Jonathan was a member of Pennwriters early in his career. Now that he is big time and living in California, it was really generous of him to return to our writers' group and lead workshops and give a dinner speech that left everyone laughing, applauding and truly inspired. Not only did he travel across the country, but he arranged for a copy of one of his books to be distributed to every attendee and then hung around to sign them. All weekend, he made himself available for questions and discussions. For three days he gave back to the society of writers.
After giving a brief personal history of his writing career, Jonathan explained why he enjoys the company of other writers so much. Writers are his people. His species. No matter how much our family and friends support our careers, there are things about being a writer that only other writers get. Like how when you're sitting at your desk staring blankly at the wall, you are working. When you're listening into the argument going on behind you at the restaurant, you're working. When you do all those weird Google searches, you're working. Sitting on the porch reading? That is working. Only members of your own species understand that. Thanks to Jonathan for being so generous.
Thinking about writing a short story? Maybe submit it to an anthology? Check out Alex J. Cavanaugh over at Anne R. Allen's blog and his post, Anthologies: How They Can Advance Your Writing Career.
Tomorrow is Flag Day here in the States and also my oldest son's birthday. He's a pretty patriotic guy so it fits. He doesn't care about his birthday and never has. He's excited about the upcoming football season so the quote today is one he lives by or rather coaches by.
"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is." Vince Lombardi
I'm still toiling away on my WIP and it's going so much slower than I expected. So this quote if for me.
"Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned." Emily Dickinson
Do you feel the species love with other writers? Are you thinking of being part of an anthology? Have you heard of Jonathan Maberry? How do you give back to your writing community?
30 comments:
I can relate all too well to slow-going WIPs. Best of luck with yours!
And so true about how hard it can be for non-writers to comprehend the writerly life. Makes me even more grateful for the blogosphere. The writing journey would probably feel a lot more lonesome without it...
Best of luck, I started to write a poetry blog for theraputic reasons at the first, then I enjoyed the friendly followers and reading about other people's work and lives.
Great post Susan.
Yvonne.
That was generous of Johnathan to give back.
Hope your son has a great birthday!
I just read a really good interview/article with Maberry in the June/July Writer's Digest. He sounds like a great guy!
And I love that Lombardi quote!
Other writers sure get it more than family and friends do indeed. Hope he has a winning birthday haha
I've had good experiences with participating in anthologies. In fact, I am in one that is coming out shortly. Anything to cross promote.
@Kathleen01930 Blog
I love thinking of other writers as the same species. We truly do understand each other. :) Hope your son has an awesome birthday!
Hi Susan - how wonderful to have Jonathon Maberry in your midst ... and sticking around, talking and chatting ...
Have a lovely day tomorrow with your son ...
I like the idea of anthologies and must look to be pro-active in that direction ..
Cheers Hilary
I haven't heard of Jonathan Maberry, but now I'm curious. Since I've recently put a collection of short stories up on Amazon, I'm collecting books from other bloggers to read and review. I'm stressed out about promoting my work, but promoting others is easy.
It's a good thing I didn't decide to call my zombie WIP Patient Zero. Although I use the term Patient X within the story. So I guess that's good there's a little different there. ;) And the story is different, too. I always hate stumbling across a story that makes me wonder if mine is too much like it.
I haven't heard of Jonathan Maberry, but how neat with what he did at your conference. I'm sure it was all well received by the fellow writers there.
Happy early birthday to your son!
betty
Jonathan sounds like a great guy, and it's true, we're all in this together and only we can truly understand each other. Even my own wife doesn't understand just how important staring at a wall is (and it really is!).
Oh, and happy early birthday to your soon!
Writers are also so willing to share. I'm sure there is competition and if I ever write something worthy of printing I may discover it. But it will still surprise me. I worked with teachers and even the ones you don't get along with with jump in and help when you needed it. I guess, I have been lucky in my choices of vocations and professions. I'll have to check Maberry out. There is just so much out there.
Jonathan Maberry is my new hero. I'm off to check out his books. Thanks so much for introducing him, Susan. He sounds like a truly remarkable man.
Will head over and check out Alex. Maberry sounds like quite a stand-up guy!
A friend of mine met Maberry at last year's World Con, so I'm hoping to meet him this year. He sounds like an interesting guy. Happy Birthday to your son!
I've been in two anthologies. It was a positive experience both times. Happy birthday to your son!
Love,
Janie
As a reader, I don't chose anthologies by preference. I like a full book, not bits and pieces. However, I have, of course, read some excellent short stories.
My family does not totally "get" me, lol.
I'll check out Alex's post. I love Anne also, she has such good posts.
I definitely feel the species love!! What great insight he had!
I'm part of several writing communities and love them all. My biggest contribution at the moment is to serve as co-editor of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers blog.
I love that someone besides me understands that sitting outside in a lawn chair, staring at the lawn (that needs weed whacking) and bird feeders (that need filling), is working. I do some of my best writing that way.
That's awesome he took the time to visit with your writers' group. No one really gets a writer more than another writer.
It must be great fun to be part of an anthology. I've met lots of great writers online, but sadly still don't have a local group I can interact with on a regular basis...
Only the people who do the same work as you, or have in the past, can understand fully what goes on to get that job done.
What a wonderful experience for you, Susan. :)
Happy b-day to your son!
Nothing better than my writerly chums. Seriously. I miss them so much when I take a break from blogging. I'll find myself randomly wondering what's happening with one person or another.
I'd never heard of Jonathan Maberry until this post, but he sounds like a pretty cool guy. How fortunate you were to sit in on his session.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Yeppers. Maberry is one good egg. Great guy. Glad to hear that he is doing so well. He used to attend PWC as well, before he hit it big.
Happy Weekend :)
I like Jonathan Maberry now that you've pointed him out, how awesome for his success and that he visited his roots - and he really hit it! We writers are definitely a different breed that only other writers "get." Outsiders have many reactions to writers, from awe to eh, but no one knows the passion, dedication, and hard work we writers put forth for very little return. Keep at your WIP!! I feel ya!
as for giving back, at my last event, I had a couple of writers stop by and ask questions and probably talked their ears off! Some people don't like it when new writers "bother" them for advice, but I love sharing what I know and encouraging them to keep at it! We will get where we're going no matter who we help or don't help along our way - so why not go ahead and help another? Reading is the cause we need to promote!
I agree that we do need the company of other writers if for no other reason than to be with people who understand what we go through. Non-writers tend to think writing is a hobby like stamp-collecting or back-packing. They don't realize our compulsions and obsessions. How could they?
@Kathleen01930 Blog
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