Today, I went to a wonderful event—Washington Loves
Romance. It was a gathering of writers
and readers at a beautiful bar in the Washington Area. I wasn’t really sure what to expect. It was a great time to visit with friends and
meet new people.
It is important for writers to find outlets to reach out to other writers. You can learn so much from other writers, especially about the business aspect of writing. Hearing about what kinds of things they’ve been through is helpful for both commiserating and for learning about various aspects of publishing.
One thing I notice about any gathering of writers is how supportive they are. For the most part, writers encourage one another rather than tear each other down. Offer advice rather than keeping information to themselves.
Writing can be lonely. It’s hard to soldier on sometimes, showing up at the computer, doing the writing, and making the commitment. If you’re unpublished, you’re working without knowing there will be any payoff. That’s all the more reason to seek out other writers.
There are
all kinds of writer’s groups out there if you’re looking for one to join. Every genre under the sun has a group. Put yourself out there and find a group that
interests you. Volunteer in that
organization and get to know other people.
Find yourself a critique group.
Search the newspaper for writer’s events. Call bookstores and see what events they
offer.
Get involved and find your tribe. You’ll be glad you found others who share your interests. It’s a relief to find others who understand the kinds of joys and lows that writing brings.
