Finding Community in Writing Groups
by Lee McCaulla
Ed. Note: This article is reposted with the permission of Flexible Fred Author and Illustrator Lee McCaulla. He originally shared his story over at the Flexible Fred blog. Flexible Fred is now in its third printing. Look to the bottom of this article for more information about Lee and this charming debut picture book. The article has been adapted to the Scribblers’ Scoop house style.
When January 2012 came along, one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to seek out a community of writers where I could connect with others of like mind, get inspired, and grow.
I’ve always embraced the “think tank concept.” As a Cal Arts graduate, I understood the value of working with others in a conservatory-style environment, where encouragement and experimentation were the order of the day. My heart longed for a community that offered this kind of support without breaking the bank.
After visiting several writing groups around the Los Angeles area, I eventually stumbled upon the small—but mighty—non-profit group called CBW–LA. Its focus: to educate and inspire writers interested in children’s books.
Nestled in the South Bay, this darling of a writer’s group exceeded my wildest expectations and then some. In fact, my first impressions of CBW–LA were so milk-and-cookie wonderful that I just couldn’t help but feel right at home.
Through CBW–LA, I found a friendly, warm-hearted group of folks with a genuine passion for the craft. All of them sincerely wanted to help me develop as a writer. Egos were checked at the door.
The group was, and still is, led by Nutschell Anne Windsor, a gifted teacher and author in her own regard, and her board of directors. I met Lucy Ravitch, author of The Pancake Menu, and other champions of the genre like Angie Flores, Lizzie Maxwell and Cassie Gustafson.
I was impressed by how well-organized and well-informed the group was about the publishing process. They provided stellar handouts, gave inspiring lectures and offered selfless group critiques. It was a fabulous opportunity for me to get clear about my writing goals.
One of my favorite moments during that very first workshop that I attended, Kickstart Your Writing Career, was when we signed our names on a virtual “contract of encouragement.” It is a document that I hold to this day.
During critique groups, each writer had anywhere between five to fifteen minutes to share their work — something to keep in mind if you plan on sharing a big project. Feedback was always honest, constructive and helpful. Attendees scribbled notes on manuscript copies for post-session personal review.
Elements of CBW–LA, at times, seemed to rival some of the more advanced creative writing programs out there … and at a fraction of the cost.
At CBW-LA, it wasn’t just about helping me grow as a writer. It was about community.
Four years later, I’m still aglow at all the cool things they offer. For example, you can elect to participate in the annual Story Sprouts Writing Day Marathon, in which authors write, revise, polish, and submit several original pieces in a single day. The completed works are edited, then published and celebrated each year with a lovely book signing party. The books—Story Sprouts, Story Sprouts: Voice and Kayla Wayman, Teen Time Traveler: Lost in the Stream— are marketed locally and sold worldwide on Amazon.
You can also stop by their FREE write-in day at a local coffee shop where you can hunker down over coffee and get some work done with fellow CBW–LA homies.
If you’re an illustrator with a picture book or looking for feedback on your drawings, you might want to find another group that specializes in this, because CBW–LA really is all about the writing. But … that doesn’t mean they won’t help you! I’ve seen people bring screenplays, poetry, graphic novels, comic books, technical manuals, adult fiction, and non-fiction too.
That’s the blessing of a group like this: the spectrum is pretty wide and everyone’s willing to help.
After I got the idea for Flexible Fred, I took my cruddy first draft down to CBW–LA for feedback. I learned. I felt empowered. I grew. They gave me permission to be a children’s book author and to explore my crazy idea for a book. I can recall at least four critique sessions over a two year period with CBW–LA. Without their input, my debut picture book, Flexible Fred, would have been very different indeed.
My advice?
If you’re in (or near) the greater Los Angeles area, and you need some help nudging your masterpiece along, CBW–LA should be a major pit stop on your road to publication. So dust off that manuscript, print out that project, and hightail it down to their next meeting. You’ll be so very glad you did.
About the Book
From award-winning filmmaker and former Disney animator Lee McCaulla, comes an enlightening approach to children’s literature. In this debut work as author/illustrator, Lee takes us on an adventure of the heart with his endearing creation, Flexible Fred. It’s the whimsical tale of a resilient, go-with-the-flow fellow named Fred who helps a miserable monster named Morton find happiness. Beautifully illustrated in a simple, energetic style, the book will captivate the hearts and minds of readers for years to come.
Filled with poignant insights and a powerful message into the nature of success, Flexible Fred sets a fantastic example for the child in all of us: as we trust in the divine flow of life and remain open to change, we discover the magic that makes anything possible. This compelling teaching tool achieves a unique balance of contemporary art and spiritual magnetism, encouraging readers to unravel the bliss that lies dormant within themselves. Flexible Fred is a breath of fresh air for parents, educators, counselors and yoga practitioners who wish to foster the awakening of inner fulfillment and empower the adults of tomorrow with a fun, joy-filled approach to life.
It’s the perfect complement to any coffee table collection. Brighten up your library today with this charming new title from Bicycle Press.
About the Author/Illustrator
Lee McCaulla was born in Memphis, TN in 1969, the oldest of three children. Growing up in the Bartlett suburbs, he discovered art, created stories, and tinkered with stage magic. When an early episode of Mister Rogers introduced him to something called a flipbook, he became captivated by the illusion of “drawings that moved”. Inspired by the works of Shel Silverstein, Florence P. Heide, Charles Schultz, Dr. Suess, Jim Henson, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jules Verne, Walt Disney, C.S. Lewis, Gene Roddenberry, and H.G. Wells, Lee just kept making stuff.
Lee holds a BFA from Cal Arts and a Master’s Certificate in Producing Film and TV from UCLA.
Some of Lee’s hobbies include yoga, meditation, investing, improvisation and holistic nutrition. If you look closely, you can spot him on a few episodes of the hit TV series Mad Men and in Clint Eastwood’s Jersey Boys.
Flexible Fred is his first work as a children’s book author and illustrator.
To learn more about Lee, read his full bio here.
