By Elgin Writers Guild Vice-President James Miller
Words are incredible. These squiggles have the ability to transport you to another world,
drive you to depths of despair, or elevate you to the highest point of elation. As writers, amateur
or otherwise, we try to wrangle words into sentences that do just that: move the reader. It is a
monumental task, as rewarding as it is challenging, as it is frustrating as it is fun. As a writer, it’s
easy to get lost in the jungle of words. Anyone can write a simple sentence: It had been a long
time since someone tried to kill him, and he was still afraid of dying, but patience and tutoring
can turn that sentence into, It had been a long time since an assassin had come, but the fear of a
blade in the dark never really went away. How does someone with an interest in writing go from
the first sentence to the second? With the support of like-minded friends. That’s the purpose of
the Elgin Writers Guild: to support writers on their journey – whatever destination they have in
mind.
My Personal Story
I’ve always wanted to be a published author, and was often told my writing was good, but
my ideas were better, which clearly posed a problem. When I came to the Guild, I had ideas. Lots
and lots of fantastic ideas, and not the first clue as to how to turn them into a story. Sure, I could
write basic stuff: The sun lit her face. But I needed to learn how to turn that into, Her face
glowed in the sun’s golden light, and the members of the Elgin Writers Guild helped me get
there. The patience, guidance and inspiration they’ve offered helped improve my writing
tremendously. Seeing the expertise they offer to fellow members, I encourage others interested in
telling stories to join.
Earlier this year, I was voted (foolishly or otherwise) into the role of Vice President of the
Guild. Under the guidance of our alliteration-loving, fearless, formidable figurehead, President
Terry Carroll, we are publishing the first collection of short stories by Guild members in
November, titled Railway City Writes — Short Stories and Poems from the Elgin Writers Guild.
The Guild is stronger than ever, with a robust Fiction Critique Group, Non-Fiction Group, and
Poetry Group. Our members are growing in skill and confidence, and I believe it’s only a matter
of time before one of our members publishes a novel.
Join us!
If you’re curious about, or interested in, writing, we can help. Contact us at
elginwritersguild@outlook.com, sit in on one of our groups, ask us questions, and we’ll help
you move toward your goal.