Sara: Communities

Confession: I am afraid of blogging. I think bloggers are very brave; I even think people who post what they are doing now on Facebook are very brave. I don't like making such public statements. My brother found creative ways to torture me and when we were young and rode the subway to school together, he would just have to talk loudly about me- “Sara has a big field hockey game today!”, and I would be extremely embarrassed and try to get into the next car. Pronouncements make me uncomfortable. So, why did I start a blog? Well, its a group blog, so I get to cower a little behind the writers I work with, which makes it less scary. But also, I wanted a place where all of my children's authors could meet, and some of them live far away and my apartment is also tiny and wouldn't work for such a party.

I am excited about the idea of us getting to know each other better-- and also about sharing the experience of getting emails from writers all day, many of which are funny, and many inspiring.

Publishing is an uncertain, difficult, crazy business -- making it all the more certain that we are all here because we love it and can’t imagine what other more sensible and more profitable job we would do instead. So communities are important. I am lucky to have a supportive group of agent friends whose group email chain I couldn’t do without, and I know so many of you have fabulous critique partners and writing groups— as well as family and friends who are supporting you. I hope this blog will become another community.