Community

Advice for writers is everywhere. Write what you know. Write with consistency. Practice. Practice. Practice. And find yourself a community.

I agreed with everything except the “community” piece. I was new. Maybe I wasn’t any good. Why bother someone else with my lack of talent at this point?

While taking Sarra Cannon’s Publish & Thrive course online, I saw there was a fellow student from my neck of the woods. I thought it would be great to share what we were learning in person, so I sent her this email:

“I’ve been very nervous about becoming a part of any kind of writing group/community, but I’m always hearing it’s such a recommended thing. This is what it looks like when I just dive in!”

She agreed, saying she also had shied away from the community advice. We started meeting for coffee and talking about writing and supporting each other. That was over a year ago.

We both took the plunge and have been so happy we did. We share techniques, strategies, and struggles. She motivated me through my reluctance in finishing my manuscript, and now she is supporting me through the editing process.

Meanwhile, at the end of the Publish & Thrive class, members were organized into Mastermind groups. These groups are set up to continue learning and growing as a writer in an encouraging community.

I hit the jackpot! There were two middle-grade writers who were at different milestones along their writing journey. We all had great conversations learning about each other and helping each other to keep moving along our writing path.

When one of our members had to pause for life events, I asked my IRL writing buddy to join the Mastermind. Our stories are not always the same, but we definitely relate with our struggles.

Recently, during another round of the Publish & Thrive course, there was another children’s author in need of a Mastermind group. She has been a bright addition to our circle, and in a few months, our little community will turn one. We all have published books and continue to motivate, encourage, and inspire each other.

Five months into these strong communities, I was emboldened. If a little was good, surely more would be better?

I reached out to a local freelancer I had met through a mutual friend. The invitation to meet up so I could pick her brain was accepted. I thought, ‘These writer types are extremely generous and kind.’

That meeting was a rousing good time. We came together even through the divide of our writing categories. Her non-fiction genre still had to contend with consistent work and marketing, just like my fiction.

Her generosity with advice and encouragement didn’t end there. She followed up with two more names of writers I could contact. One was a local non-fiction writer, an old schoolmate of mine, actually. The other was a crime-fiction thriller writer from Colorado. I was so grateful for the opportunity; I reached out to both.

And now for the weird part.

I connected with the crime writer and we had an online meeting. She was amazing. I felt like such a fraud. Even though I had already published my children’s picture books, I still didn’t have a completed rough draft of my novel. Insecurity wrapped all around me as I tried to ask meaningful questions. I left the meeting feeling welcomed and encouraged to keep in touch with anything else that I needed.

I sent an email of thanks and haven’t talked since.

Wait, it gets worse.

I had emailed the local connection with a request to meet up. She responded a few weeks later with apologies for not responding sooner (life stuff) and suggested we meet up for a chat. That was the same week my laptop went in the shop for repair. She understood and said to let her know when that was sorted and we could meet.

That was 4 months ago.

I told you it was worse.

As for the first freelancer I had met with, she contacted me in March about getting together over burgers for another chat. I already had something scheduled, but asked for a rain-check.

Still haven’t contacted her either.

I was told writing communities are powerful things. I have had two going for a long time. I treasure them.

Yet, I still have guilt about the three that got away.

Turns out, I already had what I needed. The excitement that came with making the connections caused me to connect with people I really enjoyed spending time with and I learned a lot from them. That excitement blurred the reality that I also needed time to actually be a writer.

Perhaps I will create another piece of writing advice.

Join a writing community. It’s amazing.

Be careful to not get so overwhelmed by socializing with writers that you forget to write.

I can have a writing community. And I can have writer acquaintances. Both fill my creative well and help me be a better writer.

I just have to be the same for them.

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Come be a part of my community and check out my SHOP❣️

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Share one of my children’s books with the community in your life ❣️

🌟 I Know A Kid — a gentle celebration of children and the many ways they move through the world.
🌟Today Is The Day — an uplifting reminder to look for what’s good, hopeful, and possible.
🌟The Brothers’ Bear — a rhyming adventure about five brothers who make an unexpected discovery one windy night.
🌟 My Bright Light — a quiet book about noticing the light around us and within us.

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