Overview
“What I owe them all is incalculable.” – C.S. Lewis on his Writing Group the Inklings
Having a community of writings, particularly one in person, is such an incredible book to one’s walk. There are innumerable benefits to having those who can truly empathize with what you, as an author, are going through, not just sympathize and see what you are experiencing. Sure, your church group, or college friends, or work buddies might listen to you and be there for you, but it’s a different kind of experience when you know the person sitting across from or next to you has lived through what you are living through. When they can take your hand, emotionally but sometimes literally, and say “Hey, you’re gonna get through this.” Or “This is temporary I went through it just the other week/month, you’ll persevere.”
When I began writing again, in earnest, as an adult, in fall of 2025, I had no one. My online writing community of six years had kicked me to the streets and said, “Figure it out bud.” So, feeling totally beat, I had given up. That’s when I attended my local Comic-Con. Now, if you’ve been around on this blog for a minute you might have read my article Keeping the Beacon Lit, where I talk a little bit about my experience at this Comic-Con. Now what I didn’t mention there is that one of the creatives on that life-changing, yet sparsely attended panel, was a friend of mine from my first ever Dungeons and Dragons games. So when my friend who is now an author, Cameron Blackwell, invited me to attend a “Writer’s Coffeehouse” at one of our local libraries, I was sold.
Since then, in the intervening eleven months I have learned a whole heap about communities and writer’s groups so let me share some of my experiences and recommendations!
A Writer’s Coffeehouse
Are you looking for a low-stakes place to simply exist with other authors? A place where not much more than your name is expected of you, but you can still grow in community and experience as a writer? Well, Jonathan Maberry likely had a similar wish in 2004 when he began something called the “Writer’s Coffeehouse” in Philadelphia. It began as a no-agenda networking and discussion group for writers/authors. It has since gone nation-wide. All the way over here in Southern Arizona there is a Writer’s Coffeehouse with the same mission that meets every month.
I can confirm, having a near perfect attendance record for 8+ meetings now, that nothing is asked of an attendee other than their name/author name and what they write! After that others ask the questions, or you can, and there is fruitful conversations had for around two hours. This idea isn’t copyrighted or anything so if your city doesn’t have a monthly meeting already, consider grabbing a few writing friends, and starting one! As they said in The Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.” So even if you start with just you, I’m sure your library would let you post an announcement on a community bulletin, you could share the idea on a local-focused Facebook Group.
Critique Groups
Now, these are the real bread and butter of writing groups. A Critique Group is a place where you build deep personal relationships with other authors whose sole-duty it is to rip apart and critique your writing. This is the place where you can develop thick skin and become near-bullet proof against cynics or trolls who will trash on your writing after it is published. But it is also the place where you will learn to take what feedback you need to take to make your writing better.
You should not attend one of these, or ask to join one, if you have no intention of helping others grow, or taking feedback and growing yourself. I, for one, have advanced leaps and bounds in the short two-ish months that I have been attending my bi-weekly critique group. As goes for any of these groups, don’t have one local? Consider creating your own. If you go that path, be sure to check out Ross Lampert a.k.a. “The Critique Doctor”‘s books on the subjects of giving and taking critique, and finding the right critique partners for you!
Online Writing Communities
The last group I am going to write about today is Online Writing Communities. These are a mixed bag and I might not be the best to give advice here. I know the Critique Doctor, whom I mentioned in the previous section, talks a little about this type of connection in his series, but I would strongly recommend the other kinds of community described above FIRST, and online communities as a supplementary resource or a last resort.
However, I must admit, these would likely be the easiest kinds of communities to find and join. When you do join them, however, remember that you are an outsider for a LONG time depending, especially, on how long the community has existed prior to your membership. You can find networking communities like “The Fellowship of the Indie Author” or you can even find critique groups, like “The Writing Circle.” I am or have been a member of these communities and I love(d) them dearly. The best advice I can give here is this: find a group that someone you know in real life has already joined and see if they would be willing to be your “Sponsor” so-to-speak. That is the best way to ingratiate and integrate the fastest.
Conclusion
Writing groups are 100% worth your time and effort to find/join/establish. They will help inspire you, keep you accountable, and grow you as an author/writer. Whatever you do, just remember to keep writing and don’t give up!
If you are looking for advice and inspiration on your writing journey, consider listening to my podcast, “Keeping the Beacon Lit“
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Lets talk about your experiences in writing communities in the comments or over on X!
