By Evan J
Photo by Evan J
In a previous article, I wrote about the literary opportunities available for city dwellers vs. rural residents. I declared, truthfully, that living in a city offers significantly more prospects. But if you’re an aspiring writer living rurally and moving to a city is out of the question, here’s a list of tips specific to rural writers that will help advance your craft.
(To clarify, when I use the word “writer” in this article, I’m talking about the writer who wants to connect with the literary community and wants to share their writing with a bigger audience. I’m not talking about the genius or hermit writer that inherently knows what is perfect literary art and produces it without any editors or feedback [ie. Emily Dickinson]. I’m also not talking about the familial writer whose only literary aspirations are to produce work for friends and family.)
1. Find or create a digital community.
Writing is a solitary act, but the craft is a communal one. Writers need other writers for proofreading, for criticizing, for asking craft-based questions, and for providing pressure. So if you don’t yet have a set of literary friends, it’s time to acquire them. Thankfully, the pandemic has evened the befriending playing field since the majority of literary events are now online. Look nationally, look globally, and start attending online literary events. How do you meet other like-minded writers? Writers guilds often host casual online meet-and-greets for this exact purpose. Otherwise, attend some online readings, read at some digital open mics. The key here is to put yourself out there, comment verbally or in the chatbox, and see who gives you feedback. If you like the feedback, start a conversation. And if, eventually, you feel comfortable, start sharing your work.
2. Embrace your locale.
The literary industry is flooded with city-centric perspectives, so if you’re willing to write about the specificities of your particular rural location, you’ll likely turn some heads.
3. Read widely.
Read a variety of genres by a diversity of authors. Rural living is no excuse for being ill-informed of the world’s changes. While it’s not vital to know current politics (though it can be very useful for some writers and topics), writers must know the general social interests, sympathies, and hostilities of the reading populous and publishing world. For example, whatever your enviro-political views, if you’re going to write faithfully about tar sands, it’s helpful to know that Albertans generally have more sympathy for the oil industry than, say, Californians.
4. Connect with other local rural artists.
Isolation can be dangerous, so talking face-to-face with other artists is an important component of maintaining your creative and mental health. If you have no other local artistic friends, visit your local library, rec centre, seniors centre, or gift shop and start conversations with owners and patrons. Look for already existing flyers or advertisements promoting local artists, and then invite them for a coffee. If you still can’t find anyone, start your own Facebook Group or make a poster advertising a casual meetup for artists.