The Importance of Community
By Greer Macallister | November 6, 2023 |
Like most other writers here at Writer Unboxed, I treasure the writing community we’ve built online. And like a subset of those writers, I’ll be spending this week in Salem, Massachusetts, enjoying the company of that community in person at the Writer Unboxed UnConference. I consider having a writing community one of the absolute non-negotiables of writing and publishing happily long-term — you don’t have to have an in-person community, but you need to have some kind of community, period.
If you’ve read my writing here over the years, you know I hate rules, and caution writers not to adopt other people’s “always” or “never” rules as their own without question. So why am I calling this particular thing non-negotiable?
Here are just a few things having a writing community can do for you:
Input. Yes, writing can be a solitary activity if you want it to be. You can write an entire book without ever speaking to anyone about it or showing it to anyone, and some writers prefer to do it that way. But getting feedback and input from other writers at some point in your manuscript can be invaluable. Whether you’re brainstorming ideas, asking for feedback on loglines, getting a beta reader’s thoughts on opening chapters or completed drafts, or calling in a favor for one quick proofreading of your query letter before you send it off to agents, input from other writers can make your life better. So why not try it?
Knowledge. Not every writer you’re going to meet online will be your friend, just like with people in the real world. But the exchange of information within communities–like this very site!–doesn’t require friendship. All it requires is that you be in the same space (again, online or physical) with people who know things. So though there’s an overlap between support and knowledge–see below– you can get one without the other. I learned a tremendous amount from people in the Backspace online community once upon a time–just reading posts by published authors taught me the language and cadence of publishing, though none of those people would have the faintest idea who I personally am.
Support. Many writers are lucky enough to enjoy the support of friends and family, people already in your life who are cheering you on. But there’s a big difference between your roommate saying “This is great, you should be published!” and a fellow author saying, “This is great, you should query my agent!” Publishing at its worst can feel capricious and even cruel. Your grandmother can say that she loves your writing, but she isn’t likely to have a grasp of what it means that your book is or isn’t the lead title, or experience what it’s like when the editor who acquired your book announces she’s leaving, or know exactly what a publicist does and why you’re frustrated that they don’t seem to be doing it. When you hit bumps in the publishing road, the support of people who understand what you’re going through can be powerful, even essential, to keep you going.
Q: What else do you get from your writing community, in-person or otherwise?
Raised in the Midwest, Greer Macallister earned her MFA in creative writing from American University. Her historical novels have been named Book of the Month, Indie Next, LibraryReads, Target Book Club, and Amazon Best Book of the Month picks and optioned for film and television. Her latest novel, The Thirteenth Husband, is inspired by Aimee Crocker, the Paris Hilton of the Gilded Age. Macallister also writes the ongoing Five Queendoms epic fantasy series as G.R. Macallister. A regular contributor to Writer Unboxed and the Chicago Review of Books, she lives with her family in Boston, MA. www.greermacallister.com
I look forward to seeing you at the Writer Unboxed Conference this week. You are absolutely correct about the benefits of a writer’s community. For me, a supportive writer’s community, in which writers share resources and offer constructive feedback, is essential. When I attended my first WU conference in 2014, I was so excited. And the conference exceeded my expectations. I learned so much about the craft of writing. And, more importantly, the people I met became not only writing colleagues, but lifelong friends. I belong to several writer’s groups and WU is a unique community because of the culture that Therese Walsh has created. The people in WU care about one another and there is a culture of sharing and mutual support. WU is a community of truly nice people. And, that makes all the difference in the world. Writing is a competitive business, but the WU community is a considerate and welcoming group of people. i wish all of my friends and colleagues a successful and fulfilling conference. Thanks for this post.
Hi, Greer. As I was contemplating what to write for my WU post that will appear this Friday, I considered this very subject. I now will pursue something else, as you’ve done an admirable job with the topic.
I would add to what you wrote that I have made some of my most valuable lifelong friendships at conferences. Just yesterday I spoke for an hour and a half on the phone with a friend I met at the Squaw Valley Writers Conference way back in the 1980s. He has a new novel and I’ve agreed to blurb it (and from what I’ve been able to read so far, he’s in for some superlatives). This goes beyond “networking.” Colleagues are great. But friendship is precious. Here’s hoping some new friendships are forged — and older ones reaffirmed — this week in Salem.
Hey, Greer. Like everyone here on WU, I am grateful for the positive vibes set by Mama T. I wish I could see everyone this week, but alas, a cross-border trip was not in the cards this year. Have a great time, everyone!
Hugs,
Dee
I will not be at the shindig, but I would be if I could be. I would enjoy meeting as many UnBoxers as possible, because I enjoy your company. I wouldn’t take anybody’s advice, though.
Wish I was at the conference—and hope to be some day—but I have long taken solace in the warm, smart and communicative community here. Thanks Greer (and thanks, Therese)!
People can forget how restricted the life of a chronically ill or disabled writer can be – I haven’t interacted with another writer except twice in the past ten years in person. But I am part of several writing communities and value each of my online writer friends and bloggers for the connections, their wisdom, and the support – and, online, I can also GIVE, something almost impossible for me in RL.
Since March 2023, I removed myself mostly from face to face public gatherings. Before COVID, I filled my plug in hybrids gas tank at least one a month. Since COVID, maybe once a year. Less driving, less face to face and gathering with others in public.
Now I value my online writer friends and bloggers way more than i did before COVID.