The Write Crowd: Literary Citizenship and the Writing Life

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.

Table of Contents:
Preface 1. What is Literary Citizenship? An Introduction 2. The Writer and the Writing Life 3. Immersion 101: Finding and Creating Opportunities 4. Community (re)Defined 5. From the Editor's Desk 6. Book Reviewing: Write (about) What You Read 7. In Print and Online: Working with Presses and Journals 8. Community Outreach 9. In and Outside of Academia 10.The Write Direction: Customizing Your Community Appendix A: Community Organizations Appendix B: Sample Book Reviews Acknowledgements

About the Author :
Lori A. May is the author of The Low-Residency MFA Handbook: A Guide for Prospective Creative Writing Students (2011) and Square Feet (2014). May's creative and critical work has appeared in print and online with publications such as The Atlantic, Brevity, Colorado Review, Passages North, The Writer, and Writer's Digest. She teaches in the University of King's College (Halifax) creative nonfiction MFA program and is a frequent guest speaker at writing conferences and residencies. Visit www.loriamay.com for more info,

Review :
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. 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. 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. 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. In The Write Crowd: Literary Citizenship and the Writing Life Lori A. May offers us a toolbox filled with information and resources to use on our way of becoming involved in our communities, writing, sharing, mentoring, offering critiques and writing reviews ... Becoming involved in our communities, sharing our craft with others, should be a natural progression, not a carefully guarded secret. Lori A. May gives me hope that altruism isn't dead and that giving holds its own sweet reward. I absolutely loved this book May writes convincingly of why it matters that writers reach out and get involved in a literary life more expansive than their own desks ... What makes this book so useful is that May follows up her ideas with both practical examples (her book includes appendices of book review samples as well as lists of writing-focused community organizations) and real-world advice from full-fledged literary citizens who are already out there making a difference. This is a book that is meant to serve as a guide. It's incredibly hands-on. To that end, May interleaves quotes from insiders throughout her own assertions. Much of what she advises and prompts writers to do is backed up with helpful quotes from editors, reviewers, publisher, publicists, and working writers. As we read, we get to hear firsthand how the literary world works for many in the trenches. This direct access to insiders' advice makes May's how-to manual both vivid and relevant. The Write Crowd is filled with practical tips of how writers of all genres, skill and experience levels pool efforts to contribute to the sustainability of the literary community, and candid interviews with over fifty writers and editors. Readers, authors, and prospective writers are encouraged to join the literary community through engaging with literary journals, reading series and public workshops, advocacy and education programs, and more. It's possible to engage with peers and readers without sacrificing one's time and passion for the act of writing; The Write Crowd is an excellent guide to deepening invaluable connections, while maintaining the balance that enables one to focus on quality writing. Highly recommended! This should definitely be required reading for writers ... Whether you're thinking of starting your own book review blog, or a reading series, or a literary journal, May offers different ways of going about each of these things. This book should be considered integral reading for every writer, whether they are established or just starting out. It's a fantastic introduction to the industry, and an important reminder for those who have been successful for so long that they run the risk of taking the literary world for granted. May's upbeat book demonstrates the importance of writers developing a sense of unity, to assist each other and to work towards a vibrant literary future. The Write Crowd by Lori A. May is a great little book on literary citizenship … May's advice throughout the book fits writers (and readers) of all types-big city or rural … those with a knack or willingness to work with organizations-established or built from the ground up-or introverts who's day job drains them of energy, and mingling with more people is the last thing they can handle. A great book for all avid readers and writers. … for those of us not in school, Lori A. May has created an easy-to-use handbook. Highly recommended. Interviewed Interviewed Interviewed Interviewed Interviewed Mentioned Mentioned Mentioned Mentioned The Write Crowd: Literary Citizenship and the Writing Life by Lori A. May is not your average writing guide. It does not explore point of view or plot structures. It does not advise on how to pitch to agents or approach publishers. But it just may keep you writing. It may make the difference between saying, “I write” and “I am a writer.” ... The Write Crowd advocates finding, creating and nurturing literary community through small “acts of literary kindness.” ... The Write Crowd is both practical and inspirational. It is about connecting with others, about recognizing and celebrating the fact that we need each other.