As writers of fiction, we agonize over the flow of events that carry our characters through their conflict to a resolution. Ask yourself, what if Harry Potter had never met Ron on the train platform? Would they have bonded over trading wizard cards before the house sorting? Would Harry have wished himself into Gryffindor with such vigour?
You may call it networking, however, I choose to believe that the amazing individuals who have entered my writing life were gifted through moments of serendipity. When I completed my first draft and was looking for writing support, I made a comment to a local bookseller and she gave me Diane’s name. Diane and I formed a writing partnership. We met over a two year period; reading aloud, encouraging each other and eventually we planned our own writing retreat to exchange our full manuscripts. To this day, it still amazes Diane and I both, how ‘fate filled’ our relationship has and continues to be. I have been waiting (rather anxiously) to hear back from an agent, and at lunch this week, I unexpectedly discovered Diane in the same restaurant and her support brought me immeasurable comfort.
It was through my connection with Diane that I became a member of Ascribe. I have several serendipitous links to the group members; being a hockey mom, a busy professional, a writer and a pet lover.
This week, away from the writing world, chatting between motions at an Annual General Meeting for the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, a co-board member happened to mention that his mentor recently published a memoir about his experiences as an east coast veterinarian. This may not seem that unusual, however, this board member is a relatively new friend and had no knowledge of the fact that I am an aspiring novelist. I am now in the process of reaching out to this newly published veterinarian.
Regrettably, at this time I do not have a dramatic conclusion, yet I can see how it could play out. When I call the east coast vet, I will discover that he is has the same agent whom I am waiting to hear back from. After he calls his agent, she reads my chapters, immediately phones me for the entire manuscript and at the launch party, I discover that my publisher has a dog named Ascribe.
