Writing, promotion, tips, and opinion. Pour a cuppa your favorite poison and join in.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The Beauty of Standing Alone


Yesterday, I came up with the thought that those who are not doing the A-Z challenge need not face loneliness and isolation during this month. While many bloggers are taking fun in the A-Z challenge, there are those of us who have other priorities preventing us from enjoying the ride, too. I submit to you that these bloggers need support, too, and so the thought of a Lonely Bloggers Club or Group has come to mind.

It can be downright difficult not to buckle under the pressure of trends. Part of human nature is to want to belong, which is why so many people succumb to peer pressure. Hardly anyone out there likes the thought of being excluded, of standing alone in such a socially driven culture.

But sometimes when you stand alone, you learn how to fend for yourself. In terms of writing, this translates over into a thing of beauty, into something called finding your voice. When you sit down to write, no one else is writing for you. You’re doing the work yourself. You’re putting your prose, poetry, or article onto the page, sharing with the world your various insights. In the solitary act of writing, you’re creating a work of art.

In finding their voice, every writer stands alone. It is after the writing where we come together with our beta readers, our editors, and other collaborationists to get the final product to where it needs to be. In this aspect, we’re never truly alone.

7 comments:

Rek Sesh said...

Even being the part of the challenge can be a lonely experience for some. I do it becauses it helps me push my boundaries a little

mshatch said...

I do it because it's fun - if it wasn't, I wouldn't!

Lara Schiffbauer said...

One of the hardest things I've done since starting to write fiction is not have feedback while I've been working on my novel. It is so easy to want to have affirmation, instead of relying on my own instincts and preferences. Over time I have gotten used to it, though, and am looking forward to having a "product" that I am responsible for, and then getting feedback about what worked and what didn't, instead of writing by committee!

Mr. Opinion said...

I enjoy being different. I mean who wants to be "normal?" It just doesn't sound appealing to me.

1000th.monkey said...

I think my *voice* may be entirely unpublishable :)

Shannon Lawrence said...

I need to join a critique group. While writing is a solitary thing, writers can find online groups, in-person writer's groups, form their own gatherings, etc. I always leave a gathering of writers full of energy and inspiration to go home and write!

Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z

Teresa Cypher said...

All true. Excellent post. It is a solitary pursuit. I have discovered a beauty in knowing the difference between loneliness and solitude. In solitude, I have discovered some of my greatest strengths. In loneliness...some of my greatest weaknesses...