Love thy neighbor—and if he happens to be tall, debonair and devastating, it will be that much easier. —Mae West

In Cyberspace, Everyone Can Hear You Scream

The definition of the word meme is a unit of cultural knowledge. These days, the spread of a meme is measured in days, or even hours, as it spreads from person to person via social media, text, Email, and then, sometimes, mainstream media. Cyberspace is vast, but somehow we all seem to be packed tightly together. The wonderful and horrible thing about technology is that it makes neighbors of us all, and at any moment our words have the potential to inspire or wound people we know and even those we don’t.

Tomorrow Is #GoodNeighborDay

Generally speaking, writers are sensitive people. This is part of what makes them want to write. And this is why it is so important for writers to support other writers. Today, since I am here before you in your inbox, I want to let you know that you’re doing a good job. Sitting down and engaging with a thought is not easy, nor is spending long periods of time alone and concentrating on a story or sentence. Every time you put in the work, you are doing something hard and something worth doing. 

I want to let you know that you’re doing a good job.

If there is a writer in your life who could use your support, think about letting them know that they matter. Send them a positive message on social media or simply forward this email to them with a note that you’re thinking of them. We’re all living in our writerly neighborhood together.