The Writer’s Secret: Seek Community

I think most writers envision a quiet cabin in the woods far away from people as the ideal writing setting. Just the writer, a super cozy atmosphere, and the sound of birds (or a babbling brook, if they’re lucky.) 

But the real truth is that writing is a super lonely and isolating task. Yes, the world does need to be shut out for bits of time in order to create the ever-elusive fictive bubble. But just as the author needs food and water to nourish their body, they need community to nourish their soul. 

One of the most important ingredients in my writing over the years has been the community. My published stories came immediately after attending writers’ conferences, where I interacted with and was encouraged by other writers. Those stories were cultivated by my tribe of writer friends who coaxed the stories to their full potential with their thoughtful critiques. 

I know this is true, because when The Year We Do Not Speak Of hit (I do mean 2020) my world shut down, and so did my writing. An untrained person might have thought that that was the perfect time to write; after all, what else could we do? But community is the sunlight to the new growth of a story. No community = no sunlight = no story. 

If you’re struggling with your writing, I suggest finding a community. A quick internet search will let you know if you live close to one; just search for “writer’s group” and your city. Or you can join a large organization, like the American Christian Fiction Writers. 

Or if you’re not ready to branch out to the wonderful world of writing strangers, maybe just ask a friend to read your writing. You will need to be a little bit brave, but it will be worth it.