Phi Beta Writa
I love meeting other writers. It's why I have this blog. Why I have writer pals. Why I had the chat last night. As Liz Wolfe wrote me after the chat, it's almost as fun talking with other writers about writing as it is doing the actual writing.
Especially when I am procrastinating (which is often).
But I think the main reason I love talking about writing is it's the ONE time I feel like I belong. I have wandered my whole life as an outsider, feeling different, feeling eccentric or odd or even lonely. In my head more than in the world sometimes--until I had children (in which case, a Demon Baby who has found a permanent Sharpie pen will pull you into the world faster than you can say "Demon on the loose!"). And constantly . . . and I mean constantly . . . I have this brain that never rests. Other people can zone out. I have to FORCE myself to rest my brain. It's both the most wondrous aspect of my life . . . and the one thing that tires me out sometimes.
Now, when I was in college, I was in Phi Beta Kappa. There was a ceremony. Tuxedos. A velvet dress. A secret handshake. A gold key that I am not even sure where it is anymore. A piece of sheepskin. A banquet. But you know? It wasn't like I "related" to the other people. We didn't all high five each other and go, "Cool, now we're in this club."
Nope. This blog and my critique group are the closest I will ever come to having a crew. A posse. A gang. A sorority. A fraternity. It's the closest I ever come to feeling understood.
It's Phi Beta Writa.
Wanna join?
P.S. Oldest Daughter says this is for losers. But who cares? I'm having a kegger anyway.
36 comments:
Yes, Phi Beta Writa...and we all get a gold keyboard!
All but one of my writer-friends are online people I've never met. The one I know in real life I met online.
God Bless the Internet.
Cool, Amy . . . you're in.
:-)
And LOVE the idea of the gold keyboard!
E
YES!!!
Oh I agree! It is the best feeling in the world to have met such an awesome group of writers - who knew there was such a great writers community?
A gold keyboard is kind of big, how about a golden pencil?
Kegger? Where?
Oops...my inner 20-something is showing.
And I want the gold keyboard, too. I've worn most of the letters off mine.
I'm in a couple of internationally far-flung literary friendships that predate the Internet. Like Amy, though, almost everyone I talk to nowadays (more than small talk) are the fellow writers I've met online.
Your blog is the best coffee shop a wannabe could wish for.
I'm so in! We don't have sorority's or anything in New Zealand and Phi Beta Writa sounds like the best one. I vote for a ruby red fountain pen!
Spy:
I knew you'd pledge. Now we're sorority sisters. :-)
xo
E
Hi Ello:
Pencil is good, though I swear when I write in longhand now I get hand cramps. LOL!
E
Liz:
Beer bongs for everyone.
Ohh . . . sorry. Had a college flashback.
(Actually . . . I didn't drink at all in college, so perhaps I am going through my FIRST adolescence).
E
Steve:
Welcome to my coffee shop.
And I have a core group of writer friends from along the way . . . but this crew . . . aww . . . now I'm gettin' all misty-eyed.
;-)
E
kerryn:
I like the way you think. May have to hunt on the Internet for some Phi Beta Writa gear.
:-)
E
I wanna join. Are there any particular qualifications?
Do we get to have rumbles with rival gangs?
Jude:
No rumbles. Well . . . maybe with anyone who doesn't think writers are cool.
E
Ha! I love being a loser. ;)
Do we get a T-shirt? ;)
Heather:
I may have to investigate that at Cafe Press today. :-)
E
Aw! Did I miss the kegger too? :0
No, Lainey . . . we'll have another one just for our pledge class.
E
I'm in! A ruby red fountain pen sounds just right to me -- but I'd be happy with a T-shirt.
I love the writing community. I had a big inner sigh of relief when I first found my critique group. And now my community is expanding. It keeps getting better.
I agree with you, actually. Writing blogs seem like a great way to hang with writers. In my so-called "real world" people who aren't writers just think we're nuts. And sometimes, when you go to a con, the egos get a little strange.
Hi Edie:
I know that sigh of relief.
:-)
E
Mark:
I'm not big into conferences. It;s a lot of money to spend . . . and I don't know . . . just a huge free-for-all in some ways. And the ego thing. And . . .
I would like to go to catch up with friends . . . but just don't seek them out anymore.
E
Yes, to the tee-shirt! Or even a little logo we could put on our websites.
I so agree it just feels wrong, sometimes, when 'normal' people are milling about. :-) I'm sure a majority of us are introverts, but for the reason that we don't have our 'people' around us often enough to explore the extrovert side. So when I do get around fellow writers, I seem to gab and chat and it's so awesome!
Hi Michele:
I'm an introvert who likes being around people in spurts. :-)
E
Cool Erica, I'm in a Phi Beta Writa Club! Whoot! Pass the beer bong, and gather close. We've all got some serious chattin' to do! I love this group.
Hi Ladonna:
Welcome to the pledge class. :-)
E
Love it. Ooh, can we have a secret handshake? I always wanted one of those...though I'm not sure what's so secret about a handshake.
Jen
LOL. Phi Beta Kappa has a secret handshake. It's so dorky.
But if you want one, we'll think of one. :-)
E
Count me in! Since I just started getting my hands dirty with zazzle.com, I'll be more than happy to design the T-shirts and the steins. Um...you'll have to fill mine with grape juice or lemonade. I don't drink. ;-)
Oh, Marcia . . . that would be so cool. :-)
E
LOL.. I am SOOOOOO in!
T-shirts are such a great idea. And the beer mugs. Don't forget, it is a two-drink minimum.
The chat on Sunday night was fantastic and amazing. I can't wait for the next one... using skype.
So are you saying that it is the Phi Beta Writa posse?
All of this brings to mind the writing salons of the early twentieth century that Gertrude Stein hosted. Her Paris home was a salon for the Cubist and experimental artist and writers, among them Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Juan Gris, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sherwood Anderson and Ernest Hemingway.
Maybe we are reinventing the salon online?
ewoh:
I believe we are, though I can't claim to be the next Gertrude by any long shot.
And I promise to figure out my damn Skype. I'd get a webcam, but . . . well, then if I feel like chatting in pjs, you'd all be subjected to my "lucky bathrobe."
:-)
E
hehehe I totally want to join. There's no hazing though right? ;)
Sorry I couldn't make the chat. I really wanted to but I was having technical difficulties. Hopefully I'll be there for the next one. :)
And we so definitely need t shirts.
zoe:
No hazing. Hazing is very un-zen.
:-)
E
A gold keyboard works for me, too!!
Btw..... I can't believe you're a procrastinator.... me on the other hand....
Sara:
You have NO idea.
:-)
LOL!
E
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