Communing with a writing community

Solo can be so dull

Perhaps I’m speaking for myself, but the writer’s life is solitary. We spend hours alone, researching a topic, noodling over the perfect word, and pecking away at the computer (or writing in notebooks for you long-handers). We don’t mind it. In fact, many of us are introverts, so we choose the writing life (or the writing life chooses us). 

I live with someone, but I’m usually sequestered away in my writing hovel for most of the day. We pass each other like two silent monks, barely uttering a word as we pour hot tea or rummage through the fridge for a snack. Usually, I’m in my own head about this or that, but perhaps the silence is my attempt to conserve my best words for writerly tasks. 

Toss the pandemic into the mix, and life becomes even more isolated. Some days I feel like Howard Hughes without the Kleenex box shoes. But it’s my life, and it’s the way I prefer to live and write. 

Again, I’m not alone in being alone. Many fellow writers spend much time with computer screens instead of humans.

While this may seem ideal, it can be incredibly lonely. It also means you miss out on the feedback and camaraderie that comes with a peer group.

While seclusion allows the writer to ferret out the best stories and ideas, a community can help them develop their skills, feel supported, and be held accountable. A circle of fellow authors helps you to become better at your craft. Some of my most significant growth came from being around authors - even from different genres. 

But how do you find your circle when you’re stuck in your writer’s cave day in and day out? There are many ways to get support. Here are a few ideas.