The Write Crowd

Writing may be a solitary profession, but it is also one that relies on a strong sense of community. The Write Crowd offers practical tips and examples of how writers of all genres and experience levels contribute to the sustainability of the literary community, the success of others, and to their own well-rounded writing life. Through interviews and examples of established writers and community members, readers are encouraged to immerse themselves fully in the literary world and the community-at-large by engaging with literary journals, reading series and public workshops, advocacy and education programs, and more.

In contemporary publishing, the writer is expected to contribute outside of her own writing projects. Editors and publishers hope to see their writers active in the community, and the public benefits from a more personal interaction with authors. Yet the writer must balance time and resources between deadlines, day jobs, and other commitments. The Write Crowd demonstrates how writers may engage with peers and readers, and have a positive effect on the greater community, without sacrificing writing time.

“Lori A. May's The Write Crowd reminds us that writing need not be such a lonely life, solitary as it is. The literary universe provides limitless opportunities to help other writers, meet other writers, and support one another. Type an e-mail, review a book, start a reading series, form your own small press: help keep literature alive and strengthen your own connections and understanding. An indispensable book for those new to writing careers and a valuable reminder for those who've faced the blank page for years and years.” – Dinty W. Moore, Professor and Director of Creative Writing, Ohio University, USA, and author of The Mindful Writer

“A thoughtful, much-needed exploration of the relationship between the individual writing life and the larger community of writers and readers. Lori A. May draws from her own experience and that of many other writers and editors to offer a comprehensive view of the necessary phenomenon we only recently have come to call literary citizenship. The Write Crowd offers specific and authentic ways-some quick and simple, others a greater investment-through which writers can be strong literary citizens.” – Anna Leahy, Associate Professor of English, Chapman University, USA, author of Constituents of Matter, editor of Power and Identity in the Creative Writing Classroom, and editor of TAB: The Journal of Poetry & Poetics

“Though the concept of literary citizenship has been around for a century or more, it's only lately gained recognition as a critical component in a writer's career and community. The Write Crowd, the first book of its kind, offers a wealth of practical information and specific resources on how to become a literary citizen. Both established and emerging writers will benefit from this book, and readers will come away inspired and empowered to create a supportive writing community.” – Melissa Hart, Author of Wild Within: How Rescuing Owls Inspired a Family and Instructor at the School of Journalism and Communication, University of Oregon, USA

“The Write Crowd presents an effective antidote to the myth of the solitary writer. This extremely valuable text explores the many ways writers (and readers) find and even create supportive communities from local writers' groups to regional and national organizations. If you thought 'community of writers' was just another catch-phrase, The Write Crowd will broaden your view.” – Wayne Ude, Director of the Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA Program, Northwest Institute of Literary Arts, USA