Working out of abundance and courage
Here's a story in which "working out of abundance" is a reality, not just a catch-phrase.
What does it mean to work and create out of a sense of abundance rather than a sense of scarcity? The idea of an “abundance mindset” has become a bit of catch-phrase, I realize, but how does it play itself out in practical terms? The Habit Membership is an experiment in generosity and abundance. Here’s a story that shows what I mean…
A few years ago, when the folks at Rabbit Room Press were putting together The Lost Tales of Sir Galahad, they needed three or four stories to round out the collection, so I put out a call for stories among The Habit Membership.
The writers of The Habit started writing, then they started posting their stories in the membership forum, where they started giving one another helpful feedback and encouragement. That emboldened other writers in the group to write and post their own stories, and a virtuous cycle developed, of creativity and courage and excellence. About two dozen stories were posted and discussed and workshopped there in the membership forum.
To reiterate, the editors were only looking to fill three or four slots. So the writers of The Habit Membership found themselves in a situation that one could easily interpret as competitive. A cunning, strategic writer wouldn’t encourage fellow writers to write and submit their own stories. That is not a move calculated to improve one’s chances of getting one of the three or four slots. Actively helping those writers to improve their submissions to the same "competition" you're submitting to? That's not a strategic move either. But that's exactly what happened. As the writers of the Habit Membership went back and forth, the stories got better and the writers got braver.
And here’s the remarkable thing: the editors of The Lost Tales of Sir Galahad made room for that excellence. In the end, Habit members didn't just contribute three or four stories to the collection: THIRTEEN of their stories were selected, showering the Habit Membership in glory. It turned out that all that un-strategic generosity did improve the writers' chances of getting selected.
I know it doesn't usually work out that way. Most of the time, three or four slots are just three or four slots. In the publishing world, most work that exceeds the threshold of excellence still doesn't get selected. Even in this situation, stories that were more than good enough didn't get selected, for reasons that were entirely out of the writers' control. And yet, thanks to the generosity and collegiality of the writers of the Habit Membership, all of the stories, whether they got selected or not, were better than they would have been. And many of them wouldn’t have existed at all if not for the encouragement of writerly colleagues.
Some of the best encouragement and most insightful feedback came from writers whose stories ended up not being selected. One of those writers, after congratulating her colleagues whose work was selected, had this to say to her colleagues whose work was not:
Well done being faithful to the hard work of writing. Just because it goes unseen (or less seen) doesn't make it any less fruitful. Keep taking the risk of your own discovery.
I will be toasting ALL of you this week. A while back I promised [a colleague] I'd celebrate my writer's courage with her regardless of the result. I am continually a better writer because of this membership. What a tremendous delight it is to share your company - to learn with, commiserate with, rejoice with, and persevere with.
Yes and amen. Salut!
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This seems like a good time to invite you to become part of the Habit Membership. As I often say, people tend to come for the content (a hundred-something hours of video, office hours, all of my six-week "Writing with..." classes, past and present)—but they stay for the community.
In the forum for one of my six-week classes a while back, a participant who was considering joining the membership asked, "What do you love about the Habit Membership?" Talk about a tee-up for endorsement quotes! Here's what a few members said:
What I have noticed is that the other writers are extremely supportive and helpful. Also, they are crazy-smart and talented! I've already been encouraged to write and submit a great deal more than I was before...Many people will review your work for you just out of kindness, and give genuinely helpful and supportive suggestions before you submit.
The monthly webinar and office hours are GOLD- they have helped me SO much in my writing... As far as value goes, the fact that ALL the "Reading With" workshops are included in the membership just makes it a great deal. I don't think I can live without the Habit Membership in my life.
- Sandy Hughes
Some things are taxing in life, and some things are renewing. The taxing stuff can be definitely worth the fight, but it's always wonderful to find something that is renewing. I find the Habit renewing. The writing discussions here brighten my day and "fill my bucket" as a storyteller. I've learned a lot through the classes, office hours, writing prompts, and the comments/discussions from other members. This community has definitely encouraged me and challenged me to grow.
I've definitely grown as a writer here in the Habit. The people here are great. I recommend it.
- Bethany Sanders
Most of all, I love the Habit membership for the community. I live in a rural setting and the locals surrounding me are many wonderful things besides writers. I would probably have given up writing long ago if it weren't for the encouragement given and friendships made through this membership. The interaction through the forums, zooms, and ever-deepening connections have had the most impact on my confidence and commitment to keep writing.
- Reagan Dregge
I joined because I'd been listening to the podcast for a while and I thought Jonathan would be a good teacher and the resources you get with the membership would be good. I wasn't really here for the community - I find online interactions weird and often difficult, even with people I know in real life! But, I've been amazed at how kind and generous the other members of the Habit are and how much I've learnt from them - from people's contributions in class and writing assignments, and from their feedback on writing assignments (mine and other people's).
I'm still trying to figure out if I have ideas that are worth other people taking the time to read and the Habit has already been really helpful in that process...
The tagline that's always on the podcast talks about the Habit membership being "a hub of community for like-minded writers" who "give each other a little more courage". Since I've heard that now almost a hundred times, I guess I should've believed it, but I was still surprised to realise the other day that that is how I feel - I do have a little more courage from being part of the Habit membership.
- Lucy Higson
There's room for you too in this incredible community. I hope you'll jump in. You can find out more here.
Virtual Writing Rooms on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
Writing Prompt: Short Story Summer Camp Week 6 exercise: Post final draft!
Coming Next Tuesday: Short Story Extravaganze
Coming in August: Dorothy and Jack Reading Club
There's a place for you in this vibrant community of writers. Find out more about The Habit Membership here.
Junius Johnson asks who invented dragons.
Dr. Junius Johnson is an independent scholar, teacher, and public intellectual who devotes his time to thinking and writing about whatever is noble and excellent, and how to bring those things to bear to nurture meaningful lives. I first met Junius at the CS Lewis Writers Conference in Colorado. His take on the creative process was so unique and compelling that I invited him on the podcast to talk with him more. In this episode we talk about receiving wonder and adding to the stock of the world’s wonders. And Junius Johnson asks, “Who invented dragons?”
You can find out more about Dr. Johnson’s classes at JuniusJohnson.com
One of my very favorite Tuesday letters of all time! I've lost count of how many times I've reread the original, which is starred in my inbox and has been printed as a keepsake. The joy and company found in The Habit never gets old.
The tale of the gathering of all those short stories reminded me of “Stone Soup.”
A few stones were needed, the con-artist said. Nothing more. But then the townfolk found potatoes, carrots, salt, and onions. They gave freely, the fragrance arose, the taste grew, and the sustenance filled the hollow stomachs.
In the case of The Habit short story request, there was no con-artist—just a regular town crier, many fine townfolk, and an empty book filled to overflowing.
TAT