Writing doesn’t need to be lonely. Sure, the world narrows to just you and the page when you’re writing, but it can be so much more.
Think of how much fun it would be to talk with people who share your journey and understand your experiences. However, finding the right people to engage with is challenging.
Creating a Writer’s Community
Very few writers grow in isolation. You likely need a community of other writers who can critique your work, encourage you when you’re stuck, and discuss the craft with you.
But it’s not easy to find a writing community that fits what you’re looking for. If that’s your experience so far, maybe it’s time to build one!
Here’s how you can start.
1. Decide the goal.
People join writing communities for different reasons. Writing communities usually focus on different aspects of writing.
What’s the goal of your community? Is it for mutual support? A space where writers can rant? Maybe it’s for something specific, such as sharing tips for self-publishing?
It is completely up to you. But take care not to decide on too many objectives as you’ll dilute how focused the community will be.
2. Start small and grow slowly.
Your first members are most likely going to be friends, family, or at the least, familiar people. They’ll be the core of your community.
When starting, don’t go overboard with recruiting people. Think of who fits and who has an interest in the group you’re trying to build. Even three people are already a group.
Fewer members mean a more personal experience. This leads to a deeper relationship with one another, leading to better conversations where each one feels seen and heard. You want to establish a positive culture early so it carries on to new members.
Grow your community slowly but steadily. Rapid growth might give you numbers but if engagement falls off then your community suffers.
It’s okay to have lurkers as long as they don’t outnumber the active members. What’s the point of a large community if only the same few people are active?
3. Decide on the rules.
A community needs rules to function properly. Group rules are what guide members to act in the best interest of the group.
They don’t need to be complex. Your rules should be clear about the group’s scope, the do’s and don’ts, and the consequences of not following them. Even a simple “No slurs, offensive language, or discriminatory remarks will be tolerated” will suffice.
You can establish the rules yourself or make it a discussion among members. And remember, rules can be changed as the community evolves.
4. Choose your meeting place.
An in-person community allows members to have stronger relationships, but it becomes harder to organize meetups. People have other things going on in their lives. Membership will also be limited to those in your area.
Depending on your community’s size, you might also need to rent a place that can accommodate all of you. That means collecting money, which can be a nightmare for any organizer.
An online community is much easier to organize. People can start or join discussions at any time. You also have a much bigger pool of potential members. However, these interactions can be less personal compared to face-to-face meetings.
Even if your group is purely online, you still need to think about what space to use for your discussions. Platforms like Facebook, Discord, and Reddit have different features and limitations you need to think of.
5. Organize Events.
Events are a way to attract members, offer value to said members, and legitimize your community.
When planning an event, think of your members. What would they be interested in? Who do they want to see?
You could invite an author who is popular to the group for a Q&A session. Or maybe each day can focus on a particular activity such as writing prompts, self-promotions, and live readings.
6. Give and take.
Communities thrive when each member learns and teaches one another. Don’t be shy to provide feedback or valuable resources to your members.
This is, of course, a two-way street. While you shouldn’t force your members to contribute, always remind them they’re free to provide the same. A lot of thriving communities often create a collection of curated resources that everyone can access.
7. Moderate fairly and consistently.
People leave communities that are inconsistent or uncaring of their members. Make sure to take care of your members.
In broad terms, moderating a community means enforcing the rules and creating opportunities for discussion. You need to be swift in stopping discussions that do not meet community standards and warn or ban offending members.
You also need to be fair and consistent—no favoritism, no being indecisive, and no bending the rules for your gain. Any issues or changes that massively affect the community need to be discussed by the community.
You earn people’s trust if they see you actively making your community a safe space for everyone. As your community grows, you’ll need extra help. Choose those who have proven themselves to the community.
8. Collaborate.
As stated, writing doesn’t need to be lonely. Creating a community means having a lot of opportunities to collaborate.
Bring in people who are specifically looking for critique partners, brainstorming groups, and collaborative work at different levels. Some are content with posting questions and reading responses, while others seek dedicated partnerships.
Most communities also aren’t purely composed of writers. Try to build one that has a healthy mix of subject experts, editors, publishers, and even readers. This creates more and varied opportunities for everyone.
Building Your Own Writing Community
Some writers build a community to have a place they can belong to. Others leverage it as a strategic tool for marketing, collaboration, and networking. Yours is probably a mixture of both.
Whatever your reasons, creating a successful community requires significant effort. And once established, sustaining it is equally important.
Remember, a successful writing community isn’t just a resource. It is also a supportive network that grows when its members are dedicated and engaged. It’s no longer just about you, but also about others who are sharing their expertise, seeking feedback, forging connections, and taking the same journey as you.
Do you have your own writing community? Share your tips and experiences below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Collaborative Fiction: Writing Novels as a Group
- 12 Useful Writing Subreddits For Every Type of Writer
- 11 Online Writing Clubs That Foster Support Among Writers
- How to Start a Book Club: 4 Tips for Success
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
