Recently, some writers I know described themselves as very much outside the writing community. I had questions, but didn’t want to interrogate them because my curiosity might be taken as criticism.
For anyone who wants to be in community with other writers, and doesn’t know how it works. Here’s my gentle take, organized from lowest bar to highest
1. Read and write short fiction, novels, and poetry
It’s as easy as that. You love it, you read it, you write it, you’re in the community. So how do you find your people?
2. Follow other writers, interact with them, boost their work
Interacting on social media is the lowest bar to hop. Have you read a great book, a terrific story? Post about it and tag the writer. This is especially effective if the writer isn’t one of the famous faces who get a lot of attention. You will make their day!
Bluesky is best for this; the writing community there is huge. Do the social media thing: reply, comment, congratulate, and praise. Paying attention to other people is a big part of community.
3. Sold a story? Promote yourself and the writers you’re published with
If you’re in an anthology or magazine issue, follow your fellow writers, and make a few posts about the antho or issue, tagging them if possible. Very simple. Your fellow writers will appreciate it, and so will the editor.
At the end of the year, post a list of your publications to social media. Here is Amal El-Mohtar on why you should do this. Also, boost other people’s eligibility posts.
4. Not a social media person? There are other online social options
There are a ton of Slacks and Discord communities for new writers. Codex is huge and very welcoming to new writers. Or you can start your own, and invite other new writers to be in community with you.
5. Attend classes or workshops
Writing classes and workshops are held all over the world. Here’s a list of the ones serving the SFFH community. As an added benefit, you can make friends with other writers, and help each other out.
6. Join a critique group
Crit groups are a time honored way for writers to increase their skills by sharing work and offering critiques. How to find a critique group? See below:
7. Go to conventions
Now, here is where the bar gets a lot higher, not just because attending conventions can be expensive, but because if you’re socially anxious, it’s so difficult to put yourself out there.
However, conventions can be the best way to feel part of the community, and come away with a full tank of writing energy. Here’s a list from Locus.
7. Volunteer
All the awards, all the cons, and nearly all the magazines run on volunteer labor, and they are always desperate for more help. This is the highest bar, because it asks the most of you, your time, your energy. However, there would literally be no short fiction world without volunteers.