Cathy Jackson's Blog - Posts Tagged "community"
Community
Merriam-Webster.com defines COMMUNITY as a unified body of individuals:
a: state, commonwealth
b: the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself
c: an interacting population of various kinds of individuals in a common location
d: a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society
e: a group linked by a common policy
f: a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests
g: a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society
2: society at large
3 a: joint ownership or participation
b: common character: likeness
c: social activity: fellowship
d: a social state or condition
All of which applies to Authors. Whether unknown or well known, we are all a part of a community. We all write because we want to or feel we have to. We all love to write so we sacrifice our time and put an extreme amount of effort into getting words on a page to entertain those who love to read. If we are all in this beloved community, trying to exist as a unit then there should be no distinction among one Author or another.
An Author may just be starting out. Their foot just touching the first step on the journey. What must we do as Authors? Come along side that new Writer, hold their hands, help them with their fears, encourage them, help them reach for their dreams. And, if we are lucky enough, be there when they achieve them.
Another Author may be on the Best Seller list. They have put in a great amount of sacrifices to see their hard work shining for all the world to see. Basking in the spotlight, we should all come together and congratulate that Author who has made it.
If we are the community that Merriam-Webster describes then, as Authors, we have standards and ideals that we must display to all Authors. I for one try, to the best of my abilities, everyday to represent that great community to which I am a part of. A community of Writers. A community of Authors. A community of friends.
a: state, commonwealth
b: the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself
c: an interacting population of various kinds of individuals in a common location
d: a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society
e: a group linked by a common policy
f: a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests
g: a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society
2: society at large
3 a: joint ownership or participation
b: common character: likeness
c: social activity: fellowship
d: a social state or condition
All of which applies to Authors. Whether unknown or well known, we are all a part of a community. We all write because we want to or feel we have to. We all love to write so we sacrifice our time and put an extreme amount of effort into getting words on a page to entertain those who love to read. If we are all in this beloved community, trying to exist as a unit then there should be no distinction among one Author or another.
An Author may just be starting out. Their foot just touching the first step on the journey. What must we do as Authors? Come along side that new Writer, hold their hands, help them with their fears, encourage them, help them reach for their dreams. And, if we are lucky enough, be there when they achieve them.
Another Author may be on the Best Seller list. They have put in a great amount of sacrifices to see their hard work shining for all the world to see. Basking in the spotlight, we should all come together and congratulate that Author who has made it.
If we are the community that Merriam-Webster describes then, as Authors, we have standards and ideals that we must display to all Authors. I for one try, to the best of my abilities, everyday to represent that great community to which I am a part of. A community of Writers. A community of Authors. A community of friends.
