Wednesdays with Joanne - "Country-writing vs City-writing"

Hi all,

I'm a country-writer.

To me there's a big difference between country-writing and city-writing. The difference relates, not to what we write, but to our networking ability. It's hard to "reach out and touch other writers" and have associations and involvements in writing organizations, et al, when you live in the country rather than the city. When I attend writing conferences, I'm quite envious of all the connections other writers have with their critique groups and their chapter groups. Most folks seem to gather on a regular basis and have that comraderie that is so special, so necessary, and so helpful in this tough business. It's great if you can embrace these wonderful associations, but if you cannot ...

I call it the Hermit Crab Syndrome. We all know much of writing is a singular, solitary experience. We climb into our shells and get to work, unfettered by the outside world. Both country-writers and city-writers develop Hermit Crab Syndrome, of course. It's a welcome ailment to say the least. City-writers, however, have the added benefit of other hermit crabs being in the same "hood." Country-writers are often the lone crab on the beach.

Ah, but it's my choice, is it not, to be the lone crab?

I love the mountains and welcome the isolation. Give me a quiet morning walk with my huskies in fresh mountain snow, any day, over a dash to Starbucks before I get a ticket for parking illegally! Give me free reign at my computer in my pj's, coffee "of my own brewing" in hand, my cats lolling about ever watching for what comes next in their purrrfectly wonderful world, my doggies not-so-patiently waiting to go walkies yet again, sighting fresh tracks from fox, deer, coyotes, ptarmington and ??? when we do, most often watching white-tailed deer ... watch us, over the sights and sounds of the city any day. Not that I don't love Denver. I do! It's wonderful to come down over the high mountain passes into the Queen City of the West.

Ah, but it's my choice, is it not, to choose country-writing over city-writing!

Jo(anne)

www.joannesundell.com
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter