Why You Need a Writing Community

(And How to Find One)

One of the first suggestions I give anyone who says they want to write a book is to find a community of writers to surround themselves with and who they can feel supported by. Why? Because writing, by nature, can be a very isolating, lonely endeavor if you allow it to be. But if we write in solitude, never connecting with other writers or seeking help or critique or guidance, we impede our ability to improve as writers.

Why A Writing Community Is So Important

While I know it’s not the case for everyone, some writers are lucky to have people in their lives who support their dream of writing a book and who support them on their writing journey. But often times, those people aren’t writers themselves. So, while they can support and encourage you, they may not necessarily know the best ways to help you when for example, you’re experiencing writer’s block or struggling with the woes of querying agents. They may want the best for you, but they just don’t understand the world of writing and submitting and publishing, and that’s okay.

This is where finding a community of writers is a game changer. Continuing to write in a solitary bubble can only bring you so far. And while when you’re starting out you may be okay working in a word bubble you created for yourself, but eventually we need to look beyond ourselves and search out a community.

Having a community of writers to surround us helps in multiple ways. First, writers understand the writing life. They understand the ups and downs of drafting and revising and polishing a manuscript. They understand genre considerations. They understand the pros and cons of traditional publishing versus indie publishing. They understand that being a writer takes so many different forms from stay-at-home mom writing when the kids go to bed to writing alongside a full-time job to copywriting as a side hustle to support our dream of writing a novel. And the list goes on. Every writer’s life is different, but at the end of the day, we can all connect over the highs and lows of writing. Having a community who understands this dynamic can help, especially on those days where it all feels impossible. On the days when you’ve tucked the kids in but you can’t bring yourself to open the laptop, your community will be there to support you whether that means encouraging you to write just for five minutes or to give yourself some grace and go to sleep.

Secondly, other writers know where the resources are. It wasn’t until I reached outside of my word bubble and started interacting with other writers that I started to really learn about the craft and business of writing. Other writers know who the “experts” are, or which blogs are motivational and/or educational, or which craft books or workshops are worth investing in. By connecting with other writers and seeing what they’re doing, who they’re following, and where they’re going, you start to expand your horizons as well. You attend workshops you might not have heard of before. You find blogs you didn’t know about. You open yourself up to the possibility of finding and learning new information which can only benefit your writing in ways you alone couldn’t.

And third, other writers have answers. By seeking out writers at varying levels from beginner to multi-published, you now have a community to reach out to when you need answers. Whether you’re stuck on a plot point, need help deciphering if an agent is legit, need formatting help, or any other wide range of things you might need help with, other writers have the answers. You can save yourself so much time and energy by going directly to these other writers. And knowing they have your back can help you feel encouraged even when you’re struggling.

Where to Find a Community

So, now that I’ve convinced you that you need a writing community, where do you find one?

Finding a community can feel like an overwhelming feat, especially if you don’t already know any other writers. When I first started searching out writing communities, I initially felt defeated. The ones I came across just didn’t feel “right” to me. The writers didn’t write what I wrote or I just didn’t connect with them. I gave up several times. But then I found the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) and finally found a community I felt like I connected with. And from there, I had a better idea of what I was looking for in a community and found several other communities to become a part of.

My biggest advice is not to give up. If you link with a group or association and it just doesn’t feel right, that’s okay. Keep looking. There’s a community out there that will fit for you. Sometimes it’s just like dating—you have to try a few options before you find one that’s comfortable.

My first suggestion would be to consider what genre you write and start there. Is there already an established association or group for your genre? For example, I write women’s fiction, so joining the WFWA made sense—this was a group of writers who wrote similar stories to what I wrote, so we already had that in common. If you write romance, you might look into the Contemporary Romance Writers association or one of the many romance writing groups on Facebook. Starting with your genre helps you connect with writers who are like-minded since they write similar stories, and this can help you feel a connection initially with them.

From there, my favorite place to search for new writing communities is Facebook groups. There are so many different groups for writers that it would hard to find one you don’t fit with. Again, try different groups and get a feel for their vibe. Some groups are better run and managed than others, and it’s important to keep in mind that a group should feel supportive and safe rather than a space where writers are being torn down regularly. If you don’t fit with a group, feel free to move on, but this is a great way to connect with other writers and has the potential for developing one-on-one relationships with individuals you connect well with in the group.

Another great place for finding a writing community is Instagram. There is an extremely welcoming and supportive community of writers on Instagram, and not only does this allow you the opportunity to build up your social media presence as an author, but you can connect with like-minded writers here as well and develop relationships.

My last recommendation is to not overlook local communities. The internet is a wonderful place to build communities, and if you live in an area where there’s not much in the way of a local writing community, this will likely remain your best bet. But don’t forget to search in your own area to see if there are any groups or events you might participate with in order to meet with local writers. Having someone in your area to meet up with and talk writing with can be a great way to feel supported and connected with the writing community.

Remember that it might feel like a bit of trial and error at first, but once you do find a community that you connect with, the impact can be so beneficial for your writing. Having a community of support and wisdom that you can tap into can help you improve your writing and feel more confident in your identity as a writer. If you want more guidance on how to find a community, feel free to reach out. I’d love to help you!