Stop Writing Alone
Every writer wants to find their readers, but I believe you must find fellow writers first. Stop Writing Alone is here to help you find (or create) your writing community, so you can grow as a writer, and fine tune your work(s) in progress.
I started writing like nearly every other writer I know: alone, with paper and a pen, slowly graduating to a laptop sprinkling some words around the Internet. Poetry, stories, articles, essays, blog posts, guest posts, and even novel-length works all spilled out before me.
And then what?
I read my words, I re-read my words, and could not deny that they simply did not sing in the same way the words within the covers of the books on my shelves did.
I started to think it was me. I decided it was because I wasn’t a “real” writer. Then, while lurking around another writer chat on Twitter I was sure I couldn’t join, a real working writer presented the following paradigm-shifting idea to me:
Why do you call yourself an aspiring writer? If you write, you are a writer.
It was all the permission I needed. I joined a local writing group and a number of online writing groups. I told them all of the Twitter-permission I had been granted. I explained my newbie status and apologized for my naivety in all aspects of the craft. But I kept at it.
That is when the magic began to happen! Merely surrounding myself with other writers in a mutual aspiration to better our writing was enough to help my words sing.
This is what I want for you. I want you to embrace your role as a writer, and I want you to take your place within the writing community to challenge yourself, to learn how to give and take critique, to collaborate, and to share your writing with writers to polish it to its best form for your future readers.
I want you to Stop Writing Alone.
Think you might be interested? Here’s how you begin:
- Introduce yourself in the comments section here. Let us know what you’re writing and what you are looking for in a writing community/partnership.
- Follow this website.
- Like our Stop Writing Alone! Facebook Page or — even better — JOIN our Facebook group Stop Writing Alone with Nicole Rivera
- Follow me on Instagram @stopwritingalone and Twitter @nv_rivera
- Sharpen your pencils, stretch your fingers, and charge your laptops — in other words, get ready to write!
- Start listening!
I just entered this on FB. I write memoir, including personal essay pieces. I’m working on my first book entitled, Letters to my Son in Prison, Dear Lucas. I write 1-2 hours/day and am about two years into working on the craft.
I’m not sure what I’m looking for but I think it is 1-2 fellow memoirists who would like another pair of eyes on their work. Because I want another pair on mine.
LikeLike
I’ve been writing family stories and general musings on my blog Stories Served Around The Table. Sometimes I think I am just blabbing into dead air. Writing is a lonely business.
LikeLike
Hey Nicole! I love, love, love your podcast and the work that you do… I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award (https://eilidhhorder.com/2019/10/02/versatile-blogger-award/) just in case you’re interested… 🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, My PenName is Akiré Rose, and I guess I’m a writer, and an aspiring published author.
Im currently working on my first YA (low) Fantasy Novel. But I’ve written tons of fanfic and have lots of various unfinished ideas for books.
I’m looking for someone(‘s) to help me along the road. Hear my ideas and make sure I don’t give up. Critique is also a plus. Friends who want to read my stuff but also will politely tell me that it’s trash.
LikeLike
Hi Akire! Have you found Stop Writing Alone on Facebook? That’s a great place to start this conversation and see if you can make a connection!
LikeLike
Hey I am a budding writer and freelancer. I write stories at waatpad and also have started writing some professional writing for some research papers and contents. I am hoping to learn and create a great environment here.
LikeLike
Welcome Gayu! How do you like writing on waatpad? I have a story up there, but I have never been very active so I haven’t realized it’s full potential.
LikeLike
Writing has returned my once silenced voice. I seek to write honestly revealing my vulnerable self in hopes to connect with others. https://thesoulwhispersblog.com uncovers pain and pleasure with imagery, befriends the natural world, finds meaning in mundane moments and playful memories. 🌳
Looking forward to seeing the world through the lens of other writers.
LikeLike
I’m Sri from thevibrantspace.wordpress.com I write blog posts, but I’m also working on a historical fiction novel.
LikeLike