Writers Helping Writers

Today's poster is meant to bring a smile. Something that brings a smile to people is when we help one another. I've seen a lot of that during the week since our Kansas blizzard. Post after post on Facebook featuring people who need help and others who are offering to help those in need. Getting stuck in fifteen inches of snow is no picnic, and definitely a time when help from others is needed and ever so appreciated.

Seeing those posts made me think about how writers can help other writers. There are a number of ways we can do that. A list follows:

A. Blog about writing that gives tips and encouragement to writers. (That's the theme of this blog in case you had never noticed)

B.  When you're at a writing workshop, look for those people who seem to be alone. Start a conversation or draw them into a group conversation. 

C.  Offer your services to your local or state writing organization. Be an officer, give a program, offer to give a workshop at a conference, greet new members. Be a joiner, not a lurker. Those who join and do things in a group usually benefit the most.

D.  Write articles about writing that might be of interest or help to other writers.

E.  Join a writing critique group where you both give and receive critiques on your writing. There are great benefits in doing this. Writers helping writers.

F.  Befriend a new writer. A chat over coffee or lunch can be so helpful to those beginning writers who still have many questions. 

G.  If you're an experienced writer, write a book about the craft. You can help new writers this way and add another publication to your name, as well.

There are other ways to help your fellow writers. You'll see them when the opportunity arises. There are writers who don't want to get involved with other writers, so they pass up those chances to help others. That's their choice, but I've always found that by helping others, I also reap some benefits. 

Consider how much help you might have needed as a new writer. When I first began writing, I knew I needed all the help I could find. It's why I joined a local writers' group where I was living at the time. It was a group of around eight people. I learned so much from them, and as time went on, I was able to help some of the newer members by answering their questions and giving encouragement when the opportunity arose. When we moved to another community, one of the first things I did was to look for a local writing group. 

Writers helping writers! It can bring a smile to your face.

 

Writers--Lend a Helping Hand

 Lend a Helping Hand

How can writers lend a helping hand to others? Let me count the ways!

Mentoring a newbie writer

Doing critiques in a writing group

Offering individual help away from the writing group

Give programs about writing to help others interested in writing

Make school visits to talk about writing

Offer to judge a writing contest

Accept an office in a local, state, or national writing organization

Promote writing whenever and wherever possible

Offering a blog for writers

Writing a book review for an author

I have been blessed with the ability to put words and sentences together to create stories, essays, and poetry many of which have been published. I've always felt that it is part of my mission in this life to help others who want to write or are writers already. It's why I started this blog in 2009. My aim was to share a bit of my writing world and to give tips and encouragement to other writers. 

If you're having coffee or a drink with a writer friend, the conversation that ensues is most likely helpful to each person participating. For one thing, it's an upper to converse with someone who understands the writing world like you do. At the end of a get-together with another writer, you usually feel a sense of satisfaction. Don't wait until a writer asks you to have coffee. Do the asking yourself. 

By giving programs or workshops or talking to school children, you're a walking advertisement for the writing world. You're helping others, and often finding real joy in doing so. 

I once edited a YA novel for a man I knew slightly. By the end of the process, he was grateful, I was incredibly happy that I could help someone polish a fine book, and we became good friends with all our back and forth emails. That small helping hand had benefits for both of us.

I once heard a rather selfish writer state that he/she wasn't giving away the secrets to his/her good writing. The attitude was 'let them learn on their own.' My thought is that if I help someone, they can do the same for me someday, but I also find happiness in helping even if I receive little or nothing in return.

Taking an office in a writing organization may be work, but it's also a way to help the group continue and to give a hand to those who prefer to sit and soak up what they can but not serve on committees or consent to be an officer. Many of them have valid reasons for declining, but others are not willing to give something of themselves. 

Writing book reviews is an easy and fine way to help other writers. It's something that also helps readers who are always on the lookout for a new book to read.

There are many ways to help other writers without eating too deeply into your own writing time.  

Writers Helping Writers

Helping Hands

Recently, a reader contacted me asking if I knew of anyone in our town that might help read and critique her second memoir. Was there a writing group for memoir writers? It seems she and I live in the same community. Small world! I told her I'd check with another writer friend here and get back to her.

Yesterday, I happened to be in a group with that writer friend. I told her about the request I'd had, and she said her writing group was for novelists and also closed at this time. But, she offered to talk with the woman who had contacted me. Long story short, the emails flew later in the afternoon and the two of them connected and let me know what they had talked about. Writers helping writers! 

I'm always pleased to see writers helping other writers in multiple ways. Some might think we shouldn't do that because we're actually competing with one another. That's the wrong way to look at it. You're competing with other writers at all times and giving a bit of aid to one occasionally is not going to hurt your chances for publication. 

Giving a hand to another writer can be more beneficial than a hindrance. If you're in a writing group, you signed on to get some help to make your writing the best it can be. When you joined, there was also an unwritten agreement that you'd help others, as well. 

Have you ever been on a planning committee for a writing conference? Ever had to find speakers for the workshops and keynote address? I did that just last year. If I had not been a member of my state authors organization for nearly 20 years, I would have had a much more difficult job. I tapped people to speak from the organization, but I also found speakers whom I had met through my writing. I've found that the personal connection is most helpful in getting requests answered in the positive. 

I've met writers online and have developed a relationship with many. I've asked quite a few to post here as a Guest Blogger. Because they knew me and had read my blog, they were willing to answer my request with a yes. Where did I meet these writers online? Most of them through social media. There is no doubt that Facebook, Twitter, and similar social media sites are connectors. I joined them to promote my writing, not just to chat with personal friends and family. (I do that, too!) I have made numerous contacts with other writers.

When we're willing to give some help to other writers, we're going to benefit in some way at some time. Don't do it, however, only for the rewards you might reap, but because it is a kindness to give assistance to others in some way. In this turmoiled world we live in today, I'm all for spreading kindness whenever and wherever possible. 

Return The Favor

Should writers help other writers? Aren't they all competitors? Why help the guy who is trying to beat you to the door of the publisher?

Good questions that have probably crossed the mind of many a writer on occasion. My unequivocal answer is Yes, writers should help other writers.

Newbie writers start out with a few skills related to writing. A whole lot of practice and writing experience helps them grow but assistance in one form or another from other writers is of great importance. It doesn't stop once you can say you are no longer a brand new writer. Even writers with years of experience, years of being published appreciate help from someone else who knows and understands what they deal with every day.

Yesterday, I reviewed a book for a fellow writer on my blog. Grant Overstake's YA novel was his first venture into this kind of writing. His background is in newspaper writing, sports columns, and editing rural newspapers. So, he is certainly no beginner. Anyone who has published a book, whether with a publishing house or independently, knows that it is not going to sell unless you get the word out. I was happy to help by reviewing the promo copy Grant sent me.

In return, he referenced my blog post on his own blog that is geared to his book Maggie Vaults Over the Moon. It really pleased me to read the kind things he said about me in his post today. You can read it here if you like. We ended up helping one another.

One of the reasons I started this blog back in 2009 was the desire to help other writers by giving tips and encouragement along with posts about my personal writing world. From comments I've received over the years, I know that it's been well received by those still acquiring knowledge about the field of writing and even for many who are longtime writers. Want to read my first-ever blog post? August 2009

I've had many writers inform me of new markets to try and I've done the same for many others. I don't feel like I need to keep a good market a secret. Giving the particulars on a market doesn't mean the other writer will get accepted and I won't. We are each going to submit and either be rejected or accepted on the merit of what we send the editor.

In my critique group, we help each other on a daily basis, and when one of us is published, we all rejoice.

Whenever you have an opportunity to help another writer, act on it. You never know when the favor may be returned.

Spread A Fisherman's Net

Someone once asked me how I could do so much writing. "It's a lonely life," she said, "and you're such an outgoing person who loves being in social situations." She's right about the second part. I am a very social kind of person who thrives on being with others. But I don't find writing lonely at all.

Instead, it's comforting to spend time at the computer composing new things and marketing others. I would never consider it lonely, because I have spread a net like a fisherman and can count many other writers in the catch. I know that's a stretch of the advice to network, but it seemed to fit what I'm trying to say.

It's great getting to know other writers. I learn a lot by listening to them, watching what they do to market their writing, and reading their published work. When you have a net filled with other writers, they share markets and also let others know about a bad experience they might have had with an editor. Maybe an especially good experience, too. Writers have a common bond with one another just like people who are in police work, or the military, or fashion design.

But what about the competition factor? Sure, we're all competing to get published, but it's certainly not a cutthroat kind of thing. If twenty of us enter the same contest, only one is going to come out the winner. That doesn't mean I have to unfriend a writer. If she wins and I don't, I'm happy for her and move on. I find that writers are more than willing to help one another.

This morning, a writer I met only a few months ago sent me notice of an anthology call for submission. It was not one of the anthologies we know about, but a single time anthology of short fiction. I'd never have been aware of it if my new writer friend had not sent it to me. Likewise, there is an anthology of Christmas stories, poems, and more that bought two stories from me. Had another writer not let me know about their call for submissions, I'd have missed out.

Increase your circle of writer friends whenever you can. Join organizations for writers, join a critique group, hop on facebook and post regularly. I've established contact again there with writers I hadn't heard from or about for several years. Go to conferences and make contacts there. Keep your name alive in the writing world and your number of writer contacts will only increase. Your net will be full.