For a long time, I was a solitary writer. I put this down to a mixture of two things. Firstly, I am an introvert by nature; and secondly, I was a child writer. A couple of school friends had a go at writing because of me, but they didn't stick with it for long, so I grew up thinking of writing as being something you did on your own.
But I have learned that writers need other writers, and here are three resons why:
Writers are interested in writers
For years, I was happy writing on my own. Then, at a very difficult time (let's just say I found myself unexpectedly single), I saw an ad for a writing holiday by the sea in Cornwall and I signed up for it. It was the first time I had ever had the chance to talk about writing with people who understood. The fact is that it doesn't matter how interested or sympathetic your non-writing friends are: they don't truly understand because they've never done it.
Writers are always interested in other writers - in their work, their careers and their experiences. Writers will always share what they know and provide encouragement and support. It is a wonderful profession in that respect.
Networking works
I used to be sceptical about this. To me, it was one of those annoying management-speak terms and therefore not to be taken seriously. But I am a convert.
Meeting other writers both online and in the real world creates friendships and support networks and can lead to new opportunities.
It's fun!
This time last week, I was at the RNA Conference in Shropshire, meeting up with existing friends (hi, Kirsten, Jan, Sue, Jackie and Kate; sorry you couldn't be there, Julie) and making new friends (hi, Jane, Cass, Kitty, Alison, Maggie and Christy). I also finally met in the real world two writers I have known for yonks online - Heidi Swain and Wendy Clarke.
The RNA kitchens are the place to be. There is laughter and gossip and maybe even the odd drink or two. Our kitchen was better than all the others because we had palm-reading. Yes, really. Thanks, everyone who made the Conference such fun, especially my lovely friend Kirsten, who always makes me laugh.
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If you are a solitary writer, have I convinced you that it's time to come out of your cave and meet some like-minded people?
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Comments (20)
Congratulations on the publication tomorrow of Summer On Firefly Lake. I loved the first in your Firefly Lake series and I've been looking forward to reading Mia's story in the new book.
This is a lovely post and very true for me too. I don't mind being on my own writing most of the time but I so enjoy getting together with writing friends. I have been incredibly lucky, I feel, to make so many new friends as a result of my writing over the past few years, and it was writing that brought us all together. I only realised how important the conference get-togethers are to me when I couldn't go this year - I really missed you all despite having a lovely weekend doing other things. I definitely want to go to Leeds next year!
All were inspiring, hearing authors like Jo Cannon, Natasha Pulley, Emma Flint, Louise Doughty and Rachel Abbott. They've all had their struggles and disappointments but won through in the end, and that helps us keep the faith. But the real benefit is that feeling of friendship from the community of writers. It's fabulous.
I've also experienced a retreat - that's where I met Kirsten - and it was absolutely brilliant. We all laughed till we cried playing 'fortunately, unfortunately' and the input into each others' WIPs was incredibly helpful. I'm eager to find more, but so many seem to be at the other end of the country for me. Well, back to my self editing, otherwise this novel won't be ready for York FOW this September...
I think I've always been a fairly sociable writer in that I discovered Twitter at more or less the same time that I started writing and embraced both with gusto!!
Like others had said, writers really are the most friendly and supportive bunch and - writing from the perspective of the aspiring writer - I think they are particularly good at giving encouragement and impetus at the times when it all just seems too hard and dispiriting.
Lovely post xx
I hope you enjoy your writing retreat in Cornwall. Retreats are marvellous because there is so much built-in writing time and you can make significant progress, but I'm glad you can see the value of the social side of it. The company of other writers gives me personally a real boost. The fact that we are writers means we start off with something important in common, so we are never short of something to talk about; and from that friendships can grow.
I hope to meet up with you again at the RNA Conference in Leeds next summer xx.
I am not just a solitary writer, but I've discovered I'm also a lonely writer. I struggled a little with my first writers' conference for lots of small reasons, but this realisation helps me to understand why.
The greatest thing I took away from it was how thankful I was to have met such a lovely group of supportive people. Yes, the chats about writing were fab, but the birth of new friendships was the best thing of all. ❤️
I'd already signed up for a writing retreat in Cornwall in November, but I'd been anticipating it from the retreat perspective (ie recluse), but now I have realised meeting my fellow writers will be the best!