Finding Community
Where to find other creators
Vicky and I often talk about the importance of community. We have a really amazing group of creative friends in person and online. But how did we find and make those connections? Today I’ll take you on a tour of some of our communities and travel back in time to the first time Vicky and I met.
Where it Began
I started looking for writing communities in 2016 and two names came up time and time again: The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 Challenge. I joined SCBWI straight away but I had to wait for the window for new members to be open for 12x12 so I joined that in January 2017. I also bravely enrolled in my first in-person SCBWI conference. Meanwhile I connected online with Vicky via 12x12 along with some other members going to the conference. It helped to know there would be some people I recognized from online at the event.
It didn’t take long to find each other and the rest as they say is history. Vicky and I became critique partners along with Faith Kazmi who we also met on the first day of the conference. We’ve been together through all the ups and downs of publishing ever since including multiple agents, book deals, and disappointments!
My Communities Now
Almost every relationship I have with writers now started from those two early communities and I’m still a member of both.
I volunteered with SCBWI for a number of years including co-leading our regional team during the pandemic which meant I ran a lot of webinars. That helped me meet other local writers and extend my network.
Vicky and I now host a monthly meet-up for local published creators and it’s really fulfilling to have conversations with others who get it.
And we all try to show up for one another’s book launches and story times whenever possible.
More Places to Connect
As well as the communities I mentioned above, here are some other places you can find writers and illustrators to connect with.
Online courses: Join a writing course like those from Storyteller Academy, Susanna Hill, The Writing Barn, and Writing Mastery Academy. They often come with communities of like-minded creatives doing the same work as you and are a great way to find critique partners.
Bookstores: Go to book launches for local authors and illustrators. You can also start to make connections with booksellers which will be invaluable when you have books out in the world.
Social media: I know social media can be tough but I have met a lot of people online via Twitter/X, Facebook etc. You can also join Facebook groups like Kidlit411 and participate in discussions.
Inked Voices - I haven’t joined a community here yet but I’ve heard great things!
Launch/co-marketing groups: If you have a book coming out you can start or join a group with other creators who have books releasing in the same year or if you have books that cover a similar area like STEM. Take a look at the group Vicky is a member of, Soaring 20s, for an example of a successful group.
DIY: start a local group! You can post in local Facebook or Nextdoor communities and find people who are interested in meeting up locally at a coffee shop or book store.
Making community requires taking a leap. Join the groups, go to the events, introduce yourself, and be brave.
Let us know in the comments the ways you’ve built a community.
P.S. Next week in our paid post we dive into the sometimes murky waters of contracts. Upgrade to paid to read that and all our past paid posts including a chat with agent Elizabeth Bennett about submission strategy, writing lyrically, and writing early readers. You can see what else we have coming up here.
Thank you @Elayne Crain for sharing!
Thank you for sharing @Melissa-Jane Fogarty (Nguyen)