Level Up Your Writing: High Quality Free Resources — PART 3 — CONNECT
Part 1 – CREATE: Build Better Stories with Conventions, Workshops & More
Part 2 – CRITIQUE: Sharpen Your Inner Editor with Critique Groups and Slush Reading
Part 3 – CONNECT: Forge Community with Professional Groups & Social Media
There are few words in the English language that make me want to hide under the covers more than the term networking.
I’m the stereotypical introvert with a bad case of Imposter Syndrome. When I first started writing fiction, I craved people to talk to about craft, but I figured if I hadn’t produced any work of note no one would take me seriously. Reaching out to professionals sounded exhausting and awkward. And self-promotion? Cringe.
Then the pandemic hit.
Being forced to be without community made me realize I’d been ignoring a big opportunity because of my lack of confidence. Now I try to think about writerly groups, in-person events and social media as chances to do things I enjoy: talk about books and short stories, ask writing and career questions, listen for industry info, and maybe even (gasp!) make friends.
I’m still a big work in progress in this area, so this blog post is very much me reminding myself of all the things I should or could be doing to continue to develop professionally. I hope you also find it useful. (And in case you missed Part Two, please check out its section on Critique Groups, which is where I first connected with fellow writers. They are probably the best starting point if you’re just beginning your journey.)
Professional Organizations for Creators of Speculative Fiction
Joining professional groups can be a great way to meet fellow creatives, learn about career opportunities and support the arts through volunteering.
Dream Foundry – I discovered this group through their excellent annual convention, Flights of Foundry (see Part 1 of this post), but they also have year-round resources to help emerging writers of science fiction, fantasy, horror and more. These include a Discord chat with hangouts, as well as sections on job postings, finding beta readers, and submission calls. In 2024, they also held an online “unconference” for writers of color called The Anvil with the fabulous Daniel Jose Older as their keynote.
Codex – This is my favorite writer’s group for professional and “neo pro” creators of speculative fiction. It’s a fantastic community that can offer insider advice, industry knowledge, writing critiques, craft discussion, contests, a shoulder to cry on, networking opportunities and more to its members. If you qualify (ex: you’ve sold a story to a SFWA-qualifying pro-rate market, completed an MFA or high-end workshop like Clarion, have an agent or other circumstances detailed on their website), I recommend you RUN NOT WALK to join.
SFWA – The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association costs $100 a year to join but offers free resources even if you don’t. One is Writer Beware, a center that issues warnings about scams, shady agents and problematic publishers while providing tools for those who worry they may have already been taken advantage of. SFWA also offers opportunities for book promotion, mentoring, an Indie Pub 101 resource page, a legal fund, an emergency medical fund, help with contracts, reduced cost NetGalley listings, and a monthly Market Report, which is a quick list of short fiction markets that pay pro-rates (8 cents a word) and are currently open to submissions.
Social Media
Social media has changed a lot in the past few years, but it still can offer a place to connect with fellow writers and follow the creators you admire. Whether you’re still on X/Twitter, or you’ve moved to Mastodon, Threads, Instagram or Bluesky, there’s always value in meeting new people, squeeeeing about fiction you love, commiserating about rejections and keeping an eye out for industry news, including when agents/publications open to queries and submissions.
Bluesky in particular has an active and welcoming writer community that’s grown tremendously in the past year. I find that the people I follow actually show up in my feed (which, weirdly, didn’t happen as often as you’d think at that other place). It’s also easier to find people with similar interests thanks to the site’s many “starter packs” that allow you to browse or quickly follow an entire sub-group. For example, you can search for “Self-Published Romance Authors” or “Literary Fiction Writers” or “POC Artists.” Author Renan Bernardo has a great four-part list of SFF writers that I’d recommend.
If you’ve joined, come say hi to me @jamieboyd and let me know this post sent you. No one knows what the future holds, but a lot of us are trying to build a kinder, less toxic place to connect.