I'm thrilled to welcome you to a guest post by Patricia Crisafulli, bestselling author and an award-winning fiction writer. Her Ohnita Harbor Mystery Series launched in 2022, and the latest will be out in October 2025. I've studied Patricia's stories and books over the years, and her creativity, personal stories and writing wisdom have inspired me to continue my work. You can get some of this fabulous inspiration yourself from her post below. Also, read her recent article, In the Shoes of Nancy Drew, on the online magazine Persimmon Tree, and follow her on Instagram, @triciacrisafulli.
“This was my friend’s idea. We decided to come here together.”
The comment came from an attendee at a recent writers’ conference where I was one of the instructors. As part of the conference, attendees could have one-on-one time with an instructor to ask questions, discuss their work-in-progress, or simply find encouragement.
This particular attendee described herself as new to writing, having recently retired. She was my first session of the full-day program, and her enthusiasm for a new experience was infectious.
“My friend said we had to do this—so here I am!” she declared.
Then came the big reveal (at least for the purpose of this blog post). This woman and her friend were members of the same writing group.
Writing groups serve so many purposes: a sense of community, a source of constructive feedback, and ongoing support. To that list of attributes, I would add another gift of the writing group: encouragement to try the new and different. Here are a few thoughts and suggestions for you and your writing group to consider for an adventure outside your comfort zone.
The Writing Conference: Local, regional, national—writing conferences come in all sizes and scopes. In my writing career, I’ve benefited from taking craft workshops at writing conferences and meeting other writers (as well as the occasional agent and editor). It can be daunting to walk into a conference for the first time. I can remember feeling everything from self-doubt over whether I belonged to nervousness over pitching my novel to an editor. So why not make it a field trip with your writing group? Bring a buddy (or two or ten) to offer each other moral support and share what you learn.
A Live Lit Event: Many writing studios offer “open mic” events for writers of all genres. There’s a time limit, but within that five or seven minutes the “floor is yours.” This can be a big step outside the comfort zone by both reading your work aloud—and doing so in front of strangers. When I began participating in live lit events at my local writing studio, I was inspired by writers who were willing to read from works in progress. It wasn’t about having a perfect, polished piece; far more important was airing and sharing creativity. Once again, the writing group buddy system can double the fun (and reduce the anxiety).
Attend an Author Event: Local libraries and brick-and-mortar bookstores offer author events regularly. The featured guest may be an author you know or someone whose works are less familiar to you. Make it a writing group outing! The Q&A portion of the author event can be very informational about the publishing journey, as well as inspiring. No matter how famous or successful an author is today, there was a time when that person was struggling with their first work and hoping to get noticed. And you never know—that could be you up there one day.
Having an adventure outing with all or some of your writing group can add a new dimension to your community. A shared experience outside your comfort zone can bring you closer together and deepen your commitment to your writing—and the group.
Patricia Crisafulli is a bestselling author and an award-winning fiction writer. Her Ohnita Harbor Mystery Series launched in 2022 with The Secrets of Ohnita Harbor, followed in 2023 by The Secrets of Still Waters Chasm. Her latest in the series, The Secrets of the Old Post Cemetery, will be published in October 2025. Visit her website at www.FaithHopeandFiction.com.
Comments