6 Ways to Be 6 Feet Apart and Still Be a Part of the Writing Community
At a time when things continue to be anything but normal, it’s hard to feel connected and stay inspired as a writer. A commonly-heard theme right now is that creatives are finding it difficult to create during such challenging times, particularly when social distancing is still at play in our lives. How can you connect with the writing world while still maintaining those six feet of separation? Read on for a few ideas...
1. Look for free online workshops. There are many! If you’re a writer for children and/or young adults, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is currently offering its third installment of FREE digital workshops. That's right--no membership required. You can register to attend live or you can watch the recordings. They stay up on their archive site for 30 days. Did we mention that they're free? Many regional chapters are also offering online workshops and conferences. Some are free, but most do require a tuition fee.
2. Listen to a writing-focused podcast. There are several, but lately, I’ve become a big fan of 88 Cups of Tea. Founder and creative director Yin Chang has upbeat episodes featuring authors, literary agents, editors, and more. In conjunction with the Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) Writing for Children and Young Adults program, she’s created several terrific episodes from people who are writers and faculty members. Yay for free learning! Some episodes are more craft-driven, while others are focused on the market. Some are purely inspirational, and no one conveys excitement about writing, craft, and inspirational journeys like Yin!
3. Use this time to educate yourself on Writing the Other, a site dedicated to helping writers craft characters different from themselves with both sensitivity and authenticity in mind. They have a handful of on-demand seminars, as well as core classes, retreats, and more. They come highly recommended!
4. Utilize the fabulous virtual writing tools at One Stop For Writers. There's no better way to break out of the Covid-19 writing funk than to explore the endless resources amassed on this website. The selfless, brilliant creators Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi offer a free 2-week trial and reasonably priced access thereafter. From access to their ingenious thesauruses to idea generators for all critical aspects of a novel, and way, way more, it’s the sort of site that'll have you wondering how you ever lived without it.
5. Take an online class. From Master Class to Creative Live, there are many inexpensive options for brushing up on craft, hearing inspirational stories, and getting advice from industry insiders. I took a life-changing writer’s course with author and story coach Lisa Cron for under $20 (thanks to a coupon I was able to find using a simple internet search).
6. Check out YouTube series that are dedicated to craft. Editor and author Mary Kole has loads of short videos on craft, agenting, and other aspects of publishing through Good Story Company. She recently did a must-see interview with author Erin Entrada Kelly focused on handling diverse characters while respecting #OwnVoices. They're short and oh-so-sweet.
Marissa is a freelance editor and writer. She attempts to put words on a page daily, but her dogs think entertaining and worshipping them are a better use of her time. Marissa is available for editing or author coaching and loves crawling inside her clients’ heads so they can become their own editors. Find out more about Marissa here.
