Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NIV)
As you sit at your desk typing your next paragraph or page, do you ever think that this solitary activity is only part your writing life?
What’s another part?
It’s your involvement in community. It’s one of the greatest values in a writer’s life.
All of us need to surround ourselves with a network of writing friends, other Christians who give each other caring support, stability and strength—and friendship.
"Without constant communion with other believers to refresh their eternal perspectives," wrote Jordan Raynor in a blog post, "Tolkien may have never completed The Lord of the Rings and Lewis may have never finished The Chronicles of Narnia. Like these creators before us, we need regular communion with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to renew our minds and refresh the lenses through which we view the world as we work."
My beginnings with InScribe
I realized how important community was when I joined InScribe in 2012. My first conference was spiritually refreshing, as the speaker and workshop leaders helped me to learn the craft of writing. It also opened up my life to new friendships and opportunities.
I gradually became more involved, entering fall contests and serving as secretary. Then I was asked to be lead writer for this IWO blog, coming up with new prompts and writing the first post every month. The prompts stretched my imagination and writing skills and helped me look at new ways of thinking about my faith and writing. All through the nearly 12 years I’ve been posting here, I’ve been encouraged by others who write supportive comments and reflect on how something I’ve said relates to their own situations and stimulates their own growth.
Developing community
About nine years ago, another opportunity for community opened up. I began leading an InScribe local writers’ group. I had made a couple of attempts earlier, but now the Lord prompted me to begin again. In our first meetings, we all didn’t know each other and we felt tentative. Gradually as our comfort level improved, we began critiquing each other’s writing, sharing successes, and praying for each other.
During the COVID-19 shutdown, we met via Zoom meetings—a more challenging and limiting endeavour. When restrictions were lifted, it was so refreshing to meet in person, and we spent most of the first meeting catching up with each other!
How community has made a difference
Since that time we’ve grown, and I’m amazed at how we’ve become friends, have helped each other with writing. As we critique each other’s work—fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—we’ve gained ability to give insights and suggest strategies in the different genres. Each writer brings special skills in areas such as editing, coaching, sharing spiritual insights, and providing encouragement when we have questions about the writing process.
At our last monthly meeting, I looked around at our writers and was surprised at how much we’ve expanded our repertoire. For each other, we’ve been beta readers, editors, layout and cover designers. We’ve become almost a complete publishing industry in ourselves.
We’ve also begun a three-times-a-year group writers’ retreat, where we meet for a day at a designated location. We’re freed from home responsibilities and distractions so that we can give concentrated time to our writing projects.
Our lives, too, have strengthened each other as we’ve progressed through personal obstacles, challenges, and opportunities. Recently we’ve all had critical family or personal health issues or family complexities. In our time together and at home, we’ve devoted more thought in praying for each other.
Our connections have become more strategic as we’ve become encouragers who help each other find courage to become the people and writers God intends us to be.
Conclusion
All writers need a positive community to flourish, where our writing is respected and nourished. Such a community is crucial to our success as writers and growth as persons.
What about you? How have your writing communities helped you to become stronger together?
What’s another part?
It’s your involvement in community. It’s one of the greatest values in a writer’s life.
All of us need to surround ourselves with a network of writing friends, other Christians who give each other caring support, stability and strength—and friendship.
"Without constant communion with other believers to refresh their eternal perspectives," wrote Jordan Raynor in a blog post, "Tolkien may have never completed The Lord of the Rings and Lewis may have never finished The Chronicles of Narnia. Like these creators before us, we need regular communion with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to renew our minds and refresh the lenses through which we view the world as we work."
My beginnings with InScribe
I realized how important community was when I joined InScribe in 2012. My first conference was spiritually refreshing, as the speaker and workshop leaders helped me to learn the craft of writing. It also opened up my life to new friendships and opportunities.
I gradually became more involved, entering fall contests and serving as secretary. Then I was asked to be lead writer for this IWO blog, coming up with new prompts and writing the first post every month. The prompts stretched my imagination and writing skills and helped me look at new ways of thinking about my faith and writing. All through the nearly 12 years I’ve been posting here, I’ve been encouraged by others who write supportive comments and reflect on how something I’ve said relates to their own situations and stimulates their own growth.
Developing community
About nine years ago, another opportunity for community opened up. I began leading an InScribe local writers’ group. I had made a couple of attempts earlier, but now the Lord prompted me to begin again. In our first meetings, we all didn’t know each other and we felt tentative. Gradually as our comfort level improved, we began critiquing each other’s writing, sharing successes, and praying for each other.
During the COVID-19 shutdown, we met via Zoom meetings—a more challenging and limiting endeavour. When restrictions were lifted, it was so refreshing to meet in person, and we spent most of the first meeting catching up with each other!
How community has made a difference
Since that time we’ve grown, and I’m amazed at how we’ve become friends, have helped each other with writing. As we critique each other’s work—fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—we’ve gained ability to give insights and suggest strategies in the different genres. Each writer brings special skills in areas such as editing, coaching, sharing spiritual insights, and providing encouragement when we have questions about the writing process.
At our last monthly meeting, I looked around at our writers and was surprised at how much we’ve expanded our repertoire. For each other, we’ve been beta readers, editors, layout and cover designers. We’ve become almost a complete publishing industry in ourselves.
We’ve also begun a three-times-a-year group writers’ retreat, where we meet for a day at a designated location. We’re freed from home responsibilities and distractions so that we can give concentrated time to our writing projects.
Our lives, too, have strengthened each other as we’ve progressed through personal obstacles, challenges, and opportunities. Recently we’ve all had critical family or personal health issues or family complexities. In our time together and at home, we’ve devoted more thought in praying for each other.
Our connections have become more strategic as we’ve become encouragers who help each other find courage to become the people and writers God intends us to be.
Conclusion
All writers need a positive community to flourish, where our writing is respected and nourished. Such a community is crucial to our success as writers and growth as persons.
What about you? How have your writing communities helped you to become stronger together?
Sandi Somers is always challenged by new topics and ways to approach writing. She also explores ways to encourage others as she writes about seasonal activities, prayer, God's marvels in the world and in writers, and ways to grow our spiritual lives. She writes from her home in Calgary.
Thank you, Sandi, for your encouraging words about the importance of community. It’s something I lack in my writing life other than virtual contacts with InScribe members and The Book Hatchery. Your reference to the Inklings highlights what can be accomplished when writers spend time together.
ReplyDeleteLorrie
Thanks for your comment, Lorrie. Virtual contacts are also an important community, as I've found they've helped me learn skills and strategies in writing.
DeleteSandi, I enjoyed this closer look at how you have created community in your own life. Like Lorrie, these days most of my writing connections are online. I used to be more connected in person, but in recent years I dropped away from in-person community with fellow writers. You have shown how valuable it is, not only to one's mental and social well-being, but to the development and growth of one's writing life. I'm so glad you shared this today, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Brenda. I think there are seasons in a writer's life, and in-person contact is only one way of connecting. Certainly going online is another valuable alternative.
DeleteGreat post, Sandi. You are so right in your emphasis on the value of community. As writing is a solitary craft, it is all the more important to seek out others of like mind with whom to rub shoulders. I particularly resonated with this sentence, "Our connections have become more strategic as we’ve become encouragers who help each other find courage to become the people and writers God intends us to be."
ReplyDeleteThis past year I joined a writers group meeting at our local library. It is not a Christian group, so at first I hesitated to share my mostly faith-based writing for critique. The members encouraged me to do so, which has opened questions and interest in Christianity. Several of them bought copies of InScribe's latest anthology, Creativity and Chaos. May God use our words to draw them to Himself!
What an interesting group meeting you've joined. Isn't it so wonderful that your members are supportive and are interested in Christianity! Another amazing benefit of community.
DeleteI enjoyed hearing about your "community" growth, especially with InScribe. I count you as a dear friend, even though we really only see one another infrequently. But that INSCRIBE bond has been very special.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tracy. Yes, the InScribe bond has been the most beneficial in my writing life.
DeleteHi Sandi! Your words must have been excited to jump on to the page as you wrote this post. You have encouraged me to be more intentional in asking trusted people to read my work. Terry and I will be attending a church closer to home soon. The minister's wife at our new church is a poet/songwriter. We interact every so often online, but I am looking forward to asking her if we can chat in person on a more regular basis. I am hoping she will be part of the small group of folks who will read my poems as I bring them to fruition.
ReplyDeleteI echo your words about InScribe. Since I joined in 2014, I have benefited from the insights, comments, etc. of our learned and passionate family of writers.
What an opportunity for you to have a new writers' group, Alan! Having insightful critiques has been so helpful in improving my writing--especially as they see the great points, and not just what needs to be improved.
DeleteSandi, like you I've found such encouragement from my InScribe family. I've also been part of a writer's group for over 10 years. But you've sparked a new idea in me -- a group writers' retreat. It's actually been percolating for a couple of years but I wasn't sure how to go about it. Meeting for a day at a designated location sounds so doable! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGo for it, Joy!! All you need to organize is who to bring snacks. (The hostess provides coffee and tea.) We bring our own lunch. Each person brings a project to work on, and the day gives us time away from the normal responsibilities and distractions at home.
DeleteI usually begin with a short devotional and prayer, and we briefly share the project we're each working on.
We've met in a school where one member works, in each others' homes, and now this month we're meeting in my large church--will see how that goes.
Thank you for sharing the importance of being involved in community, Sandi. The thought that perhaps "Tolkien may have never completed The Lord of the Rings and Lewis may have never finished The Chronicles of Narnia" had they not been in constant contact with other believers almost sent shivers down my back. What frightening thoughts!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response, Sandra. Yes, community in one form or another is so important.
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