Challenge Yourself to Find Your People
31-Day Ninja Writer Challenge 2019: Day Thirteen
In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert wrote: “Do whatever brings you to life, then. Follow your own fascinations, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.”
That’s how we got Ninja Writers. I wanted a strong writing community. More than strong — I wanted a magic writing community. I trusted that if I reached out, other writers would find me and we could build that community.
And we did.
Ninja Writers is, by far, the most amazing writing group I’ve ever been part of. It’s a family. And something that’s going to make the difference for all of us, between wanting and being.
A while back Zach and I were at the library book sale in Reno, and a woman named Robin stopped us and asked if we were Ninja Writers. Another Ninja found us…in the wild! It was so amazing.
The same thing happened when I did a book signing in Portland in March.
Today, I’d like you to take a minute to think about your writing community. Do you have local friends who are writers? Try Googling your city + writing group and see what comes up.
Are you part of our Ninja Writers Facebook Group? If you’re not, I’d like to invite you to join us. Nothing would make me happier.
Writers tend to be introverted. And sometimes when we start writing, it can be hard to be confident enough in our work to want to reach out or to feel like we should. There is something truly magical, though, when you find your people. You know — your tribe.
Ninja Writers is our tribe. Hopefully, you can find a local tribe as well.
You can find out more about our summer workshops here. They’re a perfect way to really connect with a small group of writers and get tons of great feedback on your work.
ASSIGNMENT THIRTEEN:
Come join Ninja Writers on Facebook if you haven’t already, or just come on by if you’re already a member, and introduce yourself. Let us know where you are, what you write, who you are.
Make an off Facebook connection with another writer. Exchange emails or phone numbers with another Ninja Writer in the Facebook Group. Reach out to someone in your real life who is also a writer. Google writing groups in our area and plan to attend a meeting.
(Also . . . check out our new website!)
Read all of the challenges in this series here:
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Shaunta Grimes is a writer and teacher. She is an out-of-place Nevadan living in Northwestern PA with her husband, three superstar kids, two dementia patients, a good friend, Alfred the cat, and a yellow rescue dog named Maybelline Scout. She’s on Twitter @shauntagrimes and is the original Ninja Writer.