“Until a piece is accepted for publication, writing is blissfully and cursedly solitary work. There’s no one to tell me if I’m on the right track or help me through a sticking point.”
For me, writing community means first and foremost trusted writer friends who read my drafts and help me see if my pieces are on track or not. I do the same for them. For me this trust evolves through writing groups (both in person and online), through connecting at readings and conferences with people whose work I admire, and infrequently through an “I loved your piece in such and such journal” email or social media message. It has also evolved through the shared work of organizing readings, workshops, and other projects. Community in a rural or suburban area can also mean showing up to cheer other people’s creativity, even if their genre or style is very different than mine. Maybe I’m weird; maybe I spent long enough in my first career in tech to be struck by the differences between community and networking, but for me writing community has been a source of some of my best friends and most meaningful and enjoyable times.
I don’t think you’re weird at all, I think you’ve found the holy grail! I envy what you have. I’ve only recently found people who meet regularly, provide helpful feedback, and can be trusted to be honest. It took a long time and a lot of error to find them. It’s a game changer and I didn’t have it for so long, that it wasn’t a part of my life at the time of writing this piece. It’s also a whole other piece 😂🤣
A couple of my early communities evolved from the leadership of two generous, emotionally intelligent writing coaches. They modeled being a good group participant in so many ways…I’m realizing I’ve taken that for granted!
Oh man, you don’t know what you don’t know. I was so lucky my first experience with workshopping came from Laura Munson at a haven Writing Retreat where it was very clearly spelled out that our job was to say what we liked, what worked, to not in any way try to shape or change what the writer was doing or tell them what they should do instead. I was later in a critique group where a couple people tried to do exactly that and it was painful to witness, but I wouldn’t have known just how awful it was without the Haven experience. It might have felt bad, but I wouldn’t have a frame of reference. I try to remind myself about how lucky I’ve been, how much I’ve learned, how I still have such a long way to go.
This doesn't sound at all 'weird'! It sounds authentic and meaningful. I'm much more comfortable (and better at creating) smaller communities through my trusted and trusting critique groups, an online group, individual support and cheerleading, etc.
Yes to small groups! I founded and manage a reading series and open mic where we work hard to maintain a safe and trusting space for an audience that averages 40-60 people. I never imagined it might grow to that size, and while I’m really glad for my community that it’s thriving, that much interaction practically turns me into a babbling idiot each month. 😅 Fortunately, a team helps me run things. For me personally, my happiest / most productive space is in much smaller groups.
First, let me say I am a Luddite who would prefer to return to the days of stone tablets more often than not—but the internet has been essential for finding and CREATING community! And, I hate social media; that is not community, in my opinion.
Sure, there are some encouraging groups for writers out there, but the morass one must endure to find these gems is absolutely not worth the time and effort—again, in my opinion.
What’s a social-media-hating writer, who prefers to write longhand, to do? Well, I created community by getting trained to facilitate workshops. The training opened up a network of other facilitators, and I can honestly say the writers in my groups have become my favorite people.
ZOOM! Zoom is absolutely the answer—this from a person who swore she’d never appreciate a virtual workshop. I remember (somewhat fondly), the good old days of 2019, back before Zoom was installed on any of my devices. Sigh!
The pandemic opened up a whole world of opportunities to connect with writers all over the world, for which I am extremely grateful.
Shameless personal plug: If you’re working on a book, l’d love to connect with you. Check out my community at—
YAS! 🔥🔥🔥Thank you for creating what you want/need. That’s such a huge effort and enormous act of bravery. I’m so excited for you! I’m going out on a limb with a monthly zoom book club next month and fingers are crossed.
I’m doing it totally open, (nobody has to register) so you just join on the appointed day/time - if the first one doesn’t work I’ll have to change the format, but hoping this free drop in system will work… they are listed on my events page https://sundaydutroauthor.com/events/ and/or if you use Facebook they’re there as well AND I created a Facebook Group for those who like that sort of thing https://www.facebook.com/groups/469821332483263/?ref=share_group_link
Hi, Claire! Yes, Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) has been a godsend to create community. I really leaned it during the pandemic and have kept leaning in since then (I became a certified facilitator in 2013 but couldn't get workshops going locally - then COVID and Zoom, et voila!).
“ Search for writing groups in your area or that meet online. If there’s nothing that works for you, create what you want to see. Lead the group you wish you could join.”
I found wonderful writing groups in the UK & the US through meetup. Perfect fits right away. I recently moved to Germany and am struggling to find the perfect group, but that quote spoke to me. I decided to start my own, and we have our first meeting in two weeks. I’ll take this post as a sign that it’ll all be worth it 🥰
I have two concerns here: a) What do writers do when they are based in corners of the globe where not that many writers can be found around, especially in the form and genre I am doing my work--like in Japan or India? and b) I used to be this person following on, cheering, liking and commenting on fellow writers' publications and it used to take up a lot of my writing time, like seriously A LOT, and on some days I had bad headaches from all the screen time. I have since severely slashed my media time. Finally I have decided even though I may have benefitted from a group, I am not getting any.
I joke that not only can I not do everything, I can barely do anything. There is only so much time in a day and only so much we can do. My idea of community isn’t knowing 400,000 writers and we’re all best friends who check in with each other every day (that sounds exhausting!). My idea is a handful of writers I can ask questions of and know they’ll give me a thoughtful response, as well as a handful of writers right around my level that need to be cheered as much as I enjoy it as well. To me that’s do-able. But everyone is different. I’m so glad you know what you’ve taken a stand for yourself that doesn’t include the things you see as a time suck rather than as valuable. That’s so important and so hard to do.
You are right. The cheering on is a good feeling. Even flattering. I have been there, done that. But after a point, it also gets mindless. People quoting and tweeting new published work without actually reading them. Not offering any specific comment either. We see it all the time. You check some timelines and they'll be quote tweeting 10 new published pieces within 10 minutes. The 10 writers are happy, the platform is happy, but we are not promoting good work here, it is just "groupism". Finally, I don't know where you got that idea of "knowing 400,000 writers" and being "best friends". I am not even sure there are even 1% of them around to make friends with, let alone be "best friends". To my knowledge, community groups are for a handful of people. The vast majority are left out, due to many reasons. I'm glad you're receiving thoughtful responses from your group.
Places with Free resources have a form of payment. You critique a number of works, you get points that then you invest to have your stories critiqued. No money exchanged. They have the paid version, that give you private rooms where you can post all the chapters of your novel.
How ironic that after describing how she contacted loads of writers cold, the author did not provide her own contact information or any way to contact her. Instead, in effect, she closed with a suggestion that you give her money, by joining her Patreon. What a way to undermine one's message.
I’d love to have you contact me! I’m not on Substack and Patron has a free option. You can find me at www.sundaydutro.com or on Facebook/Instagram/Threads/YouTube as @sundaydutro
Maybe it’s because I’m older, but I’ve already told myself everything I’d write to myself. I’m excited about what I have to say tha strangers might read. That’s what drives my material. And if I bristle at someone’s comments, that probably means I’ve connected something in me with someone else. I learned a long time ago, rejection by its nature is never personal. Only acceptance is personal. That’s what makes it great.
It was much easier to find community as a poet than it has been now that I’m writing creative nonfiction. I had state poetry societies, MFA buddies, critique group (started with other poets in a workshop I was in—now going on 30 years), local reading series, etc. Just not finding these options for nonfiction.
I write primarily creative nonfiction. Your people are out there. Have you looked for creative nonfiction groups on Facebook? There are tons of them (doesn't mean that all will be perfect for you, but you could join and lurk and weed out the groups that don't have the right vibe). If you're in one of The Binders groups on Facebook that's a great place to ask. They probably even have a Binders for Nonfiction. Other options are to see who's publishing in the creatve nonfiction category of the litmags you read. Reach out to them. Tell them you liked their piece (if you did, don't lie). You'll grow your community with a little effort, but it's really a very little bit of effort.
I didn't have any luck asking on the poets' Binders page, but I hadn't thought to search there for other groups--thank you! And yes to reaching out to others in journals that I resonate with. Thanks!
Most of my published pieces have been flash (Drabble especially) and micro. I am not out looking for a flash community though, focusing instead on a community of writers in general, but I certainly understand how, at some point, you want your group to be a little more niche. I promise your people are out there. I'd ask in the bigger groups, like a Binders group on Facebook or somewhere that's already somewhat vetted by the moderators.
This makes me wonder. I don't know how some poets/writers would feel about this:
"In an effort to build my writing community I turned to Google, searching for authors in my state and creating a spreadsheet of their details: names, emails, websites, which lit mags they mentioned being published in. And then I contacted them either via their website contact form or an email—like a literary stalker, the internet Annie Wilkes."
Really... mostly my personal experience was that writers were not particularly interested in engaging with me until I had more to offer ... I'm not saying it's all intentional but writers/artists have egos and unfortunately many see engagement as transactional.
I'm an introvert and I'm busy, but I knew this post was going live today and created breaks of time to check comments and reply; the whole point of the post really 😊 I agree, there are people who see engagement as transactional, which is why I didn't expect to hear from even half of the people I contacted. I was blown away by the response I did receive. One of my favorite writers/people is Chris La Tray who just hit the big time with being chosen Montana Poet Laureate AND having his new memoir, Becoming Little Shell, drop yesterday. He's the busiest person on the planet right now, I guarantee it, and I promote him 100% because he's earned it, he deserves it, he's a good human. I don't ever expect to get anything out of my promotion of him. There are people who promote me and expect nothing in return, like Jonathan Edward Durham. There will always be people who recognize that we can help pull one another up because we believe in ourselves and each other...you just have to find them. 🥰
Yes! I did an MFA in studio art and I miss having a physical studio to go to outside of my home. Since I’ve shifted gears more to writing I’m not sure what it is I need in terms of community but I feel like I need something!
I love the idea of becoming a reader. I was thinking of finding a workshop.
Submittable is currently showing reader opportunities for Uncharted Mag, Wallstrait, Chestnut Review Auxiliary, Crab Creek Review (love their look), HerStry (swoon), and FeatureShoot...and that's just what's on Submittable....
(This post has been edited. I originally said "Substack" but meant "Submittable" because I am doof)
I am 78. I have been in five writer's, all with a definite sense of purpose-helping each other vigorously create our own art, and promoting radical poltical art.The first involved putting out yearly magazine, Towards Revolutionary Art TRA (ART spelled backwards. Very eclectic mag based in the Bay Area, about six regulqrs. including a fiction writer(me), a musician, a screenwriter, and three poets ( one of them made large stencils of his fiery poems and slapped them up late nigtt on the entrance doors of big banks and huge corporations. Another member put up her film critiques of sexist and racist movies all over African-American neighborhoods in San Francisco and Oakland. We stqyed afloqt by selling subsriptions to libraries across the countries. Most of qll, it was A PLACE to SHOW OUR WORK AND GET SERIOUS FEEDBACK. I dont see this that much in writing "commnunities today". They do everthing BUT give solid honest critique,partially ecause Americqn schools k-doctorate run on hierqrchical top down methods of "education" where students learn how to listen to lectures, or so-called writing coaches, or Amherst Writers, one of the older wrting groups with a very specific method. People read their writings. Only "positive" "critique is allowed",no "negative criticisms. FEW suggestions area alllowed.
Amherst Writers takes great care in not having any one's self-esteem or confidence disturbed. And other writing groups work on this model.
But without genuine criticism, how can anyone's writing improve? Some writers want more 'CRITIQUE" than someone saying " Wow, that's really greqt. I really like the description of your mom's teapot". or, "That is REALLY good." Good? Are we now talking about moral VALUES? Two other groups have writers come to one place and everyone writes in silence for qn hour or 2 . Then everyone,if they wish, gets to read what they have.
THE MAIN THING WRITERS DO IS WE WRITE .Alone. I wont get into a big thing qbout how too mqny people cqnt stand being alone. OK so you are on social media and you make 'connections" and or you. are "linked in". What andwho are these people? Do they care about you, your WORK.
"Social media" is a double, perhaps a triple edged sword. I loveit because Ifind out about writers and blogs from all over the world . I meeet writersbyREADING THEIR LITERATURE. I think it's very strange that on 'social media" I RARELY hear from writers the name of a singe author who wows them In my case it is Virginia Woolf, especially To The Lighthouse, Gwendolyn Brooks (for my money ourgreatest poet, Damon Runyon one of our funniest writers, IJ Singer,, Denise Giardenia who wrote a searing novel about WestVirginia miners, and the twogreatest poets of the 20th entury-Pablo Neruda ofChile and Mahmoud Darwish of Palestine. Had he not been an Arab , he would have won the Nobel Prize 20 years ago. I will discuss tomorrow the other three other writers groups,
I don't want to be in a critique group that's out for blood. I want to be in one that genuinely tells me what's working so I can focus on what's working. By default, I will learn to lean into what works and away from what doesn't. There's no reason to be in a group that risks turning people off from writing when it's not necessary.
Love this. Finding community while doing something so solitary can be difficult. I feel so lucky to live in Tucson, which has an incredible literary community. I also am part of Author’s Guild and ALLi, great places to connect with writers!
Maybe you don't? There are loads of writers who prefer to do their own thing, in their own way, and never talk to anyone but immediate family and editors. I can absolutely respect that. But if you sometimes get the blues, if you sometimes wonder if you're spinning your wheels or what you're even DOING with this writing stuff...a community can be very helpful.
This is key to me as a writer. Writing only makes sense to me if someone else is going to read it. Even a shopping list has an audience: me in a half hour at the store, so I don’t forget something while I’m there. For me, writing is a conversation . Otherwise, I’d just amuse myself with my thoughts and keep eveyone else out of it so I can muse in peace.
When I discovered that poetry could exist in shared time/space, in the room with others, not just on the page or screen, it changed everything for me. But I had to connect directly with other writers. I organized open mics, organized readings featuring successful writers, I went to book fairs and other events, and I kept building my circle. I wanted the romance of the lone wolf writer but that’s the fastest route to not getting read by strangers. As soon as I took responsibility for my writing connections, I helped others do the same. We all thrived, whether or not we all got published. My editing business, initially a highly marginal interest, took me from Hawaii to England, from Alaska to Florida. No fame, no real publishing boosts, but a responsible place in extended writing communities. Writing only makes sense to me if it’s intended to have an audience. Put yourself where other writers are, then listen more than talk. Ask questions that are useful to others also, and don’t interrupt the answers. Start a regular writing group and show up together at bigger writing events. Someday, someone may pull you aside and teach you The Secret Handshake. Meanwhile, you’ll love what you do more than you expected.
It's interesting that writing must have an audience for it to make sense to you. My immediate thought was journaling, and realized that audience is the self. An interesting idea. My first unpublished memoir has no audience because even I am bored by it. Someday it will be re-written with an audience in mind and then, hopefully, it will become the thing I haven't yet envisioned. That last sentence though is absolutely key: "meanwhile, you'll love what you do more than you expected," and if you don't, but can't stop, that's okay too. The goal is to love it, and most days I do.
Does it seem counter-intuitive to say it may have been easier before the internet? Feels that way to me. I wrote the kind of stuff I liked to read and read the kind of stuff I liked to write and submitted to same. I participated in a workshop advertised in the old "The Writer" magazine and it sort of took care of itself... somehow. I have no personal, in-person friends who are writers but wasn't ever looking for that. Writers are weird. :-)
"Writers are weird" - Agreed! 😂 In some ways it was easier before internet, but in others, not. My current critique group is all over the world (Canada, New York, etc). We'd never have met/work together without Zoom. I also think the advent of the internet allowed people who are housebound for medical reasons to find their tribe in a way they may not have been able to do previously. Nothing is ever entirely black or white, but many shades of grey.
Sure. I guess it's all a matter of - do I need or want input from other writers? I liked the workshop because whenever something of mine was read aloud and it sucked, you could tell it sucked right away. This may be what you're talking about. I never thought of it that way. It's been forty years since and right now I guess I got my voice... for better or worse. Heh.
Timely ,as I was googling local writing groups (again) the other day. An ever ongoing effort on my part as we have moved a lot. over the years. Found one from Meetup years ago and was fruitful. Another with local friends, but their lives got busy, so it ended. The one I'm in now is good, but they don't generally write what I do, and despite my age, I'm the youngest in the group. One woman is 85! and a great writer. They write essays about being widows frequently. I live in a state known for its writing programs, but it's all on the other side of the state. It's very time consuming and often not successful to try to find in person writing groups, which is my preference. Ever onward.
“Until a piece is accepted for publication, writing is blissfully and cursedly solitary work. There’s no one to tell me if I’m on the right track or help me through a sticking point.”
For me, writing community means first and foremost trusted writer friends who read my drafts and help me see if my pieces are on track or not. I do the same for them. For me this trust evolves through writing groups (both in person and online), through connecting at readings and conferences with people whose work I admire, and infrequently through an “I loved your piece in such and such journal” email or social media message. It has also evolved through the shared work of organizing readings, workshops, and other projects. Community in a rural or suburban area can also mean showing up to cheer other people’s creativity, even if their genre or style is very different than mine. Maybe I’m weird; maybe I spent long enough in my first career in tech to be struck by the differences between community and networking, but for me writing community has been a source of some of my best friends and most meaningful and enjoyable times.
I don’t think you’re weird at all, I think you’ve found the holy grail! I envy what you have. I’ve only recently found people who meet regularly, provide helpful feedback, and can be trusted to be honest. It took a long time and a lot of error to find them. It’s a game changer and I didn’t have it for so long, that it wasn’t a part of my life at the time of writing this piece. It’s also a whole other piece 😂🤣
A couple of my early communities evolved from the leadership of two generous, emotionally intelligent writing coaches. They modeled being a good group participant in so many ways…I’m realizing I’ve taken that for granted!
Oh man, you don’t know what you don’t know. I was so lucky my first experience with workshopping came from Laura Munson at a haven Writing Retreat where it was very clearly spelled out that our job was to say what we liked, what worked, to not in any way try to shape or change what the writer was doing or tell them what they should do instead. I was later in a critique group where a couple people tried to do exactly that and it was painful to witness, but I wouldn’t have known just how awful it was without the Haven experience. It might have felt bad, but I wouldn’t have a frame of reference. I try to remind myself about how lucky I’ve been, how much I’ve learned, how I still have such a long way to go.
This doesn't sound at all 'weird'! It sounds authentic and meaningful. I'm much more comfortable (and better at creating) smaller communities through my trusted and trusting critique groups, an online group, individual support and cheerleading, etc.
same.
Yes to small groups! I founded and manage a reading series and open mic where we work hard to maintain a safe and trusting space for an audience that averages 40-60 people. I never imagined it might grow to that size, and while I’m really glad for my community that it’s thriving, that much interaction practically turns me into a babbling idiot each month. 😅 Fortunately, a team helps me run things. For me personally, my happiest / most productive space is in much smaller groups.
I agree, small groups are where it's at, but huge congrats to you on this [henomenal resource you've built for others 🥰
First, let me say I am a Luddite who would prefer to return to the days of stone tablets more often than not—but the internet has been essential for finding and CREATING community! And, I hate social media; that is not community, in my opinion.
Sure, there are some encouraging groups for writers out there, but the morass one must endure to find these gems is absolutely not worth the time and effort—again, in my opinion.
What’s a social-media-hating writer, who prefers to write longhand, to do? Well, I created community by getting trained to facilitate workshops. The training opened up a network of other facilitators, and I can honestly say the writers in my groups have become my favorite people.
ZOOM! Zoom is absolutely the answer—this from a person who swore she’d never appreciate a virtual workshop. I remember (somewhat fondly), the good old days of 2019, back before Zoom was installed on any of my devices. Sigh!
The pandemic opened up a whole world of opportunities to connect with writers all over the world, for which I am extremely grateful.
Shameless personal plug: If you’re working on a book, l’d love to connect with you. Check out my community at—
www.igniteyourwrite.com
YAS! 🔥🔥🔥Thank you for creating what you want/need. That’s such a huge effort and enormous act of bravery. I’m so excited for you! I’m going out on a limb with a monthly zoom book club next month and fingers are crossed.
Ooo—A monthly Zoom book club sounds fun. I’d be interested… If you’re open to new members, drop me an email: igniteyourwrite@gmail.com
Thanks for your encouragement! It has been a labor of love these past 18 months. ☺️
I’m doing it totally open, (nobody has to register) so you just join on the appointed day/time - if the first one doesn’t work I’ll have to change the format, but hoping this free drop in system will work… they are listed on my events page https://sundaydutroauthor.com/events/ and/or if you use Facebook they’re there as well AND I created a Facebook Group for those who like that sort of thing https://www.facebook.com/groups/469821332483263/?ref=share_group_link
Thanks, Sunday! I’ll check it out.
Hi, Claire! Yes, Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) has been a godsend to create community. I really leaned it during the pandemic and have kept leaning in since then (I became a certified facilitator in 2013 but couldn't get workshops going locally - then COVID and Zoom, et voila!).
How did you get trained to facilitate workshops?
Hi Jessica,
I participated in a 40-hour certification program through Amherst Writers & Artists, but there are other programs available.
If you have any experience working with groups of people (teaching, leading support/meditation/prayer groups), the skills are highly transferable.
I’d be happy to connect with you and share my training experience, if you’re interested. My email is: igniteyourwrite@gmail.com
Happy writing!
“ Search for writing groups in your area or that meet online. If there’s nothing that works for you, create what you want to see. Lead the group you wish you could join.”
I found wonderful writing groups in the UK & the US through meetup. Perfect fits right away. I recently moved to Germany and am struggling to find the perfect group, but that quote spoke to me. I decided to start my own, and we have our first meeting in two weeks. I’ll take this post as a sign that it’ll all be worth it 🥰
I’m so excited for you! This is wonderful 🥰
I have two concerns here: a) What do writers do when they are based in corners of the globe where not that many writers can be found around, especially in the form and genre I am doing my work--like in Japan or India? and b) I used to be this person following on, cheering, liking and commenting on fellow writers' publications and it used to take up a lot of my writing time, like seriously A LOT, and on some days I had bad headaches from all the screen time. I have since severely slashed my media time. Finally I have decided even though I may have benefitted from a group, I am not getting any.
I joke that not only can I not do everything, I can barely do anything. There is only so much time in a day and only so much we can do. My idea of community isn’t knowing 400,000 writers and we’re all best friends who check in with each other every day (that sounds exhausting!). My idea is a handful of writers I can ask questions of and know they’ll give me a thoughtful response, as well as a handful of writers right around my level that need to be cheered as much as I enjoy it as well. To me that’s do-able. But everyone is different. I’m so glad you know what you’ve taken a stand for yourself that doesn’t include the things you see as a time suck rather than as valuable. That’s so important and so hard to do.
You are right. The cheering on is a good feeling. Even flattering. I have been there, done that. But after a point, it also gets mindless. People quoting and tweeting new published work without actually reading them. Not offering any specific comment either. We see it all the time. You check some timelines and they'll be quote tweeting 10 new published pieces within 10 minutes. The 10 writers are happy, the platform is happy, but we are not promoting good work here, it is just "groupism". Finally, I don't know where you got that idea of "knowing 400,000 writers" and being "best friends". I am not even sure there are even 1% of them around to make friends with, let alone be "best friends". To my knowledge, community groups are for a handful of people. The vast majority are left out, due to many reasons. I'm glad you're receiving thoughtful responses from your group.
I think we’re making the same point but somehow missing one another. I find your comments thoughtful and accurate. Thanks for reading!
Yes, or if you move a lot, this time for me to a more rural area. There just aren't that many people, and even fewer writers.
Easy, Check Critique Circle. There are writers there that live in Alaska, India, China, Argentina. You name it, you will find it there.
Excellent! Thanks for posting this.
I recognise everything you say. I've found other bloggers and readers on my blog to be a good community but I will check out the Authors guild
I wish they were a free resource, but they do have a lower tier for people who haven’t published multiple books
Places with Free resources have a form of payment. You critique a number of works, you get points that then you invest to have your stories critiqued. No money exchanged. They have the paid version, that give you private rooms where you can post all the chapters of your novel.
Cool! I hadn't heard of this; thanks for sharing.
How ironic that after describing how she contacted loads of writers cold, the author did not provide her own contact information or any way to contact her. Instead, in effect, she closed with a suggestion that you give her money, by joining her Patreon. What a way to undermine one's message.
I’d love to have you contact me! I’m not on Substack and Patron has a free option. You can find me at www.sundaydutro.com or on Facebook/Instagram/Threads/YouTube as @sundaydutro
Maybe it’s because I’m older, but I’ve already told myself everything I’d write to myself. I’m excited about what I have to say tha strangers might read. That’s what drives my material. And if I bristle at someone’s comments, that probably means I’ve connected something in me with someone else. I learned a long time ago, rejection by its nature is never personal. Only acceptance is personal. That’s what makes it great.
It was much easier to find community as a poet than it has been now that I’m writing creative nonfiction. I had state poetry societies, MFA buddies, critique group (started with other poets in a workshop I was in—now going on 30 years), local reading series, etc. Just not finding these options for nonfiction.
I write primarily creative nonfiction. Your people are out there. Have you looked for creative nonfiction groups on Facebook? There are tons of them (doesn't mean that all will be perfect for you, but you could join and lurk and weed out the groups that don't have the right vibe). If you're in one of The Binders groups on Facebook that's a great place to ask. They probably even have a Binders for Nonfiction. Other options are to see who's publishing in the creatve nonfiction category of the litmags you read. Reach out to them. Tell them you liked their piece (if you did, don't lie). You'll grow your community with a little effort, but it's really a very little bit of effort.
I didn't have any luck asking on the poets' Binders page, but I hadn't thought to search there for other groups--thank you! And yes to reaching out to others in journals that I resonate with. Thanks!
I feel this, too! Especially flash/micro CNF?
Most of my published pieces have been flash (Drabble especially) and micro. I am not out looking for a flash community though, focusing instead on a community of writers in general, but I certainly understand how, at some point, you want your group to be a little more niche. I promise your people are out there. I'd ask in the bigger groups, like a Binders group on Facebook or somewhere that's already somewhat vetted by the moderators.
This makes me wonder. I don't know how some poets/writers would feel about this:
"In an effort to build my writing community I turned to Google, searching for authors in my state and creating a spreadsheet of their details: names, emails, websites, which lit mags they mentioned being published in. And then I contacted them either via their website contact form or an email—like a literary stalker, the internet Annie Wilkes."
What are you wondering specifically? I’m very curious.
Nice that you're reaching out :)
Lots of writers are introverts ... and busy.
Really... mostly my personal experience was that writers were not particularly interested in engaging with me until I had more to offer ... I'm not saying it's all intentional but writers/artists have egos and unfortunately many see engagement as transactional.
I'm an introvert and I'm busy, but I knew this post was going live today and created breaks of time to check comments and reply; the whole point of the post really 😊 I agree, there are people who see engagement as transactional, which is why I didn't expect to hear from even half of the people I contacted. I was blown away by the response I did receive. One of my favorite writers/people is Chris La Tray who just hit the big time with being chosen Montana Poet Laureate AND having his new memoir, Becoming Little Shell, drop yesterday. He's the busiest person on the planet right now, I guarantee it, and I promote him 100% because he's earned it, he deserves it, he's a good human. I don't ever expect to get anything out of my promotion of him. There are people who promote me and expect nothing in return, like Jonathan Edward Durham. There will always be people who recognize that we can help pull one another up because we believe in ourselves and each other...you just have to find them. 🥰
Good attitude! Sounds like perseverance has paid off well for you :)
I think we're on the same team that it's all about finding "your people".
Yes! I did an MFA in studio art and I miss having a physical studio to go to outside of my home. Since I’ve shifted gears more to writing I’m not sure what it is I need in terms of community but I feel like I need something!
I love the idea of becoming a reader. I was thinking of finding a workshop.
Submittable is currently showing reader opportunities for Uncharted Mag, Wallstrait, Chestnut Review Auxiliary, Crab Creek Review (love their look), HerStry (swoon), and FeatureShoot...and that's just what's on Submittable....
(This post has been edited. I originally said "Substack" but meant "Submittable" because I am doof)
Where did you find this list? New resource that sounds great!
I am 78. I have been in five writer's, all with a definite sense of purpose-helping each other vigorously create our own art, and promoting radical poltical art.The first involved putting out yearly magazine, Towards Revolutionary Art TRA (ART spelled backwards. Very eclectic mag based in the Bay Area, about six regulqrs. including a fiction writer(me), a musician, a screenwriter, and three poets ( one of them made large stencils of his fiery poems and slapped them up late nigtt on the entrance doors of big banks and huge corporations. Another member put up her film critiques of sexist and racist movies all over African-American neighborhoods in San Francisco and Oakland. We stqyed afloqt by selling subsriptions to libraries across the countries. Most of qll, it was A PLACE to SHOW OUR WORK AND GET SERIOUS FEEDBACK. I dont see this that much in writing "commnunities today". They do everthing BUT give solid honest critique,partially ecause Americqn schools k-doctorate run on hierqrchical top down methods of "education" where students learn how to listen to lectures, or so-called writing coaches, or Amherst Writers, one of the older wrting groups with a very specific method. People read their writings. Only "positive" "critique is allowed",no "negative criticisms. FEW suggestions area alllowed.
Amherst Writers takes great care in not having any one's self-esteem or confidence disturbed. And other writing groups work on this model.
But without genuine criticism, how can anyone's writing improve? Some writers want more 'CRITIQUE" than someone saying " Wow, that's really greqt. I really like the description of your mom's teapot". or, "That is REALLY good." Good? Are we now talking about moral VALUES? Two other groups have writers come to one place and everyone writes in silence for qn hour or 2 . Then everyone,if they wish, gets to read what they have.
THE MAIN THING WRITERS DO IS WE WRITE .Alone. I wont get into a big thing qbout how too mqny people cqnt stand being alone. OK so you are on social media and you make 'connections" and or you. are "linked in". What andwho are these people? Do they care about you, your WORK.
"Social media" is a double, perhaps a triple edged sword. I loveit because Ifind out about writers and blogs from all over the world . I meeet writersbyREADING THEIR LITERATURE. I think it's very strange that on 'social media" I RARELY hear from writers the name of a singe author who wows them In my case it is Virginia Woolf, especially To The Lighthouse, Gwendolyn Brooks (for my money ourgreatest poet, Damon Runyon one of our funniest writers, IJ Singer,, Denise Giardenia who wrote a searing novel about WestVirginia miners, and the twogreatest poets of the 20th entury-Pablo Neruda ofChile and Mahmoud Darwish of Palestine. Had he not been an Arab , he would have won the Nobel Prize 20 years ago. I will discuss tomorrow the other three other writers groups,
and both the joyous and in
I don't want to be in a critique group that's out for blood. I want to be in one that genuinely tells me what's working so I can focus on what's working. By default, I will learn to lean into what works and away from what doesn't. There's no reason to be in a group that risks turning people off from writing when it's not necessary.
Oh dang, I said Substack cause I'm a doof. I meant Submittable 🤦♀️
Awesome, thank you for that!
Love this. Finding community while doing something so solitary can be difficult. I feel so lucky to live in Tucson, which has an incredible literary community. I also am part of Author’s Guild and ALLi, great places to connect with writers!
huzzah! So glad you're surrounded by a literary community 🥰
This was such an interesting read. I didn't even realise that I needed a writing community :) I've just started a spreadsheet!
Maybe you don't? There are loads of writers who prefer to do their own thing, in their own way, and never talk to anyone but immediate family and editors. I can absolutely respect that. But if you sometimes get the blues, if you sometimes wonder if you're spinning your wheels or what you're even DOING with this writing stuff...a community can be very helpful.
This is key to me as a writer. Writing only makes sense to me if someone else is going to read it. Even a shopping list has an audience: me in a half hour at the store, so I don’t forget something while I’m there. For me, writing is a conversation . Otherwise, I’d just amuse myself with my thoughts and keep eveyone else out of it so I can muse in peace.
I can always tell the pieces I wrote for myself vs someone else because as soon as I'm questioned about any part of them, I bristle 😂
When I discovered that poetry could exist in shared time/space, in the room with others, not just on the page or screen, it changed everything for me. But I had to connect directly with other writers. I organized open mics, organized readings featuring successful writers, I went to book fairs and other events, and I kept building my circle. I wanted the romance of the lone wolf writer but that’s the fastest route to not getting read by strangers. As soon as I took responsibility for my writing connections, I helped others do the same. We all thrived, whether or not we all got published. My editing business, initially a highly marginal interest, took me from Hawaii to England, from Alaska to Florida. No fame, no real publishing boosts, but a responsible place in extended writing communities. Writing only makes sense to me if it’s intended to have an audience. Put yourself where other writers are, then listen more than talk. Ask questions that are useful to others also, and don’t interrupt the answers. Start a regular writing group and show up together at bigger writing events. Someday, someone may pull you aside and teach you The Secret Handshake. Meanwhile, you’ll love what you do more than you expected.
It's interesting that writing must have an audience for it to make sense to you. My immediate thought was journaling, and realized that audience is the self. An interesting idea. My first unpublished memoir has no audience because even I am bored by it. Someday it will be re-written with an audience in mind and then, hopefully, it will become the thing I haven't yet envisioned. That last sentence though is absolutely key: "meanwhile, you'll love what you do more than you expected," and if you don't, but can't stop, that's okay too. The goal is to love it, and most days I do.
Does it seem counter-intuitive to say it may have been easier before the internet? Feels that way to me. I wrote the kind of stuff I liked to read and read the kind of stuff I liked to write and submitted to same. I participated in a workshop advertised in the old "The Writer" magazine and it sort of took care of itself... somehow. I have no personal, in-person friends who are writers but wasn't ever looking for that. Writers are weird. :-)
"Writers are weird" - Agreed! 😂 In some ways it was easier before internet, but in others, not. My current critique group is all over the world (Canada, New York, etc). We'd never have met/work together without Zoom. I also think the advent of the internet allowed people who are housebound for medical reasons to find their tribe in a way they may not have been able to do previously. Nothing is ever entirely black or white, but many shades of grey.
Sure. I guess it's all a matter of - do I need or want input from other writers? I liked the workshop because whenever something of mine was read aloud and it sucked, you could tell it sucked right away. This may be what you're talking about. I never thought of it that way. It's been forty years since and right now I guess I got my voice... for better or worse. Heh.
Timely ,as I was googling local writing groups (again) the other day. An ever ongoing effort on my part as we have moved a lot. over the years. Found one from Meetup years ago and was fruitful. Another with local friends, but their lives got busy, so it ended. The one I'm in now is good, but they don't generally write what I do, and despite my age, I'm the youngest in the group. One woman is 85! and a great writer. They write essays about being widows frequently. I live in a state known for its writing programs, but it's all on the other side of the state. It's very time consuming and often not successful to try to find in person writing groups, which is my preference. Ever onward.
This is so hard! I finally found an online writing group I love but we've taken summer off and I'm nervous we won't really start up again next month 🤞
I hope they do, good luck!