I had the opportunity to attend the 100th anniversary meeting of the Central Coast California Writer's Club last evening, an eclectic band of 30 to 40 diligent writers all eager to celebrate their craft and share with others. A number of authors had their work on display, "between the dignity of two covers," as we say when it finally reaches book form. Others were eager to read brief passages from their material to a friendly audience. (All writers love to read their material to any captive audience they can find.)
Face it... you don't get much appreciation as a writer in this world. It is very difficult to "break into print" with a traditional publisher, and the new options available with "Print On Demand" leave all the cost and know how of marketing to the writer. Authors realize that they must suddenly become writer, editor, publisher and marketing wizard all in one, which is why I assist new authors with services like editing, book block and cover design, and web site design so they can showcase their baby to the world.
With tens of thousands of new books flooding into the market, getting sales isn't easy either. But brother, little moments like this club meeting reminded me of the wonder and magic that one gets swept up in when they romance the language and get absorbed in a major writing project. I have written many novels myself, with six of them published, so I know how one can vanish into that timeless space at the keyboard where, as Annie Dillard wrote, the writer labors to "magnify and dramatize our days, illuminate and inspire us with wisdom, courage, and the possibility of meaningfulness, and press upon our minds the deepest mysteries, so that we may feel again their majesty and power... What do we ever know that is higher than that power which, from time to time, seizes our lives, and reveals us startlingly to ourselves as creatures set down here bewildered?"
This night's offerings came from breathless writers rushing through four minute reading segments on a wide range of topics: inspiration and finding one's genius in metaphors,
The writers used every last second of their four minutes, some so excited to be reading that they continued on well past the timing bell. It was a good time of food, fellowship and creative fun. I even won a raffle prize! :)
Now... about that next novel...
Face it... you don't get much appreciation as a writer in this world. It is very difficult to "break into print" with a traditional publisher, and the new options available with "Print On Demand" leave all the cost and know how of marketing to the writer. Authors realize that they must suddenly become writer, editor, publisher and marketing wizard all in one, which is why I assist new authors with services like editing, book block and cover design, and web site design so they can showcase their baby to the world.
With tens of thousands of new books flooding into the market, getting sales isn't easy either. But brother, little moments like this club meeting reminded me of the wonder and magic that one gets swept up in when they romance the language and get absorbed in a major writing project. I have written many novels myself, with six of them published, so I know how one can vanish into that timeless space at the keyboard where, as Annie Dillard wrote, the writer labors to "magnify and dramatize our days, illuminate and inspire us with wisdom, courage, and the possibility of meaningfulness, and press upon our minds the deepest mysteries, so that we may feel again their majesty and power... What do we ever know that is higher than that power which, from time to time, seizes our lives, and reveals us startlingly to ourselves as creatures set down here bewildered?"
This night's offerings came from breathless writers rushing through four minute reading segments on a wide range of topics: inspiration and finding one's genius in metaphors,
The writers used every last second of their four minutes, some so excited to be reading that they continued on well past the timing bell. It was a good time of food, fellowship and creative fun. I even won a raffle prize! :)
Now... about that next novel...
