by Barbara Poelle
When I was eight years old, I was the secretary of the “We Hate Traci Bismark Club” ( Northeast Minneapolis Chapter). We would meet on Saturdays in Beth Brenden’s backyard fort and talk about how much we-surprise!- hated Traci Bismark. As the secretary, my job was to bring my notebook and my pencil with the fuzzy hair troll top and jot down the minutes of the meeting, which basically consisted of the horrible things that Traci had done or said to any of us that week, and our corresponding evil plans of revenge and retribution. And then Beth’s mom would knock on the door and bring us fruit punch and cookies. (Incidentally, one of our revenge plans which I designed was akin to the old board game Mousetra, ending with Traci traped in a large cage. Hey, I wasn’t voted runner up for Young Inventor of the Year in my district for nothing.)
There were four of us in the WHTB club which worked out great as we each had an elected position. Beth was president, then Janelle Roth as vice president, then myself as secretary, then Carol Markowitz as Treasurer.
Oh, Carol.
All I can say, is no matter how awful Traci was to any of us, she was BRUTAL to Carol. Carol hadn’t quite shed her baby fat and had the athletic prowess of a banana slug. Traci worked Carol over like she was being paid to do it. She was like Simon Cowell in Oshbegosh.
The WHTB lasted only a few weeks, because I left for summer camp, and then Traci’s mom moved her to private school because she was “not being challenged enough” in the public school system. (See? NOW don’t you want to join? The membership fee is $.50 and you have to bring a snack to share.) Suffice to say it felt soooo good to be a part of a group where you could share embarrassing stories and find comfort, solace, and a possible solution to your woes. Everybody needs one of those.
Especially when you are a writer.
I cannot stress the importance of critique groups enough. They are your first readers, your second eyes, and your third line of defense. They will be there to cut the gum out of your hair or tell you when you have a “kick me” sign stuck to your back. There are so many fabulous on line groups as well as local chapters just waiting to elect you treasurer. Your local RWA or Sisters in Crime chapter is a great way to start. You don’t have to face the Traci Bismarks of the world alone, and you shouldn’t.
Oh, and years later I learned Traci had run off with some guy when she was 17 and her mother had disowned her. It looks like the private school wasn’t very challenging either….
