I've been reading about a great deal about the extraordinary time for some of the world's best writers during the 1920s in Paris. However anyone may feel about Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Joyce and Pound, this was a time the likes of which the world is not likely to see again. I think this is true not just because of the talent represented, but because of the extraordinary way they interacted with each other. The writers of that time read each others' drafts, edited them and often encouraged each other through rough times. They leant each other money, held each other's stashes and even smuggled their banned books into the US (though I doubt I can forgive Hemingway for losing Ulysses onto the US reading public). And in the middle of it all was my own personal heroine, Sylvia Beach. She ran a little bookstore where many of these greats gathered and borrowed books. She acted as a funding source, publisher and support system for many a writer from that 'lost generation.'
I find I admire the generosity that flourished among those writers -- all of whom had their own big egos. I try to emulate that spirit in my own writing world and try to encourage it in others. I was lucky during grad school to have a circle of friends that were as willing to risk their egos and share their expertise. We had a women's writing workshop in addition to the ones that were formal classes. We were all different types of writers with varying levels of experience, but we found something to share that everyone could use. I learned how to refine dialog from their critics and I helped others with creating clear plots. I really believe I owe finishing my thesis novel to their assistance.
Why do I bring this up today? I wanted to remind our bloggers that Sybaritic Press exists in part to share the collected experience of the editors and provide a springboard publishing experience to new writers. We also want to provide support (not financial, of course) to writers who may be blocked or otherwise stymied.
Feel free to workshop your stories on the blog or bring us your writing dilemmas. Your stories are safe here and perhaps we can help work through any problems. Let's keep Bel Esprit alive!
