Value of Community & Coaching
Listening to authors is one of my superpowers; it helps me understand their needs, challenges, and where they’re finding solutions. I’ve learned that one surefire way of making their work better is using a writing community. Connection through community is nothing new when seeking belonging, identity, support, or accountability. Collective problem-solving and motivation can lead to different viewpoints, finding blind spots early, and renewed inspiration.
The idiom “two heads are better than one” applies to almost anything in life’s decision-making processes, including writing. Co-founder of the London Writer’s Salon Parul Bavishi explained the concept of community to me as “rather than one to one, it’s many to many,” and since then I can’t help but think that meaningful connection in a writing community can help any author improve.
Why Join a Writing Community?
Finding more time in the day or stepping outside of your comfort zone isn’t easy for everyone, so let’s examine the biggest benefits of community for writers:
- You don’t have to write alone. It’s easy to feel isolated as a writer. Being part of a community is a reminder that you’re on a shared creative journey.
- Better feedback makes better work. Trusted peers help sharpen your craft, voice, and clarity.
- Accountability creates momentum. Communities offer support and structure that helps turn your intention into finished pages.
- Confidence grows through sharing. Peer support and encouragement help writers trust in their voice and keep showing up.
- Connection leads to opportunity. Connection can lead to feedback and collaboration. This might result in better plot lines, a cleaner writing structure, or fresh ideas of how to publish for success. Even writing this blog post, I lean on my team for an outside perspective.
Coaching & Cohorts: More Community Options
If you’re seeking structure, accountability, deeper connections, and targeted results, you might want to consider adding personalized coaching or joining a writing cohort for more dedicated guidance. Coaching is a method (one-on-one or group), and a cohort is a structured, group-format timeline with peer accountability, offering community alongside professional guidance.
You might choose a cohort or coaching program over a broader community because you want depth, direction, and accountability rather than general connection. Key reasons include:
- Personalized guidance: Coaching and cohorts offer tailored feedback and advice specific to your goals, skills, and challenges.
- Clear structure and outcomes: These programs usually have a defined curriculum, milestones, and timelines, helping you make focused progress faster.
- Accountability: Regular check-ins, deadlines, and expectations make it harder to stall or drift.
- Expert access: You gain direct access to experienced mentors or coaches, not just peer opinions.
- Small group format: Smaller, curated groups reduce distraction and surface more relevant, actionable insights than large open communities.
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Where to Find the Right Community?
Luckily, there are great community and coaching resources for indie writers. Some have free resources with advanced paid options. Here are a few of our favorites:
The Write Practice
The Write Practice is an online writing community that turns aspiring writers into published authors through deliberate practice and action-based cohorts. The community offers programs like 100 Day Book (where writers finish complete drafts in 100 days with coaching, accountability, and peer feedback) and intensive challenges like the 8-week Short Story Publishing Challenge.
With daily lessons, weekly deadlines, professional mentorship, and a supportive community of fellow writers, The Write Practice has helped thousands of writers move from dreaming about writing to actually finishing and publishing their books.
Joe Bunting
London Writer’s Salon
The London Writer’s Salon started building their community during COVID lockdown in an effort to help authors not feel so isolated. The astounding result is a global community of writers of all levels who participate in daily writers’ hours, classes, workshops, online writing sprints, and much more.
This supportive community is “where writers write, learn, and build creative lives together.” I’ve participated firsthand in several online events for the LWS and I can enthusiastically describe the result as warm and encouraging and helpful, and it left me smiling and confident.
Author Nation
Author Nation is an event in Las Vegas each November where thousands of authors come together to learn from one another on a wide variety of topics. It’s for novice authors just getting started and seasoned writers who want to take their writing career to the next level. Outside of the event, you’ll find the Author Nation social media groups are active with discussion about everything from craft to publishing and more. Throughout the year they have community and cohort options are available and are warm and encouraging to authors at all levels.
Author Ventures LLC
One of my favorite things to do at live author events is watching the crowd connect. This might be a hug, a smile, a handshake, or the revelation that you’re meeting someone in real life who you’ve spent countless hours collaborating with in a community. The powerful sense of belonging, support, and purpose is something bigger than ourselves, making our work even better because of it.
