Some of us are better writers than we are speakers. That includes me.
I meant well when I signed up to help with a Sierra Club Get Out the Vote effort by making phone calls. Before the 30-minute training was over, I realized my time would be better spent writing GOTV letters.
So that’s what I’m doing. I’m way better at it.
This is one of those times when writers and other artists do well to examine how they can make the best use of their skills.
If you can talk and write, know that there’s an urgent need to call people to encourage them to vote and tell them why you think it’s important. Not so good on the phone? Sign up to write letters or texts.
The reasons to vote are many and my guess is you’re aware of them. One that should be especially important to writers right now is the First Amendment.
Whether you write or edit news, nonfiction, sci-fi, fantasy or some other genre – or if you express yourself through photography, visual arts, performing arts – your right to do that is under attack to an extreme we have not seen in the United States in a long time.
Exercise your rights. Write with a purpose. GOTV.
B.J.
The Smith Compound 