by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
If you’re a new writer or have recently decided to spend more time writing, you might be looking for other writers online.
Plugging into the online writing community can be very helpful for writers. Finding support and encouragement is probably the main reason, with accessing resources a close second.
I’ve recently been asked by a few newer writers where to find other writers online. There’s not one main watering hole. Here are some of the places writers hang out online:
Twitter: There are tons of writers on Twitter. If you put #amwriting or #writetips or #writechat into the search box on your home page, you’ll find writers. Or go to my followers. Almost all of them are writers.
Blogs: Blogs are great places to connect with other writers (find active blogs to follow, then branch out and follow folks in their blog rolls.) There are plenty of writing blogs in my sidebar to get you started.
Forums: Absolute Write , Writers Net, and Writing Forums, among others, connect writers with each other and with resources and information.
There are also Yahoo Groups that operate on an email loop (or you can choose to visit the group’s board). Just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/ and search for “writing” or the genre of your choice.
Facebook: Writers are all over Facebook. What I’d recommend is finding a blogging writer who has a Facebook account, friend them, then go to their followers’ list. You’re sure to find other writers there to friend….then repeat the process.
National organizations (USA): The Authors Guild is the oldest of the organizations for published authors. There are also many groups that are genre-specific: SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), RWA (Romance Writers of America), MWA (Mystery Writers of America), ITW (International Thriller Writers), HWA (Horror Writers Association), Sisters in Crime, etc.
There are also local writing organizations. Some writers find it very rewarding to connect with other writers in person and exchange ideas about writing, publishing, and marketing. If you’re looking for an in-person group, it’s worth the few minutes to pop over to Meetup.com and type in ‘critique group’ and your location to see if there are groups in your area.
Writers conferences are a good, if frequently costly, way to meet other writers. Or you can participate in a free online writing conference like The Muse Online or challenges like the annual National Novel Writing Month and make writing friends there.
There are probably gobs of other places that I’m not mentioning here. Where are some of your favorite places to hang out with writers?
I love to hang out at Forward Motion (www.fmwriters.com) and Query Tracker (www.querytracker.net/forum). The members of both sites are friendly and helpful.
Thanks for the tips! I haven’t been to Forward Motion or the forum at Query Tracker (although I’ve been to QT’s blog…very useful.)
Is there a way to subscribe to your blogs,posts, (however you choose to refer to them) via email? I see that you post on a lot of interesting topics, but I don’t always have a chance to read them when I see them. Being able to access them via my emails would be more efficient than trying to go through old posts on Facebook. Thanks.
Thanks! Yes, there’s an email subscription box in my sidebar…it’s about 1/4 of the way down the page (sorry, the sidebar is sort of crowded with stuff, I know.)
Elizabeth – You’ve got some terrific ideas here for interacting with other writers! May I also suggest Savvy Authors and Writer’s Remorse.
Thanks for the suggestions, Margot! Great links.
Anymore, how can you not turn around and run into a writer?
That’s the way I feel! In fact, that’s the first question I ask attendees when I’m speaking at a conference: “How many of you are writers?” There are just so many of us.
Surprisingly, though, it seems like there’s a whole subset of writers who are new to either being online (maybe even a little uncomfortable with technology), or at least to *writing* and being online. You and I have been doing this for so long that it’s hard to imagine!
“Where are some of your favorite places to hang out with writers?”
Um…bars.
(Duh.)
;)
Of course! Ha! And, at conferences, that’s probably the very best place to network, too. :)
If you’re hesitant to share your work with people online, then look for folks in your area. See if there’s a writing group where you can meet up. Here in central TX, the biggest group is probably the Writers’ League of Texas, but there are lots of smaller groups that would have other writers looking for kin.
Good point. A lot of writers aren’t as comfortable sharing their work online as they are in person.
Blogging and Twitter is how I met you, Elizabeth. I have never regretted joining in with the writing community on-line. It is so supportive.
I agree! So much support and encouragement online.
Thanks, Elizabeth. I don’t know any writers outside of the internet and I live in a small town, so it’s kind of my life-line. Such a good way of making sure I’m sane.
I can definitely speak to the benefit of meeting writing folks online and through local groups via meetup. I think the most important thing is to to always keep your eyes open and not be afraid to move on when something stops working. But when it works out, it’s great.
That’s such a good point–if something isn’t working, quickly evaluate what it is and change course. Not everyone likes Twitter or Facebook or is happy blogging. It’s nice that there’s something for everyone out there.
As you said, follow one writer and you’ll find many more. (Although my followers are really eclectic.) Many have told me that the IWSG has led them to other writers, which is awesome.
You’ve done a great job connecting writers with your blog and IWSG!
Very good suggestions and I will be trying them out. I’m new to on-line writing and will be glad to get into the community. Thank you.
Best wishes for your writing and for getting involved in this great community, Suz!
As ever, great advice. I’ve just met a new writer who lives nearby, and I’ll recommend that he follows your guidance.
Thanks so much, Martin! Hope the new writer makes some good online connections. Thanks for coming by. :)
Great post! One more place. There’s an online community called She Writes that’s also a good hub for writers, female in particular.
Welcome post, Elizabeth! I often receive notes from aspiring writers. I’m bookmarking this one, and I’ll be tweeting it often. Cheers!
May I suggest – http://www.wfscsherwoodpark.com – the group welcomes local & virtual members.
The Writers Foundation of Strathcona County also has an annual conference – this year
– Gord Steinke, Anna Marie Sewell, Judy Schultz, Lynn Gagne-Webb, Suzanne Burkett are presenters. Date 5th May 2012 – Registration on above web site.
My blog – mandyevebarnett@wordpress.com – my personal writing journey.
I strongly believe connection to other writers is very important. Thank you for a interesting & supportive blog.