September | 2014 | Cathy C. Hall Writes

My lovely friend, Suzanne, dunked herself with ice and threw out the ALS challenge to yours truly. And I recruited Cathy-on-a-Stick (unbeknownst to the little pic) to stand in for me. But one thing led to another while I was visiting dear old Dad, and before you could say, “Aiiieeee! That’s cold!”, I was on my way home and the moment for dunking had passed. And the ALS organization had raised tons of money!

Still, I wanted to give in some way to somebody. And then along came a heads up through 12 x 12 about an editor who’s Racing for Cancer Research. Gee, I thought, that’s an excellent cause–I mean, if you’re gonna run, might as well be running for a good reason–plus, this young woman will provide a critique of 1500 words in exchange for a $25 donation. So I thought, as I’m a writer, that might be fun and certainly worthwhile.

So I figured, okay, that’s who’ll get my check. But then, another writer friend posted about Jean Reidy and how she’s raising money for Reach Out and Read Colorado. And I fell in love with this program of doctors and nurses, giving books to our youngest readers. And then Jean Reidy (and I love her books, too!) sweetened her cause by giving those who donated $5 a chance to win one of a number of prizes.

Well. Now I’d found two lovely causes that needed my help–and I thought you, as writers and readers, might be interested, too.

So thank you to Suzanne who gave me a push to think about helping others. Sorry I didn’t get to the dunk, but I will get to the writing of checks.

(And as an added bonus, Cathy-on-a-Stick has come out of hiding.)

I think it was November that I needed a critique group break. After three years, I was a bit burned out, even though our kidlit group was a great bunch of writer gals. And then something odd happened.

One member of the group moved ALL the way to Texas. Another member embraced her adult romance side–and good thing, because now she has a book contract!–and then dang if another member didn’t move all the way to Minnesota. I mean, suddenly, there wasn’t a critique group to take a break from.

Or go back to. And honestly, I was overwhelmed by so many other things in the spring, professionally and personally, that I figured that my writing would take care of itself. Who needs a critique group, anyway?

And that is where The Critique Epiphany comes in. Which you may not have seen because it was over at The Muffin on Saturday, of the Labor Day weekend.

I understand, y’all. It was a busy weekend, cramming in the last days of summer fun. But maybe you could read it now. Because after Labor Day, everyone goes back to school. And I sort of got schooled about the whole critique group thing.

(Maybe you will, too.)