Don’t do life solo. It’s so much better with friends!
OH my gosh! Did you see Fighting Tragedy is proof is on the way! That will be my 4th release in 16 months and I'm a bit shook. I really wish you could have seen my face in the shower when the realization hit me.
My dreams are coming true. I am a published author and every day, every step I take puts me closer to being a full time author.
This post is for my fellow authors. I know as an author I am always asking other authors for their best piece of advice. After several years of going it alone and now over a year of writing and working inside a community, I can say without a doubt my best advice is to find your tribe.
I hear this a lot on social media, find your tribe and you should, but what I think people get confused about is this. So many people think you only need 1 tribe, heck I used to think, I had my people I didn’t need others.
But that isn’t true. I love my people. The women I consider friends are some of the best people I know. They are loving, kind people who would at the drop of a hat be there for me even when most live on the other side of the country.
What I learned recently is we need a tribe for each section of our lives. In 2021, I gained a work tribe and yes, I consider several of the people I work with day in and out friends now, but in the beginning they were people I trusted at work and the friendship grew.
Same with writing. In 2021, I joined a writing community. I didn't know what I was going to get out of it but I knew I needed more. I needed to get out of this self imposed prison I trapped myself in and make a difference.
My besties are amazing, but they love me and are not always the best at being critical, which is pivotal in writing. The group was new to me and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was disengaging from a previous group because it didn’t meet my needs, so I was worried this wouldn’t either.
However, I went in with an open heart and mind and I found an amazing group of writers that supported me and still offer support.
In summer of 2022, I found a different group of writers who are literally pieces of my soul. These women are phenomenal and always beyond supportive.
We give feedback. No one takes anything personal. It’s all about growth and not competition. I mean that! We have several members that write in the same genre and all we do is mutually support each other.
This is what it’s all about, helping each other achieve our dreams. Trust me, there is plenty out there for everyone.
If you're a writer who is looking for a safe place to be YOU, check out the Chaos & Spice Writing Circle, we'd love to have you.
-Ashley Kay