Hello? Is There Anyone Out There?

When you first start writing it can feel like a very solitary pursuit. You'll quickly learn that, to coin a phrase, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a writer. We're everywhere, and many of us have formed groups to support and encourage each other. Here are some places to look to find groups either online or in your area, whichever suits your style.

• Writers and Editors has a comprehensive list of writing groups in the US and beyond. Click on your area to see what groups are near you.
• This Wikipedia listing has multiple writers groups and organizations listed.
• Twitter has an active writing community whose members help promote writers to gain followers. Don't be afraid to jump in and give it a try. You can use #WritingCommunity to get started.
• Facebook also has many active writers groups. Some are open and some require a membership request. Use good judgment, and remember that some of these groups, even the ones who require a membership request, are public, which means anyone can see anything you post.

If you are just getting started in your writing career it might seem a little weird to have a social media presence. "I haven't written anything. Who is going to look me up?" I used to think the same thing, but there are some good reasons behind it.

1) A social media presence, like on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or whatever platform you like, gives you a chance to start getting your name out there. Name recognition is important. When you begin submitting your work for publication, whether it be to magazines or journals or to agents or publishers, those people are going to look you up, to see if you have a built-in audience who will purchase your work. 

2) That same social media presence allows potential publishers or agents to see how you present yourself to the public. Do you "play well with others" and that sort of thing? 

3) Social media presence allows you, as a member of the writing community, to network with other writers and to get your point of view or recent work out to people. Even if you self-publish and don't think you need a social media presence for a publisher or agent to view, your social media accounts are invaluable places for you to market your own work. Self-publishing or traditional publishing, marketing is a big part of your job.

4) What about a website? I'll admit, a website felt very strange at the beginning of my writing career. People in "the biz" said to create a blog or make a website to build a newsletter mailing list. Those are good reasons, but I finally heard the reason that made the most sense to me - an agent said that when writers contact him for possible representation, he wants to visit a website, not a social media profile, so he can see a) how the writers present themselves, b) where the writers have been published before, and c) a place to see samples of their writing, whether it be links to published pieces in journals, writings in blogs, or pieces posted on the writers' websites. So, when you feel comfortable, create a website and secure your domain name. There are many good sites where you can do this - just choose the one that is best for you. (Here is where a social media presence comes in handy - you can ask other writers for advice!)

THIS IS IMPORTANT - keep in mind that anything you post in a blog, on social media, or on your website can be considered previously published by much of the literary community, so be choosy about what you post where. Most literary journals will accept only new material that hasn't been previously published.

Authors Publish Magazine is a resource that I have found invaluable. They are a font of information and the publications they share for submissions are legit. It is worth your time to subscribe. I am not affiliated in any way with this publication. I just really like them. 

Writers Conferences are terrific opportunities to learn more about your craft, to network with other writers, to meet agents, to have your work critiqued, and to find writers groups to join. Some of my favorite conferences are The Blue Ridge Writers' Conference, The Northwest Georgia Writers' Conference, and The Red Clay Writers' Conference. There are writers' conferences all over the country, so search for one near you. And a helpful hint for new writers - if they offer workshops or intensives in your area of interest, take advantage of them.

Many writers offer online master classes. I've not found one that is free. Some say you get what you pay for, haha. Visit the websites or social media pages of your favorite writers to see if they offer anything. 

A lot of successful writers have written books about either the craft of writing or about their lives as writers. These are great resources. Two of my favorites are Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and On Writing by Steven King. Books like these are like mini-master classes and are worth finding.

You may have heard the term beta readers and wondered what it meant. Beta readers are people who read your manuscript or article or poem from the point of view of an "average reader" and then give you feedback on your work. Beta readers are essential once you get to a certain point in your writing because they aren't reading to critique or correct, like your writer group. They are there to tell you how your work made them feel, how the characters work, and if the story pulls them in. Don't start off with beta readers until you've found those who will critique your work. Beta readers are there for the "nearly ready" portion. 

Research for writers has never been faster or easier than it is now. Utilize the resources that are in front of you, like libraries, colleges, and the internet. You'll find that most people are happy to help you find what you need.