Writing might feel like a lonely art, but there are groups around the world dedicated to workshopping stories together, offering support and community when you need it most.
“Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences.” – Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals Of Sylvia Plath.
Do you love imagining new worlds, new characters, adventures and romances? Do you pick up a pen or crack open your laptop and paint pictures with your words? Writing stories can be an act of joy or, on occasion, feel like pushing sand uphill; while finishing the first draft of a story can bring a sense of satisfaction and relief. You’ve done it – you’ve completed your tale. And then there’s the moment of sharing your work. Perhaps you have a loved one who you feel comfortable handing that first draft over to, or a friend who’s always willing to read your story and offer feedback. It’s more likely, though, that your stories languish in your desk or on your laptop, while you try to work up the courage to send your piece out into the world.
Perfectionism is a trap we all fall into on occasion. It’s all too easy to get caught up in trying to finetune a sentence rather than reaching your daily wordcount goal. It’s also okay to decide why you’re writing – do you want to have your work published? Or is it a personal hobby that makes you happy? This is a key thing to ponder because having your work published generally means it will go through the hands of at least one editor and you’ll need to be mentally ready to receive feedback and critique. It’s important to know that a good editor, whether it’s your loved one or a professional, wants to help you create the best piece of writing possible. Even so, taking in feedback on your work can still be fraught with difficulty and tension. Writing is often so personal that any criticism, helpful or otherwise, can feel like a kick in the teeth whether it’s well-intentioned or not.
Joining a writing community that allows you to offer feedback on the work of others can offer insight into this process from the other side, so you can reflect on whether feedback is upsetting you because you don’t want to change your piece or because it’s actually coming from an helpful place. At the same time, some feedback may resonate with you and open up more creative possibilities. After all, most writers work with other writers to polish their craft.
Look for a local writers’ meet-up or join an international group online to find your inspiration and support. Your community is waiting for you!
TOP CREATIVE WRITING COMMUNITIES
Nanowrimo
Launched in 1999 when founder Chris Baty asked 20 of his friends to join him in the challenge of writing 50,000 words of a novel in a month, National Novel Writing Month has become an international event on many creative writing calendars. Over 3 million writers from all around the world have participated in what they describe as “one part writing boot camp, one part rollicking party” as they encourage “creativity, education, and the power of the imagination through the largest writing event in the world”. Rather than writing, rewriting, editing, and aiming for perfection, NaNoWriMo is all about getting out that first draft. More than an annual occasion, NaNoWriMo offers a year-round community with ongoing writing support, mentorship, and information on upcoming events.
www.nanowrimo.org
Shut Up and Write!
Do you find it hard to focus when you’re at home by yourself, staring at that blinking cursor? You’re not alone in this struggle, but luckily Shut Up and Write! is an international organisation dedicated to creating groups and events around the world where likeminded people can gather and talk about their projects then sit down, shut up, and write for an hour. Whether you’re interested in fiction or non-fiction, novels or short stories, poems or thesis drafts, you can get together, get a coffee, and feel the motivation of being surrounded by people who love writing as much as you do. Visit the Shut Up and Write! website, find the next meet-up in your area, and see how much you can achieve in just an hour when you have support around you. www.shutupwrite.com
Australian Writers’ Centre
A must-visit website if you’re interested in learning more about writing, the Australian Writers’ Centre offers online and in-person writing courses on topics ranging from creative writing, travel writing, freelancing, and short story essentials.
www.writerscentre.com.au
