{"id":22064,"date":"2023-03-22T06:54:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T10:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/?p=22064"},"modified":"2024-09-30T08:55:57","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T12:55:57","slug":"the-importance-of-writing-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/2023\/03\/the-importance-of-writing-community\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Writing Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last week, I attended an author event in Jamestown, RI\u2014an author chat with Julie Gerstenblatt<\/a>, author of\u00a0\u00a0Daughters of Nantucket<\/a>, hosted by Robin Kall<\/a> at the beautiful bookstore and winebar Curiosity & Co. and was struck by the importance of writing community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing Community Came First<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Writing
Julie’s Book Signing at Curiosity & Co<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

I met Julie at another author event through Rhode Island’s book maven and a champion of authors everywhere, Robin Kall of Reading with Robin (what was once a radio show and is now a community through events and social media).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve witnessed Julie supporting other authors at many of Robin’s events and working on novel after novel, persistent despite how hard it is to break into fiction.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Julie
With Julie and her fabulous debut novel!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Persistence And Community Were Keys to Success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Julie has had her big break\u2014an amazing historical fiction tale published by Harper Collins and chosen for their book club picks. She’s on a book tour with plenty of support from the publisher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout that time of writing, and the ups and downs of having an agent but no book deal for several novels and even more years, Julie continued to get support in the form of writing courses, friendships with fellow novelists and aspiring novelists and exchanging manuscript feedback with colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie has made it, and her book is getting high acclaim. But she didn’t do it alone. She did it in community with other writers and she remained persistent.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dinner after at Beech Restaurant in Jamestown \u2013 more community fun \u2013 and a birthday celebration (Happy Birthday, Alayne!)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Easier with Nonfiction?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With nonfiction, the path can be a bit easier. And if you’re self-publishing, even easier. However, being part of a vibrant community, knowing you are not alone, getting feedback on your work, having folks to lift your spirits in the event of rejection and celebrate with you during the ultimate triumphs\u2014and then help spread the word as your book (or articles or other writing) travels into the world\u2014this is so important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About Daughters of Nantucket<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Daughters of Nantucket<\/a> has all the elements of the best historical fiction:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Daughters<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n