# INKLINGS OF THE 21st CENTURY - #WRITINGCOMMUNITY:
## A LOOK AT THE INFORMATION SEEKING PRACTICE OF WRITERS

Arielle VanderSchans, University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Information and Media Studies. avand4@uwo.ca

## Introduction

In the LIS field, the study of fiction writers is relatively understudied. While works have not focused on fiction writers specifically, they have looked at the information seeking behavior of other creative groups, for example theatre artists. <fnref n="3" />

My work aims to broaden the research done on writers as information seekers, focusing on information seeking within a community of practice.

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Scepter of Amun (Book Blogger/Reviewer) @Madaaworld12 · 5h

**#StrictlyWriting** What do you want to see more of in fantasy? Ancient Greek fantasy? Ancient Roman fantasy? Indian fantasy? I'd like to know your thoughts! What's the next historical fiction book in an period that you'd want?

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## The Inklings

A group, as Tolkien explains, that was for ""people with vague or half-formed intimations and ideas" and "those who dabble in ink"—thus doubly suitable for a group of writers discussing works-in-progress".<fnref n="1" />

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## Proposed Research Questions

My work aims to explore the following questions in regard to #writingcommunity and the writers that participate in it.

1. What is the effect of the writer's relationship to #writingcommunity on their information seeking?

2. What do they get from being a part of the #writingcommunity?

3. What levels of trust are given when information seeking in the #writingcommunity?

4. At what stages of writing do writers rely on help from the #writingcommunity?

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## #writingcommunity

Writers are drawn to communities of practice to help them learn the craft, improve upon their work, and navigate the world of publishing.

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Elise Carlson @ElisesWritings · Nov 27, 2019

#WritingCommunity Tags P1

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Following

#WriterLift (any day)

#PayItForward

#SpreadLove

#FF (Follow Friday)

Write Tips

#WriteTip

#WritingTips

#WriteBetter

#WritingCommunityNewsLetter

Edit Tips

#AskEditor

#TenThings @DelilahSDawson

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S.J Tinniswood @SJTinniswood · 1h

Which part of the writing process do you find most difficult? Plotting, writing or editing? Plotting is for me, not necisarily the hardest, but the most drawn out. Feels like I have to wait for inspiration to strike 😂 #StrictlyWriting #WritingCommunity #WritersCafe

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Nancy C. Walker and Kristen Roedel (she/her) is querying liked

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Lorena @pandorasgirl1 · 17h

#WritingCommunity help!! Do you think it's okay for a non-LGBT+ author to write a gay MC if the story is not about their sexuality? In my case a suspense/family drama/contemporary, but with a romance as a subplot

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Jennifer Swift @JeniSwift · 5h

I feel like I'm stuck. My characters are acting strangely and it's unnerving me.

Help, has anyone else gone through this?

#StrictlyWriting #WritingCommunity #amwritingscifi

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<footnote n="1">1. Schakel, Peter. "Inklings." Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 29 May 2016, www.britannica.com/topic/Inklings.</footnote>

<footnote n="2">2. Holappa, Harri. 2017. "The Information-Seeking Behaviour of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers." Master's Thesis. University of Oulu, Finland.</footnote>

<footnote n="3">3. Schreurs, Kathleen. 2017. "The E-Writing Experiences of Literary Authors". Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 4898.</footnote>

<footnote n="4">4. Smith, Jennifer. 2015. "The Information Behaviour of Authors Children's and Young Adult Literature", Aberystwyth University. Wales, UK. pg 151-198</footnote>

<footnote n="3">3. Medaille, Ann. 2010. Creativity and craft: the information-seeking behavior of theatre artists. Journal of Documentation, 66(3), 327-347.</footnote>

<footnote n="4">4. Desrochers, Nadine & Pecoskie, Jen. 2015. Studying a boundary-defying group: An analytical review of the literature surrounding the information habits of writers. Library & Information Science Research, Vol 37 Iss. 4 pp. 311-322</footnote>

<footnote n="5">5. Ellis, Jennifer. N.d. "Writing and Solitude." Jennifer Ellis - Writing, www.jenniferellis.ca/writing-and-solitude.</footnote>