My Writing Year: A Credit History

In my literacy life I defined the difference between fiction and nonfiction for educational purposes. The table of contents was one element. Another was reading individual chapters by interest not numerical order. Each time I open The Business of Being A Writer I read the table of contents searching for benchmarks in my literary life, headings and page numbers that tell me where I’ve been as well as what might be next. 

I read Parts One and Two to arrive at Part Three: Book Publishing. I want to publish a book, a key aspect of writing identity. I always wanted to publish a book, a key aspect of my writing identity. I moved closer everyday to that goal, and today I am making a living as a writer. I read Part Four: Publishing Short Work, because it read like a celebration of something I did right, credibility that proved I could be what I am now, a copywriter, for print and digital content, magazine, web, and general communications needs, for a small liberal arts college, a community engaged and excited to celebrate its stories. I had checked all of Friedman's boxes: The business of Magazines and Digital Media, Freelance Writing and Learning to Pitch, Publishing in Literary Journals.

“The more business-oriented and consumer-facing the publisher, the more likely you’ll hear the word content used instead of writing. This change has been unsettling for the writers, who rarely want to be seen as ‘content creators,’ which to them sounds about as desirable as ‘widget makers.’ But here’s the reason content is preferred: it’s a broader, more inclusive term … ‘Content’ can be reshaped, reconfigured, and reimagined for many different people, places, and purposes.” (220)

Friedman’s description applied to me. I didn’t resist it, because prior to my paid position, I was a content creator (still am). Social media for one online literary press. Reader and assistant editor for another. Book reviewer. Writing juror. Mentor.  I embraced it Friedman's description. I even advocated for it on the job description for our student workers.

“You can also supercharge your writerly intelligence by becoming a volunteer, reader, or editor at any type of publication where you’re exposed to the slush pile … you begin to understand the recurring problems that pervade writing–particularly work by writers who haven’t yet found their voice or uncovered stories really worth telling.” (246)

Her advice mirrored my own, more credit history, that I recently shared in CRAFT Literary's November newsletter for which I was selected as the reader spotlight. My credibility grew because I always said 'yes.' When I redid my website, I struggles to keep track of credits in writing, editing, and publishing. Ironically, my first published was was edited by my current supervisor, the college editor. He remembered it. He remembered liking it.

Sentimental during holidays designated for gratitude and reflection, credit was due.  Time is relative and we are always reconstructing it.  For years while I wasn't writing, I taught others what good readers do, including good readers of nonfiction. My writing journey like my reading of Friedman's table of contents moves forward by looking back.