WHO'S IN YOUR WRITING COMMUNITY?

 
When I first considered writing for children, and thought sheepishly about submitting my work for publication, I had no idea that I already belonged to a writing community.  In it were all the writers whose books I'd ever read and loved; the editors of the magazine in India that had published my poems when I was young; Sister Thérèse, my English teacher in Loreto Delhi, who encouraged me to read and write; and of course my parents who allowed me to read everything I could lay my hands on.  That writing community stretched years back into my life, and I didn't have a clue just how important it was!

Now, when things get rough, when my word-bag seems empty, or self-doubt sets in, I remind myself that I'm not alone.  In my writing community are the following people.

      • Family members who indulge my writing habit
        • Kids who read my books
          • Kids who read books I like
            • Writer and/or illustrator friends both realtime and virtual
              • Critique group
                • Online critique group
                  • Teachers whose classes I’ve worked with 
                  • SCBWI/New Mexico chapter 
                • National/International SCBWI
              • Librarians
            • Defenders of free speech everywhere
          • Bookstore owners
        • Art designers 
        • Writers whose work I read to learn
      • Writers whose work I read for fun
        • Writers with whom I've shared contents pages
        • Editors who have published my work 
          • Editors who have rejected my work
            • Writers whose work I read when I was a kid
              • Writers and illustrators I’ve heard speak at conferences
                • Writers and illustrators whose books I’ve bought
                  • Illustrators who work magic with my words
                  • Staff at museums and parks I’ve written/taught in and about
                • San Juan-4 Corners Writing Project fellows 
              • Editors of the past who set or raised the standards 
            • Book Reviewers
          • Hosts of websites featuring my books

            •                      and now, because you've wended your way
                                            patiently
                                      through this list, 
                                                you!
Think about who is in your writing community.  Make a list.  At the least it ought to contain names of writers whose words linger in your mind long after you've closed the pages of their books.  Keep that list for those times when the road seems long and lonely.

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