Make Friends

“A good writer possesses not only his own spirit but also the spirit of his friends.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

Whoever said writing was a solo endeavor was very (very) wrong. He or she also probably wasn't a highly revered philosopher, like Nietzsche, who actually spent time thinking of such things. Whenever we see writers portrayed on television or in the movies it often seems as though they are the typical loner-type. They always seem to be brooding, depressed, and having some kind of relationship issue. While this may be true of some writers, it shouldn't be looked at as a hard and fast rule. In fact, many of us are pretty social people who need contact with others to balance out the time we spend (alone) writing our work.

I came to realize this very important factor when I moved to Atlanta last month. Back home, I had many friends that I could really just go have fun with. This gave me a brief, but needed, reprieve from writing. I also had my "writing friends" who I could call whenever I was in a rut or needing a little pep talk. I even had a couple friends that I could swap work with for some editing and content suggestions (highly recommended). I never realized how pivotal a role all these people played in my writing. Although they were not involved in the direct process of my writing, in a very essential way, they played a key role in my success as a writer. I suppose it was just something I hadn't realized until it was gone.

Thankfully, I am still friends with all these people. My change in location, however, has provided me with some unique obstacles to my writing. Although my close friends are a phone call away, I find myself having too much time with myself (if that makes any sense) and I'm finding that I am past due on making some geographically suitable friends, writers and otherwise. So (this is really more advice to myself than anyone else) go make some friends, appreciate the ones you have, and always remember that writing is so much more than the time you spend in front of your computer, typewriter, or notebook. Don't be that loner writer that looks down as they walk. Say hello to a passerby, they could inspire you to write something new or be the reason that you are able to finish something that has been waiting for its time in the sun.

Your friend,

Jonathan