We share a lot of articles about finding community among other writers and creative people. Writers tend to be a solitary lot and even the more outgoing among us have to spend a significant amount of time alone if we’re ever going to finish our projects. We can talk about writing with non-writers, but most do no understand either the struggles or rewards of this creative niche.
In a post on DIY MFA, Adam Burgess says that you need community to make your writing the best it can be. “Even the best and most seasoned writers have always found it important to solicit feedback on their work, to read and critique others’ works, and to communicate about the art of writing in general,” Burgess writes. “Even notorious recluse Emily Dickinson would send her poems to trusted advisors.”
Our peers can help us see what we cannot – typos, poor pacing, unclear motivations, as well as good stuff like recurring themes and motifs that we didn’t intend. They give us the reader’s perspective, but with the benefit of their experience.
If you can’t find a community that suits you, consider starting one of your own! Burgess suggests a few items to consider:
- Do you want to meet online or in-person? Where and how will you meet?
- How many members do you want?
- How will you share work?
- Do you want to establish membership rules and dues?
