Do you have anyone you can talk about your writing with?
Do you have anyone who can read your writing and give you feedback?
Some writers – me included – are lucky enough to have a partner (or other family member) who's willing and able to help. But not all writers have the support of family or friends, and some even find that those close to them are critical or
mocking about their writing ambitions.
All writers need support from fellow writers. Whether you're just starting out or you've published ten books, the fastest way to grow and move forward is with the help and encouragement of other writers.
So how can you find that type of support?
Three great possibilities to explore are:
#1: Online Groups and Forums
I've put this first because it's a very accessible route. There are so many groups and forums out there for writers. A couple of popular and reputable forums
are:
There are also countless smaller groups where you can talk to fellow
writers, many with a more specialised focus. I run a Parent-Writer Support Group on Facebook, for instance, where writers with kids can talk about the challenges of being a parent-writer.
#2: Local Groups (Classes or Workshops)
Throughout my teens, I belonged to a local writing workshop that grew out of an evening class. I've had several other writing groups over the years since: currently, I meet for coffee every 2 - 3 weeks with a couple of fellow writer-mums.
A good local group can be such an invaluable help, especially when you're a fairly new writer. It gives you a specific time each week / fortnight / month to focus on your writing, and in most groups, there'll be the opportunity to work on writing exercises, to share your writing ... or both!
If you're thinking about joining a group but you're unsure, or if you don't have a local writers' group but would like to start one, check out my post: Why You Should Join – Or Start – a Local Writers' Group (aliventures.com/join-start-writing-group).
#3: A Writing Mentor or Coach
You might be lucky enough to find someone who'll mentor you informally for free, but in most cases, you'll find that if you want any substantial degree of support, you'll need to pay.
A good mentor or coach (there's usually a fair bit of overlap between the terms) will encourage you but also help you grow
by offering you feedback on your writing itself and potentially also on your writing career (e.g. they might be a good source of advice on how to approach publishers).
One of the best mentors I know is my good friend (and my editor!) Lorna Fergusson, from Fictionfire: you can find out about her mentoring and coaching
here: fictionfire.co.uk/consultancy.
Although many of us writers (me included) are introverts, most of us also want to share our love of writing with other people who "get it". If you don't have anyone to support your writing at the moment, how could you reach out and find that support in the next few days or weeks?
(Feel free to drop me an email to let me know how you get on.)
