You don’t have to spend a lot of money to become a better writer. That’s a good thing because most writers don’t have a ton of money to throw around.
The library has all the resources a writer needs. It’s always been one of my favorite places on Earth. Here are the reasons why libraries are writers’ best friends:
Research
*Researching your book: Libraries have computers with internet capabilities. They have books and periodicals on a multitude of different subjects. They also have research librarians/information specialists who can help you with research and find reference materials to help you in your search.
*Researching your genre: You can easily check out a dozen recently-published books in your genre. It’s a quick way to see what publishers are looking for.
*Need help with grammar and writing style? The library will have reference books to help you. My favorite style book is Elements of Style by Strunk and White. It’s been around for ages.
*Books on the writing craft? Different libraries have different books, but there are some that will be in nearly every branch: like On Writing by Stephen King, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, and On Writing Well by William Zinsser.
*Some libraries will have subscriptions to helpful periodicals like Writer’s Digest.
A Place to Write
*Has your house gotten crazy? Kids/spouse driving you nuts? Is a coffeehouse too expensive? The public library is a great place to write.
Help With the Submission Process
*Looking for an agent? Look at the acknowledgements page in one of the recent releases in your genre. Agents are nearly always thanked.
*Another great way to find agent and editor names is by using Writer’s Market and Literary Market Place. Using these books at the library means saving lots of money—these books are expensive.
*Need help quickly summing up your book in a query letter? Look at back cover copy of novels in your genre.
*Don’t have email and you need to email some queries? You can set up a Gmail or Hotmail account that can be accessed from a computer at your local library.
Promotion
*Libraries are major book purchasers. Find out which libraries have your book. Go to WorldCat.org, which searches libraries for content worldwide. You just plug in your book’s name, hit the search button, and find the results. For a listing of public libraries, go to Public Libraries.com. You’ll get physical addresses, phone numbers, and websites (from which you can get the library’s email address).Send the acquisitions librarian an email or postcard with your cover photo, ISBN number, title of the book, publisher’s name, your name, release date, short summary, and any good review snippets.
*The librarians at my local branch are my friends, too. They’ve been incredibly supportive—my book is nearly always checked out of the library or on request because of their generous recommendations of my book to patrons. They’ve also put my book on a display with other regional authors.
*If you’re looking for a place to give a writing workshop or talk, your library usually has a meeting room that’s perfect for your event. Many of them will allow you to sell your book as well (it’s nice to give a donation to their Friends of the Library program if your signing is for-profit.)
*Libraries also provide locations for writing groups and book clubs to gather. For some writers, meeting with other writers and readers is a great way to network and find support and encouragement.
There are many expensive paths a writer can take toward professional development. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Writing shouldn’t have to cost more than the pen and paper you’re writing on.
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2010 is a happy and successful year for all of you! And…if you’re throwing a party tonight, I have a party idea for you on the Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen.
I am totally about the library, too! Like you pointed out, it’s not just about the free books–it’s about the community.
Elizabeth – You’re right. The library is a rich resource for writers, and I’ve been a major patron of our library for a long time. Thanks for the reminder : ).
Libraries are a wonderful place for both the author and the reader. It amazes me just how much the libraries do offer.
If you have a chance, stop by Thoughts in Progress I have an award to pass onto you.
Have a safe and Happy New Year.
Happy New Year! Libraries are wonderful–I checked out piles of books as a child–but I don’t go as often as I should anymore. You’ve inspired me to visit.
Great summary, Elizabeth! I hope to become better friends with my library over the next year. Which librarian did you first talk with, the head one? I’m wondering who is the best person to begin connecting with.
I LOVE libraries. In fact, my publisher for When Danger Calls, targets the library market. I LOVE it when someone says they got my book from a library (they tend to be apologetic, but honestly, the publisher makes its cut, and I get my royalties.)
I’ve attended and given library programs. What’s not to love about talking about books? When I was an Adult Literacy tutor, we met at the library. And libraries today are not what they were when I was a kid.
I’ve visited my library more since commiting to writing than ever before. It’s been a pleasant retreat- especially since to family and friends writing doesn’t look like a job. Sometimes I have to get up and go to work!
Have a Happy New Year Elizabeth!
I love my library too. I’ve been visiting it at least once a month since I was 4 :)
Happy New Year!!!!! Thanks for being so helpful since I started my blog and my writing again. I am glad I found you.
Hey, I need help again. Can you point me in the direction of one of your posts and/or a book on character development. I’m quite a character myself, but that doesn’t help. I need to work on this area. You can email me or post it here, whatever you choose is great with me. Or tell me to shut up and go away!
Excellent points, Elizabeth! Gives us all food for thought.
Good points. My only problem with my local library is that it’s not open on Sunday. For some reason that always turns out to be the day when I find myself needing (or wanting) to go the most!
I love the library! Unfortunately, where I live right now there are none.
But you’re absolutely right about them. I used to go 2-3 times a week.
ann
Wonderful topic and great points. I love the library. I have a pretty extensive one myself, needing some of the very books you mentioned close at hand. For some of my recreationalmy reading however – the LIBRARY!
Have a great New Year, Elizabeth!
Winnie–It really is. I feel like it’s my second home there, and I look forward to my visits with the librarians!
Margot–You’re such a book lover, I bet you’re there all the time!
Mason–I don’t think I hit on all the great stuff, either. Music to play while you write, the opportunity to play around with new technology like the Kindle for free…
Thanks! I’ll pop by Thoughts in Progress.
Lorel–They are my FAVORITE places. You can also come across some very interesting real-life characters at the library…helpful for us novelists!
Jody–Honestly, the folks I spent the most time with were the library assistants at the checkout desk and even the pages. But I was at the branch often with my children, anyway…doing library storytime and that kind of thing for years. When I was published a few years ago, they were very proactive with me and introduced me to their library manager. But the library assistants were the ones who probably helped me out the most by recommending my book to patrons–they’re the folks the patrons get to know, since they check them out, collect their fines, etc.
Diane–Thanks!
Jane–I know what you mean. The Charlotte, NC metro area is really large so I’m lucky to be close to 2 regional branches that are open on Sunday. My local branch, in Matthews, is closed Sunday. I’m a during-the-week visitor usually.
Ann–No library!? Oh, my goodness. You sent a chill up my spine. That would be an expensive place for me to live…I’d have to buy too many books!
Crystal–I have to buy writing craft books, too! That’s because I’m an underliner. But I usually check the book out from the library first to make sure it’s a good resource before I buy it.
I totally agree with these. Libraries are some kind of temples for me; a place of peace and information that guides my imagination. But a great amount of libraries in Turkey lack of technology, unfortunately.
Happy new years. Loves.
Frugal tips, Elizabeth!
yağmur–Great way of putting it…a temple of knowledge! Sorry about yours not being as high-tech. There have been a lot of changes in the past 10 years for the ones in the States.
Alex–I’ve got an eye to the pocketbook. :)
Terry–I always point people to the library to read my book, too. After all, it’s been paid for!
I love library programs and just being IN the place. Very inspiring for me to be surrounded by books.
Tamika–Libraries can serve as an office, can’t they? They are GREAT places to get away from family and get work done.
Some great points here. The library is a must stop spot for most writers I think though I generally do my research online at home. Thanks for the post.
I don’t know what I’d do without my local libraries. A few years ago funding was drastically cut and my hometown library was only open 2 days a week. Obviously, many other people weren’t happy with the cuts and the budget was restored in the next election.
Happy New Year, Elizabeth!
Not just the public libraries, but the libraries of historical societies and Special Collections at university libraries are great places to work. Plus these places have wonderful trivia, etc., they can help you locate and you may be able to use some of it in your writing.
Since I work at a library, I live there during the day, and often stay afterward and visit on the weekends.
Jemi–I was a toddling patron, too! When you walk into any library anywhere, don’t you feel like you’re home?
I love the library for all those reasons as well. My wife and I are empty nesters now so it’s plenty peaceful at home but I still go to the library to write. Something about the atmosphere – and the people – I’m a real people watcher, get lots of ideas and inspirations from just watching the things people do, say, and act like.
Love the library – one gets the buying rush without spending a cent – or at least I do. I go to the library for books on chickens and Henry VIII and building a compost box and finding out where my character’s ancestors are from. I get books on making curtains and Italian cooking and every mystery in a series I like. I look up local history and go to my friends’ book and poetry readings. I take my friend, who panhandles in front of the library, for a coffee and a conversation. I listen to buskers and eat chips on the wall in front of the library. I feed the pigeons and read ever so slowly a book on how to make hats. The library rocks.
Happy New Year DEAR DEAR Elizabeth!
You are always so helpful with advice. You’re right, the Literary Marketplace is expensive. When I was E.D. of the Writers League of Texas, we bought it, but about the only places locally to find it were in the public libraries or the WLT library, because of the cost.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Teresa–I’m so glad you came here!
Let’s see…good character development articles I’ve seen recently are:
http://www.plottopunctuation.com/blog/show/42
http://killerhobbies.blogspot.com/2009/11/lesson-one-character.html
http://www.plottopunctuation.com/blog/show/44
Hope those will get you started in the right direction! I love those kinds of articles. I know I’ve got some more articles stowed away, so I’ll check back with you later with some more info!
Marvin–It’s true–lots of characters at the library! Sometimes I get wonderful ideas there.
Jan–And where else could we get information like that! A fellow library fan! I love your comment…and hope you have a very happy New Year, Jan!
Cassandra–I do a lot of research from home, but sometimes I reach a point where I need some extra help and I go to the library. If nothing else, it helps me work my way through a block!
Helen–I think there’s an online version, but even that’s an expensive subscription.
Janel–I think I’d be marching on the street! It’s never easy to decide what areas of a budget to cut…but why not put up with a few potholes in the roads instead of cutting back library services?
Cyn–That’s a great idea! I haven’t spent too much time in those types of libraries, but love the historical rooms of different town halls, etc. And college libraries are also really useful and have interesting local collections of history and trivia.
I feel better the moment I walk through the doors… Although we live next door to the library- my books are inevitably late :) Once they are in my possession, I hate to return them
Think I have just made my first resolution- spend more time next door..
Sally–Too funny! I’d probably never be home if I lived next door to a library. I know someone who does and I’ve always been very envious!
Wow, your posts are always so informative. I love my library and the librarians – they know me well. But it never occurred to me they might be helpful in the future during my writing career. (Or how many free resources the library actually contained.)
Thanks for taking the time you do with this blog. A pleasure as always to read your words.
~ Corra :)
Corra–Thanks! Yes, the library has been great promotion-wise here for me in the Charlotte area. Even though the readers were checking out the book from the library, it helped a lot with local recognition, appearances, and sales (readers bought books for relatives as gifts.)
Don’t get me started on the wonders of the American library. Not everyone has access to such resources in other parts of the world, (my husband travels for business.) Since I was a very young child I have been absolutely in love with the library experience. Happy New Year Elizabeth!
Thanks. Some great practical advice there.
Elizabeth–I would be so upset if I ended up moving somewhere without a good library system!
Happy New Year!
Shelia–Thanks! And thanks so much for coming by.
Thank you for sharing your fantastic view on libraries’ “utilities”, so to say, heh.
I never thought of it as a marketing vehicle, but it makes much sense!
Besides, libraries are wonderful things in themselves. :)
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