Great post, really made me stop and not just skim but to actively read it and consider the options to see which will be the one or three for me. Thank you.
I love this so much. It is exactly what we need right now. There are so many voices out there (necessarily!) sharing the problems, but so few who offer concrete ways to engage in diverse and meaningful ways. Thank you!
Huge yes for engagement! Writing this post was medicine to me, too. Seeing all the ways I am and can connect gave me so much energy. Thank you for letting me know how my words impacted you. 💕
Love this...A practice I've adopted since last year is to writer "lesser known" authors complimentary letters. I say "lesser known" because 1) Ann Patchett does not need my praise and 2) because this "segment" is often easier to reach via email.
Writing the letters takes time--I try and find the right balance--offering specific examples of why their work resonated, but I don't want to sound overly solicitous or whatever the opposite of that is. And being a huge second-guesser of myself, it takes me a minute!
I wrote one such letter this week and boy-oh-boy, the response I received from the author made me so pleased I'd taken the time.
As you point out, we creatives often live in isolation, and I know what it feels like to have someone authentically compliment me/my work--I want to do my best to authentically support authors on their journey.
I had a similar realization last year -- I crave community, but I maybe haven't been the best villager. One of my goals for 2026 is to really commit to building a community AND showing up for it! I love the idea of volunteering at a festival/event and I'm also going to reach out to my local library about starting a writing group. Kinda scary, but exciting, too!
This landed in such a tender spot for me. I’ve been deep in a season of rebuilding—life, identity, creativity—and I didn’t realize how much I’ve been craving a village until I read this. Not just one to belong to, but one to actively help build. The reminder that showing up is an act of creativity itself… whew.
At blackbear communications, we’ve been trying to live into this exact spirit—creating a space where writers and creators feel seen, supported, and celebrated. We show up in body-double co-working calls and other Swarm Sessions. Thank you for putting such beautiful language to what it means to be a villager. I’ll be coming back to this post again and again. 💛
So many good ideas on this list! In the spirit of numbers 2, 13, and 19--I'm curious whether you know about any creative co-working spaces on the SF Peninsula. :)
Thank you, Joanna! I'll keep an eye out for those Stanford workshops--it's been such a challenge to find good places to connect with other writers in person.
The San Francisco Writers Conference was this past weekend, and it was another place where I met my first writing people. Keep showing up to places where other writers show up, ask questions, and you are bound to find connections.
Thank you both for putting out some great ideas for creatives like me who feel we are working in isolation and can't talk to anyone intelligently about what I'm working on. I have a close community but they are not necessarily working on creative projects. They know I'm working on my manuscript and they always ask when will it be finished. I appreciate their interest but I need real conversation and feedback. You've inspired me. At our next gathering I am going to ask if anyone wants to gather outside the group to help form a new group of creatives to work on our creative projects and help one another with some of the suggestions you've given. Thanks again.
Great post, really made me stop and not just skim but to actively read it and consider the options to see which will be the one or three for me. Thank you.
💕 Active reading is such a gift too! Thank you for your attention. Were there any ideas that really attracted your interest?
I love this so much. It is exactly what we need right now. There are so many voices out there (necessarily!) sharing the problems, but so few who offer concrete ways to engage in diverse and meaningful ways. Thank you!
Huge yes for engagement! Writing this post was medicine to me, too. Seeing all the ways I am and can connect gave me so much energy. Thank you for letting me know how my words impacted you. 💕
Love this...A practice I've adopted since last year is to writer "lesser known" authors complimentary letters. I say "lesser known" because 1) Ann Patchett does not need my praise and 2) because this "segment" is often easier to reach via email.
Writing the letters takes time--I try and find the right balance--offering specific examples of why their work resonated, but I don't want to sound overly solicitous or whatever the opposite of that is. And being a huge second-guesser of myself, it takes me a minute!
I wrote one such letter this week and boy-oh-boy, the response I received from the author made me so pleased I'd taken the time.
As you point out, we creatives often live in isolation, and I know what it feels like to have someone authentically compliment me/my work--I want to do my best to authentically support authors on their journey.
What a generous gift. 🥹 I feel grateful to have you as a fellow villager.
I had a similar realization last year -- I crave community, but I maybe haven't been the best villager. One of my goals for 2026 is to really commit to building a community AND showing up for it! I love the idea of volunteering at a festival/event and I'm also going to reach out to my local library about starting a writing group. Kinda scary, but exciting, too!
Huge 🙌 for your awareness and commitment. Let us know how reaching out to your library goes. I'm imagining the writers emerging from their nooks. 💕
This landed in such a tender spot for me. I’ve been deep in a season of rebuilding—life, identity, creativity—and I didn’t realize how much I’ve been craving a village until I read this. Not just one to belong to, but one to actively help build. The reminder that showing up is an act of creativity itself… whew.
At blackbear communications, we’ve been trying to live into this exact spirit—creating a space where writers and creators feel seen, supported, and celebrated. We show up in body-double co-working calls and other Swarm Sessions. Thank you for putting such beautiful language to what it means to be a villager. I’ll be coming back to this post again and again. 💛
So many good ideas on this list! In the spirit of numbers 2, 13, and 19--I'm curious whether you know about any creative co-working spaces on the SF Peninsula. :)
There was HanaHaus, but it closed. I am asking my SF Peninsula friends to see if they have any ideas. If you're a writer, a few friends of mine teach and attend the Stanford writing courses. I met a writing bestie at one of their half-day workshops. My friend Jackie is teaching The Power of Objects in Fiction: A Generative Craft Intensive if you want to check it out. https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/courses/creative-writing/the-power-of-objects-in-fiction-a-generative-craft-intensive/20253_CW-108
Thank you, Joanna! I'll keep an eye out for those Stanford workshops--it's been such a challenge to find good places to connect with other writers in person.
The San Francisco Writers Conference was this past weekend, and it was another place where I met my first writing people. Keep showing up to places where other writers show up, ask questions, and you are bound to find connections.
Great reading! Also, hi everyone :)
Thank you and 👋🏻!
I really appreciated your actionable and just-try-it advice, Joanna! Starting by showing up in the comments :)
🙌 thanks, Minhal!
Great ideas and places near and far. Thank you.
Thank you for this wonderful list, Evelyn!
Thank you both for putting out some great ideas for creatives like me who feel we are working in isolation and can't talk to anyone intelligently about what I'm working on. I have a close community but they are not necessarily working on creative projects. They know I'm working on my manuscript and they always ask when will it be finished. I appreciate their interest but I need real conversation and feedback. You've inspired me. At our next gathering I am going to ask if anyone wants to gather outside the group to help form a new group of creatives to work on our creative projects and help one another with some of the suggestions you've given. Thanks again.
Love your openness to new ideas and willingness to try them out 🤩