sending queries to national trade publications and eventually built her business in the larger, higher-paying business-to-business market.

In turn, JT helped other members make contacts and jump from regional to national exposure. Because the members work in different areas of expertise, there is no sense of competition. Writers constantly share leads and occasionally find themselves in a position to hire other members for large projects.

Does the idea of friends you trust calling you with paying work appeal to you? Are you ready to participate in the ultimate networking group where trust builds over time and the degree of separation between you and an assignment editor is one handshake? That is the power of a MasterMind group.

Good Reasons to Join!

Not everyone thinks of themselves as a “joiner.” We understand that. Many first-time writers cling to the notion of the lonely artist. It is worth noting, however, that many major accomplishments have been the result of groups coming together in order to achieve:

• The Manhattan Project brought together the smartest minds in science in order to end World War II once and for all. It took a group in the desert to develop the ultimate solution.

• The world’s most famous literary work – the Bible – is the result of a group effort, with the apostles each writing one section.

• A soloist can produce beautiful music, but it takes a symphony to produce a full, rich sound.

• Cathedrals were built by skilled workers over many, many decades, some of whom didn’t live long enough to see the beauty they helped create.

• Championship sports teams train together every day in order to work together as a single unit.

Aren’t those results appealing? We think so!

Instead of that lonely artist’s life that Oscar Wilde laments, what if your planner entries looked like this:

Every Day – you log into a website filled with fellow writers, insider information, writing prompts to help you bust through your dry spells, and a group of peers encouraging you to stay on course with your work.

Every Week – you call in to a conference filled with friendly, cheerful voices of fellow dedicated writers who will want to hear what you’ve been doing, what’s worked, and what is making you struggle. You listen in on an info-rich call from industry experts about timely market information and professional marketing tips.

Every Month – you walk into a room of friends eager to hear about your successes and challenges. You report to the group, and bask in their applause.

Far more appealing than sitting alone trying to produce your masterpiece with only the only feedback coming from a blank wall, don’t you think?

The Third Mind

An additional benefit of joining a Writers’ MasterMind group is that suddenly you will have a Rolodex filled with new people to collaborate with! Those 50-plus books that Jennifer has written? Must have taken her years and years to complete, right? Guess again. She mostly writes with other people as co-authors and hardly ever tackles a project on her own. Where does she find writers to work with? She turns first to the members of her own Writer’s MasterMind Group. Christmas Miracles, a New York Times bestseller, was the product of a three-person creative team. That same team of Jennifer, Jamie, and Laura went on to produce four other Miracles books, which have sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Jennifer came up with the idea for the book series on her own, but could she have finished the project on her own? Doubtful.

“No two minds ever come together without thereby creating a third, invisible and intangible force, which may be likened to a third mind.”

~Napoleon Hill

Yes, because you will be spending more time with writers who share your same level of commitment and dedication, you might well find yourself teaming up with one or two of them in order to work together on projects. Is that hard to do? Not really, as long as everyone is clear about the responsibilities and realistic about the results. As an added bonus to this book we’ve included a copy of the very same collaboration agreement that Jennifer has used over and over again when she works with other writers on book projects.

Sometimes ideas will come up during a group brainstorming session, and you will either decide to work on it together or make a clear decision about who will pursue the idea on their own. Make sure it is understood clearly and quickly, you don’t want hurt feelings (or worse, lawsuits) later on down the road.

Get to The Top Faster!

By forming a MasterMind Group dedicated to the publishing success of its members, you will soon find that life is moving at a faster rate. No longer are you the lonely writer working in solitude, plodding to your goals. Instead, you are part of a hard-working creative team all moving towards your futures together at a rapid pace.

No doubt you are familiar with business basics and know that the first step for any company contemplating the launch of a new project is the creation of a business plan. A key component is a timeline. By breaking a task into distinct pieces and estimating how long each one will take, the project manager is making a commitment to a deadline. The role of the management team is to point out obstacles that might impact the schedule and suggest solutions to streamline it, thus saving time and getting the project to success that much faster.

Similarly, a MasterMind Group acts as a board of advisors by evaluating the plan, pointing out time wasters and keeping you on schedule. Vague goals are easy to put off, but specific tasks are easier to complete and harder to make excuses for later.

Share Your Contacts

“It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.”

~Albert Einstein

If there was ever a time for writers to not work alone, this is it. Publications and publishing companies are closing or laying off employees on a daily basis. The editor you’ve worked with for years at Random House might have suddenly lost her job. Don’t panic, maybe someone else in your group knows a different editor you can approach. Maybe they know of a publishing company that published in that same field. What if the lifestyle magazine you’ve written for these past few years suddenly closes? Another member might be able to help you refocus your work and sell it to an ezine instead. Ask for help and information, and always be willing to give it if someone is asking you. Again, always think as your fellow members as teammates rather than competition. When one succeeds, the entire group is that much closer to the resources that could help them when the time comes.

Of course, when one door closes, others open. While traditional creative outlets may be waning, new technology rises almost daily. Your fellow members may have experience with tools such as blogging, Twittering or social media options that could help you reach your goals in new, dynamic ways. If you take a class or master a new trick, share your experience with the team. That could be just the kick in the pants they need to dive into a new way of delivering their word to the world.

Writers are very lucky to be in a position of doing the work they love and getting paid for it. Creativity is a gift and as Einstein said above, one that must be repaid by helping others find a way to share their skills. Be a giver.

Together, Go For Your Dreams

Let’s get back to that image from the beginning of the chapter, that wonderful life of a much-published writer. You remember, the writer who fields upbeat calls from agents, basks in the praise of bags of fan mail, writes fluidly and with ease, attends highbrow literary events and drinks really good wine. Okay, we just added that last part as a bonus, but yes, this is truly the dream life of so many writers.

If that is your dream, what is your plan to get you there? Have you mapped out the steps, have you started to work toward making your dream a solid reality? One of the most powerful steps is available to you right now. Not tomorrow, not next week, not after you finish your M.F.A. Right Now. Form that MasterMind Group today, follow the simple steps outlined here and turn your dreams into reality!

Chapter 2

First Steps: Mission Statement

"It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed."

~Napoleon Hill

So, you are resolute in your desire to be published. Moreover, you have decided that the team approach is the best way to keep yourself on track to meet your long-term goals. You have also determined that you are willing to take the time to help others get up to speed in their writing careers. Remember that any successful MasterMind Group requires a willingness to give as well as take. In fact, veteran collaborators will tell you that the more you give, the more you benefit from the exchange.

Now what do you do?

Define Your Goals

You have to communicate your vision so others can determine if they have what it takes to join you on your quest for publishing success. As the leader, your dream is the magnet that will pull other travelers to your side as you embark on your historic journey to authorhood. Don’t keep your aspirations a secret. Let people know what you want to do. By going public with your plans, you will attract people with similar goals.

The following exercise will help you create your mission statement and put you on your way to building a following of like-minded writers.

1. Start with your goal in mind. What is the purpose of the group? What do you want to accomplish? What is your vision of publishing success? What will it look like? How will it feel? Does it have a taste? A smell? Does is sound more like a trumpet Reveille or the theme song to Rocky?

The more concrete your answer, the better your odds of achieving it. If your broad objective is to “be a writer” then ask yourself a few follow-up questions. What kind of writer? Published? Fiction? Non-fiction? Books? Magazines? Web? Romance? Young Adult? Great American Novel (GAN)? Maybe your goal is to write the bestselling Genius Guide to Baking Cookies using Green Technology.

Now it’s your turn. Write down the prize that awaits you at the end of your journey here. Remember to be specific and detailed. If your goal is to sell more of what you write, define it in detail. How many more books? How many more articles? How many more opinion pieces? Where do you want your work to appear? Is there on particular publishing house you’d like to work with?

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2. Now think about what individual steps you need to take to accomplish that goal.

How much research, writing (break it down by chapters), pitching to agents, rewriting, packaging, rewriting and marketing will you have to do? What do you already know? What do you need to know? What do you not even know that you don’t know?

How specifically can a Writer’s MasterMind Group help you achieve these goals? Encouragement? Agent suggestions? Success stories?

Maybe you need a group that can hold you accountable to writing a chapter a week and help you debate the pros and cons of self-publishing versus selling the idea to a publisher who specializes in food for the future.

Be honest with yourself. Write down the specific ways your group can help you move forward here.

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3. What can you offer other writers in return?

Remember, this is a two way street. Can you act as an unbiased sounding board committed to helping every other member find the dedication and resources to meet individual goals? That may mean pledging to be quiet and let others have the stage sometimes. You may just find that you learn more from listening than talking.

You also have to be committed to being open minded. Can you set your literary prejudices aside and listen, completely present in the moment and dedicated to creatively finding ways to overcome the hurdles of other members?

Can you put your pride aside and share your experiences when it comes to writing schedules, pitch letters and market approaches in the full understanding that just because something worked or didn’t work for you doesn’t mean it will or won’t work for someone else? Remember that every situation and writer is unique. While tips and warnings can be instructional, they are put out for consideration, rather than as orders. In fact, thanks to your cautionary tale, your fellow writer might be able to adjust their approach enough to succeed where you failed. If that is the case, celebrate victory with your fellow writer. Remember, the secret of a successful MasterMind Group is when one person wins, everyone wins.

Also, consider what resources you can bring to the table. The inherent benefit of bringing together a group of people is that they all know people who know people. What literary editors, agents and other resources do you know that you could refer to other members? As you are going about your business, can you make a point of looking for jobs, contests, web sites, articles and books on topics that might be of interest to fellow MasterMinds? A quick email that may take you a second to forward could be the missing piece that helps another member finish, sell or promote the next big holiday bestseller.

So your pledge to help others might read: I am open to listening, sharing and whooping it up. Take some time to do a literary inventory. Look at your resume. Think about what skills you have, who you know, how much time you can devote. Write that down.

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4. Now put it all together.

In any race it is easier to get to the finish line when you know where you are going. A mission statement acts as a mental global positioning system mapping out where you are and where you want to go. This is your personal plan to reach the stars. Make sure it reflects your true dreams, goals and abilities.

A few roadmaps we have heard over the years include:

Support group dedicated to turning lonely writers into close-knit community of successful authors.

Marketing Mavens master book selling for fun and profit.

Or the very creative: Dreamcatchers help Big Fish find Bigger Ponds by teaching each other how to break into national publication stream.

The final hypothetical mission statement based on your responses to the three points outlined above might read: Writer’s MasterMind Group dedicated to listening sharing and celebrating progress toward publishing effectively in niche markets.

Now it is time for you to do some soul searching. Look at your written responses and come up with a statement that reflects your goals.

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5. Name your pilgrimage.

A moniker can be very powerful as a common identity binds a group together. Think about it. What is the first thing the Department of Defense does when they plan a campaign? They give it a catchy name: The Manhattan Project, Operation Desert Storm, Provide Comfort. An entire industry exists for the sole purpose of helping companies come up with new, memorable, descriptive, but flexible names. Would Google be as dominant without a memorable descriptor? How would you tell people about your favorite coffee shop if it didn’t have a name embossed in green and white on every street corner? An even more obvious testament to the importance of labels could be stuck to your right shoulder if you were at any type of business function today -- your name. That is usually one of the first questions people ask when they meet. “What is your name?” You could say, “I am a 32-year-old rock enthusiast with two children and a cat,” but “Sally” is probably much more efficient. They can figure out all the details that includes later. A good name also makes it much easier for you to have T-shirts and mugs made later.

We all know the importance of names, but finding the right one can be an art as well as a science. That is why every expectant mother dreads the inevitable question from family friends and strangers on the street. “Have you picked a name yet?” Couples research the origins and meanings of baby names and in the end, usually go with their gut.

As the leader of a bouncing baby MasterMind Group, you have a big advantage over those nervous new parents. You have an idea what the group will grow up to look like and you have already created a list of qualities the group will possess.

You can take on the burden and honor of naming the group yourself or wait until you have a core membership committee and make that the first order of business. A rowdy naming exercise might be a great way to test the compatibility of the personalities responsible for your progress for the foreseeable future.

The christening process does not have to be a difficult one. Think about what makes the group unique. Is it geography (The Willmington Wordsmiths), meeting place (44^th Street Scribes) or genre (Great American Novelists)? Jennifer belongs to a small MasterMind Group with an agent and two other authors called The Rich and Famous Writers’ Club. Doesn’t that make you want to join? Try to make your group name one that other members will be proud to use in conversation!

Look back on your list and jot down two or three labels that come to mind then say them out loud until something sticks.

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Eye on the Prize

Now you have a mission statement and a name. Keep it in mind as the first accomplishment toward your goal. Print it out and post it to the wall by your bed; make it into a screen saver or your mobile phone wallpaper; chant it as a mantra during yoga. Soon, you will weigh all of your options against how much closer it gets you to your stated goal.

We aren’t saying it will make you skinny, sexy or a better spouse, but consider the long-term benefits of eating another piece of cheesecake compared to taking 15 minutes to journal about possible character traits for your protagonist. Would you rather watch reruns of CSI or push out a query letter that could put your byline in Cosmo next month? A visit with the in-laws or one more chapter put to bed? That is how powerful a mission statement can be if you use it as the measure for all the little decisions you make every day.

Plus, it sounds great to tell people at a cocktail party or in an elevator that you are a member of a MasterMind Group dedicated to your success in the wonderful world of publishing. Kind of rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?

Chapter 3

Setting the Course: The Who, Where, When of Your Group

“Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping together is progress.

Working together is success.”

~Henry Ford

Once the finish line has been set, you will have to determine the course your pace team will take as it trains to get everyone up to speed. Although each member of the group will be creating his or her own masterpiece rather than cookie-cutter cars, we can all learn something from Henry Ford about the power of uniting a group around a single cause. Like a finely engineered automobile, a literary masterpiece starts with your vision and is made possible by putting the right people in place with the right tools focused on a common goal. That is why this chapter is dedicated to the basics, establishing a framework of the who, where and when that will set your group up for success.

Who

Determining who will be in your group could be the most important step in ensuring a smooth journey. The right people can create a synergistic environment where everyone leaves empowered to move leaps and bounds closer to their individual goals thanks to the collected wisdom of the group. The wrong mix can result in members leaving frustrated, angry or bemoaning the waste of time that could have been spent more productively.

Again, the mission statement can help you put the right people in the right seats. You want to invite people to join your team who share your vision, but don’t focus too much on having identical goals or being at exactly the same stage in their career. As long as they are committed to moving forward with you, diversity in styles, approaches and experiences can benefit everyone in the group.

Here are a few examples of what other writers sought out when forming MasterMind Groups:

“I needed to get out of the house once a week, away from the silence of my home office. Forming a MasterMind Group with other local writers helped me feel like I wasn’t in this by myself, that there were other people faced with the same situation who could help me stay on task and working towards completing my first novel.”

-Julia B.

“I’d gone as far as I could with the local magazine market and knew that to break into national magazines I’d need not only bigger ideas and fresher angles, but an editorial contact or two to get me in the door. By putting together a Writer’s MasterMind Group that meets by phone – because we are all scattered around the country – I was able to sell my first national piece quickly. And I was surprised to learn that these other writers wanted my help in selling to the magazines that I knew well.”

-Lynne R.

“My book sales were okay, but I knew that there were methods out there I should try. Two other authors and I got together to motivate each other to reach higher sales levels. It became like a fun game, our MasterMind meetings were one big swap met of marketing ideas!”

-Lisa J.

“Good writing groups have been an invaluable tool throughout my career. Writing is by design a solitary pursuit, so I have always found it very helpful to be able to share insights, contacts and plain old camaraderie with other writers. I’m confident that the feedback and encouragement I have received from the groups I have worked with has undoubtedly made me a better writer.”

 

-Rich E.

How Many

The number of people you invite to join your group depends on the time commitment you and your fellow writers want to dedicate. A group can consist of as few as two members. This can make for a very intimate, informal exchange with partners touching base whenever one feels the need for feedback. It increases the amount of time for personal attention, but decreases access to the knowledge inherent in a larger group.

Because this is not a critique group, the number of members can increase without exponentially increasing the amount of time each member would have to take reading and commenting on each other’s writing. Instead, the balance between intimacy and possibilities plays out until the size reaches a level where it would be difficult for everyone to have quality time to present and give feedback. That physical limitation is usually reached at about 8 to 12 members.

Jennifer likes the limited size of her MasterMind Group – only four altogether. Trying to find a meeting date that worked for only four people was easier than with a large group. Finding a meeting spot for a small group was also easier. In this smaller group, each member gets a nice lengthy amount of time in which to discuss their challenges and seek input, rather than a strict time limit that a larger group would have to impose.

How you find your members can also vary depending on your goals. You might just want to start by inviting your friends. A previous relationship can establish a bond of trust right away as long as no previous baggage is brought to the table. Again, however, it might limit the diversity of experiences as acquaintances may tend to share a common background.

You can also reach out to acquaintances who seem to fit well personally and professionally with your goals and work style. Think about the types of people you have worked with before. Why was the collaboration productive? What frustrated you about the experience? Be honest. Did the friction help tear down barriers and get the job done or just drag down the process? Use the past as a blueprint to put the right people in the right seats in your newest – and perhaps most important – endeavor.

You can also publicly post a MasterMind Group opportunity on a social networking site, in an author’s newsletter or on a bulletin board at a college or coffee shop. You might consider a dedicated email address so you can screen responses without giving them your personal information. Ask friends if they have friends interested in getting serious about starting – and finishing – a project.

Regardless of how potential members find out about your group, you want to screen them for proper fit.

We have already established that prospective members must share your mission statement. Another topic for discussion is an honest assessment of how much time the candidate can commit to the group each month. It is important that members make the meeting a priority as those who frequently miss meetings will not have the history to be able to contribute fully when they are there. That can lead to repeating information, slowing down the group and frustrating members who do show up consistently. It also reduces the amount of benefit for the member who randomly attends, limiting the effectiveness of the accountability factor of the meeting and slowing the bonding process.

Personality fit is also important. While members don’t have to all be identical— in fact a room full of divas or introverts might be counterproductive – clashing personalities can detract from the forward motion as well. Some questions to determine harmonious interaction may include the following: Describe yourself in three words. Describe your ideal party guest list. What sorts of people rub you the wrong way?

History can reveal a lot about the future. Ask prospective members about other groups they have belonged to and what they liked or didn’t like about the group. You might even call mutual acquaintances who have worked with this writer before to see if the experience was a positive one. Ask why the writer is interested in this group and what he or she brings to the table.

At this point you might also want to ask about the type of writing they do. Are you forming a group for published authors only or a mix of levels? Will it focus on fiction? Non-fiction? Books? Magazine writing? Web copy? All of the above? Although we mentioned before that it is not essential that all members are working in the same genre, if a prospective member writes Haiku poetry and no one else in the group knows anything about the process or market for that writing style, then the member might be disappointed and discouraged.

In the end, an informal conversation can often confirm whether a prospective member is a good fit. After a few meetings, a member who doesn’t feel comfortable will often self-select out.

If unhealthy tension arises, your responsibility as the leader is to pull the person aside and explain that, for the good of the group, he or she might want to find another place to talk about the craft. This should be done sooner, rather than later. Otherwise, if left to fester, a sore spot can turn into a systemic strain that puts a damper on discussion and takes away from the uplifting energy of a group that is otherwise in step on the way to a common goal.

A MasterMind Group is not set in stone. It should be a living, breathing collective consciousness that parts ways with members who change direction, move or decide to take a breather from time to time to focus on other priorities. At the same time, you will always want to be on the lookout for members who can bring new energy and ideas to the cause.

A good way to get started is to hold a few informal meetings to see how it all works before deciding to move forward as a formal Writer’s MasterMind Group.

Where

Once you know who will be attending, it is important to establish where the group will meet. Will it be a local group that meets in coffee shops or homes? Just as in a novel, the setting can make or break the success of the venture. Too public of a place can stifle ideas and make communication difficult. The location must also be convenient to all. A centrally located coffee shop or restaurant with a private room could work— Jennifer and her Rich and Famous Writers’ Club meet in the back room of a cafe. Talk in advance about how to pay. Some restaurants won’t split the bill or take multiple credit cards. Make sure everyone is all right with paying a portion even if he or she ordered a cheaper item or didn’t drink. These details may seem trivial, but addressing them up front can keep them from growing into a problem that impedes positive energy later.

Meeting in homes can be a more private solution as long as it doesn’t become a burden on one member who hosts every time. Rotating homes can work if the group fits in the average living room and everyone lives in the same general area. Take a pulse of the group from time to time to determine what strategy works best for the majority of the members.

You can also designate the group as a national community that meets on the phone, through digital webinars or email chains. For those located in rural areas or looking to open the group to a wider variety of writers, a long-distance group might be the ticket. Evolving technology makes it possible for writers to talk, email, instant message and connect in real time or post updates on Twitter and Facebook that mark milestones and keep everyone motivated between meetings. Setting up multi-user conference calls is a snap nowadays, even Office Depot is in that business. Call 1-877-852-1363 to get details. Other conference call resources are:

• www.ATConference.com

• www.budgetconference.com

• www.conferencecall.com

Setting up these frequent calls is not free, of course, so you will need a system to make sure that no one is personally footing the bill on this.

You might decide that a combination of personal meetings and online journaling keeps you on track. Establishing the format early helps prospective members decide whether joining fits their needs.

When

Frequency is also an important decision. Most groups meet at least monthly with members dedicated to making as many meetings as physically possible. Picking a day and time that is the same every month or week can make scheduling easier. Maybe Fridays at 2:00 or the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 works for everyone. Calendar it at the beginning of the year and everyone can plan ahead.

For those scattered over a larger geographic area, quarterly or annual weekend retreats with regular email and phone connections in between can also keep the writing fires burning. Short weekly meetings can be productive if they are kept on track and do not cut into actual writing time.

Once you have established the format for your meetings, the real training then begins. A properly composed and run MasterMind Group quickly becomes a catalyst for change.

As you have probably noticed, another seemingly isolated endeavor, running 26.2-mile marathons, has many similarities with writing. The important thing is to run or write consistently. A Writer’s MasterMind Group, like a training partnership, makes it easier for you to set goals and keep them because you are held accountable. Somehow, reasons for slacking off disappear when they have to be spoken. Rain, heat, cold, writer’s block— it’s hard to make excuses when others are waiting for you. A pace group serves the mutual benefit of peer pressure and group encouragement. It prevents burn out and makes the process a lot more fun. Are you ready to step up to fulfilling your dreams?

MasterMind CheckList

Number of members: Between ___ and ____

How to invite members: Personal invitations____

Web Postings________

Other _____________

Questions for prospective members:

• Do you agree with the mission statement?

• How much time are you willing to commit to the group each month?

• Please describe your personality in three words.

• Describe your writing style and history.

• What groups do you belong to and what is your role in them? How have they helped you be successful? What needs did they not fulfill?

How often will you meet?

When will you meet?

How will you meet? In person in public

In person in homes

Online

Phone

Other

Chapter 4

Community Pacing: The Four Step MasterMIND Power Process

“None of us is as smart as all of us.”

~Ken Blanchard

Just as muscle cramps can come from dehydration, writer’s block can come from lack of feedback. Think of a Writer’s MasterMind Group as a deep but gentle massage therapist who kneads the sore spots, putting the challenge into perspective, bringing blood and new ideas to the problem areas. You feel better already, don’t you?

If you want to be a professional writer (meaning, according to Webster’s II, one who gets paid), then you have to treat your art as a business. By gathering a board of advisors to direct you in the business of operations, promotion and sales, you can focus more time on what you do best— writing. However, if you want to gain the most from your expert peers, you have to ensure that your time together is spent as productively as possible. That means goal-oriented, positive meetings.

Many businesses flounder when meetings become pointless exercises in giving excuses, pointing fingers and stalling. To keep your meetings on track, use the same agenda every time so everyone knows what to expect and can prepare accordingly. Plan for a short meet-and-greet networking session and then gather for the real work.

Everyone can pledge honest encouragement. While members have a variety of skills to share, the input can only aid in the forward momentum if all members are going in the same direction. Some basic guidelines adopted at the start can ensure that no one is allowed to slow down the progress of the entire group. While the leader or leadership team must set expectations by establishing rules early in the process, the members also have a responsibility to respect the letter and spirit of the meeting norms.

Go around the room giving each member undivided attention by using the four-step MasterMIND (March of Truth, Identify Challenges, Nudge, Direct) Power Experience. This is the secret process that allows members to succinctly state their progress and gives the group a chance to offer assistance while keeping the momentum going forward.

1. March of Truth

This is where you lay it on the line. What did you accomplish since the last meeting? Did you meet the goal you set for yourself in front of your peers?

This should be positive, specific and celebrated wildly. This is not the time for excuses or disclaimers. Look closely at any book jacket. Is it filled with reasons why the book wasn’t finished five months earlier or why the ending leaves a number of holes in the plot? Probably not. More likely, it is filled with accolades that sound eerily the same as the praise on the book sitting next to it on the shelf. For the same reason that a news story focuses on what happened, rather than what didn’t, the leader’s job is to keep the first step focused on what was accomplished— even if all you did was reread what you already wrote or if your big accomplishment was sending out 50 query letters. It is all about showing progress.

2. Identify Challenges

Once progress has been outlined, then the “member of the moment” can talk about challenges standing between the project and the public. This is not the time for negativity either. Watch your modals. Words such as “should” and “can’t” carry baggage that can send meetings down a dead-end track.

“Should” hides unspoken judgments that may or may not be logical conclusions when spoken out loud. For instance, if I say that I “should” write a chapter a day, then I am not giving voice to (or haven’t thought through) the reasons. If instead I say, “I have already spent my advance and if I don’t make the deadline my editor may ask for it back” that might be more motivating than a vague feeling of guilt brought on by the first statement.

“Should” can also set the writer up for guilt and grief if the goal (like “finishing before I go on vacation even though I have not done any research and I have been putting it off for two months already”) has not been well-thought out, is not compelling, doesn’t address key challenges or is not realistic. Instead, make a matrix.

Reasons to write now!	Reasons to put off writing
money	unsure of self
sense of accomplishment	too much on plate
the world needs to read this	unmotivated

Then make a logical decision that leads to a statement worded something like this: “If I do my research right away and write at the same time each day, I will be able to write a better story.” That sentence contains a plan and logical reasoning that is missing from the earlier “I should write a chapter a day” statement. The leader’s job is to ask “why” any time someone says they “should” do something.

“Can’t” is another no-no word. It is a wall that can kill a project. If, instead of saying “I can’t find a publisher,” I say “I haven’t found a publisher yet because I haven’t gotten an agent or sent any query letters,” then the solution becomes obvious. “I need to get an agent and send query letters.” Can’t is a statement begging for a “how.”

If a member takes too long sharing, brainstorming and setting new goals, the leader can give the MasterMind signal, with a “Moving On” that ensures everyone has a chance to access the powerful resources of the group. Remember, the purpose of a MasterMind Group is to move forward so all conversation must be constructive and positive.

3. Nudge

Once the “member of the moment” has laid out the challenge to moving forward, then the rest of the group can brainstorm solutions. Again, this is about sharing experiences, not giving advice.

Like a marathon training team, a MasterMind Writer Group’s primary focus is getting everyone over the finish line. Accomplished writers can offer tips to get past the challenges that lie around the bend and newbies can share their enthusiasm for the journey.

The group focus on a shared goal can be very powerful. Chances are if one writer is struggling with it, others have as well and someone may have found a solution that could work in this situation. Whether the problem is finding the time to write, waiting for an agent to return a call or discovering that publishers expect authors to carry the marketing load, other members have probably experimented with writing schedules, juggled projects to keep busy and schlepped books around in the trunk to bookstore events in hopes of generating buzz. Ask them what worked and what didn’t. The network is probably connected to numerous resources who could help members streamline the publishing process by telling a friend, who tells a friend, who is an editor who can put the book on shelves across the nation.

Beware any suggestions that contain the word “me” too many times as this needs to be focused on what the “member of the moment” needs. Everyone will have a chance. The great thing about a Writer’s MasterMind Group is that it is a win-win competition where everyone benefits. Also, try to avoid side conversations when a member is presenting or during the brainstorming session. Make a note of a conversation you would like to have later, then focus on the challenge at hand.

At this point, the leader might want to take notes as members shout out web sites, resources and names. After the meeting, members can follow up, sending contact information and URLs that can be posted on the group web site for everyone’s benefit or emailed individually.

4. Direct

The last step is setting goals for the next meeting. Because members so recently had to face the facts about living up to the last meeting’s goals, be sure to encourage substantive, but realistic, milestones for the next gathering.

Remember that the ultimate goal is to get closer to publishing. Some basic markers exist along that path that every writer treads: idea generation, market research, outline, pitching to an agent, editor or publisher, writing, rewriting, submitting, editing, marketing, and then idea generation all over again.

Although some steps take longer than others, a Writer’s MasterMind Group can help members move through them quickly by using the lessons other members have learned the hard way to avoid wrong turns.

This is the time to make declarative statements about what will be accomplished before the next meeting and a concrete plan for getting it done, including s short list of reasons why you are doing it. That will increase your odds of success – always a good thing.

MIND in Action!

What does this look like in action? Here are just a few examples:

“It is sometimes hard to keep working on my novel,” writer Steve M. admitted. “But knowing that every week I will need to participate in the March of Truth and share my output with group members really keeps me on task and productive.”

When it was her turn in a meeting to Identify Challenges, a children’s book author Annie B. shared that her South East Asian-based publisher wanted another book from her, but that she was idea-free. “Pitch a young-adult biography of newly-elected Barack Obama,” another member suggested. “Remember, he lived in Indonesia as a child.” The author emailed the idea to her publisher and within four hours had received an enthusiastic response! Had she not put her challenge out to the group she would not have quickly sold a book.

Beginning writer Jasmin M. got a big Nudge toward success when members of her Writer’s MasterMind Group encouraged her to approach a newspaper editor about her work. Within one week her political essay was on the front page of the Opinions section of a major California newspaper.

“Having to Direct my goals and energies every week also keeps me focused on what it is I hope to achieve with my writing career,” Judith H., a science writer, shared. “I don’t have a boss to report to, but I do have to vocalize what I hope to accomplish before the next meeting. And it works.”

M.I.N.D., see how it all comes together?

Open to Discussion

Groups can be as formal or informal as you like as long as in the end, everyone leaves with valuable tools that will help them get one step closer to seeing their names in print. Some groups stop at making the rounds and open the rest of the meeting for networking, eating, etc. Others take the next step and host speakers or discuss a planned topic. Either can be a wonderful way to energize the meeting and your writing level.

If you decide to go for the extra credit and bring in speakers, popular guests include:

• Book agents sharing tips on writing queries, topics of interest and what not to do.

• Editors sharing information on their publications and the best way to pitch their pages.

• Successful writers with a unique marketing campaign.

• You could even be your own guest speaker. Take some time to tell your story if it could help other people be more successful.

Discussion topics are also helpful ways to grow as a group. Remember, the reason you started this group was because a room full of minds put together is more powerful than one mind bouncing off the walls. While sharing tips on big things like agents and marketing can be a valuable education, comparing strategies on small things like writing schedules, software and reading lists can be the one thing that turns a wanna-be writer into a published author.

If you open the floor for discussion, some fertile topics to consider include:

• A Day in the Life: Best practices for scheduling writing time.

• Writers Conferences: The good, the bad and the expensive.

• The Writing Biz: How to invoice, collect and report payment.

• Write 2.0: How to make money writing in virtual markets.

• Sell it Again, Sam: How to repurpose, reposition, refocus, and resell your work over and over again.

In the end, whatever is holding you back is fodder for discussion. Remember, this is your own private advisory board, dedicated to your success. If they don’t have the answer to your burning questions, they probably know someone who does. You never know until you ask.

MasterMind Group Sample Notepage

MasterMind Member Name:

March of Truth Successes:

Identify Challenges:

Nudge Suggestions:

Direct Goals:

Discussion Ideas:

As a leader you can takes notes for each member using this outline or let them track their own progress.

Chapter 5

Working Together, Creating Together

“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

One of the supreme advantages of a Writer’s MasterMind Group is the chance to partner both creatively and financially with other members of your group. No longer are you working alone, but in a group of talented and enthusiastic people just like you. Perhaps an idea will arise that you might want to share.

Cooking Up Success

You are all no doubt very aware of the astonishing success of the Chicken Soup for the Soul franchise. Over one hundred million books in print. That number is kind of hard to wrap your mind around, isn’t it? A book that sells a million copies hits the publishing jackpot. Imagine doing that one hundred times over! That is what the creators of the series, Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield, were able to do.

The two were both inspirational speakers who belonged to a Los Angeles group called Inside Edge. The members came together for breakfast meetings to inspire one another to not only achieve, but also to be open to new thoughts and beliefs. The group was “New Age” before New Age was named!

Jack and Mark met at one of those meetings and realized that between the two of them, they had a huge body of inspirational stories and anecdotes. The makings of a book, in fact. On their own, neither of them had enough material for a book. Combined, they had… Chicken Soup for the Soul. Combined, they had a bestseller, one hundred times over.

It’s Not For Everyone…

Not all writers will want to collaborate, of course. You might prefer to work alone, to have sole authorship of your books and articles. There is nothing wrong with that.

Not everyone wants to share the spotlight. Not everyone feels comfortable sharing the workload. Not everyone wants to share the money! But what if either Jack or Mark had felt that way? Perhaps the Chicken Soup books would never had been created, or perhaps they wouldn’t have grown to the same level of success without the creativity, efforts, and enthusiasm that grew out of a combined team effort.

Be Accountable

Jennifer likes to work with other writers because, “It holds my feet to the fire. Sharing my goals and work progress with a fellow MasterMind helps keep me productive, but I am even more productive when I am accountable to one other person who is waiting for me to finish my part of a book so that they can finish theirs!”

The e-book you are reading now is a collaborative effort. Jennifer Sander and JT Long – two members of a larger Writer’s MasterMind Group— decided that all writers needed to know this powerful secret and began to work together on this project. We brainstormed the outline for the book, divided up the chapters amongst ourselves, and then began to write. It took shape twice as fast because two people were pooling their creativity and insight, rather than the slower efforts of one lone writer trying to keep motivated. “I’ve been toying with e-book ideas for years,” Jennifer now admits. “It wasn’t until JT showed an interest too that I finally got off my behind and went to work.” The awesome power of the MasterMind, it gets lazy writers off their behinds!

Does Everyone Get to Play?

When two or more members of a Writer’s MasterMind Group decide to produce some creative work together, feelings might be hurt. Just as only JT and Jennifer produced this book and did not involve the other members of their own MasterMind Group as authors, you might decide to work with only one other member of the group.

Is it possible for an entire MasterMind Group to produce a book or movie or play or article together? Of course. Be warned, however, that with a large group working together someone does need to be in charge. Keeping a big group going together requires a clear leader. The leadership position can easily move around, but it does need to exist.

Practically speaking, if you do want to sell this group project to a commercial publisher, you need to understand that no one wants to sign a contract with four or five people.

Be warned— writers are an emotional lot (ah, but you already knew that), so it best to deal with it head on. Before you get too far in your plans, bring it up at a MasterMind meeting and get it out in the open. Be matter of fact about your plans, not apologetic, but listen to what the other members have to say. Chances are they won’t mind at all, but you don’t want the group as a whole to think that you and another member or two are working on a secret book project behind their backs. You want their full support for your collaborative project, as well as any other project you are working on! So work together openly, not secretly.

Over time, members may pair up many times with different writing partners depending on the timing and expertise needed for a given project. That is normal and should not be taken as a threat. In the end, writing is a business relationship, not a date to the prom. Just make sure all the paperwork is in order.

Get it in Writing

As creative writers, many of us tend to gloss over the technical and legal aspects of life. Now is not the time to behave like this. As Jennifer’s intellectual property attorney always reminds her – “It is always cheaper to anticipate issues rather than clear up messes afterwards.” That same attorney also cautions “Be warned: creative people have lots of ideas that seem plausible, but not might pass a lawyer’s test.”

If you are creating a project with another writer, all responsibilities and rewards need to be spelled out very clearly. If this is a project that has financial possibilities, how will the money be divided? When it comes to money, costs also have to be divided along with any profits.

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