How to find a writing partner
- Brandi Bradley
- 12 hours ago
- 5 min read
Often, I travel to different bookstores and book events to sell copies of my mystery novels. And I love doing this because I love to meet readers and hear what they are looking for. Also they give me recommendations for books, podcasts, and stories that are in line with what I am writing.
However, I will also meet people who are writers and looking to meet new writer friends. Especially if the event is in a small town and might not have a ton of opportunities to be a part of a writing community.
I remember being like this. I remember going to events and wanting to meet people whom I assumed had their writing life together. I assumed they were the types who wrote everyday, attended literati parties, and never once felt insecure about anything they wrote. I picked their brains for as long as they would let me, all star-eyed and consuming every word they shared with me.
I now realize how patient those writers were. I think I might have had a romantic idea that one of these writers would be so charmed by me that they would recommend me to … someone. I don’t even know if I was hoping for an agent, a publisher, or just wanted to be validated as being talented. Regardless, I didn’t actually need them to anoint me. Eventually, I realized I needed to find another writer or group of writers to work with.
I needed to find a writing partner.
When you work with a writing partner, they will keep you accountable and excited about your work. Writing partners have their own schedule to maintain, so you learn how to be flexible. It’s also a space where you learn how to give and receive criticism about what you have written. They also will suggest other things to read, other writers to explore, and share knowledge about what you are both learning from the publishing industry.
Working in a writing group allows you to identify people who have the same writing vibe as you, and you can ask them to swap pages with more frequency.
But first, you must find a writing community.
Before I settled in Atlanta, I moved around a lot. And every time I moved to a different community, I was on the hunt for a different writing partner. I went to a local writing group for a while. I attended events where writers did readings. I took community classes on writing. What’s great about attending these spaces is there are people who are there are not only interested in writing, but devoted to writing. They aren’t playing around. They want to write and finish projects. They publish and if they don’t get something picked up by a magazine, they will self publish.
You still have to endure some of the more frustrating aspects of group work. You have to deal with people who flake out. You have to deal with egos and superiority issues. You have to read really shocking or offensive writing and explain to this person how they are coming across without calling them names. And you might decide this particular group is not for you, and then have to join a different one.
There are a few ways to find a writing community, and – remember – what works for one person might not work for another.
Join an existing in-person writing group. In many communities there is a writing group that gathers regularly who are actively accepting new members. Look on your library’s events page, websites like meetup.com, or community billboards. (If you have a Panera Bread or Starbucks in your town, there is often a corkboard by the bathrooms where people hang flyers). I did a quick check for writing groups in my area and found at least 10 that meet at bookstores, coffee shops, and breweries. If someone in the group has the same vibe as you, ask them if they’d like to swap pages with greater frequency.
Join an online writing group. Many of my undergrad students have told me they have met supportive writers on different Discord groups. These are great for people looking to write in a specific niche genre. If someone is vibing with your writing, you can reach out to them.
Go to a class or lecture. If a writer is coming to a community center or library to host a writing lecture or workshop, take advantage of their knowledge and get to know the people who are attending. These classes or workshops are often available at local libraries, local universities, or online in spaces like Masterclass. I host workshops at my local libraries and have encouraged those who attend to make friends with anyone who provided helpful feedback.
Go back to school. This is the most expensive option. When I was working for a newspaper selling advertising, I knew I wanted to be in a space where not only was I encouraged to write, but was provided a structure, a system, and multiple people of varying experience levels to learn from. After consulting with many friends and a few former college professors, I decided to get my Masters of Fine Arts because I wanted to be an instructor when I graduated. What I didn’t realize was once I had gotten my MFA, I was so inspired by everything I was learning, I went on to get my PhD. You don’t have to go to school to be a writer, but I love school, so it worked for me.
Start your own group. If you live in a community where no one is gathering to discuss their writing, then this is your sign to step up and become a leader. It’s not that no one in your community is writing, it’s that no one has had the guts to hang a piece of paper on a bulletin board stating: Writers Group, Tuesday Nights at 7 pm, Local Coffee Shop, bring your own copies to share (or a QR code to a dropbox where people can upload their stories). I’ve yet to hang a flyer looking for other writers and not had at least two different people show up. And that’s how great groups begin.
In the beginning of this semester I had just enough bandwidth to start a new writing group on my campus. Which has been a fun and interesting experience because I get to see people who don’t know each other become part of a writing community. It’s so interesting to see a writer hear, “Oh my gawd, I was so interested in this story! I just want to read more.”
At the end of the spring semester now, I am working with the students to develop a summer plan where they can keep their momentum. And I already know many of them are chatting outside of class in group chats and online spaces where they can swap pages.
Because while writing is a solo activity, it’s the writing community and friends you make that will keep you motivated to keep going.
When I meet people at writing events who want to pick my brain or ask to share pages, I always direct them to my online course “This is What A Writer Looks Like” and my online coaching services. I do one-on-one calls with writers to give personalized feedback not only on the written words but also systems and motivations to keep going.
If you are interested in knowing what my writing style is like, head over to the brandibradley.com store and grab your copy of Pretty Girls Get Away With Murder.
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