Library Love + Jamora’s Writing Tips + Podcast

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Writer that I am, I hate to think where I’d be without my local public library. Querying literary agents to represent my novels (click this for info on them) doesn’t leave me with a heck of a lot of time for learning how other people live. Today’s guest, further down this post, is totally correct that building good stories and characters requires experiencing the world.

One way I keep abreast of how others work and job-search is through the Los Angeles County Library’s Work Ready series of live zoom classes. Not to worry if you don’t have their library card — they’ve got a YouTube channel filled with videos of their many types of events. Here’s their Work Ready playlist.

This week, I was totally mind-blown by their Work Ready: Careers in Hospitality edition. Community engagement coordinator Oleg Kagan interviewed Chef Mitchell Frieder about teaching at the Hospitality Training Academy (HTA).

Get this; free of charge, HTA trains, then finds jobs for low income, marginalized individuals! If a candidate owns non-skid shoes, is sound of mind/body/will-to-learn, the organization makes it happen. That includes providing everything from glasses, clothing, and bus passes, to teaching social skills and how to use a calculator!

Mitchell’s sincerity and commitment brought tears to my eyes…

Today’s guest blog post is by Jamora, who blogs from somewhere within the United States. Here he describes the qualities he believes writers need most…

To Writers by Jamora

What makes a great writer? The question everyone asks a writer. The response writers say after they are done thinking to themselves for a moment are various answers. Responses from writers usually say when asked the question writers must practice by writing every day, reading tons of books, organizing a story, drafting, and editing their stories.

The two qualities that I think stand out the most what makes a great writer is experiencing life and inspiration. Both of experiencing life and inspiration gives the writers materials to write to capture readers and what writers are passionate about writing about and knowledge of the subject. Writers need to experience life, unlike stereotypes that say writers are all introverted and recluses.

This is true for me. I still have to go out into the world and see what stories there are to write about. Writers must go and observe the world to communicate what is out there. Because you can only write things if you go out into the world and write original and creative stories. Whether you are researching a book in the library, traveling, hanging out, conversing with friends, interviewing people for an article or book, or just living your life. The inspiration for what writing style and what a writer wants to share with the world.

Writers who see the world can observe a lens that others would not think of or think of the words to write down. You get to express those ideas from your experiences in life and get inspired by those tales you lived. Thinking of ways to create a story that I wrote and created myself gives me much satisfaction and helps me become a better writer. Living and learning about the world conveys these thoughts into a story is what a writer does best. So, writers go out into the world and get inspired by writing. You never know what your experience and inspiration can lead to.

What qualities do you think novelists need most?