How to Cultivate a Writing Community (And Why You Want One!)
Five easy ways to find a supportive writing community (and five reasons why you want one!)
Writing is a lonely endeavour.
Sigh. It’s a bit of a hackneyed saying, isn’t it? But unfortunately it’s one that is often true! Without the support of a writing community around you, the process of writing your book can be quite isolating, as you sit in front of your computer, typing away, day in, day out.
Even if you are one of lucky ones whose family and friends really ‘get’ it, and who has a lot of support and cheerleading from them, this still doesn’t replace the kind of understanding, support and camaraderie you’ll get from other writers, who understand the dizzying highs and soul-crushing lows of the whole writing business.
So how do you go about getting this wonderful, supportive community? Particularly if you (like many of us authors) are an introvert that hates the thought of “putting yourself out there” (shudder).
I’m very lucky, and grateful, to have managed to cultivate a supportive, encouraging and dynamic writing community around me. It’s taken some time and some trial and error, but it has more than paid off. And I didn’t even have to put myself into a cringey networking situation to get it!
So how do you go about getting a community?
Recently, a close friend asked me how I managed to create my writing community, and so I gave him the very short answer (“Instagram. I posted about what I was writing, followed writing hashtags, commented on people’s posts and it went from there.”) My friend was disappointed. He admitted that he also wanted to find a writing community, but hated the idea of posting on Instagram (“Isn’t it for photographs?”) and wasn’t particularly fond of social media in general. He explained that he is much more present on forums, and is far more comfortable communicating with people that way.
Which brings me to my first suggestion:
1 - Look for community where you feel comfortable.
There’s no point trying to make genuine connections with like-minded people in a space where you’re uncomfortable. If you feel as though you’re having to act or engage with people in ways that don’t feel authentic to you, people will likely pick up on this, and it will interfere with making genuine connections.
I was already comfortable on Instagram when I took a deep breath and created my Instagram writing account. That meant I could hit the ground running, and I didn’t need to spend time figuring out the social conventions of using the app. Now, I’m all for putting yourself out of your comfort zone, but if the act of trying to find fellow writer friends already makes you feel vulnerable, why make it harder for yourself?
My friend was already comfortable with forums, so why not start there? There are any number of writing forums online, and many of them don’t require any monetary investment to sign up to. There are even SFF and fantasy-specific forums! My friend also admitted that he hadn’t minded the idea of Twitter, but then he’d heard stories about it being a negative and toxic space, even before the app devolved into the chaos that is X.
I pointed out that if it was the idea of needing to use images that made him uncomfortable using Instagram and he didn’t want to spend time on X, then maybe he would feel better starting with Threads, Instagram’s new text app. You do need an Instagram account to get Threads, but once you have one, you can ignore Instagram itself, and simply post text updates. You still have the option to search hashtags and comment on other people’s threads, without the need for any images.
For those of us who are simply not interested in social media, and prefer to make their connections face-to-face (or those who are looking for a writing community in any number of spaces), in-person writing groups or writing classes are a great way to meet like-minded writers. A simple search for “writing groups near me” on google can flag up numerous options. You may find that you have to attend more than one group before you find one that feels right, so don’t be discouraged if the first group you go to doesn’t feel like a good fit.
2 - Learn the etiquette.
Once you’ve found a space that feels like a good fit, don’t go in all guns blazing. Take some time to learn the social conventions and rules of etiquette. Most spaces – whether Facebook groups, forums, in person groups, or less structured writing spaces such as the writing community on Instagram – will have certain ‘rules of engagement’.
Some will have these explicitly written out (for example, Facebook groups and forums), whereas others may not be so clear cut. If the group you’re engaging with doesn’t have any specific rules or guidelines, don’t despair! One way of finding out what they are is to simply ask. It’s unlikely that anyone is going to think badly of you for asking how you can engage with the group respectfully, after all! If this feels strange, or if there isn’t really anywhere for you to ask this kind of question, then you can spend a bit of time sitting back and watching how the others interact.
There will be some people who already know each other well, and so it’s best to take some time to gauge what the etiquette is for those who are new, or who don’t know each other as well. There’s no harm in being cautious to start with, and then relaxing as you get more used to the group.
If you are looking for connection and community on a social media platform, where there isn’t a specific ‘group’ for you to be part of, then one of the best ways to discover what might be considered impolite, or a social faux pas is to simply search: “[social media platform] etiquette” on a search engine. That being said, don’t take these results as gospel! Look at more than one webpage, and then see how these seem to translate in the writing community on your platform of choice!
3 - Be hashtag savvy.
If you are looking for a writing community on a social media platform like Instagram, X, Threads or (deep breath) TikTok, then you’ll want to get used to using hashtags to find the kind of accounts you want to follow.
Hashtags are a way of adding subject categorisation to social media posts, for example: “#amwriting” or “#writingcommunity”. Hashtags are searchable within the social media platform, and then you can scroll through and click on posts that seem to embody the kind of community that you are looking for.
Although more general hashtags can be very useful to begin with, you will probably want to search more specific hashtags as well. Things like: “#firstdraft”, “#amdrafting” might be useful if you’re drafting a book and are looking for people who are at the same stage as you. Hashtags that specify the genre you’re writing in (“#fantasywriter”, “#romancewriter”, etc.) or areas of writing that you find particularly interesting (“#worldbuilding”) will help you to narrow your search results down to accounts that have similar interests or projects.
4 - Put yourself out there.
Once you’ve found a group or platform that feels comfortable to you, and you’ve checked to see what the rules of engagement are, it’s time to start connecting! This can feel a bit nerve-wracking to begin with, but you do have to put yourself out there. No matter whether the group is in person or online, on a forum or a social media app, you can’t expect people to come to you.
Be pleasant and respectful. Don’t get disheartened if your efforts don’t immediately yield results, and don’t expect people to always respond, just move on. Once you’ve made a tentative connection with someone, try to keep this going, but don’t jump in straight away with a request to become critique partners – those kinds of relationships can take some time to cultivate.
5 - You get out what you put in.
As with any kind of community or interpersonal engagement, you’re going to get out what you put in. If you only show up sporadically, rarely engage with others (whether that is via their posts or their discussions in person), expect engagement or help (such as beta reading or general feedback) from others without reciprocating, you’re going to find that your writing community doesn’t feel as strong or as close a network as you would like.
However, if you show up for others, engage with them with genuine enthusiasm and interest, offer help and reciprocate when people help you with your writing, then you will find that a writing community emerges organically from your efforts.
Why a writing community is a good idea
Now, you might be thinking, “that all sounds like a lot of work, is it really worth it?” And my answer would be a resounding “yes!” Personally, having a writing community has helped me in any number of ways!
But I admit that we’re all different, so here are five proven ways that having a community can help writers (especially those just starting out).
A writing community can:
Keep you accountable: You are far more likely finish writing your book if you have other writers supporting you.
Help you develop your craft: Most writers are learning and developing all the time, by sharing suggestions for resources, things others have learnt, and general information, your knowledge of the writing craft and publishing industry will develop more quickly.
Give you support: We all go through rough patches, whether that’s struggling with rejection during querying, feeling unsure about your writing skills or story idea, or just wrestling with writer’s block. Having a community around you that understands your struggles gives you much-needed support and a boost on hard days.
Provide you with invaluable feedback: Your writing community will often be the best place to ask for feedback on your writing. Many authors find not only their critique partners, but also beta readers through their community. This kind of feedback is absolutely essential during the writing process.
Generate networking opportunities: The writing/publishing world is a small one. The more people you know and who know you, the more chance that this network will be able to help you (and vice versa) as your career progresses.
Need More Help?
Even after our discussion, my friend still felt a little unsure, so I suggested that he checked in with me at the end of each week to let me know how his community was developing, and that little bit of accountability seemed to be very helpful for him.
If you’re still looking for a little external help in this area, or with your writing in general, my consultation call service might be very helpful in giving you some extra confidence, and I also offer (very limited!) coaching slots to those authors who would like more one-on-one feedback and advice. Contact me to discuss your needs!
Hi, I’m Alexandra.
I’m a developmental editor specialising in helping authors of fantasy, sci-fi and all kinds of speculative fiction bring their worlds to life, and make their books as immersive, compelling and enjoyable as possible!
Follow my blog for writing craft tips specifically tailored for speculative fiction authors.
