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| Photo credit: Joris_Louwes on Flickr |
Well yes, I understand they’re your friends, they’ll say, but they’re also your competition, right?
I get why this kind of thinking happens. I mean, in most industries, everyone who is not you (or working for/with you) is your competition. Most people aren’t going to buy a Macbook and an HP laptop, or buy a Nook and a Kindle.
But it’s not like that at all amongst writers. Because here’s the great thing about publishing: every reader can buy (and read) as many books as their hearts desire. That means I can buy I’ll Give You the Sun and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and Crown of Midnight while also coveting Made You Up and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and More Happy Than Not. I can be truly and legitimately happy for every one of my author friends who sells another book, without worrying for a second that their sale is going to somehow negatively impact my career. Because it won’t.
Granted, there are some more competitive aspects in the heart of publishing that I’m not addressing here, but by and large the writing community is ridiculously supportive and celebratory of everyone’s success and I seriously will never tire of it.
When I was a baby writer, I was terrified of jumping into the online writing community. But I’m so glad I did, because I’ve met some of the kindest, most supportive people in the writing community, and I’ve made some really wonderful friends because of it. And every day I meet new writers who continually show me the positivity and really incredible support system in place online.
If you aren’t already a part of it, and you’re a writer, I can’t recommend getting involved more. It’s a decision that literally changed my life, and I’m so grateful for it every day.
Have you gotten involved with the writing community?
Twitter-sized bites:
Writer @Ava_Jae shares her thoughts on competition and her love for the writing community. (Click to tweet)
"When I was a baby writer, I was terrified of jumping into the online writing community." (Click to tweet)
13 comments:
I agree. Everyone in the writing community is so encouraging and helpful. I've also found that when someone asks a question, everyone leaps to answer it like a bunch of ravenous dogs. But in a good way, of course. :)
One of my goals this year is to find a writing community, whether live or online. I have yet to meet that goal. Finding a live group is proving to be a challenge because I have a less than pristine schedule. Finding a group online sounds like the best solution, but don't know where to start looking. I have some writer buddies on Twitter, so I guess that's a start. But if by online writing group you mean a website I go to in order to share my writing, I have yet to find one.
Great thoughts. Thanks for sharing. I recently joined the writing community with my own blog at www.jhfowles.wordpress.com. I've been going at it for a month, and have hit the point where the inspiration faeries have flown away, and now its work. Any suggestions for online communities that provide support/motivation/feeback?
I've experienced that, too! Which I think is pretty great, because my questions get answered semi-quickly ha ha. Yay writers!
So, the biggest online community I'm a part of is Twitter. And that's mostly what I'm talking about with this post. So if you've already started there, you're on the right track! :)
Twitter! 100% Twitter. All the Twitter.
tumblr has a good community, too. But Twitter is more interactive, in my experience.
Except Twitter and Facebook I believe in the existence of writing communities like Wattpad and Figment. I began writing on Figment but later Wattpad won me. They also offer contests which can help you to improve your writing. Thank you for the post Ava! :)
I haven't participated as much in the writing community as I should, but I'm starting to get the hang of Twitter and I've found a lot of lovely people through blogging, who have done a lot to help me as a writer. It's a game where we all win, I think, and the fact that we all deal with similar issues makes it all the more fun and tight-knit.
I found some writing friends on Twitter, so I guess that would make me part of a community. And I have some bloggers I follow on WordPress. One blogger who follows me told me about writing.com. I'm thinking about becoming a member, but I'm so nervous about posting any of my stories. I guess I haven't overcome my fear of criticism. I want my work to be the best it can be. Whether I post it on my blog, a website, or a submission.
I have to agree. It's so much better to approach life in general with an abundance mentality, and the writing sphere seems to be one place where they've gotten it right. It's an amazing thing.
Yes! So so so agree.
You're welcome, Alexandra! I haven't really tried Wattpad or Figment, but I've heard good things about Wattpad, at least, and communities like it!
I totally agree that it's a game where we all win. Finding social media sites that work for you can be a little tricky at first, but once you start to get the hang of it, I think it's absolutely worth it. :)
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