When I was 15 years old, I self-published my first novel. I outlined everything, made countless drafts, designed my cover, and self-published it through Amazon myself. When I tell people this, one of the first reactions is often “How did you figure out how to do all that?” And to be completely honest, most of the time I had no idea what I was doing. Every step of the way whether it was formatting, editing or figuring out how to upload the final manuscript felt like I was stumbling in the dark. Every mistake I made during the process set me back months of time and energy. I scoured the internet for resources and support but found that most writing communities were geared toward adults or full-time authors. There weren’t many spaces for young writers like me who were just starting off and trying to figure things out alone. That’s one of the biggest reasons I started the Young Writers Club.
I knew firsthand how discouraging it could be to feel like you’re the only one going through a sometimes intimidating process. Because of the lack of a support system, mentors, or even peers who understood what I was doing, I wanted to create a space that I wish I’d had when I started–a welcoming, low-pressure environment where aspiring young writers could come together to learn and support each other,
The Young Writers Club can be found at the top of my website (greenelephantbooks.com) and we meet monthly over Zoom! Each meeting focuses on a different part of the writing or self-publishing process. We’ll discuss everything from character development and pacing to formatting your manuscript, working with beta readers, designing a book cover, and getting published whether through self-publishing or exploring traditional options.
My goal for the Young Writers Club is to make the journey into writing and publishing less lonely and confusing. Whether you’re a young writer working on your first short story or you’re polishing your fifth draft of a novel, this group is for you and I can’t wait to work with you and support you in any way that I can!