What Happens When You’re No Longer the Only One Who Believes in Your Book
When Community Becomes the Catalyst
There was a time when I felt truly and deeply alone in my writing life. After finishing college, where I had been an active member of the English department and creative writing program, it was jarring to then exist in a world where no one talked about books and writing. My circle of friends dispersed and I was thrust into real life, a place where my beloved honors projects, a short story collection, didn’t count as a writing sample for the jobs I was applying for and where I had to carve out my own time without accountability if I wanted to get any writing done.
I did not thrive in this environment.
This loneliness in my writing life prompted me to start Write or Die, back in 2018. I was interested in creating an online space, and my hope was that in fostering a community, I might feel like a writer again. (Oh, the things we do to actually avoid the work!)
I started interviewing authors of the books I was reading, shocked that people were responding to me and actually saying yes, and the space grew to a hub for resources and interviews. I had no idea what it would grow into, but it did validate what I had been feeling since leaving college.
Writers need other writers in their lives.
Having that kind of support has been truly transformational for me. When I met
through Write or Die, we started as accountability partners during NaNoWriMo, texting word counts daily and cheering each other on. That partnership—now over four years strong—helped me finish my novel and gave me someone to turn to for feedback, emotional support, edits, and encouragement when I doubted myself. As Write or Die grew, so did my writing circle. Shelby, Suzanne, Tamar, Brittany, and I read each other’s work, vent about querying, celebrate the wins, and keep each other going through a special text thread. It’s the kind of creative community I always dreamed of—and it has changed the way I write.So much of our creative energy can be wasted on confusion, self-doubt, or going in circles when we are alone. Having someone to email or text or call can reset our focus, calm us down or remind us how important our writing is. Because sometimes, in the midst of everyday life, it can be hard to put our creative work first or even make space for it in our minds. But having others who are like-minded in your life can validate that your work— your true work on the page—is just as important to pursue.
I built my upcoming novel writing cohort, The Wild Draft, with this in mind— a close-knit community, a small cozy safe space of like-minded people who are working on a draft of their novel just like you. Before I thought of anything involving this cohort, I had this small group experience in mind first. It was what excited me, what led me to create this program.
In our time together in The Wild Draft, we will not only learn together but we will share ourselves and our work. The feedback I provide you on the first 50 pages of your novel will be deep and caring. Together, we will get our drafts done because witnessing someone else’s process so often helps our own.
When 8 people show up every two weeks, a bond will inevitably be formed. We will cheer you on through every bump in the road, through every breakthrough, through every chapter of your draft. We will be excited to know what you have to say.
If you’ve been writing alone and it’s starting to feel heavier than it should, this is your invitation to try it differently.
→ Join The Wild Draft and write your novel alongside a small, dedicated group who gets it.
✨ This is for you if:
You’ve been writing solo and it’s starting to feel heavy
You’re craving accountability, structure, and support
You want real-time feedback on your pages, not just vague notes
You’re ready to finish your novel—this time for real
You want to be part of a small, encouraging community of writers
📅 Practical stuff:
June–November | Biweekly Wednesdays on Zoom | $1800 total
Payment plans available — 4 monthly installments of $450
Only 6–8 writers per group — Enrollment closes May 28 or when full
ty for always answering my crazy texts, and thank you for putting together a cohort like this!!