Daily Archives: September 30, 2007

Wisdom from Writers Rock

by Barbara DeLong

Hey, are you new to OCC meetings? If not new, are you so used to the lonely life of a writer that you’ve lost what social skills you might have known in a prior life? Maybe you’re just shy, or intimidated by the many stars of romance who attend our meetings. You walk in, find a chair and sit. You’d love to be included in the many conversations going on around you, work the room, network. But you don’t. You just sit.

Let me tell you about my first experiences with OCC. It was Jann Audiss who told me about the chapter when we met at Maralys Wills novel writing class many years ago. She persuaded me to try out a meeting and join the organization. I met her at the Days Inn the following month. For many months we attended every meeting and for some reason we felt we were still on the fringes of the group, outsiders, kind of like two kids pressing their noses to the candy store window.

Then one meeting, Jann said, “You know what? We’re going to turn around and introduce ourselves to the next person who sits behind us.”

We did. That’s how we met Cathy Oliver. The three of us quickly became fast friends and formed a critique group. Ok. Now there were three of us pressing our noses to the candy store window. What to do. What to do.

Wham! It hit us like that great story idea that makes our hearts race at three in the morning and has us scrambling in the dark for a pen and pencil. Volunteer! How many times had we heard that volunteering is a great way to meet people, make friends and help the organization? Since that great epiphany, we’ve been everything from co-president, to secretary to ways and means, audio, Write for the Money, Orange Blossom Contest co-ordinator and assistants, first OCC conference co-ordinator, newsletter distributors – you get the picture. Now we have no problem working the room. We’re in the candy store.

So, when the call for volunteers goes out, step up. Grab some candy. Oh, and say hello to the person behind you. They just might become your next BFF!