The Fellowship of the Word
“Though the act of writing is a solitary occupation, being a writer requires community. ”
I wish there were another word for fellowship that applied to a community of women and sounded cooler than “gal group” or some other whimsical monniker. The word “fellowship” always reminds me of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series, featuring an alliance of volunteers from all over Middle Earth, undertaking the life-altering challenge of saving the world.
To me, fellowship represents an alliance formed to accomplish big stuff.
That’s why I wish there was something weightier to describe a community of women writers - because that community deserves a label of distinction on par with Tolkien’s epic fellowship.
Of course, writing is a solitary act, and there are thousands of quotes about the process of writing, but what has been often ignored is the support, camaraderie, inspiration, motivation, and genuine fun that comes along with a writing community.
It just so happens that the writing community of which I am a member is comprised of women, so its possible that the inspiration, fun, and camaraderie would not be the same in a community of male writers.
Being a woman, that mystery is a nut I am unlikely to crack, even if I dressed up, Twelfth-Night style, and gave it a go.
What I do know is that the women from all over the Western Hemisphere in my little writers’ community are funny, smart, genuine, talented, kind, creative, and beautiful, inside and out. I am grateful that the universe brought us together, and its been fun to share my writing experience with them.
It doesn’t matter that we’ve never met in person – I feel like I know who they are through their words.
They are writers, after all. :)
At first, I didn’t see the need for a writing community. I was given the impression that writing was supposed to be about the individual’s relationship with the Muse.
Calliope, the Greek Muse of Epic Poetry
I was also worried if that if I joined a community of writers, then my book wouldn’t be my own because I would begin to make decisions based on others’ suggestions rather than my own ideas.
Could I engage in the solitary act of writing, but still be part of a writing community?
In the words of the wise and humble Dougall Fraser, “Absolutely.” Dougall is an author, a color intuitive, and one of the nicest humans I’ve ever encountered.
Despite my resistance, he convinced me that a community of creative people who also love to engage in the same solitary process of writing would be make the writing journey so much more fun and would give me the opportunity to support other writers who might be facing the same challenges.
Wow. I never thought that I would have anything to offer other writers, since I’m still just learning myself. But if I could support and help others who are going through the same challenges, that would make me happy.
If Dougall wasn’t such a lovely and kind person, it would be really annoying that he is always right.
And because he’s always right, I went searching for a writing community (it wasn’t easy), and I eventually found one that felt like the perfect fit. I’m grateful every day for these women writers, which I now call “The Fellowship of the Word.”
Are you grateful for a group that supports you - family, friends, coworkers, colleagues? Have you thanked the members of your community lately?
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