Building your writing community

Are you an avid reader or aspiring writer looking to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for young adult literature? Building a community of young adult readers and writers can be a rewarding experience that not only fosters creativity but also creates lasting friendships and support networks.

Not long ago, I stumbled across something extraordinary—something that transformed the often solitary path of writing into a journey shared across time zones and backgrounds. We didn't write the same genres. We didn't live in the same places. We did have common stances generally on politics in the form of women's rights and basic human decency. From Prince Edward Island’s misty shores to the warmth of Georgia’s red clay, and up to New York's Northern reaches, I found a group of women who, like me, breathe stories into life.

We come from different places, but we’re bound by a shared love of story-telling, literature, and the drive to create something that resonates.... along with a random Grady Hendrix fixation.

Connecting with other writers—women who understand the highs of inspiration and the lows of self-doubt—has reminded me that writing doesn’t have to be a lonely pursuit. It can be a conversation. Building a community like this isn’t just about swapping book recommendations or writing prompts, although we do plenty of that. It’s about showing up for each other, pushing each other forward when the words won’t come, and celebrating when they finally do. It’s about creating a circle where creativity is nurtured and accountability is real—but so is compassion.

As someone who’s been both a reader and a writer for years, I’ve come to value these kinds of spaces more than I ever expected. A discord group, a Saturday morning set time to "sprint" and chat, a mental home for my writer friends. They keep the flame burning. They remind me why I write stories that reach into themes like friendship, self-discovery, and survival—because I’ve lived those truths not just on the page, but in the voices that cheer me on in my inbox or a late-night message.

So if you’re an aspiring author or an avid reader, I’d encourage you to seek your circle. Find your witches, gather your swordsman, find the people you trust to have your back, help you when you're struggling, and push you to do your best. Whether online or in person, through virtual book clubs or pop-up writing workshops, there’s something powerful about finding people who speak your language—literally and figuratively. It’s in those connections that stories deepen and writers thrive.

Let’s keep building places where creativity blooms and voices rise, together.