Reaching out to meet strangers is hard for us Introverts, especially when we move to a new place. As writers, we tend to be our own best company. As writers who want to publish our best work, we need to go a bit further, and expand the horizon.
We need to utilize writing groups, critique groups and Beta reader teams.
There are so many groups to choose from listed on the web from LinkedIn groups to the usual social media sites – so start browsing. Find a place that seems to have activity you connect with people and conversations, like HERE for example.
So how does an Introvert find fellow writers?
I stumbled on my first writing group by joining the local NANOWRIMO team.
We share a group on Facebook, and send back and forth messages of support, great links and posts, etc. During the actual month of activity, some members meet up to write together at various coffee houses – giving each other support during the harried month of mayhem.
The second writing group joined was on Google +
There are some large writer’s group there like Writer’s Discussion Group , but I joined a smaller group of eight. We post what we working on, into our private Google Drive, and then we critique and edit each other. Sometimes it is cruel – but always worth it. I found them by joining in the conversations in the regular writer’s group, and answered the call when one person recruited the rest of us. It has been a good experience.
My third group, I found using MEETUP, which is a web site to help you find local groups.
This is especially good if you are new to an area – In my case, I have lived in Memphis for only four years but I still don’t know too many people (hello – Introvert here) So when I went to the first meeting, I was pleasantly surprised to find fellow writers taking their craft seriously. This group is very supportive, and such a mix of writers from poets to novelists, which makes it more interesting.
All in all, there is no reason to go it alone.
Writing everyday by yourself will drive you crazy if you do not mix it up sometimes. Besides, we all need to be pulled away from our own story, and back to reality.
Our work is not always the ‘piece of perfection’ we think it is and a good critique group will keep you honest, and help you hone your craft.
