Literary Citizenship and You

What does it mean to be a “real writer”?

The answer I’ve doled out to students for years is that if you write, you are a real writer. But there may be another condition to claiming the term writer for yourself: practicing good literary citizenship.

Literary citizenship goes beyond networking or building an author platform—it’s about genuine connection and promoting the work of others simply for the love of the written word. If you only start attending readings once you have a book deal and for the express purpose of self-promotion, you’re not a good literary citizen. Self-serving motives for participating in the writing community are somewhat understandable—publishing is competitive. However, good writing exists both within and beyond the book industry, and it will continue to do so for as long as we do the work and engage with the work of others. We, the writers, make the writing world go round.

Here are some ways that you can practice good literary citizenship:

• Read literary journals. Your TBR pile probably doesn’t need more additions, but a great way to support journals is to read them and subscribe if you’re able. Want to browse journals? The Story Center subscribes to over 40 literary journals and magazines in our Special Collection, and back issues are available to check out.
• Volunteer for a literary journal. Many journals are staffed entirely by volunteers, and they need readers to help review submissions and make editorial decisions. Follow your favorite journals on social media and watch for calls for volunteers.
• Hype other writers. Leave book reviews on Goodreads, StoryGraph, or BiblioCommons; take a photo of your favorite new book and post it to social media; share links to favorite online stories or essays on social media, too. Many authors have newsletters, and subscribing is a way to keep up with their latest and support them.
• Attend literary events. Your local library and independent bookstore likely offer readings, book groups, workshops, and writing groups, and attending will allow you to build relationships with those organizations and meet other writers. One upcoming event at The Story Center is the annual Local Author Fair at the Woodneath Library Center on Saturday, November 16, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Featuring over 50 Kansas City-area authors, you’ll undoubtedly discover new books and authors at the Fair, but you might also meet your newest writing buddy. The Story Center’s monthly Critique Group and Write-In are other community-building opportunities.

Want to think more about literary citizenship? The Story Center will present a Local Author Panel at the Johnson County Library Writers Conference on Friday, November 15, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Three Kansas City writers—Daniel Biegelson, Catherine Browder, and A.L. Davidson—will discuss their work and writing lives, including what being a good literary citizen means to them.

Melanie Pierce
Story Center Program Manager