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First Published: August 1, 2025 by Paul W. Romero
Preface: This was originally written on July 9, 2022 at the start of my MFA Creative Writing program.
Literary citizenship means being an agent of change but also an agent of support and a community member who gives back to their writing community. Friedman states, “It’s not about competition, but collaboration. If I’m doing well, that’s going to help you, too, in the long term. We’re not playing a zero-sum game where we hoard resources and attention. There’s plenty to go around” (Friedman, “Are There Limits to Literary Citizenship?”). Friedman continues to state, “Authors can transcend publishers when it comes to reader loyalty. Most of us don’t buy books because of who published them; we buy them because of who the author is” (Friedman, “Are There Limits to Literary Citizenship?”).
Followings are everything. It’s all about the audience. Gain a large enough audience or in this case grow a large enough community and the game changes. When writers stick together and support one another, the community grows and there is potential for everyone to grow. I agree with Friedman that this doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. Writers can work together to grow with one another. Everyone can pitch in and benefit from a strong writing community. This is what literary citizenship means to me.
Social media is everything these days when it comes to marketing and networking. Ways we can connect with the writing community vastly stem through these online social platforms including but not limited to applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Goodreads, YouTube, and TikTok. There are school writing groups, workshop groups, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Horror Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Poets and Writers, and NaNoWriMo.
Social media is everything these days when it comes to marketing and networking.
There are various writers who have taken to social media, which was the route I wanted to take but have still not fully embraced. BookTube writers that are more popular include Jenna Moreci as well as emerging ones like Kieren Westwood. Everyone is pushing to create their own writing community, but in that vast cyber world we live in called the internet, I don’t see why each community can’t grow on its own while still reach out to fellow communities and further expanding the vast social network of writers.
Michele Filgate states, “So the question is, how do we make these things accessible for everyone, and how do we help those who are less privileged find the space they need, or learn how to find the space that they need” (Flournoy, “Do Writers Need to be Alone to Thrive?”). Angela Flournoy continues the conversation by stating, “I’ve met a few people like that, and I try to steer them to places that aren’t completely exorbitant and actually have people who are engaged with their work and can foster some sort of community” (Flournoy, “Do Writers Need to be Alone to Thrive?”).
I believe that publicity is just as valuable as money when it comes to aspiring artists of any craft. The more we interact with fellow writers, the bigger base of support we can create and the more our community can grow. In a sense, it’s like any campaign, or in my example, a political campaign. I don’t have the money machine to buy connections, publicity or followers nor would that be genuine for me. I would like my work to stand out on its own rather than being forced down people’s throats. I want people to want to read my books.
Rather than huge expensive advertising, I will go the grass roots course and as every vote counts so does every read, every interaction, every connection. Every like, follow, and comment is one step closer to a larger community. I will support my fellow writers with no expectations of anything in return, but I think ultimately the work will be rewarded. Each contact has their followers and by word of mouth each contact who can give me a good word potentially gains me a portion of their followers. This is one way on how communities grow. On social media, the more famous BookTubers know one another, and their followers jump back and forth between all their channels.
Every like, follow, and comment is one step closer to a larger community.
I started a BookTube channel years ago but never followed through with it. I think this would be the main avenue I would take. I would reach out to other writing communities such as Goodreads, YouTube, Facebook, and the more professional organizations such as the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the Mystery Writers of America and the Horror Writers Association. I will also continue to engage, support and grown my writing community at Southern New Hampshire University for this is the most direct resource to aid me in my writing journey. I may even consider resubscribing to MasterClass as well as participate in NaNoWriMo once again for their writing contests that take place in the fall.
The benefits I see myself gaining from establishing and maintaining these connections are obviously publicity through word of mouth, professional and personal references, the ability to showcase my work, the possibility to win some awards to gain merit and credibility in my work, and the potential to meet amazing likeminded individuals that can better enhance and grow my craft. We never stop learning, and these communities will help me to continuously learn throughout my writing journey.
I don’t know if there are any disadvantages per say in maintaining these connections aside from the fact that sooner or later, I won’t keep every follower or contact I meet. Eventually people move on, change their views, or seek other avenues and endeavors.
One last note: As communities grow, and as a writer grows more popular, they become more susceptible to online trolling, but that comes with anything in life. No matter what we do, there will always be someone offended by us. Likewise, no matter what we do, there will also always be someone who has our back.
No matter what we do, there will always be someone offended by us. Likewise, no matter what we do, there will also always be someone who has our back.
Works Cited
Friedman, Jane. “Are There Limits to Literary Citizenship?” Jane Friedman, https://www.janefriedman.com/limits-literary-citizenship. Accessed 25 June 2022.
Flournoy, Angela, et al. “Do Writers Need to Be Alone to Thrive?” Interviewed by Michele Filgate. Literary Hub, https://lithub.com/do-writers-need-to-be-alone-to-thrive. Accessed 26 June 2022.
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