Writers helping Writers….and Learning

 

It occurred to me recently that when writers help out other writers, we not only do them a favor, we learn a lot along the way. I am part of a very active author group with my publishing house. We share gobs of emails and someone is always hosting or interviewing someone on their blog/ website or social media page.

I too have availed myself to both sides of this favor coin. I have hosted authors for interviews, cover reveals, new releases and book reviews. I have also been hosted by some really neat authors and as my books are released later this year, I have a growing list of more people who will be hosting me.

My thought on this is how much we learn about our fellow authors—and ultimately ourselves—as we exchange these hosting favors. We learn and share about our writing spaces, typical writing process, first sales, dreams, hobbies, likes and dislikes. All the things that make us human and writers.

Personally I find this concept intriguing. Perhaps because the notion took me by surprise. Either way, it shows how much we are like–and unalike–our fellow authors. We are a unique breed of people, writers. We think differently, see things differently, use what we see differently. But we are also humans, with jobs, families, homes, obligations just like everyone else. It is comforting to know despite how different the rest of the world may view us, among our fellow writers, we are just like everyone else.