Linda Sacco's Blog - Posts Tagged "community"
Writers to Avoid
A lot is said about finding a writing community. To share your ideas, feel like you belong, get some much needed “workshopping”. You’ll meet writers in courses, at events and online.
The first time I ever did workshopping in a course, a classmate said of my Young Adult fantasy chapter “no comment.” The first time I ever read a poem in a competition, the woman I had sat next to (the original organiser of the event) lamented I could have a real future formatting other writers’ ebooks. The first time I befriended a writer online, he introduced himself as “the editor of an international news magazine”. He happily sent me a few self-published issues (ebook format), light on fact but heavy on opinion (his own). I sent a link to my award-winning poem but heard nothing. His last tweet I read went something like this “I have nearly finished a draft of chapter 1 of my new book and it’s nothing like you’ve ever seen.” If he means it isn’t plagiarised, that’s great. The first friend I made in a writing course later admitted all her work was a creative collection of plagiarism.
You’ll also meet hobby writers throughout life. These are the ones that will flood your email with their short story draft, links to the little pieces they get published, their picture book draft, their proposal letter to the publishing house. They will also call to make sure you got it. They will invite you to writer events and bitch “they already knew all that” as the veteran author speaks. They will pay for an overpriced “You Can Write a Picture Book!” six-hour seminar but they will not consider studying writing at university because writing “isn’t a career”. The last I’ve read of her work, let’s just say I use the term “her work” very loosely, and her published works (payment of 1 cent per click) came to a holt.
These are the sort of people that, when you get something published, they will say, “how did you manage that?” If only they knew… So, writers to avoid? All of the above! Writing is a solitary activity and it’s natural for some to be a lone wolf writer.
Consider Lucy Maud Montgomery, famous for her Anne of Green Gables series. In Anne’s House of Dreams, page 133 she has Anne ponder why writers should be expected to get along. Anne argues no one expects two blacksmiths, for example, to form a great co-operative bond, merely on the basis they have the same occupation. It’s more than likely Anne is speaking for author Montgomery’s experience as a writer.
Writers to Gravitate Toward
The most helpful writers are the ones being paid to help. Course instructors, seminar leaders, author talks. Keep your pen and paper ready for another piece of advice that speaks to you. I’ve also found Twitter to be a haven for writers. I’ve seen plenty of encouragement go back and forth on this platform. Check out #amwriting and #writingcommunity for inspiration.
The first time I ever did workshopping in a course, a classmate said of my Young Adult fantasy chapter “no comment.” The first time I ever read a poem in a competition, the woman I had sat next to (the original organiser of the event) lamented I could have a real future formatting other writers’ ebooks. The first time I befriended a writer online, he introduced himself as “the editor of an international news magazine”. He happily sent me a few self-published issues (ebook format), light on fact but heavy on opinion (his own). I sent a link to my award-winning poem but heard nothing. His last tweet I read went something like this “I have nearly finished a draft of chapter 1 of my new book and it’s nothing like you’ve ever seen.” If he means it isn’t plagiarised, that’s great. The first friend I made in a writing course later admitted all her work was a creative collection of plagiarism.
You’ll also meet hobby writers throughout life. These are the ones that will flood your email with their short story draft, links to the little pieces they get published, their picture book draft, their proposal letter to the publishing house. They will also call to make sure you got it. They will invite you to writer events and bitch “they already knew all that” as the veteran author speaks. They will pay for an overpriced “You Can Write a Picture Book!” six-hour seminar but they will not consider studying writing at university because writing “isn’t a career”. The last I’ve read of her work, let’s just say I use the term “her work” very loosely, and her published works (payment of 1 cent per click) came to a holt.
These are the sort of people that, when you get something published, they will say, “how did you manage that?” If only they knew… So, writers to avoid? All of the above! Writing is a solitary activity and it’s natural for some to be a lone wolf writer.
Consider Lucy Maud Montgomery, famous for her Anne of Green Gables series. In Anne’s House of Dreams, page 133 she has Anne ponder why writers should be expected to get along. Anne argues no one expects two blacksmiths, for example, to form a great co-operative bond, merely on the basis they have the same occupation. It’s more than likely Anne is speaking for author Montgomery’s experience as a writer.
Writers to Gravitate Toward
The most helpful writers are the ones being paid to help. Course instructors, seminar leaders, author talks. Keep your pen and paper ready for another piece of advice that speaks to you. I’ve also found Twitter to be a haven for writers. I’ve seen plenty of encouragement go back and forth on this platform. Check out #amwriting and #writingcommunity for inspiration.
