Connecting Writers and Resources in Virginia

Kristen King

www.inkthinkerblog.com — Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of participating in a half-day forum discussing a way to connect writers, publishers, and writing groups in Virginia. I’m very pro-statewide organization to link existing groups and support their efforts, and I was surprised at the resistance to that idea from some of the attendees.

I think what it comes down to is that people are, for understandable reasons, loyal to their current memberships and, for reasons that have yet to become clear to me, are fiercely and exclusionarily NOT INTERESTED in anything that may threaten those memberships. But how does an organization whose main purpose to support existing groups and foster their growth and coordination in any way threatening their existence or validity? On the contrary, an organization like that would only help those groups, bring them additional resources (and members!) and encourage their development.

Who could possibly be opposed to creating a database through which Virginia writers can locate and take advantage of available resources for writers? Who could possibly be opposed to creating a means through which groups across the state can share expertise and experiences WITHOUT having to attend a bajillion meetings or join every writing group in the state?

Virginia writers are in desperate need of connectedness, something that we sorely lack. No, it’s not going to happen overnight, and regardless of all the benefits some people just aren’t going to like the idea, but it needs to be done, and it needs to be done now. I’m not sure where the idea is going to go from here, but one thing I can tell you is that if it fizzles in its current incarnation (however inchoate), I’ll be taking up the cause myself. In the meantime I’m looking forward to working in the development group formed yesterday to explore this further.

What are your thoughts?

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Talk is cheap. Good writing is priceless.