Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Ignoring Your Local Library

Everyone makes mistakes—even writers—but that’s OK because each mistake is a great learning opportunity. The Writer’s Digest team has witnessed many mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them early in the process. Note: The mistakes in this series aren’t focused on grammar rules, though we offer help in that area as well.

(Grammar rules for writers.)

Rather, we’re looking at bigger-picture mistakes and mishaps, including the error of using too much exposition, neglecting research, or researching too much. This week’s writing mistake writers make is ignoring your local library.

Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Ignoring Your Local Library

I was a library kid—I grew up going to the library throughout the year to hang out, check out books, and participate in crafting and science-based children’s programs. Then, every summer, I would engage with the reading challenges.

As a college student, I utilized the library in a different way; I went there for a quiet place to study, do research, and indulge in the quiet, low-key atmosphere.

As an adult, I let my relationship with libraries wane…until the COVID lockdown. Thankfully, I had already gone and gotten my library card before the lockdown, but after, I was able to check out as many books as I wanted through their online system. I read countless e-books late at night when I was having trouble sleeping, worry and confinement messing with my REM cycles, and they gave me a place to find hope and joy when the world seemed so dark.

As a parent, I began to use the library even more. When my spouse went back to work after his family leave ended, and I still had six weeks to go, I thought to myself, I have to get this baby out of the house. We started going to the library’s baby time, where we would sit with other parents and their infants and sing, read books, play with instruments, and watch the bubble machine.

Since then, I’ve started going to adult-only programs as well! It’s made me realize that the library isn’t just a place to check out books—it’s a place to grow your experiences as a writer and become a better, more rounded individual. And the best part? Most of these programs are free to participate in!

(Oakland Public Library Exhibits Items Found in Returned Books)

Mistake Fix: Explore How Your Library Can Make You a Better Writer!

Book Clubs

Whether you write romance, fantasy, nonfiction, or poetry, there’s probably a book club at your library that will connect you with readers who love those genres. When you attend the book clubs, make note of the aspects of the books that readers loved—how did they find the character? Did they connect with the tone? Did they find the plot moving? What didn’t they like about it? Asking yourself these questions can help you when you turn to your own story construction.

Local Author Meet-and-Greets

Even if you’re not at the stage where you are running your own readings and meet-and-greets, it can be a great behind-the-scenes look at how these events are run by attending another author’s! Often, you’ll see how much work is on an author to set-up, structure, and run the event, as well as the kinds of Q&A questions the audience will ask and how different authors handle those conversations.

History and Culture Workshops

Depending on what you write, it might be worthwhile to attend any history- or culture-based programing that your library offers. For example, my library holds African and Polynesian dance and music sessions, local history discussions, and multilingual conversation spaces. These events can give you a more real-world understanding of aspects of your storytelling and can help you bring that world-building to life on the page. It can also connect you with experts in these fields that will be able to assist you with your research.

Hobby Engagement

I’m currently reading A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley, and the main character is a talented and passionate gardener. I’ve been very impressed by the level of knowledge Hawley has managed to pack into the text without it feeling over- or underdone! Local libraries are a wonderful font of knowledge for different hobbies and crafts, from gardening to cooking to crafting. You’ll be able to connect with people who have just started their journey and people who have been doing it for years! And typically there will also be workshops that you can attend to further your knowledge. For example, this fall my spouse and I are attending a vermicomposting workshop so that I can get better at reducing our food waste and improve my garden’s environment!

Your library might even offer writing-specific networking, workshops, and events, especially during November with the popularity of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

Open Mic Nights

Open mics are a great place to connect with other writers and they’re also good for learning how to read your work in front of an audience, something that you’ll most likely have to do in your writing career! They’re typically fun, low-key, supportive environments, but even if you’re not ready to hop up on the mic yourself, feel free to attend and support others in your local community.

No matter how you choose to engage, your library has a lot to offer you! Don’t make the mistake of letting these valuable resources pass you by.

This course will demonstrate that the best way to become a good writer is to study the writing of others, especially the work of the masters. Regardless of your genre (mystery, romance, horror, science fiction, fantasy, mainstream, or literary), you will hone your writing skills as a result of this class’ examination of the ways masters of the art and craft created intellectually and emotionally rich and compelling stories that became classics.

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