The best way to be a writer is to be around writers–good or just raw. The truth is we are all learning as we write. Even the prolific writers like Stephen King learn new tricks and new ways to reinvest in their work as a result of being around other writers. Many writers I know spend a wealth of time around other writers and traveling to conventions either as speakers or as participants in an effort to embed themselves into the writer’s community.
I’m talking about immersion here. I believe this is the most important thing that a writer can do outside of butt in chair. BIC matters, don’t get me wrong. BIC alone means you’re producing worlds full of words, but it is happening in isolation. That first part of writing–the planning and drafting stages–often are done in isolation, but there are important stages that follow. For me I find so much inspiration from my writing group and as much inspiration from the students I work with every day. Just like an athlete gets better at a sport by being around it we writers develop a sort of writer IQ that allows us to be even more successful as we work towards being masters of our craft.
I’ve seen the difference between myself and other writers of my ilk at conventions. They are immersed in the culture of writing while I am a single dad immersed in the culture of sports who happens to be a not-too-shabby writer. There is a huge difference in terms of level of success that stems purely from that thread. Immersion matters.
Some Thoughts:
- I’ve been happy these past few days. That matters.