Writers can be insular, competitive, and resentful of our peers, but we can also be the most generous and supportive community. In a post for DIY MFA, Brian Leung shares how he taps into his kinder side, so that he can be the best possible version of his writing self.
To be a kind writer, first you have to write, Leung says, but you don’t need to follow anyone else’s schedule. In fact, people who insist you must write X hours for Y days in a row are probably not accessing their better natures.
Leung also revisits childhood favorites – in his case, Stuart Little – to remind himself of the sense of wonder he felt when first encountering them. “I want to remember delight,” he says. “I want to remember delight because it reminds me of my own responsibilities as a writer, and it reminds me that reading shouldn’t feel like a chore nor medicine. Some of the best-intended literature courses and book clubs can wring the life out of the very texts they mean to honor with attention.”
Leung also urges writers to support the kind of small literary presses who will publish work by small unknown writers, like you. “We’re all hoping against hope that enough people are subscribing and donating to keep our favorite journals, presses, and literary organizations afloat so that we have a place to land,” he says. “Everyone in print this month was made room for by the folks who in the previous year or years supported the publishing venue.” If you’ve already made it into one of these magazines, consider future support to ensure the market is there for the next writer. There are no-cost ways to support the community as well, including reading and critiquing for others, or volunteering at a literary non-profit.
