“If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy.” ― Dorothy Parker
No, the greatest favor you can do for someone who aspires to become a writer is to give them a link to TKZ.
Writing blogs have come and gone but I have been coming to learn from the contributors at TKZ since near it’s beginning. I’ve never stuck with any other online site for that long.
Thank you everyone at TKZ — contributors and commenters!
So nice of you, BK. And we are glad to have you as a valued contributor to our community here. Thanks!
Aw, Brenda, what kind words! Thank you.
I agree 100%, BK!
Agreed!!
Aww, Brenda, thank you. Faithful followers like you elevate TKZ. Thanks for your years of support. We appreciate you! 💕
Just rolling on the floor, laughing.
Hahaha!!! This quote kills me. 😂
Or tell them the truth about what a publishing career is like. Writing is fun, the business side is decidedly not for a vast majority of us.
I will forever remember the advice my first fiction writing mentor gave us: “Keep your creative process and the business side of publishing separate from one another.”
When I haven’t is when I’ve run into trouble.
I haven’t gotten an email notice for the last 2 or 3 posts. Does the email list get purged from time to time?
and then, of course, I get an email. Sorry.
It does NO harm to encourage young (or even older) writers – it’s good for you, good for them, and will not make a non-writer into a writer.
Ask instead what they’ve written, what they plan to write, how they are going to learn the basics and the advanced topics – anything to get them thinking about the work.
And let them ask YOU questions about your experience (remember to indicate it is not universal).
It is probably better not to offer to read what they might produce – unless you’re a judge in a contest intended for beginners. It isn’t likely you’ll read well in their preferred genres, and vice versa, unless that’s why they’re asking you in particular.