Thread by @electra_rhodes

Finding Your Crew - as a writer there are several aspects to being part of a crew - finding or making one, building it up, and keeping it going thereafter. In that sense, a writery crew is like any intentional community that has a specific focus. But why bother?

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Finding likeminded writers can be crucial for feelings of support & success. Some groups have an intentionally limited shelf life, some run & run. Membership may be static or fluctuate & some work better than others. So, what’s out there? Here’s a quick overview.

1. Local writer group - regular, locations/organisers include bookshops, cafés, pubs, libraries, someone’s kitchen. Advertised via notice boards, word of mouth, local Facebook group etc. Check you fit with group objectives - to write/socialise/beta read £-££

2. Adult education class - regular, time limited, venues include local school/hub/college/uni, hall. Advertised via organisation, local council, e-newsletter, annual brochure. Check course ‘outcomes’ for content & process ££

3. A BA, MA/MFA or PhD in Creative Writing - you’ll have a bunch of peers for the duration of the course, & possibly an alumni of friends amongst your cohort, for life. Expensive, rewarding, there are so many to choose from (focus, duration, costs, reputation) - buyer beware ££££

4. Online write in - regular, drop-in/out, zoom/googlemeet etc advertised via social media or newsletter. Groups are sometimes thematic by genre, identity, or region. Focus on writing output rather than craft input. Check fit & objectives. 0-£

5. Creative writing course - regular, a/synchronous, off/on-line, time limited. Advertised by social media, newsletter, organisation website, word of mouth. May be thematic, writing type, focussed on particular experience or skill level, or identity based £-££-£££

6. Creative writing group - regular, synchronous, off/on-line, open ended, advertises on social media, notice boards, newsletters, by word of mouth. Hosting may rotate through group, may involve writing to prompts, workshopping work, discussion about opportunities & craft 0-£

7. Creative writing organisation - different groups offer a range of workshops, courses, events & meet-ups. Some are focussed on particular genres, identities, formats, goals. Some are Arts Council funded. Some are businesses. Or both. Check the offer, see what sticks £-£££

8. Workshop - one off, maybe themed, on/off line - you pal up afterwards with the other attendees. Maybe you meet again, or hang out on social media, or you find the same people go to all such events. Which is either fantastic or dire, depending £-££

9. Course alumni - you wrote, learned, griped together for x time, you stay in touch, you still write together, or share successes, beta read, cheer each other on etc. Usually closed to new members, meeting via Facebook group, Slack, Mighty Networks or any free space 0

10. Shared identity - groups traditionally underrepresented in writing & publishing often coalesce around tags, events, competitions, awards, schemes, organisations, & high profile writers/organisers/campaigners 0-£££ depending on what you get involved in

11. Literary organisation awardees - work, luck, & serendipity constellated you at the start but over a year, or two, or more, you root for each other, beta read, sing about each other’s successes, and kvetch in private Facebook groups, GCs, Slack groups & more 0

12. Reading - on/offline, one off or part of a series, hosted by a journal/competition, a bookshop, or a dedicated regular group. A committed audience for repeating events will get to know each other. Take the plunge & read & you’ll engage faster 0-£ depends on venue/drinks

13. Discord, slack, WhatsApp, Mighty Networks - each work as closed groups, but are none the less effective. Someone sets up the group, invites the others in, ready, steady, go. That’s it. Simple. Most effective if people aren’t wedded to other social media & will hang out! 0

14. Facebook group - someone sets up a private group and invites people to join them. That’s it. Simple. The group might have a theme, some loose rules about how people behave, and encourage certain kinds of participation. The only cost is time. And buying other folk’s books 0-££

15. Reddit - you need an account, a willingness to engage, a willingness to jump around and be flexible with your searches, but over time you’ll ‘meet’ the same people again & again. Tends towards edgier conversation, but the format allows for longer posts 0

16. Insta - the pretty, image based social media, uses tags like there’s infinite ink/time. Algorithm led, but works differently to other SM. Build your participation as for other platforms, go hunting for fellow writers & discover just how artsy they are, alongside the words! 0

17a. Twitter - some groups coalesce around particular # including #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritersLift #vss365 (Unlike Insta, the algorithm favours 1 or 2 # per tweet.) Groups also ‘gather’ round particular mags, organisations, & comps 0-£ depending on subs fees

17b. Twitter GC - a bunch of you hang out together - helpful to agree basic ‘rules’ - vaulted conversations, the whole group agrees to admit new people etc - might be organised around genre, type, region, or shock horror, just because you like each other 0

18. Mastodon - different from twitter & yet, hauntingly, the same, groups coalesce around certain things. The server you join through doesn’t matter, you can connect across, just look for your pals. Put your mastodon address in twitter bio, so folk can find you b4 twit implodes 0

19. Readers/editorial board - you work together on a journal or magazine, you hang out together by email, in a GC, or a shared google drive. The priority might be the publication but you root for each other, share the ups & downs & learn plenty along the way £time

20. Festivals - you finally meet all the people you’ve hung out with on SM, or met on that online course. You write, drink tea, sing, lament the closure of xyz mag, or how slow abc agent is to reply. It’s a time-limited community in its own right & will have devoted alumni 0-£££

21. There’s a bunch of stuff about *how* communities work & the things that help them along, but pre-existing events etc. will often have ground-rules already in place to help the group thrive. New group? Try & agree your fight club ‘rules’ & be upfront with newbies about them.

22. Building your crew, sustaining it, and dealing with conflict are a whole other thread - if you’re serious about keeping a peer group alive there *are* things you can do to help with all three. Got a hot tip right now? Drop it below...