Devoted to publishing, publishers and to those who craft the written word

Shooting that video at the six-word memoir party, I realized that there's nothing better than making friends with a writer. You end up with somebody to talk about books with, to edit your writing with, and help you find new places to work.

Today Larry tells us how he turned his network of friends into the collection, Not Quite What I Was Planning--using the magazine's community as a springboard for a book

Welcome to my deceptively simple feature, Five Easy Questions (this week, each of our guests get two-and-a-half easy questions).

In the spirit of Jack Nicholson's mad piano player, I run a weekly set of quality conversations with writing pioneers—delivering some practical, unexpected advice about web writing.

Jason Boog:

I've heard multiple people say, "Everybody knows Larry." How did you build this community of writers in your life? How did you channel that community into your dynamic magazine? Any advice for the writer who feels alone?

Larry Smith:

I've been in journalism for a while now, and I've always tried to treat people well, do the little things that as a freelance I've always appreciated: answer emails and return calls, grab that cup of coffee of quick beer with someone who wants advice. Continue reading...

 

People did exactly the same for me at every stage in my career (as I ramble on about in a post I wrote when SMITH launched. To me it's part professionalism, part karma.

I've worked hard to "collect" good people over the years, some whom I've known since college. My partner in SMITH, Tim Barkow, was my co-editor at the weekly magazine we put out in college. Jeff Newelt,  SMITH comics editor and social networking guru, was our film editor back then.

The first magazines I worked at, Might and P.O.V., had a collegiate atmosphere—I'm still friends with all those people, work with them all the time.  

In the same breath, it's vital to meet new writers and work them into whatever you're doing, wherever you're working and playing.

A woman I worked with at a Pizzeria Uno's in San Francisco, Katherine Streeter, was a struggling artist when I was a struggling writer; we probably made a total of $500 combined on our respective loves the year I met her. Now she's very successful and I'm so proud to have her original illustration and six-word memoir in our book.

And there are storytellers everywhere. I was at a cocktail party in New York a year ago and spent the whole time talking to a woman who was probably the only non-professional writer or editor in the room. After a couple of glasses of wine, she leaned in and said, "Actually, I'm a dominatrix." A few months and something of an old school magazine courtship later (lunch, drinks), she was keeping a diary about her life on SMITH, Writing the Whip.

I agree with you, as I'm sure most would, that freelancing can be a tough, lonely existence.  As much as the "cool kids" didn't go to Media Bistro events back in the day, I always have a tons of respect for a writer who goes to an event or by himself and tries to meet people, however odd or awkward it sometimes is.

So, you know, when you're a writer and just getting going to just have to get out there. And when you do, you find out that most people are really helpful, they will give you leads, advice.

Sure, you do have to be talented to make it, but you don’t need to be Malcolm Gladwell to carve out a life in writing. If you're solid and reliable and include the fact check material when you file, you'd surprised at how quickly you'll have more work then you can handle. It's a great time to be a content creator.

And while there are only so many parties and meetups we can all go to, the web has made it easier and easier for writers to connect. Spend six minutes on Facebook and you'll have more invites to events where writers hang out--whether one of Rachel Kramer Bussel's many events or a Moth happening or a SMITH six-word memoir slam—than you'll ever get to.

When you get out, and start swapping stories, it becomes pretty clear that some are doing better than others, but we're really all in this together.