Community is powerful. It offers support and encouragement when you need it, along with resources to achieve your goals. Oh, and protection. We've all seen the YA community rise to defend its own. A good community can change your world.
The online writing community... is fabulous! The internet can be big and scary at times. It's easy to post anonymous flaming comments. When I started this blog, I had no idea how it'd go.
Let's be honest. I've loved every minute of my experience so far. Whether it's here, in forums, or commenting in other blogs, writers everywhere on the internet are warm, welcoming and happy to share. In an industry where the competition is high, it's heart-warming to see how much support there is for the next writer.
Just look at the many blog awards being passed to others. Or at the wave of celebration when someone gets an agent or a book deal. Ok, maybe we live vicariously through the others! Or we're just happy to see one of us who made it through the trenches. You choose.
The NaNoWriMo community. I do not think I would have succeeded in NaNoWriMo (the challenge is to write 50k in 30 days, every November) three years in a row without my region's support. I talked about it yesterday, from my master-of-cheerleading perspective.
My NaNo group is a wonderful, super-tight community. If you stumble there's a dozen friends right there to catch you. If you fall behind, we'll grab the pompoms and stand behind you, cheering, until you're caught up. We'll pay for all the sugar, coffee and tea you need, as long as you get there.
It's as Sam says: "I can't carry it for you, Mister Frodo, but I can carry you."
Never underestimate the power of community. Whether it's a solid network of close friends or the internet peers who back you up, the community can push you beyond your limits -- and you'll love it!
Happy Monday. :)
Oh, I agree 100%. I had no idea what to expect when I started blogging, but so far I've met some of the coolest and most supportive people. This A to Z challenge has been amazing for connecting with other writers.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Claudie. We've had a great positive feedback loop circulating through the online community lately. I'd definitely like to keep that alive.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post :-) One of the reasons I chose YA is because of the extraordinary YA writing community online and I wouldn't be half the writer I was today without the community of Bransforumers. We live in a very cool time to be online.
ReplyDeleteI love the blogging community! It makes all the time online worth it. Writers online are my networking group.
ReplyDeleteI agree that writers make the best support team. When I started blogging, I headed for gardening groups. Most gardeners are supportive and kind, but some of them can be a little territorial if not clique-ish. They're garden bloggers, by gumbo, and don't appreciate it when someone strays from the path. I've found that not to be the case at all with the writing community.
ReplyDeleteThis whole post gives me warm fuzzies. Not only am I a major LoTR fan, but I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Nano. Without that community, I'm not sure I would've "won" two years in a row.
ReplyDeleteYou're spot on--the online writing community is so amazing and supportive. It's nice when you're one of the newer kids on the block.
Hey there, agree, agree! Great to meet and to follow a fellow A to Z'er and writer of YA.
ReplyDeletewalk2write: I like to think writers tend to have, by nature, a more open mind. You need to be willing to accept the world, study it and live in it to render it properly. It isn't always true, of course, but from experience most writers I meet are open and willing to try new experiences.
ReplyDeleteTL Conway: Warm fuzzies, yay! Oh, and don't worry about contradicting yourself between comments. ;) Communities are too complex to be either all good or all bad. My own NaNo group must sometimes be steered away from constant inside jokes. It's only natural when you get to know the members more thoroughly.
KarenG: Writers = best networking group ever. ^^
Catherine (somehow missed you in the last comment): I don't actually write YA (though none of what I write contains enough adult material that I wouldn't recommend it for a teen), but I follow quite a few YA authors on the internet and the synergy in its community is amazing.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. I love this community. I love all the new people that I get to meet and learn from. Support like this can't be found anywhere else!
ReplyDeletecommunity! what a wonderful C. Have a great D
ReplyDeleteHaha, Stratoz, "a great D". I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Claudie A. Nice to meet you. The blogsphere is a wonderful community. Full of people to cheer you on and offer a shoulder when you are left down. A wonderful community I feel lucky to be a part of.
ReplyDeleteI heartily agree. Community is really important. I've done NaNoWriMo too, and I don't think I would've succeeded without that support.
ReplyDeleteLove the Lord of the Rings quote.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started this blog, it was mainly to chronicle my journey and build a platform. I never imagined the friendships and personal connections I'd make.
That's the exact word: Community.
Dan
I love that the writing community is so supportive. I had no idea how supportive until I started blogging. It's wonderful.
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