WRITING IN A VACUUM
The title of this post is a fallacy. It does not exist.
Sure, there are those who would point out Emily Dickinson, scribbling away for the majority of her adult life, having a scant ten poems published during her lifetime with the bulk of 1800 discovered, collated, and presented to the world long after her death. Or, perhaps we could reference the reclusive J.D. Salinger or Thomas Pynchon, giants of 20th century fiction, who chose to stay hidden and force the world to focus on their craft rather than their persona.
Let’s face it: how many writers do you know are any of these talents? True, someone may lurk out there with a prodigious ability that we have yet to learn about. But the majority of us who call ourselves ‘writers’ know others who are of the same ilk, in the same boat, hoping to put out not necessarily a work of art but a decent story.
Therefore, you cannot write in a vacuum. As shy as you may be, as doubtful as you are regarding your skills, you have to encounter and discover others who would view your work. Not in the context of who you are personally but how that work holds up to criticism and commentary.
While you are still of an age where education is significant in your life, taking creative writing classes is ideal. Beyond those years, where to next? Certainly, entering contests is a viable option but the feedback there is limited. Joining a writer’s group is significantly better. While there may be varying degrees of experience and success, at the very least you will be around other writers, some of whom may provide ideas and notions for a direction for you to follow.
My first group was the Kansas Writers Association right here in Wichita, KS. I was surprised to see how many were in their ranks when I first attended a meeting around 2008. I eventually served a brief term as president.
From such groups, it is feasible to establish a critique group. Two or three others with whom you can regularly share a Work In Progress to get regular feedback. I was in one group with two other writers, both of whom wrote in the fantasy genre. One of those was Brian Johnson who has been a long-time friend and my current co-host on Tikiman and The Viking podcast. My next critique group was with two women, one of whom was primarily a poet. From each of these groups, I got the widest array of feedback. Stepping outside your comfort zone will do that for you.
The next step is a writers’ conference. This is where you go beyond your local level and connect with an even wider group of people to expand your knowledge and experience. Additionally, many of these conferences feature industry representatives with whom you may potentially get a book published. I met the Editor-in-Chief of The Wild Rose Press and have been fortunate enough to have five of my books published with them.
I was the last president of Kansas Writers Association to put on a conference for that organization in Wichita in 2012. I attended the Kansas Authors Club conference in 2013 and participated as a speaker in 2019. I have regularly attended the OWFI Conference since 2012, was a remote speaker for the conference in 2021, and will be, along with Brian, a speaker again in 2024.
I believe I have had five books published between 2017 and 2023 because of “stepping up to the plate”, so to speak. Writing, learning from your mistakes, listening to critique groups and editors, informs your craft. By being around other writers, your abilities increase exponentially. It is because I choose NOT to be Emily Dickinson or J.D. Salinger or Thomas Pynchon that I reach out with the desire to grow.
If you are already planning to attend the OWFI Conference, Brian and I look forward to visiting with you. You can be sure we will provide you with additional encouragement on your journey.
