Writing is a lonely endeavor. Even with family and friends encouraging and inquiring about it, the writer sits and works in isolation. There is social media. One can tweet, pin, or post on Facebook. I’ve killed hours or precious writing time doing just that. But the act of writing remains solitary.
This week there was a social event for writers. Carol Lynch Williams and Ann Dee Ellis organized it. They may have had help from Queen Bee, Kyra Leigh. All of them host the blog, Throwing Up Words (http://throwingupwords.wordpress.com). Carol and company have down this before and a few weeks ago they posted to their blog they were doing it again.
We met at Olive Garden in Provo, about twenty of us or so. We ate, socialized, laughed, ate some more, read from our writing, and shared successes. Some of us read from our novels in progress, a few shared screenplays. Some brought spouses, some spouses were writers, too. It was a pleasant evening.
The best thing though, was the camaraderie. There were actual writers, sitting in that room, across from you and to your sides. Other people who struggle, have doubts, and continue to write away. There’s a bunch of us out there. We work in isolation, but it’s so good to know we’re not alone.
Thanks Carol, Ann Dee, and Kyra. Let’s do that again, sometime.
(This article also posted at http://writetimeluck.blogspot.com)
1 comment:
That sounds like fun. Writing communities should do social things like that more often. We've even talked about having a picnic or something for writers and readers of this blog, but we've never made it happen. Kudos to Carol!
I have to admit, I've never felt less alone as a writer, thanks to my group. We get together, email, and have our top secret Facebook page, not just for critiquing but for writing, encouraging, brainstorming, learning, and socializing. We're in contact as much as necessary. I have no doubt that if one of us were struggling we could grab a phone for instant help. But as a group made mostly of introverts, the phone is probably near the bottom of our list.
Bruce's point is important. Comisserating and celebrating and sharing with others who have taken this odd and often frustrating path is one of the best things we can do to keep us on the road with our fuel tanks full. Even those of us who might not be the mist socially oriented.
Post a Comment