Asakiyume mita

Writing circles can/could be helpful for a lot of things (I'm sure), but I'd hate to see them as a prerequisite for trying to get published. How is a new writer supposed to find and be accepted by a writing circle? What about people who have difficulty with social interactions (I'm not talking about someone who has hurt/harassed/manipulated others, just introverted or socially awkward) or just work better by themselves -- should they not be allowed to submit for publication? Finding a group of people who you mesh with both socially and in terms of writing interests, figuring out a structure to recommend what work and whose and when without hurt feelings, making sure everyone's work is similar enough that "zines could judge the type of stories they'd likely be getting" . . . that's a *lot* of groundwork to establish and maintain before someone can even think about submitting a work. As opposed to "read the submission guidelines and send an email." :)

(I'm not a professional writer nor trying to be, but that's just how it seems to me.)