Find your tribe
Why writers need other writers
Writers must strike a delicate balance: time alone to write, time in community to keep us writing.
That second one? It might surprise you. How, exactly, does time in community keep us writing? We must choose our community carefully—some well-meaning friends may not know how to encourage and cheer us on in the writing life.
We need a community of writers, a safe place to brainstorm, give and receive feedback. The boost this will give your writing will surprise and delight you.
We must carve these chunks of time from an already full and busy life—because neither happens automatically. Each requires intention and a sort of discipline. And each augments the other. Writers must find their tribe, connect with that tribe, but also balance that with solitary writing time.
I just got home from the West Coast Christian Writers Conference in Roseville, California where I taught, met with writers, offered instruction and encouragement. Writers come to the conference to learn about writing and publishing. They often don’t realize the other thing they will find here—a writing community—is the thing they need the most.
After the conference, I spent a few days with my writing bestie, Susy Flory. We talked through book ideas (I wrote about it in my other newsletter, read it here), hiked in the mountains, read books and enjoyed some good food. Susy is one of several writers who I consider an essential member of my writing tribe.
Susy and I explore Iron Mountain, an abandoned ski resort. We share a love of writing but also hiking and enjoying the outdoors.
A writing community offers space to one another. They provide a place to lament when dreams take longer to realize than we’d hoped, and a place to celebrate together when our dreams begin to become reality.
If you are an aspiring writer, you likely have begun to take time to write, but perhaps didn’t even know you need time in community with other writers. Or where you might find that tribe of people. Your family or friends might encourage you as you pursue your writing dreams. Or not. They may scratch their heads and look at you, bewildered, as you try to talk about your writing life, your dreams and journey.
But other writers will understand, even if they don’t have answers. They’ll commiserate and offer support, and sympathy. They get you. They can also ask great questions to help you strengthen and sharpen your ideas.
I love watching writers discover that, yes, it is great to pitch their book idea to an agent or editor, but they also might find what they’re looking for in a writing buddy.
Writers and creatives are a quirky bunch, which is why conferences like this are fun and entertaining, but also another kind of awesome—they are a place where those eccentricities are sort of normal. We’re all sort of quirky together. The best writers are bookworms, a little terrified of the idea of attending a conference and, oh, say, talking to people about their book idea. But we do it because finding other people who are the same sort of nerdy as we are empowers us.
I met one-on-one with writers like Lauren at WCCW.
Finding your own writing community
Maybe you wish you could find that tribe—writers who could encourage you. Maybe you’re in a stage of life when getting away for a three-day writers’ conference sounds like an impossible dream. Lucky for you, there’s the Internet—specifically, our little corner of it.
This newsletter provides a safe space for writers to ask questions and encourage one another in our dreams, whether those dreams are of being published or even simply having the courage to let someone else read our writing for the first time.
If you’re longing for a more customized experience, I’m planning to host the Powerful Story Writers Group starting in January 2024. This group provides community, one-on-one coaching, and the guidance you need to finish a full manuscript of your book.
If you have a book you’re working on, or have always wanted to work on, the group will help you complete your manuscript in one year. This monthly group combines instruction, accountability and community. If you apply by December 1, the cost for membership is just $199 per month.
Imagine attending a writers’ conference session once a month, to receive top level instruction on writing and publishing. In addition to these monthly Zoom classes, group members receive:
Personalized feedback (manuscript evaluation) on up to 10,000 words of your manuscript each month. (This benefit alone is worth more than the cost of group membership.)
One-on-one coaching from a publishing industry veteran and multi-published author—me.
Lifetime access to videos of the teaching content from the group.
Access to our private Facebook group where you can ask questions of me, access additional video content, and interact with other writers, as often as you like.
Accountability to produce content that moves you closer to your goals.
Guidance on the best path to publication for your particular project.
Connection with other writers who can share ideas, offer encouragement, walk on this journey with you.
Last year, four writers were part of a six-month beta group. Here’s what Catherine, who completed a draft of her book in just six months, said about the group:
"Keri is a skilled writer and teacher. The greatest benefit for the writers' group for me was the accountability it provided each month to stay with my writing."
(Me, teaching at WCCW. Photo by Lauren Hunter.)
Many writers have a book they’ve started but never completed. It’s a work in progress that’s somehow always “in progress.” Joining this group will provide a clear, actionable plan, and the accountability and encouragement you need, to not just work on your book but to complete it.
To apply for a spot in the 2024 Powerful Story Writers’ Group, fill out this application. There’s no obligation or cost to apply. Apply today at the discounted price of just $199 per month. (After December 1, cost jumps to $299. Save more than 30 percent by registering today.)
The group will be limited to 10 participants who are writing non-fiction. (If you’re writing memoir or fiction, I’d be happy to refer you to other writers’ groups that focus on those specific genres.)
Want more info about this group? Read this blog post.
Welcoming and Wandering—my other newsletter
I recently started a second newsletter, which explores the practices of hospitality and travel, how they’re connected, and how they form us. I always tell writers, a newsletter is a great way for writers to explore a topic and to connect with readers. So I’m following my own advice!
I wrote this week about that H-word, hospitality. Turns out people have some pretty strong feelings, not necessarily good ones, about this practice. If you’d like to join in the conversation or just see what all the fuss is about, click on over to Welcoming and Wandering, which is also on Substack. (You have to subscribe separately in order to receive both—I hope you will!)
Keep writing!