It’s Lovely Meeting Other Writers

Growing up I didn’t know anybody who wanted to be a writer. Very few people read books back then, and fewer still wanted to write for a living.

Things have changed now. I have a lot of friends who are writers and are looking for ways to sustain a life by the written word. I guess we eventually find other members of our tribe.

Back in school, I only knew a handful of people who became semi-successful writers or worked in the publishing industry. For the longest time, I kept a business card in my wallet from my mother’s student who worked at HarperCollins. It was the only connection I had to a beautiful world that I one day hoped to enter.

With the advent of technology, the world has become a smaller place. I am now connected to loads of aspiring writers on social media platforms and writing platforms such as this. I now have writer friends. Some wanted to work in magazines, others wanted to have their poems and short stories published, and others wanted to write literary works on the Nazis and Jews (yes, this is true)!

There’s just so much diversity in the writerly world that it leaves me awe-struck. God fashioned us to be unique yet work at the same craft. No two writers are alike, isn’t that amazing?

As a young child, I was widely insecure. I didn’t want other people to share my dream because that would have meant more competition for me and consequently a slimmer chance of getting published. But life isn’t a zero-sum game as life has since then taught me. Anyone can win in life with the right attitude. Everyone has a fighting chance, and those who stick to their craft through thick and thin are more likely to be successful than those who give up prematurely.

In this age, where technology proposes to replace writers with Artificial Intelligence, it’s important to protect our species. Opinions, even the ones we disagree with, should be guarded at all costs. Differences should be celebrated. Every attempt to seek out and portray the truth as accurately as possible through the medium of the written word should be protected.

It’s lovely meeting other writers and hearing about their writing journeys. Each writer I’ve met has their individual rhythm and style, so unique, so personal, it’s hard to replace them. They bring varied opinions to the table, perspectives, baggage, prejudices, and conditioning. They try hard to stick up for the truth, it’s just beautiful and inspiring to see. We all want to express what’s been laid on our hearts and minds, and the pen is the way we aspire to do that.

I feel humbled to know so many great writers with so many lofty ideals and aspirations. This tribe wants to talk about what they’re going through, how the world is, how they relate to the world, and of course, the deep questions of life: what are we doing and where are we headed?

When someone tells me that they’ve always wanted to be a writer, I feel a sense of warm kinship with that person. It’s like coming home to family after a long journey.

People are so different. We all want to work at different things. We’ve all got skills and talents to help us in that work. So, when one tribe member finds another, it’s a beautiful homecoming.