Pamela Koehne-Drube

Written by

Pamela Koehne-Drube

22 April 2022

News & Features

Writing Community: The Creator Economy, Rewritten for Storytellers

Novlr Community

There are many reasons why authors join a writing community. Whether it’s for the support of a like-minded group, writing sprints, fun and exciting prompts, sharing your work, finding beta readers, or even just for accountability check-ins, there’s a lot to be gained from them.

In Monday’s open user meeting, we discussed building a community of writers with those who attended. We wanted to learn what our users were looking for in a writing community and how Novlr can help make that happen.

Accountability

Without a doubt, having accountability check-ins is what most of our writers have expressed a need for. The struggle many of you seem to face is setting aside time for your writing in your busy schedules and keeping up the writing habit when you fall off the wagon.

It’s a struggle that many of you face. Fitting your writing around a full-time job, childcare, appointments, or your education can be difficult and mentally taxing, so the idea of a writing community with accountability check-ins is definitely something we’re interested in promoting.

Sharing you writing

Putting your writing out into the world can be terrifying, so a safe and supportive community where you can do just that is also something that we’re keen on nurturing. A writing community built around the support and feedback of other writers would greatly encourage authors to keep developing their craft and work toward the goal of accountability. Sometimes a positive push is all you need to get you over the finish line.

Another secondary benefit of being able to share your writing is community learning. There is no “correct” way to write, and every author has a unique way of going about it. Being able to talk to and learn from other writers at various stages on their writing journeys can be an invaluable asset in not only improving your work, but also in learning valuable time management skills and kickstarting creative ideas.

Community writing prompts

Writers are a creative bunch, so not everything has to be about productivity. Sometimes it’s ok to let loose and have a little bit of fun. Lots of you have requested writing prompts, and a robust writing community is a perfect place to find prompts that span almost every style and genre.

With so many different kinds of writers using Novlr already, a wealth of creative knowledge and inspiration is waiting to spark the imagination. Community-led writing prompts could also tie in with other enjoyable activities like writing sprints, competitions, and collaborative stories bringing the act of writing back to something fun.

A writing community - photograph by Dylan Gillis at Unsplash

What’s available to me now?

The feedback we’ve received from you, our writers, has been invaluable, and it’s given us a good idea of what you’re looking for from a writing community. We’re excited to build those community elements in a single place for you, but in the meantime, here are some resources to help you find a writing community that suits your goals.

  • For writing tips and prompts, you can follow us on Twitter and Instagram or use the #writingcommunity or #amwriting hashtags to connect with other writers
  • Join our mailing list or check the Reading Room regularly for writing and publishing tips, including posts like this one about writers’ groups and how to form them
  • Join an online writing community on a platform like Reddit or Discord
  • Participate in writing challenges like NaNoWriMo or Camp NaNo
  • Enter a writing competition
  • Join a local writers’ group (you can often find information about them through a local library)
  • Get feedback on your work through a reciprocal writing community like Scribophile