What I Love About Online Author Communities

I used to think of novel writing as a solitary undertaking. I wrote my books alone, I shied away from letting anyone read them and I did all my own editing. Even the movies portray writing as a private or lonely endeavor. Novelists are tortured by deadlines and pushy editors. They have cabins in the woods instead of supportive colleagues. They are misunderstood instead of tapped in to their communities and they drink too much.
 
I went to a women's simulcast conference last year to hear speaker, Beth Moore. She said something that changed my life. She spoke about how we all have a calling, most of us will never get famous from it, but we all have gifts and a use for them. She followed this up with her belief that our callings require the support of others to be successful. She specifically mentioned writers.

We write alone and it's easy to buy into the idea that writing doesn't require a community of people to support it. She had us all repeat, "I don't have a WEE calling, I have a WE calling." She encouraged writers to seek a community of people to help them with their calling (because God knows, nobody spends hours locked in a room writing if it isn't their calling!)

I decided to come out of the closet as a writer and seek advise, help and encouragement. I opened myself up to criticism with joy because it makes me better. I humbled myself to admit when I don't know what I'm doing and I've received fantastic advice. I swallowed my fear about speaking, tapped into my audience and I've seen my story through their eyes. I don't know what I was afraid because my writing life is richer, my reach is further and my writing is better since I asked for help.

One of the websites I use the most to connect with authors for advice is the Kindle Direct Publishing Community (KDP) at Amazon. They have helped me spruce up my product page, write my blurbs and format my book. They also answer my questions and provide a place to commiserate about writing. My advice is to read posts and get to know the spirit of the community before engaging. Once you're comfortable, start asking questions, sharing your knowledge and you will grow as an author!

To Do: Check out the KDP community!You have a WE calling, not a WEE calling.