“As writers, we need one another. We need readers and reviewers, editors and cheerleaders for the highs and lows that invariably come with writing. While the life of a writer continually buoys with the unpredictable waves of publishing, emerging writers especially need mentorship and guidance to weather those uncertainties.”~Lori A. May, The Write Crowd: Literary Citizenship & the Writing Life
So I thought I would understand the swirl of congratulations
coming my way. But I felt utterly humbled
when someone I don’t know all that well congratulated me, telling me he was happy
about my news, “ecstatic really, as you are always helping out other writers.” I almost cried, because that seemed like the
nicest compliment anyone could give me.
And whether it is a true statement or not in my case, I do know that at
a certain point in my professional life, I decided that “helping out other
writers” was going to be an important part of my mission.
I think that’s why I was so taken with The Write Crowd which is a blueprint for
~why one might undertake such a mission;
~how to go about it, and;
~the benefits that will accrue once you start seeing
yourself as part of a larger community of writers, and not just a part, but a
FORCE, really. We feel powerless in much
of our writing life, waiting around for editors to decide our fates—but here’s where
we do have muscle and agency.
It isn’t that hard to participate in a mindful, giving way
to build and improve our community, and it doesn’t even cost money (though
springing for a writer’s lunch tab is always welcome, if you’re in a financial
positon to do so…not to mention buying books in hardcover, subscribing to
journals, and endowing writing prizes!).
As Lori writes, “When we embrace the community, we gain a
better understanding of the creative world in which we participate.” So, yes, being
more involved will help our bottom line, whether that bottom line at the moment
is selling more copies of our novel by speaking to a book club for free or wanting
to understand the submission process from the editor’s eye so volunteering to
screen manuscripts at a journal.
But beyond the seemingly “practical” considerations of
working to build and participate in our greater writing world, May also notes
that,
“It’s not mandatory to encourage fellow writers or to encourage an emerging voice….No one should expect to earn a book contract because of contacts made in their literary circles. No one should think that being nice to a few folks will make them a bestseller. And, yet, giving something back to the literary community and to the community at large still feels good. You can’t help but feel more valued as a writer when others are excited about your presence….Success, too, is not just about publishing. Witnessing the artistic growth and development of your peers in its own reward. That’s success; that’s gratifying on its own level and sometimes more rewarding than seeing a publication credit.”
Honestly, if you are living the writing life and somehow aren’t
considering your personal approach to literary citizenship, you’re doing
yourself a major disservice and, if I can be crass, your writing career and
life in the community is going to be pretty shitty (and, to be super-crass, personally,
I’m not interested in knowing you). I
know, I know: maybe you’re the Literary Genius who will be magically plucked
from nowhere and everyone will put up with your crap just because. Maybe every day you sit down to write, finely-wrought
unicorns appear on the page.
Just in case you’re not and they don’t, though, I would
suggest thinking about and carefully planning your role in our community. Not, what can the literary world do for you,
but what can YOU do for ALL of us?
May offers a wide range of suggestions, and I’ll just share
a few of her ideas:
- Tell people about the books you love (and I’ll add: not just your own books!).
- Encourage other writers by attending their readings or welcoming a writer new to town.
- Write thank you notes…to event organizers, to journal editors, to authors you admire.
- Write book reviews.
- Use your online presence to promote other writers.
- Start a journal.
- Start an organization.
- Honestly, there are a zillion things you can do once you put your mind to it.
Maybe this all sounds daunting. Maybe it all sounds like a lot of work. That’s what’s ultimately so great about May’s
book, that she walks us through the options so we can formulate a plan for
being a better literary citizen.
I promise you that after you read May’s book, you’ll feel
that something—maybe only one thing, but something!—is achievable for you with
whatever limits you have on your time, energy, and finances. I promise you that Lori will feel like the
friend who has all the secrets about how to accomplish that one thing, the
friend whispering in your ear, “What a fabulous idea! You totally should do
that! You totally can!”
And I personally promise you that not only will you be a
better person for doing that one thing or those many things, but that you—little
ole YOU—will make our community a vastly better place. Thank you in advance.
By Lori A. May
Bloomsbury | 194 pages
More information about Lori A. May: http://www.loriamay.com/
Additional resources about literary citizenship via Lori A.
May: http://www.loriamay.com/writecrowd.html
