SLOW Buddies Project Update!

Hey, guess what. You guys are awesome!!! So awesome are you that it's taking us longer than expected to put everyone into groups! We were expecting maybe 20-25 emails regarding the Buddies Project. That estimate was doubled!!! 

Crazy, right?!

So, the thing is that because of the unexpected turn out, you guys might have to wait until Sunday, October 20th, at the latest to receive your Buddies email. I'm going to try to get them out as soon as I figure the groupings out, but in order to group people up that really sound like they will mesh... Yeah, I want to put a little extra time into it. 

We're very sorry that it's going to take a little longer to get your buddies to you, but you are all so unique and amazing that we feel you deserve the most analysis and cupid-magic as we can give! 

The Quick Secret About Writing Spaces

What type of image do you get in your head when you think "author"? Do you picture James Patterson somewhere in front of a roaring fire, with his antique typewriter, clicking away at the keys, then pausing to roll around in his pile of money? Yeah, that's what I pictured before I started doing this, too. When the truth is more like this:

If you watch them long enough they might sync up.

So, how do we combat the headdesking and get down to the authoring? Everybody has their little tricks. I, personally, am a fan of changing up the writing space. It's a pretty simple solution and doesn't always work, but it's worked plenty of times for me in the past. Like this one time I wrote here:

Yep, that's a tub.

Switching things up can really get the creative juices flowing. New experiences, new visual input, different sounds, I feel like these things can jump start your brain, remind it that, "Oh, yeah, I think and make up stuff, don't I?" Maybe you have to take the kids to grandma's or maybe you have to settle for the only place that has wifi which just happens to be McDonald's (she says as she fights the urge to go to the counter and get a large fry).

They always say, "Think outside the box." Take that advice literally. Leave that box, a.k.a. your office/home, and go think somewhere else.

And now for a quick update on the SLOW Buddies Project!

I just want to thank all of you beautiful readers for helping to spread the word! We're up to 25 buddy seekers!!! It's so awesome, yes? Please, keep the emails coming! Here's the original post with all the details.

Also, just a quick reminder, in your email try to give us as much info about you, your writing habits, and your reading habits as you feel comfortable with. Knowing this stuff will help us match you with someone who will gel the best with you. Also also, this project is not designed as a one-off. If you're looking for someone to do a quick read through of your manuscript and that's it, this is not the thing for you. This is for people willing to give and receive, to support and encourage, and to hopefully develop a great friendship. So, keep sending us those awesome emails!

Introducing the SLOW Buddies Project

I've said it a million times and I'll never stop saying it: Writing buddies are invaluable during the writing process! I've gone through a bunch of different avenues to find awesome writing buddies. I met Stef by posting in the AbsoluteWrite.com forums. I met some others on the WrAHM society Facebook group. Some I met on blogs and Twitter. There are so many ways to find them. And yet it's a tough process finding the right people. But it's worth it!

It can be a daunting task to hunt through the AW forums for someone who fits or to build up the courage to email that blogger you admire, hoping against hope that they too need a CP. Well, this is where I'd like to step in. Here at Secret Life, we love our readers. Like we really, really love you guys!!! So I want to do something that could change your writing experience in a big way!

Here's the deal:

1. Send us an email at secret.life.of.writers at gmail dot com. In the email, tell us a little about yourself. Give us the genre you're writing in. Feel free to include multiple genres if that's the case. Let us know what genres you read most often. Tell us how far along you are in your manuscript. Tell us your favorite authors/books, if you prefer Star Trek or Star Wars, just whatever you want to tell us. Info on when you do most of your writing might be helpful as well.

P.S. This could be a wonderful opportunity for those of you doing NaNoWriMo this year! I'd like to pair up WriMoers so you'd have enough time, about a week, to kind of get to know each other and to discuss what your NaNo projects will be.

2. We will analyze the emails and try to pair people up, either by twos or threes depending on how many applicants we get.

3. In 2 weeks on Friday October 18th, we'll send out the pairings and you and your new writing friend/friends can start getting to know each other!

I'll also be around to help in anyway I can after the pairings happen. So, it won't be a complete "So and so meet so and so" now...

So there you have it. And to those of you who've already found that special writing buddy, remember what it was like before you had your awesome CP and help us spread the word! You could be responsible for the start of a beautiful friendship!

If you have any questions, any at all, feel free to ask in the comments!