From Solo to Supported: A Writer’s Guide to Finding Community
Writing doesn’t have to be lonely
Our culture treats the artist toiling in solitude like a romantic idea, but that’s rarely how it happens in the real world. Writing doesn’t have to be isolating—art flourishes in community. If you know where to look, there’s a whole world of writers out there, waiting to connect.
Jessie Kwak, author of From Chaos to Creativity, returns with a guide on networking and building your community, with clear and easy to follow advice. Learn how to form your own “writing constellation,” how to create an elevator pitch, tips on reaching out (without being a creep), and how to navigate things like events, classes, workshops, and more. A great read for writers new and old to shift their mindset away from the solo grind to enthusiastic collaboration and building an open, welcoming support network.
Keep reading for an excerpt of Jessie L. Kwak‘s From Solo to Supported, available now from our site or from an indie bookseller near you!
It Takes a Community
One of my favorite parts of any book is the acknowledgments. I mean, I love getting lost in the story and absorbed in the prose. I love bonding with characters and learning new facts and exploring complex ideas. But I really, really love that moment at the end when the author pulls back the curtain and gives the world a peek at how much community goes into writing a book. The average acknowledgments page includes people like editors, critique partners, teachers, and mentors who helped get the dream across the finish line. It also tends to include folks like neighbors and family members and friends and babysitters—all the people around a writer who supported and enabled the dream.
And, of course, there are almost always shout-outs to the nebulous cloud of writer friends and groups who inspired and encouraged the writer, and kept the dream alive in the most frustrating hours. If you’ve only seen depictions of a writer in popular culture, you could be forgiven for thinking we’re all reclusive loners, hermitted away in our cabins in the woods while we work on our magnum opus. But the truth is that almost all successful writers are surrounded by a web (a network! a constellation!) of people who are critical to their journey. Yes, the main requirement of writing is to sit alone with one’s thoughts. But that doesn’t mean writing has to be a solitary pursuit. Instead, it can happen with the support and encouragement of a vibrant, uplifting community.
In fact, I would argue that community isn’t just nice for writers to have. It’s actually a huge part of what will make you successful (whatever your version of success looks like). Your writing skill, your perseverance, your mindset—all of that matters. But your community is the electric current that will keep you going for the long term.
They say success is all about who you know—and they’re right. Your community will help you professionally. They’ll tell you about opportunities, invite you to submit to anthologies and promo opportunities, and introduce you to people who will open doors. Your community will hone your craft. They’ll critique your work, challenge you to write better, hold you accountable to your goals, and inspire you to push yourself in new directions. Your community will support you personally. They’ll hear you when you need to vent. They’ll celebrate your wins with you. They’ll get it when you have some weird writer-specific complaint, like how your characters aren’t behaving and have totally derailed your plot.
Success is all about who you know. But I don’t want you to feel like that’s a barrier. I want you to see it as an opportunity. Because you, too, can build a writing community that supports you in the tough times and celebrates with you in the good times. You can make connections with people who will become your collaborators and introduce you to opportunities. You can construct a thriving, healthy network that will make your writing more fun and fruitful, whether you’re pursuing a professional career or simply enjoy writing as a hobby. I know this idea might seem intimidating, especially if you’re shy and introverted—and let’s face it, a lot of writers are. But don’t worry. You don’t need to become a master schmoozer or have been born with a zillion Charisma points to build your writing network.
How do I know? Because when I was in my early twenties, I didn’t know anyone who wrote speculative fiction. I was an incredibly shy kid. I was terrified of introducing myself to strangers and would get tongue-tied any time someone asked me to talk about my writing.
Here’s the secret: I still am. But I’ve learned to manage that fear. And one person at a time, one encounter at a time, one brave step at a time, I’ve surrounded myself with a writing community that Jessie from twenty years ago couldn’t have even imagined. If I could teach myself how to enjoy networking, believe me, you definitely can.
Build your confidence and your community as a writer with From Solo to Supported: A Writer’s Guide to Finding Community by Jessie L. Kwak, shipping now from Microcosm or your favorite bookseller!