4 Benefits Of Having A Writing Community | Writer’s Relief

For the most part, writing is a solitary effort. The long hours spent alone writing a short story, personal essay, poem, or novel are important. But insecurity, doubts, procrastination, and constant revising can make it hard to complete your work. At Writer’s Relief, we know that successful, productive writers make a point of stepping outside the writing bubble to connect with other writers. Here are just 4 benefits of joining a writing community.

The Benefits Of Being Part Of A Writing Community

Fellowship.?When your?family and friends don’t appreciate?or support your interest in writing, it can lead to feelings of isolation and unhappiness. So it can be refreshing to have other writers in your life who understand the disappointments of rewrites and rejections as well as the euphoria of an acceptance. You’ll have people who you can attend readings with or avidly discuss the particulars of punctuation and grammar. Joining an active writer’s group is a great way to find your tribe, and you can start with this list of?writing groups by state and region.

Advice.?When you receive constructive feedback from other writers, you’ll become a better writer. A good writing community will offer kindness, honesty, advice, and genuine interest in your work. You’ll have the benefit of learning from more experienced writers about technique, editing, and proofreading. As an active member of the community, you’ll have the opportunity to?offer support and critique?as well, which can help you build insights into your own writing style.

Accountability.?It can be easy to let the busyness of life overrun your writing time. Instead of writing, you’re running errands, folding laundry, mowing the lawn, or helping with homework. Suddenly you realize you’ve gone days, weeks, maybe even months without getting much writing done. But when you are part of a writing community, you’ll have the motivation of regular meetings and deadlines within the group to keep you on track and writing. Knowing that other writers are looking forward to sharing your work is a great way to add accountability into your?writing routine.

Networking.?Belonging to a writing community will present opportunities to make connections within the publishing industry. There may be a published writer or a journal editor in your writing group who has insights into making successful submissions. Members of your writing community might have attended conferences or workshops that you didn’t know about, thus expanding your options for improving your craft. Many of Writer’s Relief’s clients have come from recommendations from other?writers who use our service?and are very happy with the results!

You’ll meet and get to know writers of all ages, backgrounds, and creative and academic interests—which, aside from introducing you to new friends, will also help you be a better writer. For example, if you’re writing about a car accident, an EMT in your writing group could provide valuable insights to make your story feel authentic.

And if you join an online writing community, you’ll meet and bond with writers from all over the world (check out our?Facebook group?for writers!).

While your best writing may be done when you’re alone, there’s no reason why writers have to be lonely! Connecting with other writers will provide the support and camaraderie that can enrich your life while refining your writing skills.