Writing Alone, Together
At times, being a poet is confusing. I can spend too many hours daydreaming and obsessing over a person, a moment, or an idea. I can feel so deeply that I believe I’m the only person who has ever felt that way in the history of humans. I can try and write myself out of my reality, which has a fifty-percent success rate. Poets can be perceived as too emotional, too lonely, too hopeful, too depressing. Some days, I am all those traits superglued together, trying to type on my laptop.
From an outsider’s perspective the word “poet” is often a nebulous title, synonymous with sitting alone at a desk, in a coffee shop, or on a park bench and ruminating over the past, present, or future. While I do often find myself overthinking and sitting here, alone at my desk, I’ve found that there are many other writers staring at the same blank Word document, attempting to connect and make meaning in this life.
Throughout my coursework this summer I’ve been exploring what it means to be a poet, and more broadly, a writer, in the current world. In the past few months, I have experienced that being a poet and a writer is more than stringing together words on a page. Energy is certainly spent selecting the correct line break or perfect metaphor, but to be a poet is to be a reader, a writer, a friend, a mentor, a lover, a family member, a philosopher, a teacher, an advocate, an explorer, a historian, a human.
To be a poet in the world is to speak truthfully about your experiences, what you seek to understand, what you’re beginning to understand, and how it impacts you and the world. As a writer, you must show up, be honest, and support others who do the same. You’ll be amazed by the community you find along the way.
Despite writing for years, my work this summer made me feel more like a writer than ever before. I believe this change occurred because I began to focus on being both a writer and a good literary citizen. Just as the true definition of “poet” can be unclear, the term “literary citizen” holds its own tenebrous meaning. However, if we think more generally about the word, “citizen,” we can understand what it means to be a good citizen of a town, a city, a state, a country, and the world. Being a good literary citizen follows a similar definition, in that it requires a person to contribute to their community and support it, not merely expect things from it. That is to say, if you want to reside in the literary community, take care of your neighbors.
I am fortunate to have a vibrant literary community nearby, which I hadn’t taken full advantage of until a couple of months ago. By attending readings and chatting with other writers, I’ve found inspiration, connections, and budding friendships. There are incredible writers around me and getting to interact with them has helped me to realize that I am not alone‑—in my work, my words, or my journey. It is called a community for a reason.
During the weeks of this summer course, I have helped and contributed to the literary community by attending readings and buying books from independent bookstores. Not only does this support the small bookstores and the local literary community, but it also supports local authors. I’ve written several reviews and shared my thoughts with the world online. This helps introduce my readers to new texts and fosters connections with more writers. I’ve actually realized that I would like to continue this blog after the conclusion of this course. As I’ve been more active by going to readings and sharing books on the blog, I’ve realized how much I enjoy supporting and building my literary community, both near and far.
I’ve learned that writing is not a solitary act, and to truly be a literary citizen, is to interact with and uplift other writers, to read and review their books, to promote their work, and to attend readings and book signings. At the end of the day, we’re all writing to be heard…so we must take the time to listen to one another.
