On Being A Good Literary Citizen

The Industry is smaller than you think.

It’s Amy here! Something very cool happened to me recently. To understand the outcome, let’s go back to August 2023. I was in copy edits for The Days I Loved You Most (and slowly descending into madness trying to decipher every tiny decision because it all felt so *FINAL*.) I took sanity breaks to post on my IG stories about said copyedits and about my writing group and how thankful I was to have them throughout the publishing process. And because I was emotional/feeling extra grateful/also very much procrastinating, I posted an open call for writers seeking community via the story, below.

The Instagram story that launched a writing group and a lasting IRL friendship.

I connected a handful of writers, wished them luck, and told them to let me know if anything came of the friendship or their books, and got back to my work. Fast forward two years later, I was tagged in a Substack post by Escape to the Bookshop (excerpted below) about two of those writers I connected, based in Malta and Amsterdam, who started meeting virtually each week to discuss their writing and the writing life—and the friendship stuck.

So much so that they and their families met recently in Italy, and the daughter of one made the first sale for a bookshop to be opened by the other. (Excuse my quick summary, it is a beautiful story worth reading in full at the link here). Cue my TEARS as I read this. What an honor to be a teeny part of this beautiful unfolding.

An excerpt from the “Escape To The Bookshop” Substack. Read the full post and heartwarming story at the link above.

I am on the giving end of this type of literary citizenship as much as possible because I was lucky to be on the receiving end of other wonderful literary citizens to come before me, who showed me the type of author I want to be. A writer I always shout out for her literary citizenship is Chelsea Bieker who was a friend to me before I was agented, before I even had a byline to my name, because she cares about other writers and lifting them up. (Go read all of her books and subscribe to her Substack Make Up Your Life because she is as brilliant as she is kind). She has also started a community called The Fountain which continues to explore this mission.

I want to always extend a hand to authors coming up around me, and as much as possible, offer ways to connect other writers to their own communities, which is a core mission and inspiration for The (Writing) Group Chat itself. The writing industry is small, as are all creative industries, and it gets smaller the further along you go. Interactions you have with people at every level of this process matter. People remember how you treat them. You can create goodness in this world despite whatever darkness is happening around you. Your words and actions carry weight, and sometimes tiny gestures can create a big impact.

Decide what kind of author you want to be and then start showing up as that person. The writing world can be full of goodness and warmth if you choose to see it that way, and there are endless ways to pay it forward.

Okay, WGC, how do you try to be a good literary citizen? What could someone do if they aren’t sure how to begin? Do you have any stories to share about positive relationships with authors as you were coming up in the industry?

Lauren: This story is especially magical, because it reminds us of the ways practicing mindful literary citizenship can sow incredible seeds of serendipity. It’s also a perfect example of how fostering connection is at the heart of literary citizenship, and it’s one of the things that has brought me the most delight on this journey. For instance, in the months leading up to the pub date for La Vie, According to Rose, I happened to read A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey. The book caught my eye because of the family drama, but also because it took place in my hometown of Santa Cruz, CA. When I read the author bio, I was delighted to discover Sierra lived in the Bay Area. On a whim, I sent her an email telling her how much I loved her debut. Little did I know but that email landed in Sierra’s inbox at the exact right moment, just when she was feeling in need of more community. We made a plan to meet, and since then, we’ve become dear friends.

But, of course, there are other ways I’ve benefited from the gracious literary citizenship of the authors ahead of me. I think of the many wonderful women who have taken their precious time to blurb my two novels. Like Lori Nelson Spielman, who I also cold-emailed after finishing her delightful The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany, and who offered to read and blurb my debut before I asked—or even had a publishing deal! Writing can be challenging, and the publishing industry can be maddening, but there is no end to the way showing up generously for our fellow writers can bring forth goodwill and abundance.

Hadley: I totally agree, Lauren! So many authors were incredibly generous as I worked toward publishing my debut, from my former writing teachers at Hugo House to the many Lake Union authors who were so willing to answer questions and offer encouragement. These days, I try to pay that generosity forward in a variety of ways, including hosting online writing dates, being a mentor through the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, blurbing and buying other authors’ books, and showing up for bookstore and community events as much as I can.

When you’re first starting out, literary citizenship can be as simple as sharing books you love on social media and IRL, attending events for authors you’re excited about, and making friends with other writers who are in a similar place on their journey. My biggest advice is don’t be shy about reaching out! Book people truly are the best people, and most authors are more than happy to hear from emerging writers (especially if you’re also a reader and a genuine fan of their work!). Be authentic, gracious, and respectful, and you never know where a connection will lead.

Erin: I’m a connector by nature, so meeting and connecting with other writers is one of my favorite things about being an author. And because writing a book is so solitary and publishing is weirdly opaque, you need other people who are in the trenches in this industry with you, whether they are querying, on sub, or have a question about a contract.

Like Hadley, I’ve met writing friends through organizations like the Writers League of Texas and WFWA—where I had KJ Dell’Antonia as a mentor and have mentored newer writers myself. I also suggest looking for writing groups in your area. I go to quarterly ATX Writing Dates with Chandler Baker and Alex Kiester, who was lovely enough to moderate my book launch event.

One writer I met at an Austin event was telling me about the book she was querying, which had an art heist in it—and I asked her if she had read Lauren’s first book, which does too! When I saw that writer again, she told me she’d read La Vie, According to Rose and was using it as a comp. I love talking to authors who are at every stage of the process, from querying to publishing double-digit novels—some you can advise and others who can give you advice. And I really do think the majority of authors are lovely, delightful, kind people. (Even the super successful ones likely spend the majority of their day at their computer wearing sweatpants!)

A note from the WGC: The key here is authenticity and connecting for the sake of connecting. If you are reaching out merely to ask a favor or network your way into an author’s contacts, it will be glaringly obvious and will not earn you any goodwill. Also, literary citizenship certainly changes as you continue in this career. As with anything, as you start out, you should expect to give a lot more than you receive. But it’s also important to set boundaries and make sure you are not confusing literary citizenship with free labor and putting everyone else’s asks in front of your own writing goals. Like everything, it’s a balance and you should follow your gut. If it feels icky, it probably is. If it feels good, you’re on the right track. Lead with an open heart and you will be golden.

Please share in the comments if you’ve had a story like Amy’s to share. Has an author positively impacted you without them realizing? Have you connected writers in unexpected ways, or has someone connected you? Do you have tips or suggestions for the best ways to be literary citizens?

Also, if you are actively seeking your own writing group, comment COMMUNITY below. Since writing groups are such a personal thing, we will leave it to you to connect with each other after that point. Keep an eye out in the comments and in your own DMS and reach out to those who are seeking writing friends. We hope this is the start of even more wonderful groups to come!!