There is a La Union Books and Arts Exhibit right now at the SM City La Union, and this got me thinking.
Every city has its share of storytellers. Some write novels. Some write long social media captions that probably should have been novels. I personally think a city with no active writers feels a bit empty, like a place that only knows traffic and billboards but has no imagination. A writing culture is not optional. It is the difference between a town that thinks and a town that merely exists.
If you want to encourage a writing culture where you live, start by following these 3 steps:
Step 1: Make writers visible.
Invite local authors to your library, schools, community centers, and yes even your neighborhood book clubs. In fact, book clubs are one of the easiest groups to involve, because they already read, already discuss stories, and usually already have snacks. A sponsored book club event featuring a hometown author can do more for visibility than a month of posters. And honestly, if your city keeps hiding its writers, it should not be surprised when no one reads them.
Step 2: Celebrate small wins.
A finished poem? Applaud it. A first draft that looks suspiciously like a disaster? Applaud it anyway. In my opinion, a city that refuses to cheer for its own writers has no right to complain that “no one here creates anything.”
Book clubs can help here too. Let them sponsor monthly “tiny triumphs” or simple quick shares of new writing. No pressure, no judgment, just encouragement. Writing is difficult. A community that cannot celebrate effort probably does not deserve the results.
Step 3: Treat writing as normal.
Make writing as ordinary as buying bread or taking out the trash. When a city treats writers like UNICORNS or rare mythical creatures, people assume that writing is beyond them. It is not. Most people can write, and many would try if the environment stopped making it look like an elite sport. Even book clubs can normalize it by hosting casual writing nights instead of just reading sessions. Once storytelling becomes part of everyday routine, more voices show up and the city becomes richer for it.
Call to Action for Librarians and Teachers
If you are a librarian, a teacher, or someone who runs a book club, you have more power than you think. You can bring writers out of hiding, give them space to share, and make your city feel a little more alive. Try hosting one local author event. Try sponsoring one small writing activity. Try cheering for one beginner who is not sure their work is any good.
Small actions matter. And if your city becomes a place where stories grow, you can quietly take some credit, which is always nice.