Writing can be a very solitary occupation. You spend hours and hours hunched over your computer, or scribbling in a notebook creating complex worlds, bringing new and interesting characters to life, and forging new adventures. It has its own kind of magic, and it can be one of the most rewarding tasks. But it can also be very lonely. You write alone. And sometimes it can be difficult to stay motivated, to know whether your idea has any merit, or even whether you ought to be writing at all.
This is why I believe it is important for every writer to have a community around them that supports and encourages them in their writing. These are the cheerleaders who will celebrate your achievements, or commiserate with you on hard days, people who will help you and encourage you to keep on writing. Everyone’s support network is different, but it is important for us all to have one so that we don’t become isolated and alone. For me, this community of support takes several forms.
First and foremost, there is my family, especially my sisters. They are always eager to read everything I write, good or bad, and they get even more excited over the books I’m developing than I do. They’re always eager to talk over plot and find fixes for my problems when I’m stuck, and they are also the first people who get to read my books and tell me how to fix them. They are the first people I talk to about any new idea I think about writing. These are the people who keep me writing every day.
Then there is my writing group, which is an absolutely beautiful group of writers I recently joined, and who have been amazingly kind and supportive even since I joined their group. These are people who I feel comfortable talking with about the ups and downs of being a writer, celebrating victories, like my print proof being shipped(!) and are always ready with advice, congratulations, or consolations, should the occasion need it. These are the people I trust to help me become a better writer.
And finally, there is the wider writing community, which I have always found to be very inviting and very supportive. Through my connections and involvement with the writing community on Twitter in particular, I have found so much upport and help. I’ve found beta readers, friends, advice, opinions, help, and so much wisdom and bookish/writerly fun. These are the people I turn to when I need to know that I’m not alone on this writing journey.
Being isolated as a writer is never the best option. Writing is meant to be fun, and being lonely isn’t much fun at all. We all need to belong to communities who are willing to encourage us on our bad days, cheer with us on our good ones, help us when we’re stuck, be excited for us, and remind us that we’re not alone in this long and sometimes difficult journey of being writers.
What does your writing community look like? Do you ever feel isolated as a writer? How do you combat feelings of being alone in your creative journey? Do you belong to a writing group? Let’s chat!
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