008-The Company We Keep
“Be as careful of the books you read, as of the company you keep, for your habits and character will be as much influenced by the former as the latter.” -Edwin Paxton Hood
“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” -Epictetus
My apologies first and foremost for being somewhat nonexistent of late. Between holidays, birthdays, day jobs, sending my first novel out to beta readers, and my laptop determining it no longer wished to have a Wi-Fi adapter, it has been difficult to sit down and generate a new post.
That said, there has been positive news on the writing front, and I would be largely neglectful if I did not give credit to the people around me to make that happen. I’m not talking about the people around the holiday dinner table, although I may touch on that later. Me personally, I always enjoy tossing out a random “Trump, amirite?” and then turning my back to watch a football game in the next room to let chaos ensue.
What I want to talk about are the people around you as writers or creatives that allow you to be more productive and grow into a better artist.
Despite my prior slump that I detailed in Blog 007-Changing Seasons, there has been a lot of movement regarding my writing, and nearly all of it I can attribute to the people around me. I hadn’t written much due to regular edits of my novel, however, my writers’ group, South Jersey Writers’ Group, had a fall writing contest where I submitted a 2500-word story that eventually was named the winner of the contest! That story will be posted soon on here, however, the benefit was truly the kick in the ass to WRITE, to do so with a slight competitive edge, and to get valuable feedback.
Fast forward into November—yup, NaNoWriMo. I previously alluded to my thoughts on the subject in my last post, but I learned a big lesson this year: whether you participate, it is an outstanding opportunity to jump on board with others to write at your own pace, and this ability becomes exacerbated when you align yourself with a like-minded community. My particular group hosted weekly virtual write-ins as well as a day-long virtual retreat. It had been a long time since I dove into another WIP, but with a slight idea of where I was in the story and a general direction I was headed towards, I spent approximately eight hours on a Zoom meeting, spending around thirty minutes writing before checking back in to log and discuss my progress, and at the end of the day…I had written SIX-THOUSAND words in a single day. 6000!!! At that pace, using my current novel that is in its beta reader process, I could have completed my first draft in TWELVE days!!
So the questions become how? Who? Look no further than the power of your own computer.
1. Search online for groups in your area. Search locally for groups, as they probably exist. Of course, I mention mine routinely, however I’m also aware of Liberty States Fiction Writers, one more based in Northern NJ. Typically, they may require small dues on a yearly basis, as does mine, and for the cost, it’s more than worth it to connect with others, engage in speaker sessions, critique groups, and the aforementioned write-ins and retreats. A more detailed, thorough search may also help to locate more genre-based groups.
2. Scour social media. This is big, and arguably the most fun. Since creating this website and the accompanying social media profiles, going through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with various hashtags to include everything related to the writing community is like roaming virtual wilds where you can connect with others and gallop together, pushing each other along with reckless creative abandon! Seriously though, it’s fun, and doesn’t come with any competitive flair. It’s great for accountability, knowledge, and overall outstanding for shared cheerleading! Occasionally, you’ll find others also looking to connect virtually, and technology these days can provide you with the resources to write along with someone across the world. My own social media presence remains in its infancy, but I’ve had a blast watching others grow and enjoy gaining feedback as well. I look forward to reaching out to others to see how we can shape the workings of a joint writing community to become even more engaged with each other. I’ve noted them before, but searching all hashtag variations of amwriting, writerscommunity, author, newauthor, debutnovel, etc. should send you on the path towards building that group.
3. The old in-person method. Ironically, this happens to be the avenue that led me towards participation in a writers’ group. Attend book fairs, open mics, conventions, etc. Creatives are always looking to find more like them, especially as part of a group where knowledge and experience is a commodity for the whole. Additionally, attending events is a great way to personally meet others, see what others are creating, and engage in meaningful conversation.
Of course, everything comes with caveats, just like sitting next to your drunk uncle for too long at the holiday table. This one doesn’t discriminate towards the sort of community you seek. The company we keep tends to dictate how we act and who we are. It can be an online bulletin board of designers or your writing group—if the conversation becomes a sounding board for your disgust over your job or your significant other, then that is what it becomes—a breeding ground for unproductive negativity. I would think we all have a slight desire to let others into our personal world, even while trying to expand on our creativity, and there is a place for it, but allow the focus to remain on what makes us productive, what provides for constructive feedback, and ultimately what helps you to identify as the person and creative you want to be.
As the holidays gear up for its finale, I wish for each of you to have a safe and happy season, surrounded by those that make you appreciative of who you are and who you intend to be, both personally and creatively…and if not, mention politics and turn your back to find someone more positive.
Do you have a particular community you belong to? How did you locate them? And how have they helped you along the way? Comment below!
If you are interested in sharing information about your own creative process, reach out to me on the contact page and a future blog may center around you! It’s a great way to showcase your work!
