Symbiosis.
It's one of my favorite words I learned as a kid. It speaks to so many aspects of life. Symbiosis is when two separate entires rely on each others strengths to help compensate the weaknesses of one another.
A more personal way to say "Teamwork."
For example, vegetable gardens not only need water and nutrient rich soil, but sunlight as well. Sunlight, water, and rich soil all play their part in keeping life cycle of plants and trees in balance.
The water cycle is also dependent on the sun. It's the light and heat from the sun that causes water to evaporate, become clouds, which brings rain, snow, or hailstones rushing to the ground .In addition to sunlight though, wind speed and climate temperature also play key factors in the water cycle.
As we each walk down our own writer's path, we may want to achieve similar goals, like daily sharpening of our craft, writing new material on a reasonably consistent basis, getting an agent. Or make our first sale. We achieve these goals in different ways and at different times, usually (But annoyingly) on a longer time frame.
Regardless of how different your road differs from others, many things are a constant to all writers, whether fiction or nonfiction, short vs. long.
We must write, of course, but we also must read, which is where our love for language starts after we learn our first words through sound as toddlers. Just like Peanut Butter and Chocolate, Bacon and Eggs, and Fish and Chips, Reading and Writing are of equal importance to writers.
But this is also where new writers especially face one of the first big challenges prior to or shortly after either getting an agent or miraculously sold your book by going direct to a publisher, something that's getting harder to do now versus decades ago.
Sometimes, you may find reading is not the same as it was when you weren't writing, which for the purposes of this topic, writing with publication being your eventual goal.
Before, you read what you loved and didn't have to justify or explain it to yourselves, you just appreciated it when a certain story or writer's style speaks to you and your interests and experiences.
Once we start writing, and want to publish some of that writing, things change a bit. Now you take second looks as books you normally wouldn't because they're causing a serious buzz among readers and fellow writers, and winning an award or two only adds fuel to the fire surronding the accolades of a certain book, series, or author.
Some of these books you may like too, others you simply will not, even if it's in the same genre or type of book you're trying to write. First, know that it's OKAY not to like it, or to simply not be good at a book you like reading, I'm sure many writers like books in certain catagories they don't feel good at or have any interest to write themselves.
Think of how people have gone loony for memoirs this past decade, but that doesn't mean all the writers who loved memoir, should or frankly want to write their own.
Now you'll hear many writers who say they don't have this problem, and I'm seriously glad they don't, I don't wish this kind of pain and frustration on anyone, even my worst enemies.
For those of you T.A.A. readers who know or have once felt this pain, or know someone who has, it is REAL, and thankfully, can be healed. For the next week starting today, I'm going to put into practice, a way of making peace with the rivalry issues writers who want to get published and build a writing career always face and how to rise above them.
Readers, it's time to get the F.U.N. back in READING, not just writing.
I know many published writers, and publishing insiders, tell you not to let the market solely dictate everything you write, or READ for that matter. At the same time, new writers are also force fed the saying, "Study the market" often more so than, "Show, don't tell."
But this isn't about arguing one over the other, because they are both important, this is really about learning how to write, and read, that doesn't sacrifice the pleasure for the practical. This is about-
The F.U.N. Method for reading and writing-
F for freedom
U for understanding
N for necessity
Over the next week or so, I will explore each aspect of the what the F.U.N. method is all about and how you can tailor it to fit the kind of writer and reader you are.
Snow or no snow, for all you four seasoners, Spring is coming soon, and it's time to take back the fun reading and writing gave us, while still pushing yourself toward excellence in your craft one day at a time.
Check back tomorrow for our first stop-
Freedom!
Until then, may the Fantastic Fauna be with you.
Taurean
