Khaya Ronkainen

Literary friends help me celebrate words.

(longish) backstory: Whether you view writing as a solitary activity or not, we can’t deny that the act of putting words onto the page requires time and space; alone time. For me, this alone time often feels like living with invisible people in a forested castle, and with neighbours wondering if I’m ever going to come out, at all.

That why I value my creative communities. I learn from other creatives in order to improve my craft. But they also inspire, motivate and entertain me. My online creative communities remain an invaluable source of support, especially during these pandemic times, where face-to-face gatherings are measured.

Sometimes, from these creative communities, meaningful friendships are formed. How lucky am I to have one, two and more of these precious literary friends. They continue to show me true beauty; kindness! Their random acts of kindness, quietly shining a spotlight on the words I write, even as I slumber in my imagined castle, are a true gift.

As Maggie Doherty puts it, “Communities can be important for any writer. But they are most important for those writers and artists who would falter without these forms of mutual aid.”

So, to you all members of my communities, for all the ways you make me a better writer, thank you!

special note: If you are not member of a creative community and have always been suspicious about or viewed these communities as some sort of a yacht club, you might find this article, The Creative Communities That Changed Literature Forever, interesting.

I’m also linking to Writers’ Pantry at Poets and Storytellers United.