If you had asked me “Why do you need writer friends?” five years ago, I would have looked at you funny. I didn’t actually know any fiction writers, and therefore couldn’t even begin to tell you what I was missing. All that changed a year and a half ago when I met my current writer friends, and subsequently, after having produced a shadow of an online presence, I have gotten to know some other amazing people in the meantime. Now I can’t imagine not having writer friends.
So what are the reasons for befriending other writers?
1.) They’ll challenge you to improve.
Nothing’s better than friendly competition. Why, just the other day, Chris challenged me to a flash fiction write-off (winner undecided). I’m not very good about finishing my work, but I did it, simply because I couldn’t bear the idea of letting him win.
Besides, if their work is good, they’ll inspire you to work harder. At least, I know mine inspire me.
2.) Good drinking buddies.
As I’m writing this now, with drink in hand, talking to my writer friends via Skype, I can assure you that this was not a biased thought at all.
3.) They know what you’re going through.
Writer friends know that writing is not always fun or easy. They know how much blood you had to spill to write your latest draft. They know the way inspiration is fickle and the way words sometimes leave you feeling exhausted. It’s good to have someone who understands.
4.) Diversity is a good thing.
Not only do my writer friends write in different genres, they have different strengths, weaknesses, and styles of craft. There’s always something new for me to learn.
5.) Ass-kickery.
I don’t know about you guys, but my writer friends are always after me to keep writing. I can’t even begin to count how many times Robyn has threatened to glue me to my chair if I don’t buckle down and get words on the page. Good writer friends will kick your ass when you’re slacking.
6.) Weird inspirational conversations.
Spend one day in The Sarcastic Muse channel and you’ll find a range of topics—from Amanda’s suspicious jars to Jen’s not-so-secret men stashed away in the closet. It’s nice to know I’m not the only crazy one.
In conclusion, if you don’t have writer friends, you should kidnap find some as soon as possible. It’ll be the best decision you ever made.
The Sarcastic Muse 
Winner undecided?! Don’t be modest. You won fair and square.
We’ll agree to disagree a lot. 😛
Reblogged this on Confessions of a published author and commented:
Totally agree!
Thank you for reblogging!
Excellent post and I agree with all you said. My dearest friend is a writer (blogger Heather B Costa) and she pushes and inspires me – and doesn’t think me weird for sitting hours on end in front of my laptop! I liked this post a great deal.
Oh the sitting hours on end at the laptop. Yes, not many people understand why (or how) we do that. Excellent point! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
Very good points! I don’t think I could keep going as much as I do without my writer friends 🙂
Exactly. I’ve been really productive this past year, and I owe it all to them! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Great blog. Most of my writer friends are non-fiction….they just don’t understand me.
Thank you for commenting! I actually don’t know too many non-fiction writers, unless you count the academic ones. They certainly don’t get “it,” so I can relate. Hopefully you have one or two fiction writer friends, too. 🙂
Going to the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers conference next weekend and hoping to make some friends. Keep writing!
Oh! Good luck! I hope you find some. 🙂 You too, write on!
Agreed. All points exactly!
Glad you liked the post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
My writer friends have really helped my to the next level. I hope, in some way, I helped them too.
That’s great to hear! Mine too have helped me tremendously. I am certain that you have helped them, even if it’s something as simple as being supportive. Thank you for stopping by!
Totally agree with all of that. And I’d add another reason – to protect your other relationships. My wife doesn’t write, and though she’ll indulge me for a while in rambling on about character arcs or the latest Amazon dispute, eventually her eyes glaze over. Having writers to talk with means that I don’t bore the non-writers in my life with subjects that fascinate me but mean nothing to them.
That’s a big deal for me, too. My family doesn’t understand this side of me and doesn’t care to hear about it. They are supportive in their own way, but nothing beats writer friends who share this crazy lifestyle with me.
Excellent point, Andrew. There is only so much the non-writers can take, even if they are close to us. Thanks for pointing that out. I’ve definitely been the subject of the glazed-eye look before! 🙂
Reblogged this on Kat Webber and commented:
Writers unite!
Friends are great to have but writer friends are even better!
Thank you to all of my writer friends on here and in real life 🙂 I hope to acquire more soon.
Thanks so much for the reblog! Writer friends are the best.
Accountability and beta reading are two other major bonuses. 🙂
Agreed, though I put accountability in with ass-kicking (at least in my head). But beta reading is a great addition.
There is no one who really understands me (or my jars), but my writer friends. They keep me moderately sane. Writer friends understand archetype obsessions, the dissection of dialogue, and plot bunnies… and they don’t look at you strange when you say “plot bunnies”.
This should be the new password to the “secret club of writer friends”: If they don’t know what “plot bunnies” means, they are definitely not writers. 🙂 But on a more serious note, I agree. There’s no one else in the world who “gets it” like other writers.
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So true–love this post 🙂
Thank you! Glad you agree. 😀 And thanks for commenting!
First of all I want to say terrific blog! I had a quick
question which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind.
I was interested to know how you center yourself and
clear your mind before writing. I’ve had a difficult time clearing my
mind in getting my ideas out there. I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10
to 15 minutes tend to be lost just trying to figure out how to
begin. Any recommendations or tips? Cheers!
Great article. I just started regularly writing in January so not quite a year in. Via Twitter I’ve had the benefit to meet some great bloggers that are very supportive, but not in friend territory yet.
So just keeping going, trying to network with freelance writers / bloggers. Definitely think this is important and realize I need more. Also not only just writers, but people that have to do the networking / promotion / web master stuff, are good to know, as that sometimes eats up just as much time as the actual writing (and is less fun) !! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by! Yes, I can agree with you there! I just started blogging regularly in January, too. At least on my personal blog (and by ‘regularly’ I mean that I attempt to write a couple posts a month). I’ve made quite a few acquaintances this way, and it’s one of the reasons I’ve managed to stick with it.
But yes, anyone you meet who can offer any advice on any of the things you mentioned is a good person to befriend! There’s certainly a lot to be learned in those areas. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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