ROWAN UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF WRITING ARTS
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The Lockdown Lowdown on Writing Communities by Marissa Stanko

5/2/2020

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In the Writing Arts department and anywhere else you can find writers, you will likely hear the term “writing community” thrown around a lot. But what does that mean? What is a writing community? How do you form or join one? And how will all of that change in light of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe?
A writing community is a group of writers that seek to foster growth in each other through individual and group activities. People tend to think of writing groups or communities as places where you are given a kind of piece to write and you have to produce that piece within a time frame for other members to review, but the definition is much more fluid than that. As long as the group is working towards the common goal of growing as writers, it’s a writing community. Your writing community could be you and three friends, a group of five classmates, or thirty strangers who have come together with the same purpose. 
One of the biggest questions that I asked when I heard that term floating around was, how do I join or form a writing community? I can think of at least one instance before I joined Writing Arts where I wanted to join a group of writers, but I decided against it because I didn’t think I was as good or prolific as the other members. 
When joining a writing community, you have to ask yourself some insightful questions. Why do I want to join a community? What am I looking to get out of it? What am I willing to put in? How can I balance my comfort level with my learning?
For instance, I could join a group of fairly new writers who wrote exclusively short fiction, just like me, and I’m sure I would learn a lot, but would I be pushing my own limits? And not necessarily just pushing the limits of your work in your preferred genres, but don’t be held back by the idea that you have to be on the same “level” as all of the members in your group. Every writer has something to learn from other writers.
If you’re looking to join a community within Writing Arts, you have options. There is of course the Writing Arts Club, where members answer writing prompts and decide on genres for their zine at the beginning of the semester, and continue to hone their writing experience as the semester goes on. Members are students, just like you, who all have different perspectives to offer on writing. It’s a great place to start if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for in a community. In your fellow students, there are other dedicated, aspiring writers who may be interested in forming a community as well. Get to know your classmates! They could be writing connections for the rest of your life. For a comprehensive overview of other Writing Arts organizations that could help you find your community, check out this post. 
There are also tons of writing communities on Tumblr and other Internet platforms you can use. Tumblr recommends groups and chats you can join. Follow some writers on Instagram? See someone whose style you love? DM them! The first step to finding your community is reaching out. Digital writing communities are especially appealing in our current social distancing period. Established groups can no longer meet in person, but they can still foster their evolution as writers. You can communicate with other writers through a wide variety of apps, like Discord, Zoom, and Google Meet. Writing communities are flexible and creative, so don’t be daunted by the current circumstances--you can still join one! 
Alternatively, you can always start your own writing community. Maybe your roommates want to join you. Or some classmates. Internet mutuals. The three weird old ladies down the street. Maybe you get the chance to meet a published author, and join a group they are associated with. The advantage of starting your own community is that you can tailor it to your liking. You can have meetings or no meetings, structure or no structure, you can write, share memes, critique each other’s work, whatever helps your members. 
Most importantly, don’t feel like you have to tick off certain boxes to join a writing community. Just because you’re a new writer or a transfer student or anything else does not mean that you can’t find a writing community. Writing communities are places of learning and fellowship, meant to help members thrive. They’re inclusive because members are connected by a love of writing. Everyone is equal in a community, because everyone has something to contribute. 
You can be a casual writer or an aspiring novelist, but it is your love of writing that drives your desire to grow and consequently your desire for community. Allow that desire to develop into your own community of writers, all there to help each other grow. 
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  • Home
  • Programs
    • Creative Writing Minor
    • WA Major
    • Minors >
      • Publishing and Writing for the Public
      • New Media Minor
      • Technical & Professional Writing Minor
      • Writing Arts Minor
    • Certificates of Undergraduate Study >
      • CUGS in Creative Writing
      • CUGS in Publishing and Writing for the Public
      • CUGS in Technical and Professional Writing
      • CUGS in Writing Studies for Educators
      • CUGS in Professional Communication
      • CUGS in Writing for the Environment
    • 4+1 (B.A.+M.A.) Program
    • Degree in 3
    • Graduate Programs
  • Advising
  • WA Major
    • Writing Arts Journey
    • Required Courses >
      • General Education >
        • Science and Mathematics
        • Social and Behavioral Sciences
        • Literature, History, Humanities, and Language
      • Introduction to Writing Arts >
        • History & Materiality of Writing
        • Issues in Writing
        • Technologies & the Future of Writing
      • Methods Choice >
        • Communication Theory
        • How Writers Read
        • Tutoring Writing
      • Creative Choice >
        • Creative Writing I
        • Writing Children's Stories
      • The Writer's Mind
      • Writing, Research & Technology
      • Literacy Studies >
        • Situating Writing
        • Writing With Technologies
      • Senior Seminar: Methods of Analysis and Evaluation of Writing
      • Portfolio Seminar
      • Free Electives
    • Elements of Language >
      • American English Grammar
      • Editing for Publication
      • Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics
      • Linguistics
      • Rhetorics of Style
      • Semantics
    • Concentrations >
      • Creative Writing >
        • Creative Writing I
        • Creative Writing II
        • Film Scenario Writing
        • Fundamentals of Playwriting
        • Magazine Article Writing
        • Professions in Writing Arts
        • The Publishing Industry
        • Screenwriting I: Writing the Short
        • Screenwriting II: Writing the Feature
        • Tutoring Writing
        • Teaching the Writer's Workshop >
          • Publishing & Writing for the Public >
            • Applied Media Aesthetics: Sight, Sound and Story
            • Editing the Literary Journal
            • Environmental Writing & Rhetoric
            • Fiction to Film
            • Introduction to New Media
            • Media Law
            • Online Journalism I
            • Participatory Media
            • The Publishing Industry
            • Publication Layout & Design
            • Photojournalism
            • Professions in Writing Arts
            • Rhetorical Theory
            • Self Publishing
            • Writing for Popular Culture
            • Writing for the Workplace
            • Internship
            • Research Practicum
        • Writing Children's Stories
        • Writing Comedy
        • Writing Creative Nonfiction
        • Writing Fiction
        • Writing Genre Fiction
        • Writing Poetry
        • Writing the Young Adult Novel
        • Internship
        • Research Practicum
      • Technical & Professional Writing >
        • Developing Health and Scientific Literacy
        • Introduction to Technical Writing
        • Medical Writing and Rhetoric
        • Professions in Writing Arts
        • The Publishing Industry
        • Scientific Writing and Rhetoric
        • Tutoring Writing
        • Writing to Bear Witness
        • Writing for Nonprofits
        • Writing for the Workplace
        • Internship
        • Research Practicum
    • WA Learning Community >
      • Publishers
  • Internships
    • Internal Internships
    • External Internships
  • Careers
  • Faculty
    • Faculty Resources >
      • Best Practices in Online Learning
      • Syllabus Requirements
      • HyFlex/Remote Learning
      • Canvas Support >
        • Writing Comedy
      • Accessibility in Online Courses
      • Racial Equity Online
      • Supporting Developmental Writers Remotely
      • Building an Online Classroom Community
    • Acknowledgements
  • Blogs
    • Writer's Insider Blog >
      • Spring 2022 >
        • Writing Diverse Characters
      • Fall 2021
      • Spring 2021
      • Fall 2020
      • Spring 2020
      • Fall 2019
      • Spring 2019 >
        • An Interview with Devon James & Rachel Barton
        • Confession Travel Writer
        • Self-Publishing: A Change in Perspective
        • CCCA Career Fair: Having Your Future in Mind
        • Alumni Success: Entering the Working World
        • Behind the Scenes of Rowan's Hiring Process
        • Writing Comedy
      • Fall 2018 >
        • Singularity Press: Rowan's New Start Up
        • Writing Arts Club
        • How Can We Evaluate Creative Writing?
        • More Inclusive Events for Technical Writers
        • Guest Speaker Manuela Soares
        • Glassworks Reading
        • Spotlight: Taylor Henry, Recently Published Rowan Alum
      • Spring 2018 >
        • Publishing and Writing for the Public: A Reconstructed Concentration
        • What You Think You Know About Technical and Professional Writing is Wrong
        • The Toni Libro Medallion Award Winner: Myriah Stubee
        • An Interview with a Publisher
        • Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Winner: Sara Skipp
        • The College of Communcation and Creative Arts 6th Annual Student Awards and Showcase Ceremony
        • Rowan Alum, Marissa Cohen, On Self Publishing and Advocacy
      • Fall 2017 >
        • Upcoming Classes in the Writing Arts Department
        • The Writer's Journey Blog by Earl Garcia
        • Rewriting The Department's Social Media Platforms
        • Rowan University Writing Arts Club Reinvents Mission
        • Glassworks Launches Issue Fifteen
        • For Futuristic Consideration: An Exploration of Careers in Writing
      • Spring 2017 >
        • Technical Communication: An Overview
        • A More Inclusive Future for Technical Writers
        • Easing the Tension: Breaking Down Technical and Professional Writing
        • Growing the Technical and Professional Writing Concentration
      • Fall 2016
      • Spring 2016
      • Winter 2015
      • Fall 2015 >
        • 2014 and Prior >
          • Archive
    • The Bulletin Board
    • RU Writing? Podcast
  • Creative Writing
    • CW Faculty Publications
    • CW Course Offerings
  • Writing Center
  • Alumni
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
  • Awards
    • 2022 Emerging Writers Scholarship
    • Denise Gess Literary Awards
    • Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Award
    • AnToinette Libro Graduate Medallion Award
    • Past Awards >
      • 2008 Hollybush Writing Competition
      • Write Rowan, Right Now! Contest
  • Student Groups
    • Writing Arts Club
    • Avant Literary Magazine
    • The Whit Newspaper
    • Her Campus Rowan
    • Odyssey at Rowan
    • Singularity Press
  • Events
  • ECCCA
    • RU Deptartment of Writing Arts - Home
    • News & Announcements
    • Rowan University - Home
    • Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts at Rowan University - Home
    • Student Groups
  • About Us
    • Our Vision and Mission
    • Land Acknowledgement
    • Our Call to Action