20 Civic Duties for Writers
Only you can prevent a world on fire!
The cycles of history were boring to me in school and fascinating now that I'm older. Fads come, go, and come back. Thankfully, 80's neon at Target was short lived this time around but I'm still mad for the clean, mid-century modern lines of the 50's. Whether we realize it or not, we're living in yet another cycle of history. Each generation contributes it's own shine to music, fashion, tastes, and parenting but essential themes stay the same. These same rhythms influence our belief systems. Drops of water in a vast ocean, a single, individual belief, adopted en masse, collectively shapes cultural trends and attitudes.
Writers, musicians and other artists are essential parts of culture. I'm thinking of the rise in "torture porn" in the early 2000's. Between 2003- 2011, the US was engaged in the Iraq War and the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. The public watched images of ISIS beheadings, learned about waterboarding, and questioned interrogation tactics abroad.
Culture reflected our collective anxieties. The Saw movies, with themes of prolonged suffering and physical torment, expressed our feelings of helplessness at the senseless violence. Music reflected themes of escape, heartbreak, confidence and patriotism, such as Green Day's American Idiot, Usher's Burn, and Tim McGraw's Live Like You Were Dying.
Books of the era reflected the same overwhelm. We needed easier to read books with clear, simplistic themes. The Young Adult (YA) genre saw a rise in adult readers, beginning with the Harry Potter series. Chicken Soup for the Soul and Don't Sweat the Small Stuff made comebacks as Americans desperately needing soothing. Fiction themes ranged from paranormal romances of the Twilight series, dystopian futures of the Hunger Games, and of course, Zombies.
Today’s Worries
Free floating anxiety inevitably seeks structure. The pendulum swing towards rigidity, strong, mouthy leaders, and black and white laws of our current day makes sense in the context of historical cycles. Maybe it's just me but it seems like fiction, movies, and tv series turned to crap after Covid. Finding the one awesome truly literary writer is a needle in the haystack. Youtube and Substack have replaced my streaming and media. services. When I can't find a contemporary novel, I read books from yesteryear. In my private practice, I have a few writer clients and their prose is so good. I know because they let me be beta readers.
I admire writers who actually sell their books and get published. It's an accomplishment and so much work goes into the whole process. And so much time. The standard publishing timeline is 12 - 24 months! It means that author is tied up with edits, decisions, publicity and NOT WRITING. The age of self publishing, or maybe hybrid publishing, is dawning. This is one wave we need to catch.
It’s Your Turn
I'm putting a call out to my fellow writers to help me shape our world - both current day culture and beyond. What do you want to help create? We each have a vote. I'm not talking about mere politics; your actions are votes in motion. They are your individual contributions to the world in which we live. This is a powerful idea. Through one lens, a single vote is trivial, inconsequential. It doesn't seem to make a difference. It is the aggregate that wins the day. The bigger picture reflects an aggregate of individual contributions. Each essay, poem, short story and novel adds to a continuous accumulation of culture. How will you play your part?
While one person cannot change all of society on their own, taking the larger perspective allows you to see the roadmap. You have an opportunity to choose your direction - to vote with your words along a particular path. How will you invest your time and energy in the world? Will you use your words to circle the well-trod valleys or forge new paths?
I acknowledge the world is on fire right now. Everyone already knows this. It is too big for just you or me to put out. The time to alert, protest or complain is passing. Holding my nose, I accept the current reality. What's here is here and the only way through is forward. I am faced with my individual choice - should I dwell in the problem or be the solution?
As you may have gathered by now, I've decided to chart my own path. This may mean going against the tide but if others join me, our collective tenacity can break new ground. People are either repelled or attracted to ideas. Knowing what you don't want to see isn't enough. Attraction is a stronger force. Instead of reacting to the latest political or world crisis, let's figure out what we can do instead. I want to build new things, not roll around in the muck. I don't want my vote to stagnate any of us.
One method I've chosen is to empower others. I think my job as a writer and psychologist is to light the path so others can follow. This path is not prescriptive; I'm not telling you how to live. I go deeper. I want to help you analyze the options and deliberately decide your way. Forging new paths can be intimidating but in learning to trust the process, you'll trust yourself and find a greater sense of meaning. Living more enriched lives of purpose is one way we each contribute goodness to the world. My aim is to model the positive change I want to see. Since I'm allergic to mean people, this will definitely challenge me to grow. But I'm ready for it. I think...I may need more naps.
What Can Writers Do?
Writers will be particularly important during this phase of cultural development. If you want a deeper dive into the theory behind what's coming, check out What's Next and What You Can Do About It. The ideas below represent the gist of what will be crucial to rebuilding society in sustainable ways. Ethics and fact checking will take center stage as well as supporting up-and-coming writers and independent bookstores. Fingers crossed, my daydream of opening a used bookstore and coffeehouse with cheap books may be closer than I think.
Here's a list of 20 ways you can contribute to society through your craft:
Legal & Ethical Responsibilities
Respecting copyright laws – Giving proper credit and avoiding plagiarism. It takes one second to include an originating link. Whatever photos you use in your writing must be credited. Oh, and please stop using AI-generated graphics (unless it's done in irony).
Fact-checking information – Preventing the spread of misinformation. Don't just restack or retweet - check the source first. And please, resist giving or reacting to hot takes. Well thought out ideas take time.
Writing responsibly about sensitive topics – Avoiding harm through careful research and framing. This doesn't just apply to marginalized groups - stick to objective descriptions and write with respect about people with whom you disagree as well.
Refraining from generalizations – Avoiding writing about a group as if all its members are the same. Every group is made up of individuals who each have a whole universe in their heads. Generalizations, especially negative ones, will inevitably be invalidating and you've lost your chance to reach someone.
Advocating for free speech – Defending the right to express ideas openly. The concept of free speech faces its biggest challenge with speech you don't like or think is bad. Anytime we restrict speech for one, it threatens the freedom of all. I'm not an absolutist; I still believe in not yelling fire in a crowded theater or threatening others with violence.
Political & Social Engagement
Informing the public through writing – Explaining political, legal, or social issues in clear, unbiased language. Aim for balanced essays that add something to the overall cultural understanding of a topic. If you want to reach someone who disagrees with you, ease off the gas on strongly persuasive articles.
Encouraging voter participation – Writing articles, essays, or campaigns to boost civic engagement. Write about all the ways we vote. Encourage the people in your life to add their voices to the mix. Help us move forward with your words, footsteps and money.
Holding leaders accountable – Investigating and reporting on government actions. In the information age, there's a lot of noise. Be the signal. To be heard, you have to report on the facts and trust the reader to form their own opinions.
Writing letters to representatives – Advocating for policy changes, rules, public comment opportunities, new initiatives, as well as bills on the local, state and national levels. Imagine an office flooded with letters - and yours is one of them! Your voice really can make a difference here.
Participating in public debates and forums – Using writing to contribute to civic discourse. This is where opinion and persuasive pieces fit but maintain your integrity, keep your side of the street clean and treating those with whom you disagree with respect no matter how they treat you. You don't have to put up with abuse but make a graceful exit. Confidence is quiet.
Community Involvement
Writing grants for nonprofits – Helping organizations secure funding. As the government pulls back financial support, I predict a rise in private grants. Grant writers are a rare gem. Take an adult education class to learn more about it.
Volunteering to teach reading or writing – Offering workshops in schools, libraries, or prisons. Creating book groups is a great idea as well. Literacy is one of those dominos that if we made sure everyone could read and write, we might solve a lot of big problems. What book really turned you on to reading?
Mentoring young or emerging writers – Sharing knowledge and experience. You might think you don't know enough but you probably know more than someone from the generation behind you.
Writing for community newspapers or newsletters – Keeping locals informed. Small town papers are disappearing but the reporters covered events you won't find on the television news. Start a small town newsstack!
Contributing to historical or archival projects – Documenting community events. Volunteering to help organize archives at libraries. Heck, why not start collecting and keeping your own archive!
Supporting the Craft & Literary Culture
Supporting libraries and independent bookstores – Keeping reading accessible for everyone. Libraries are under attack but surely the answer isn't to close down this valuable community resource. We've got to work together to figure out what's next. Independent bookstores rely on your willingness to pay a little more than you would on Amazon. Commit to buying at least one book a year.
Fighting censorship and book bans – Advocating for intellectual freedom and free speech - even when it hurts your heart. Let it slide off your shoulders and keep focused on what matters. Someone who would ban a book is scared. If you want to change their mind, you have to address that with compassion first.
Joining writer’s organizations – Participating in groups of fellow writers. Many of these organizations offer seminars, networking events, and even opportunities to connect with agents. Find a local or online cohort with which to trade feedback, editing and beta reading services.
Self publishing – There are many ways to get your work out there. Substack is a great way to get started but no matter what, it takes a while for you to hone your craft and for word of your greatness to reach the world. Keep at it. Don't write for the lowest common denominator. Take the risk and write what lights you on fire without thinking about whether others will like it. Impress yourself first. Keep a list of essay or story ideas. Jot down poems on post-it notes. Apply to contests. If you want to see your name in print, make it happen.
Writing to preserve history – Documenting important cultural and historical moments. It probably seems like the world is saturated with Covid lockdown essays but 100 years from now, people will do deep dives. Keep a journal, write about the mundane, make your mark.
That was like a tour of the not so distant past we lived through. lol I'm reminded of everyone's preoccupation with dystopian futures. You almost expect that to make a come back soon...
Unfortunately self publishing is a giant trap, and it generally goes nowhere other than to massage egos. For so so many reasons. Maybe that will change. I truly wish writers cared as much about learning their craft as they did about expressing themselves.
Boy, that first one, fact checking… Substack writers could sure use a healthy dose of that. A lot of wonky armchair "psychology" here...
One of my personal triggers is from my own father and also the present administration… where someone thinks something sounds good to them, so it must be true right? Substack is rife with that. Oy.
But it's also full of warmth, support, encouragement, community.
Such a great list you have here, ways to engage and make a difference. 💕
Laura,
Thanks for this great article. It really helped refuel the fire of this aspiring writer to keep at it. I have been pitching my novel to agent for six months now. No bites yet but I won't give up. I have considered self-publishing but I can't get past the "Isn't that just an expensive ego trip" complex yet. In addition to Substack, I continue to work on another novel and short stories. On my worst days, I simply tell myself, "Someday after you're gone, someone will come across these manuscripts and revel at their brilliance". Again, thanks for the kick in the pants! Rick Rutherford