When it comes to online communities, you can find pretty much anything you want. Whether you want a group for a hobby, professional development, or even fellow passengers on an upcoming cruise, you can find like-minded people on social media.
Back in the day, there were chat rooms where you could connect with others. Now, of course, we have places like Facebook groups and using specific hashtags on Twitter or Instagram, among others, to find people with similar interests.
But whatever group(s) you choose, there are some similarities.
- Provide connection with people around the world
- Allow interaction to learn, to share ideas, and to collaborate
- Give members a sense of community
- Gain knowledge from those with more experience
- Offer your knowledge to those with less experience than you
FINDING YOUR WRITING COMMUNITY
I participate in several online writing groups related to writing and blogging courses I took. The groups provided additional support and accountability while going through the courses. Upon completing the course, members provide ongoing advice, serve as a sounding board for frustrations, and lead cheers for members’ successes.
These types of online writing groups provide great opportunities to learn and get feedback on your work. But if you’re looking for groups open to anyone, there are ways to help narrow down your search.
On Facebook, utilize the search feature using key terms for your interest. Things like “writing Young Adult science fiction” or “historical non-fiction authors” can help locate groups related to your interest. Just be sure you do some research on those groups before hitting the Like or Join button. Some groups are too big. They make it hard to get any real interaction. Review the administrative team and/or any group guidelines. There might be red flags about the group’s content. Also, double check to make sure if it’s a public or private group. Some private groups only accept members of a particular local chapter or organization, so you’ll need to check eligibility requirements.
On Twitter, and Instagram, regular group pages dont’ exist like with Facebook. But by using specific hashtags, you can locate others talking about the same things. For example, some tags I frequently search are #amwriting and #writingcommunity. Other writers use these tags to share ideas, promote their work, and ask questions. By searching for and using these tags myself for writing posts, I can communicate with other writers. When thinking about hashtags to search, consider one or two key words.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR ONLINE COMMUNITIES BETTER
DO… Introduce yourself – Let current group members know a little about yourself and why you joined the group. Tell them what you’re working on and what you hope to get out of the interactions.
DON’T… Give away too many personal details – Although you want to be genuine, don’t share personal details that could be used to find your specific location, any kind of financial information, or pictures that might be taken out of context. Unfortunately, you never know who in the group might be there for purposes other than writing goals.
DO…Follow group guidelines – Before you start posting/commenting in a Facebook group, be sure to read any pinned posts or admin information to familiarize yourself with the group rules. Some do not allow you to post personal links to your blog or something you’re selling. Others require administrator approval for anything you might post.
DON’T… Push the boundaries too far – While you might get away with bending the group rules a time or two, eventually other group members will complain. Group administrators will eventually block you from the group. If you are unsure about whether or not to post something, send a message to the admins first to get approval. While Twitter and Instagram don’t have the rules that a Facebook group administrator can implement, obvious violations of their content guidelines or posts seen as harassment can get you blocked from the site.
DO…Comment regularly – The whole point of being part of an online community means sharing information. Ask others questions. Comment on threads with any experience/advice you have. Support others in the group when they have questions or need encouragement.
DON’T… Over comment or get off topic – While you should share ideas regularly, you don’t want to dominate a conversation. Don’t feel like you have to comment on everything, or have the last word. You also don’t want to stray too far off topic. Keep your comments pointed towards the original question or idea.
DO…Share your story – People want to know why you’re there. Your story might help someone else. Your experiences can provide someone else with an idea. Be honest. Be genuine.
DON’T… Share your drama – Depending on the type of group, most people don’t want to hear your life story unless it’s relevant to your actual writing (like a memoir). You might very well be going through a tough time, but don’t use an online group for science fiction authors to talk about your relationship problems.
DO… Show grace – Many times in online forums, there will be typos. There will be incomplete thoughts. There will be things that don’t quite make sense to you. People might not always have their facts 100% accurate. But remember you’re all there for the same reason. Allow people the grace to make a mistake. Just because you’re all writers doesn’t mean there won’t have an occasional typo or be attacked by the dreaded Auto-correct monster. We’ve all been there. (STILL waiting for the Edit option on Twitter.)
DON’T… Tolerate bullying – One problem with online communities, especially public groups and forums, is that there will always be at least one person who feels the need to be a jerk. That one guy or gal who makes sarcastic comments or who tries to prove someone wrong by demeaning him. Don’t let people get away with being bullies. If you see someone continually demonstrating this kind of behavior, report him/her to administrators. If you’re on Twitter or Instagram, you can block people and, if serious enough, report them to the service itself.
BUILDING YOUR COMMUNITY
Whenever possible, I recommend trying to find an in-person writing community. Meeting face-to-face has benefits that online groups can’t provide. If you don’t have a local group, look into starting your own.
But, depending on where you live, a local group might not be an option. Reaching out to online communities allows you to virtually talk to other writers. Online groups offer a sense of community and provide resources you might not have known about. And online communities can be a way to share your experience with others to help them in their own writing journey.
Ultimately, you’ll get out of an online writing group what you put into it. If you choose to passively watch what others say but not interact, that’s up to you. You might get some good tips from observing. But when you take an active role in the group, you’ll not only learn from others, but you’ll also be able to build up your own following. Often those you meet in online groups will support your individual platforms. So those friends you make in online groups become your future readers.
BOTTOM LINE FOR ANY ONLINE COMMUNITY
While common sense tells you that you do need to tread with caution in online communities, the more you get to know those involved in the group, the more comfortable you’ll feel interacting with them.
Bottom Line: Do your research. Make sure the group promotes the content you want to see. Know what the group rules are and how to contact administrators if needed. Share your story, but don’t get sidetracked with too much personal information. Ask question, but be generous in helping others.
**Do you participate in any Facebook or other social media groups? What have you learned and/or shared in an online community?**
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