Finding My Tribe

Writing is a solitary activity. And, unless you are writing to contracted deadlines, it’s purely voluntary. No-one is making you write! Well, except for that little voice in your head urging you on. Write, write, write! (Or is that just me?)

The point is, we writers write because we want to. Write because we have to. Write because we need to communicate, clarify our thoughts, tell a story and we do it by writing.

So if it’s such a solitary, self driven activity, what are writing festivals and groups all about? I must admit, I used to wonder why a group of writers wanted to get together. It seemed a weird thing for a bunch of predominately introverted people to want to do. People in large numbers (shiver) It didn’t seem like something I would ever enjoy.

I’m a self-confessed loner, recluse, hermit, and I’m generally happy with my own company. But since entering the world of children’s literature, the kidlit community, I’ve found myself joining groups, attending more live events and fully immersing myself in the community and loving it.

I have discovered since calling myself a writer, like most things in life, it’s better with friends. Meeting other writers either in person or online, becoming part of a community who will understand your struggles, celebrate your wins, commiserate on your rejections, adds a depth to this writing gig I couldn’t have imagined. And I love it!

Maybe I’ve found my tribe.

Writing is still a solitary endeavour. It’s still up to me if I write or not, but now I can talk to others who understand what I experience without explanation. They just get it because it’s their reality too.

And the very best part, for me, is supporting other writers on their journey.

So whether I get published or not, I will celebrate everyone who does, because I have some idea what they went through to get there.

So as I sit at my computer, looking out at the bush, I can talk to other writers, read their stories and see their journey. Celebrate their wins. Empathise with their losses. Have long conversations about all things kidlit.

What we rarely discuss is why we do it. Why we struggle for weeks, months, years to find that perfect word to finish a story. Why we rewrite, restructure, re edit our writing to prepare it for submission. Why we agonise over every typo we find after we hit submit. Why we share our rejections and know each one is a step closer to a yes.

We already know. It’s in our blood.

We are a tribe.

©Jacinta Lou