Michael Shields

First off, I would like to thank William Carl for the invitation to be a mentor, alongside an assemblage of diverse, inspiring, and extremely talented writers, at LeConte Publishing. It is an honor. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Michael Shields and I am the Editor in Chief at Across The Margin, a role I have been lucky enough to embrace for eleven years. I can only assume that this introductory statement stimulates curiosity from many readers, and compels one to ponder: What is Across The Margin? Simply put, Across the Margin is an online Arts & Culture magazine, publishing company, and media group. Within the “pages'' of the website can be found an eclectic mix of fiction, criticism, essays, satire, and poetry whose aim is to explore the current state of the world around us, and the depths of our human nature. In the eleven years since Across the Margin's inception, I have had the distinct privilege of working with thousands of authors of varying experience and talent levels, and it is a thrill and gift in each and every case. With each passing year, I grow increasingly grateful to those that trust me and my team with their art, their passions, their poems, and their stories. I intimately understand the bravery it takes to hand over a piece of work that you have poured your everything into. But that bravery is just what I emphatically recommend as someone who has labored on both sides of things, as a writer and editor. It has been my experience that trusting and working with others in writing opens the doors to possibilities that one might not come upon alone. Allow me to elaborate. 

What I find so beautiful, and I am so appreciative of, is that I have learned as much (or more!) through working with writers as they have learned from me. Through having the opportunity to wade into their musings and analyze their stylistic approaches, I have grown. Through the discussions I have shared with writers about their approach, their mindset, and aims of their work, I have grown. An editor-writer (or writer-writer, whatever works for your) relationship can truly be a symbiotic, mutually beneficial relationship. The trick of course is to find that writer or editor you are comfortable working with —  not such an easy task I know. But I do urge you to make the effort, to take the leap. With writing, you will often find yourself accompanied by little but a luminous computer screen before you, but in the end you don’t have to go it alone. There is help out there, this mentor’s listing is proof of that. 

I have had the fortunate opportunity to learn from well-established authors that I interview for Across The Margin : The Podcast. I cherish these conversations, ones where I inquire about process and technique. The nuggets of knowledge I walk away with are awe-inspiring. But these advantageous offerings are not for my ears alone. The sage minds and writers who we are lucky enough to share the planet with are out there sharing their wisdom in spades. Seek it out, and soak it in. 

You would think a “mentor” would be offering advice rather than talking about learning, but that there is the key I believe. Stay curious. Always keep learning. Be less precious with your work. Be vulnerable. Ask for help. Trust your editors and fellow authors. Writing can be and is a team sport, and the more you give over to the collaboration, and to the advice, and to the help and kindness of others, the better your work will be. And you might just have an outstanding time and experience collaborating with like minds.

Michael Shields

Editor in Chief, Across the Margin / ATM Publishing

Host, Across The Margin: The Podcast (Osiris Media)

Host, Welcome To The Party Pal (Osiris Media)

acrossthemargin.com

mikeshields13@gmail.com

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347.801.3365