As a writer, one of the most motiving experiences you can have is being a part of a community of other writers. Growing up in rural Idaho, it was hard to find a community like that. My first experience being amongst a group of people who shared the same passion for storytelling was attending Writers at Harriman—an incredible summer camp for young aspiring writers. However, it was at Boise State University where I found that sense of community that empowered me to write and share my stories. I made many friends with a similar interest in writing. I had some incredible mentors and instructors. It was amazing.  

Boise in and of itself has a thriving community of writers, something I’m so excited I got to be a part of when I was living there. I went to the slam and spoken poetry nights put on by Boise Spoken Word Collective (psst you can check out the chap book I’m in here) and Big Tree Arts, and I attended amazing Story Fort events. Overall, I was surrounded by an amazing and talented people.  

Now that I’m living in Twin Falls, I’m working on creating a similar community here for myself and others here. I started a group called Writers of Twin Falls, and we meet every other week on Saturdays at a coffee shop (of course) to just write. There is something about being amongst people with the same shared interests as you that motivates you. More than that, being a part of these kinds of groups has made me a better writer—we offer each other insight, give each other advice, share resources, geek out about writing. Being a part of a community makes a huge difference.  

If you’re looking to become a better writer, I encourage you to find others who share the same goal. Find a community of writers in your area or online. If that fails, try starting a community of your own. I won’t lie, it can take some effort, but it is worth it.

Six Tips to Find/Start Your Own Writing Group

If you are looking for some tips on how to find or start a community of your own, I got you:

• See what writing/storytelling events are happening in your area – do a quick Google search or hop on social media and see if you find any related events. Spoken word, open mic, or slam poetry events are usually the most common. If you’re a little shy, by no means do you have to perform. It’s still good to get out there to connect with others and make a few writing friends. (A bit of a warning: if it’s your first time going to a slam poetry event, they have their own culture and rules. It can be a bit surprising to walk into. While they are competitive, they keep it fun.)
• Create your own: It’s easy to start your own writing group. Simply pick a regular time and place to meet and start going. When it comes to picking a time, I recommend finding a day of the week and time when people are most likely to be free–either a Saturday or a Sunday in the afternoon—and be consistent. As for a place, I like coffee shops (shocker). They’re a place most people feel comfortable visiting. (Plus, there’s food and drinks!) They can get a little loud, so be warry of that. Alternatively, check out if there is a room you can reserve at your local library.
• Get the word out there!  Start with the basics: create social media accounts (Facebook, X [twitter], Instagram, TikTok) and post regularly. If you have the skills and the means, start a website. Look for community calendars to submit events to (typically your local news website or radio website).
• Be consistent! Take it from someone who has sat by themselves dozens of times with a sad, hand-written “Writers of Twin Falls” sign, it can be tempting to give up when no one is showing up to the group. But the trick is to be consistent. The more sincerely you take this endeavor, the higher the chances are you’ll get more people in your group.
• Be welcoming. You will get some people who this may be their first time sharing their work or talking about writing. Be kind and be welcoming.
• Structure your group time. Decide what the purpose of your group is and structure your meeting time around that purpose. Some writers want a place where they can share their work and get critiques, some want a place where they can just perform, others want a place where they can simply sit with other writers and work on their current project. Decide what you’d like to have your group be. For me, the group is about having a judgement-free space to write other writers and do a little sharing. Here is my structure:
  • Welcome/get treats (5-10 minutes)
  • Dedicated writing time (30 to 45 minutes)
  • Sharing/geek-out about writing time (10 minutes)

Again, I cannot stress the importance of being a part of a community of writers. Doing so has inspired and motivated me. Tell me, are you a part of a group of writers? What kind of activities do you do? What is the most meaning part about meeting up with them?