SATURDAY THOUGHTS: WRITING—ALONE OR NOT?

Writing is a solitary profession—right? There are images of being hunched over a keyboard at 2 in the morning, unshaven and unkempt, separated from polite society and writing your heart out. Huh?

This image is a bit exaggerated, but there is some truth to it, at least part of the time. For me at least, the creative part of writing novels is indeed a private, personal activity. While there is some interaction with others, for purposes of research, fact-checking, grammar and/or spell-checking, the actual writing part is something between my mind and my keyboard. There is almost a protectiveness, a reluctance to share your creation with others in the infancy of your work.

But it’s not always a singular effort. Participating with a critique group, with beta readers, with an editor, with contests all mean interacting with others, one way or another. And don’t get me started with the marketing and publicity side of being a writer. There I not only have to work with others, I need their help.

It is true that in these days of self-publishing it is possible, theoretically, to write and publish a book online without the intervention of anyone else. Unfortunately, some of the books I’ve seen online seem to have been done that way. But, as much as I don’t always do well working with others, I can’t see me going to this other extreme and not get others involved in my projects.

After all, that’s why I’m writing this for you all to read. You’re part of my support system.