Part #3 of our chat with @jesseverlee LUV: So would you say you’re part of an author community? How did you find it and what makes it valuable to you? Jess: While I feel awkward in a lot of social settings, I adore in-person author events. Not only are they the very best source of industry information, but there’s also just something so easy and natural about talking with people who understand the idiosyncrasies of this craft and industry. I’ve sort of gathered up a nice community of other writers from a critique group, making friends at writers’ conferences, and by joining my local writers’ organization. I’m also part of a couple of online forums for authors who debuted in 2022 with me, and authors from my imprint. I found all these groups and conferences through simple google searches or word of mouth. It can take a few tries to find the group that has the right vibe, so if there’s more than one in your area, I suggest checking a few out! And I think a writers’ conference is well worth it. I try to go to at least one a year, to make friends, commune, and learn. Hanging out with other writers, whether you’re sharing industry knowledge, critiquing each other’s work, or even just socializing, is really energizing and brings a breath of fresh air into a craft that is usually very solitary.

Posted by LUV Team at 2023-07-26 14:00:18 UTC