I first ran this series five months after May B. hit the shelves. With Blue Birds releasing next week (!), it feels like the right time for me to revisit my Writer’s Manifesto — a list of things I’d like to focus on in my public, private, and writing life.
This is not in any way meant to be preachy or condemning (please notice I’m directing all of this to myself). I have yet to figure everything out and am in many ways a pro at doing the exact opposite of what I know is best. Yet these are ideas I’ve circled back to again and again, things I know will ultimately benefit my career, my friendships, my writing and my life. I’d love to hear your thoughts below.
In my public life I will…
- Be generous: In my interactions with others and in the way I conduct myself, I’d love to be known as generous. This doesn’t mean committing to every opportunity or request that comes. It means being warm, friendly, and supportive of the writing community and the publishers, teachers, librarians, booksellers and readers who make it all happen.
- Speak well of fellow writers: Whether I know them personally or not. Whether I like their work or not. These people are my people. This is enough of a reason to speak kindly or not at all.
- Conduct myself in a becoming way: While I can’t control what others think of me (more on that below), I can choose to present myself in a way I’m proud of, whether that be in person or through social media. I am in no way perfect, believe me, but I strive not to embarrass myself, the children I write for, or the people who publish my writing.
In my public life I won’t…
- Add to or perpetuate gossip: In just these few months as a debut, I’ve already heard things about fellow authors that have broken my heart. Whether shared maliciously, as some sort of cautionary tale, or just for fun, it’s been more than I need to know. I refuse to participate in keeping the stories going, and I will ask you not share whatever it is you’ve heard about others with me.
- Disparage others’ books, genres, or talents but will find value in what they create: For much of my life, I’ve been a self-proclaimed book snob. Many writers talk of becoming more and more critical as readers the longer they write. For me, some sort of weird opposite has happened. Because I know first hand of the hard work the writing life demands, I’m learning to appreciate books, topics, and styles I would have ignored years ago. The books I don’t connect with aren’t really my concern: they weren’t written for me. There is an audience for them somewhere.
Beth Kephart says
June 11, 2012 at 12:51 pmYes, Caroline. I SO agree with all of this. It is important, still, to have opinions. It is very important to know how to express them. I think you are a phenomenal ambassador for books.
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 12:59 pmThank you, friend. Please know I’ve learned much of this from you.
Liesl Shurtliff says
June 11, 2012 at 1:06 pmYes, yes, and yes! These are all things I would like to strive for as well, particularly the things about how we speak of and interact with other writers. I went to a conference a couple of years ago and I was very disappointed at how many of the authors bashed on other authors’ work— in public! It came off as very unprofessional, and it did not entice me to read their books, nor did it endear me to the author. I can see how easy a hole that would be to fall into, thinking that it will make you sound intelligent, but really it comes off as catty, unprofessional, and immature. I truly hope to avoid that pitfall!
Thanks for sharing this Caroline. You’re such a great example!
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 1:09 pmExactly. We’re a team. There’s no need to shoot each other.
Lydia Kang says
June 11, 2012 at 1:46 pmCaroline, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us. Some of your points seems so obvious, and yet they’re terribly important and must be said, again and again. I hope to live up to your standards!
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 1:49 pmI hope I do, too!
Anne Greenwood Brown says
June 11, 2012 at 1:55 pmLove this post Caroline. Particularly this line: “While I can’t control what others think of me…, I can choose to present myself in a way I’m proud of.”
One of the biggest surprises to me as a debut author has been the wide, wide variety of “takes” on my story. Learning how to “let go” and let the story be whatever it will be in the eye of different readers has been a challenging but overall exciting experience.
And I agree with and admire your committment to supporting “your people.” We’re all in this together!
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 2:19 pmHappy debut to you tomorrow!
Linda Jackson says
June 11, 2012 at 2:04 pm“The books I don’t connect with aren’t really my concern: they weren’t written for me. There is an audience for them somewhere.”
This is why I don’t write negative reviews. If I can’t give a four or five-star review, I don’t review at all.
Looking forward to reading your posts, Caroline. 🙂
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 2:21 pmOn the flip side, it’s a freeing way to think of your own writing, too. It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay.
Augusta Scattergood says
June 12, 2012 at 3:15 pmAs some wise body recently said, “not everybody likes chocolate. Some prefer caramel” or something like that.
We all need to keep this in mind. Our books may not appeal to every single reader, and that’s okay.
A very thoughtful post.
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 16, 2012 at 6:08 pmExactly. And thank goodness. What would we do with only one type of book?
Laura Pauling says
June 11, 2012 at 2:09 pmI know what you mean. Even though at one point I could pick out plot mistakes with a critical eye when reading, I now find the opposite true too. I read books with an eye for what the author was trying to accomplish, not how I would’ve done it differently. If I see a formatting error or typo, it doesn’t bother me because I know how hard it is to get everything right. I appreciate that we all write our stories and put them out there but we all still have so much more to learn. And yay for just supporting each other.
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 2:22 pmYes, yay. There is room for all of us.
Kimberley Griffiths Little says
June 11, 2012 at 2:43 pmYou are brilliant and lovely and very, very smart, Caroline. As well as gracious and generous and a good friend. Thank you for this beautiful and perfect post.
I’m emulating you.
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 3:47 pmYou know much of this came from our conversations. It is so good to have wiser writers ahead of me. Xo
catknutsson says
June 11, 2012 at 4:56 pmHi Caroline,
Wow, so much of this resonates with me! I was going to write out a lengthy reply, but really, anything I want to say can be summed up in two words: YES! THIS!
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 4:58 pmThis comment has been removed by the author.
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 16, 2012 at 6:12 pmSo glad. All the best to you during your debut.
hilarygraham says
June 11, 2012 at 5:06 pmThis is lovely Caroline. I’m bookmarking it so I can return to it again.
Hilary
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 6:09 pmHi Hilary! Glad this spoke to you.
Alissa says
June 11, 2012 at 6:15 pmWise words, Caroline!
Melissa Sarno says
June 11, 2012 at 6:21 pmI love this. Kindness, fairness, and generosity are so often overlooked but they are the qualities I respect most in others. I look forward to the rest of the series and learning more from you. 🙂
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 6:33 pmAlissa and Melissa — much of this I’ve had to figure out while stumbling around making mistakes. Thankfully there have been some lovely friends I’ve been able to watch and learn from. Thanks for stopping by!
Linda G. says
June 11, 2012 at 6:45 pmYES! My first novel will be released in September, and I’m trying to conduct myself in just the way you’ve laid out so beautifully. Thanks for stating it all so well. 🙂
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 6:54 pmCongrats, Linda!
Marissa Burt says
June 11, 2012 at 7:56 pmGreat reflections! I so resonate with your last point as well. I’ve become less “choosy” in a way about my reading, because I’ve learned the intense amount of imagination, effort, and sweat that goes into every book. And I’ve also learned how subjective my own reading taste is – haha!
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 11, 2012 at 8:03 pmYes and yes.
Marissa Burt says
June 11, 2012 at 7:56 pmGreat reflections! I so resonate with your last point as well. I’ve become less “choosy” in a way about my reading, because I’ve learned the intense amount of imagination, effort, and sweat that goes into every book. And I’ve also learned how subjective my own reading taste is – haha!
K.A. Barson says
June 11, 2012 at 9:49 pmThanks for this. It helps more than you think.
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 12, 2012 at 2:46 pmGlad to hear it!
Doraine Bennett says
June 11, 2012 at 10:35 pmBlessed are the…
You are one of them.
Such wise choices. Good for you, my dear.
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 12, 2012 at 2:47 pmYou are incredibly kind.
Irene Latham says
June 12, 2012 at 12:40 pmKeep that positive energy coming, Caroline!
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 12, 2012 at 2:48 pmYou know I learned much of this from you, my dear.
sheela-chari says
June 12, 2012 at 12:43 pmWell put, Caroline!
It’s funny how our lives are never the same once our book goes out into the world. I think it’s very important to stop and think about what we hope our public lives to be, because we are part of the public now. Thank you for your thoughts!
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 12, 2012 at 2:48 pmYes! This is it exactly.
Stephanie J. Blake says
June 12, 2012 at 2:48 pmGo team! Thanks for putting this into such beautiful words.
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 12, 2012 at 2:51 pmIt is a group effort, isn’t it?
Sharon Stanley says
June 12, 2012 at 5:01 pmI am inspired! You have written the way I feel now as an unpublished children’s book writer. If/WHEN I am published, I would like to think I can put these things into action. Come to think of it, why wait?! I am making a copy to post on my inspitation board!
sharonstanleywrites.blogspot.com
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 12, 2012 at 5:26 pmExactly! There’s no need to wait.
Amy L. Sonnichsen says
June 12, 2012 at 5:37 pmThanks for this, Caroline. I needed to read all this today. Especially the book snob part. I think I understand where you’re coming from when you said a weird “reverse” happened. I became much more picky after I started writing, but now that I’m further along in the process, I do appreciate everyone more, even writing I don’t connect with. You’re right, every book has its audience.
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 13, 2012 at 2:16 pmAnother thing I constantly notice as I read: so many people have skills above and beyond mine. 🙂
Mia says
June 12, 2012 at 6:44 pmThese are good rules for all of us to follow, authors or not!
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 13, 2012 at 2:17 pmagreed!
mima says
June 13, 2012 at 12:06 pmThanks, for sharing, Caroline; words to live by!
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 13, 2012 at 2:17 pmWords I need to remind myself of often.
Sonia Gensler says
June 16, 2012 at 2:04 pmOh, Caroline! After a week of working with writers it is so lovely to come home to these blog posts of yours. I would love to make huge posters out of them to hang above my computer. For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve embodied everything you write about here. Thank you for all the positive energy!
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 16, 2012 at 2:17 pmThank you, sweet friend! I think the same of you.
Lisa Schroeder says
June 16, 2012 at 3:54 pmHi Caroline!
What a wise thing to do, to consciously think about and write down the kind of author you want to be. I love it. If only more people would do this exercise. I remember early on in my career (almost five years ago now – eek!), I had this light bulb moment where I realized I had a choice. I could either be positive or negative in what I put out in the world on-line. And that choice would forever affect how people see me. My natural tendencies are to see the glass half empty – I think it’s in my genes. 🙂 But I didn’t want people to think of me and think “whiner.” Over the years, a funny thing has happened. My outlook is more positive now. By choosing to put forth a happy face, even when I didn’t always *feel* that, I have somewhat changed my disposition. Amazing! That doesn’t mean I don’t have those moments of despair. But I know it’s best to share with family and friends, in private, who understand and will support me no matter what.
I really believe there can never be enough encouragement and inspiration in the world. Thank you for being such a great source of both!
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 16, 2012 at 6:10 pmLisa, your Internet presence and our dinner conversation in Chicago played into what I’ve written here. You have always been such a positive role model for me, so your praise means a lot. Thanks, friend.
valerierlawson says
June 16, 2012 at 5:27 pmsuch a great attitude to have. i totally agree. our writing community is such a small one, we really should show support to each other and gratitude to those who help us along the way.
Caroline Starr Rose says
June 16, 2012 at 6:13 pmExactly.
http://www./ says
September 10, 2016 at 9:16 amThat’s an astute answer to a tricky question
Linda says
March 3, 2015 at 12:37 pmCaroline, thanks for the reminder that my copy of Blue Birds is coming soon! …just in time for Spring Break. 🙂
Caroline says
March 3, 2015 at 2:08 pmThank you for being such a faithful reader, Linda. Enjoy!