Home Sweet Inscribe Home - Tracy Krauss

I am more than familiar with the solitary aspects of the writing life. I spent about sixteen years in the 'closet' writing my first novel before I ventured to let someone read what I'd written. Even after that breakthrough, it took several more years before I made any significant connections with other writers. Until my first book found a publishing home, I shied away from even calling myself a writer. In some ways I felt like a  fraud - not really good enough to make such a claim. If I'd known then what I know now, I would have been quicker to find support, but I didn't actually understand how much I needed it.

It wasn't until my first novel came out in 2009 that I realized I needed a lot of things. I had zero platform, no website, and social media was a foreign concept to me. I naively thought that just by virtue of being 'out there', my book would sell itself. After a quick and rude awakening, I jumped head first into a cyber world that was totally unfamiliar and started to flounder around as best I could. It was a very steep learning curve, I assure you!

The first real support I felt was through an online group called 'Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers'. It was a forum for Christian writers and readers who didn't mind a bit of 'edge' to their fiction. It was a place where I felt I fit and I soon made some wonderful relationships with other authors that still exist to this day. (Sadly, the site itself closed down a few years ago.)

After that I kind of went crazy and joined almost every online group I came across - about thirty at its peak! Some were more beneficial than others, but it was difficult to maintain any kind of connection when spread so thin. I was also introduced to ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), a group that requires paid membership, and I joined.

It was somewhere in the summer of 2010 that I came across InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship. It was purely by accident while doing some kind of online search. I can't describe the thrill I felt when I discovered that there was a Canadian organization for Christian writers. Added to that, I had previously read some blog posts written by Marcia Laycock on another site and had felt a connection to her because we had both lived in the Yukon. When I discovered she was actually the president of Inscribe at the time - well! I couldn't get my cheque in the mail fast enough! 

When I received my first copy of Fellowscript, I was thrilled (again) to discover that there was a writing group fairly near to where I lived. (A two hour drive, but its all relative...) Marnie Pohlmann, the leader of the group, has since become a wonderful writing friend even though I can't make it to most meetings. I attended my first conference that fall and have only missed one. Fall conference has become one of the highlights of my year.

These days, I'm more selective about the online groups I participate in, but online groups are still an important aspect of my writing life. I'm also a member of The Word Guild, and I maintain my ACFW membership. However, Inscribe remains my main source of encouragement as a writer. Somehow, ever since I became a member, Inscribe just feels like 'home'. I suppose it's why I feel so privileged to do my small part for the organization, like maintain this blog, for instance. It is truly a joy and I enjoy reading and sharing each wonderful post.

You can share, too! Just click one of the sharing options at the bottom of this post or along the sidebar. It's easy! 

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Tracy Krauss writes from her home in northern BC. She is also more than happy to serve on Inscribe's executive as this blog's moderator, the coordinator for 'Local Writing Groups', and as the BC Rep. Check out her website for details about her many published books and plays.