Become a Good Literary Citizen
By Julie Carrick Dalton | November 20, 2019 |
Photo by Sarah R. Photography
I recently shared a post on Twitter about a friend who won a writing contest. I was excited for him. Sharing his news seemed like an obvious move. Author Cai Emmons responded to my post with a simple comment: “You are a great literary citizen.” I got a bit choked up when I read her comment, which seemed silly, even to me.
Why did her response matter so much to me?
I thought about Cai’s comment a lot over the next few days. It mattered because I cannot control what people think of my writing. I cannot control how well my books sell or how many people will show up to a reading. I can, however, control how I participate in the literary community, and I very much want to be a good literary citizen.
But what does it mean to be a good literary citizen? I think about authors like Celeste Ng or Roxane Gay, who stand out as forces for good in the literary world. They take stands on important issues and support other writers. I’m certainly no Roxane Gay or Celeste Ng; I don’t have a huge platform with throngs of fans. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have a positive impact, or at least try to.
I think the keys to being a good literary citizen are authenticity, passion, and kindness. Don’t praise someone because you want to get something from them. But be honest with yourself. Admit that boosting others also gives you a boost. If you show up for other writers, they are more likely to show up for you one day. I’m not suggesting you promote another writer so that same writer will support you in return. There is no quid pro quo. (Sorry I couldn’t resist.)
Being a good literary citizen is more like tossing goodwill out into the Universe like a fistful of glitter. You don’t know where it will land, but you can be pretty sure it will stick to something.
The list below started as goals I set for myself. I don’t claim to be an expert, and I have plenty of room to improve. So I will consider this a list of standards that I hope I can live up to one day. No one can do everything. Don’t beat yourself up for the things you can’t do. Focus on the ways you can impact the writing community, no matter where you are in your journey.
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- Shout your praise. If you like an author’s work, TELL THEM! I make a habit of reaching out to authors I admire and letting them know how much I appreciate their work. I write emails, comment on posts, write reviews. Be sincere in your praise, only offering it if you mean it. I don’t gush about work I don’t adore. But, conversely, if you don’t like something, I keep that to yourself. Writing is subjective. It doesn’t serve anyone to tear down another writer.
- Show up. Go to launch events, attend panels when you can. I love going to readings, especially those by debut authors. It must be scary as a new author to show up to an event worried that no one will come. My mom is an avid reader, so my Christmas gift to her this year is going to be a huge collection of books signed to her by authors I have met at readings. (Shhhh, don’t tell her!)
- Join a writer’s community. That might mean a casual meet up at a coffee shop once a month, an online writers’ group, or a large organization. If you don’t know of any local groups, jump on Twitter and introduce yourself using the #writingcommunity hashtag. You will have tons of new writer friends by the end of the day.
- Offer a seat. Notice the writers who haven’t found their place yet and ask them to join you. I recently attended the Writer Unboxed conference in Salem, Ma. The first night I arrived at the hotel, I went down to the lobby by myself and noticed a group of writerly folks chatting. I didn’t know anyone there yet. I timidly approached the group and asked if they were part of the conference. Everyone immediately scooched over and made room for me to join them. It meant a lot to me.
- Celebrate other writers’ good news. This can be difficult sometimes, especially if it feels like you aren’t finding as much success as other writers. Lots of clichés apply here. Keep your eyes on your own paper. A rising tide lifts all boats. We are all on our own journey. All these things are true, but jealousy is insidious. It’s also a very normal emotion. Yes, share in the joy of a friend who just signed with an agent. Tweet it out when writers you admire hit those Best Of lists. But also be kind to yourself and acknowledge how hard creative work is.
- Consider the consequences of your words. Over the years, I have heard about incidents in writing communities where members have posted snarky or condescending remarks about other writers. Such comments are hurtful and don’t lift anyone up. Sadly, these comments do leave lasting impressions – about the person who wrote the disparaging comments. Not about the person they intended to disparage.
- Support local book stores and local literary organizations. I repeat, support local bookstores! They do so much for the literary community.
- Volunteer. Have you ever entered a writing contest? Someone probably volunteered their time to read those entries. A couple of years ago, I was a finalist for a literary contest. The following year the organizers invited me to be a judge. I happily said yes. It took up a lot of time, but it was an honor and privilege to read those entries. You can volunteer to help at a book festival or a literary conference. Ask your local writer’s organization if they need help stuffing envelopes for an upcoming mailing.
- Check your privilege. If you have achieved any level of writing success—such as placing in a contest, landing an agent, or signing a book deal—think about the connections you used or the money you spent to get there. I’m not suggesting anyone bought their way to success or inappropriately manipulated relationships. But I am saying that privilege can open doors and make the journey easier. Writing classes are expensive. Writers conferences, including travel, meals, and hotel expenses, carry hefty price tags. Paying editors to critique a manuscript can cost more than $1,000. There is nothing wrong with doing any of those things, by the way. These are legitimate investments in your career as a writer. But acknowledge that other writers, many of who are just as talented, haven’t made it out of the gate yet because they lack the resources. If you find yourself in a solid financial position, think about giving back so that other writers might have those same opportunities you’ve had. Sponsor a space in a literary contest so a low-income writer can enter. Offer to review a query letter or read a manuscript for a writer who can’t afford a paid critique. Bid on raffle items that raise money for scholarships. Important note: If you can donate money, that’s great, but being a good literary citizen doesn’t require cash. If you can’t afford to buy books written by writer friends, check them out from the library. You can still rave about them and write reviews. Many conferences offer scholarships or free or reduced admission if you volunteer. Twitter and Instagram are free! You can shout out your goodwill online, and no one will ask for a penny.
- Use your platform. If you invest time and energy in supporting other writers, you may find your own platform expanding. And if that happens, use it for the benefit of the writing community at large. I’m in an online writing group for debut authors. Roxane Gay regularly shows up to answer questions and offer advice to the newbies. She doesn’t need to do that. I suspect other writers offered Roxane a hand up when she was getting started, and she is paying it forward. Taking inspiration from Roxane’s dedication to supporting other writers, I am going to stand on my tiny, barely-off-the-ground platform and toss fistfuls of goodwill glitter out there. I hope it lands on YOU!
I’d love to hear your thoughts about what makes a good literary citizen. Who are your citizenship role models? Do you have other ideas about how we can support each other? How have other authors given you a boost?
Julie Carrick Dalton is the author of THE LAST BEEKEEPER, longlisted for the Massachusetts Book Award, and WAITING FOR THE NIGHT SONG, a Most Anticipated book by CNN, Newsweek, USA Today, Parade, and Buzzfeed, and an Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best Books of the Month. As a journalist, Julie has published more than a thousand articles in publications including The Boston Globe, BusinessWeek, The Hollywood Reporter, and the Chicago Review of Books. A Tin House and Bread Loaf alum, and graduate of GrubStreet’s Novel Incubator, Julie holds a Master’s in Creative Writing and is currently on the teaching faculty of Drexel University’s MFA program. She also teaches Climate Fiction to undergrads at Tufts University. Julie is a frequent speaker and workshop leader on the topic of Fiction in the Age of Climate Crisis at universities, libraries, museums, and conferences nationally and internationally. Mom to four kids and two dogs, Julie is an avid skier, kayaker, open-water swimmer, gardener, and wannabe herbalist. Her third novel, THE FOREST BECOMES HER, is forthcoming from St. Martin’s Press. You can connect with her on Instagram @juliecdalton, or at juliecarrickdalton.com.
“Being a good literary citizen is more like tossing goodwill out into the universe like a fistful of glitter.” I just love this! And I love every one of your suggestions. Thank you, Julie.
Thanks so much, Susan! The world could use more glitter right now.
Julie
Love these suggestions for what we can do right now to help make this world a better place, starting with our literary community. Thank you!
Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for reading. I’m so glad this resonated. I feel pretty lucky to be part of such a great community.
Julie
Julie, what you’ve written—so eloquently—is so very important! Writing is a funny business. On the one hand, we need to believe that we have something to offer, perhaps something that no one else can, and we need that confidence in order to persevere, even though it may feel (at times) dangerously close to egoism. On the other hand, we can’t help wondering if we’re “good enough” (or, as Brene Brown says, “something enough). That doubt takes many forms, from humility (a helpful feeling) to jealousy (an unhelpful one). The antidote to that tendency to compare oneself to others, to hoard, to doubt, to be afraid—are the very things you list. Kindness, generosity, connection. Gratitude that we’ve been blessed with the creative spark. Thank you for what you’ve written!
Hi Barbara,
You are so right: “That doubt takes many forms, from humility (a helpful feeling) to jealousy (an unhelpful one).” Sometimes I feel like a pinball in a machine bouncing around between these (and many other) emotions. Having a supportive community like WU makes it easier.
Julie
Hi Julie, I remember pulling up a chair at the WFWA retreat and introducing myself. Later we read each other’s work. I think connection with people, and even better with writers, is necessary to being a writer. Yes, there is the iconic image of the lonely craftsman, the words teeming from the brain, creating new and amazing worlds. But in today’s global village, reaching out to other writers is stimulating and necessary. Writer Unboxed is important to me and so is an online group where I share a new essay every week. I often review and support other writers, and next year I hope to be part of the Writers Unboxed Conference. This post? A plus. Thanks.
Hi Beth!
I remember that exact day we met too! You gave me such helpful feedback on my book. If not for the encouragement of writers like you, I don’t know how I ever would have finished that first book. Thank you!
Julie
Thank You for the post Julie.
One thing I would add is BE OPEN, FAIR, AND KIND.
All writers open themselves up to the world, so be fair when you see their efforts and give the kind of feedback you would want.
Another would be OFFEND ONLY WHO YOU INTEND TO.
In my opinion, all art offends someone otherwise it isn’t art. But we should be mindful of what we put out into the world. Take a stance, but try not to step on anyone by accident.
Well said, James: “Take a stance, but try not to step on anyone by accident.” You are definitely right that taking any position is likely to offend someone. We need to own our beliefs and values, understanding that we will rub some folks the wrong way even if we don’t mean to.
Julie
“I think the keys to being a good literary citizen are authenticity, passion, and kindness.” Love it! Wonderful, heartwarming, article. Thank you. :-)
Hi Karen,
Thank you for reading. And I’m so glad your heart is warm! Have a fantastic day.
Julie
Julie, a lovely essay. I think our actions come organically out of what we love. I started blogging because there was so much good news coming out of our critique group and I couldn’t contain the joy. That was more than a decade ago. Over time it has become an archive of our family life I choose make public–the books we’ve loved, the pets we’ve loved and lost, the journey of faith we’ve taken, and so much more. Some of my dearest friends I’ve met through the blog.
Now that my children are grown, I enjoy mentoring writers in my home (the long distance ones too). And I love reading local authors, meeting them. I love my writing community. So blessed. Happy Thanksgiving!
Vijaya,
I love that you have such a deep archive of memories you have shared, and a community you have built around your blog. I love my writing community too! Thanks for reading. And Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
Julie
Important stuff, Julie. Thanks for a great list. I’ll add one suggestion: Join a writers’ group, like Sisters in Crime or the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and get involved, even if it’s online rather than in person. You’ll find so much support, and so many opportunities to be supportive. And though, as you said, we don’t want to be giving in order to receive, support truly is a circle.
Thank you for the shower of glitter! It landed perfectly and has inspired. It is easy to feel shy about commenting and to think it doesn’t matter. In the future, I will not be so quick to take and lazily move on.
Would you mind if I quote parts of your essay in my writing group’s newsletter (with credit, of course)?
Thank you, Julie, for all the suggestions on how to be a good literary citizen.
Hi Cherie!
I’m happy to know some of the glitter landed safely. You may absolutely quote my post in your newsletter. Thanks for reading.
Julie
Leslie,
Yes, writers organizations are wonderful sources of support. I’ve been lucky to be part a few different writers orgs and I’ve made wonderful friends. I’m glad you’ve had such great experiences as well. Thanks so much for reading.
Julie
Julie, such big-hearted advice here—thank you. I try to be a good literary citizen, though I fail on some counts (i.e., jealousy). But I do recognize when I’m being a weasel, which helps.
Your counsel applies outside of the literary sphere as well: I had surgery lately, and had particularly good care from a nurse afterwards, and a physical therapist after that. I called the bosses of both to tell them what good work they did for me. That took but a moment of my day, and I’m sure it was worth it, because so often people who do great jobs aren’t recognized. Thanks.
Hey, Tom! Thanks for reading. Yes, jealousy is a tough one. We all wrestle with that one, no matter where we are on our journey. I love that you reached out to your caregivers’ bosses. As you said, it only takes a minute, but it matters. I hope you are recovered from the surgery.
Julie
I really loved this post. We can do a lot to help other writers, and you’ve listed great options here.
I try to do some of these, but you listed others I’ll add to my bag of tools.
Thanks, Ruth,
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post.
Julie
I try, but some of these option aren’t open to people like me who live in countries where you can’t get to launches and festivals and the like.