Kate, I second everything you said! CWC is not just any writer’s group. It is a real community. I am thrilled to be part of this amazing group of people, all passionate about writing and life, all warm and generous and brilliant. So happy to be together in this space with you, and look forward to reading more of your work.
Thank you for writing this! I've been musing a lot about what being in a community means, and your article gives me a few fresh hints.
"Community" is not a word that I've encountered a lot growing up in Romania. Perhaps the first time I've heard the term was during my PhD, when I was told that the subject I worked on interested only a "small community" of scientists. Of course, I would occasionally exchange intel with those people, but there was hardly any cheering on, or empathy involved.
Moving to NYC definitely gave me a new sense of the word. I joined a "Columbia University community", "badminton community" and a "Women in STEM community". My friends and I formed a small writing community (how many people form a community, anyway?) and that's how my desire to write stories came to being. The meaning of the word is constantly shifting and gaining new dimensions. So does my role in it.
Anyway, I'm sorry for the long comment. I am happy that you've found a supporting writing group--I understand it makes all the difference!
so glad you found this writing group and I too have so enjoyed Maya's work. For social animals like us, community is everything, isn't it? I had shared my poetry with a few friends and my partner, but finding the rich community on Substack of poets (large and small) has been such an encouragement to keep writing and sharing. The timing isn't quite right for me to join something like the Collective right now, but I am excited to in the future. Thanks for sharing your experience!
You're welcome! Thank you for reading. Absolutely—community makes such a difference to our confidence to share our work, which can be such a vulnerable thing to do. Keep going! I would love to read your poetry!
My mom gave me the encouragement to follow a dream I’d worked for when I was getting cold feet at the last minute when it was finally coming to fruition. Grateful for that.
Kate, I second everything you said! CWC is not just any writer’s group. It is a real community. I am thrilled to be part of this amazing group of people, all passionate about writing and life, all warm and generous and brilliant. So happy to be together in this space with you, and look forward to reading more of your work.
Thank you, Mary! Happy to be in CWC with you too. Thank you for reading and sharing!
😭🫶🏼💛
Yay Kate! I’m so glad you’ve joined us!!! This community is the best!
🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for writing this! I've been musing a lot about what being in a community means, and your article gives me a few fresh hints.
"Community" is not a word that I've encountered a lot growing up in Romania. Perhaps the first time I've heard the term was during my PhD, when I was told that the subject I worked on interested only a "small community" of scientists. Of course, I would occasionally exchange intel with those people, but there was hardly any cheering on, or empathy involved.
Moving to NYC definitely gave me a new sense of the word. I joined a "Columbia University community", "badminton community" and a "Women in STEM community". My friends and I formed a small writing community (how many people form a community, anyway?) and that's how my desire to write stories came to being. The meaning of the word is constantly shifting and gaining new dimensions. So does my role in it.
Anyway, I'm sorry for the long comment. I am happy that you've found a supporting writing group--I understand it makes all the difference!
Thank you for reading! I'm glad it connected with you. Happy to hear that having a writing community has helped you too. (We love long comments 😊 )
I'm so genuinely happy for you ☺️💙
Ah thank you! And thank you for reading 🙏
so glad you found this writing group and I too have so enjoyed Maya's work. For social animals like us, community is everything, isn't it? I had shared my poetry with a few friends and my partner, but finding the rich community on Substack of poets (large and small) has been such an encouragement to keep writing and sharing. The timing isn't quite right for me to join something like the Collective right now, but I am excited to in the future. Thanks for sharing your experience!
You're welcome! Thank you for reading. Absolutely—community makes such a difference to our confidence to share our work, which can be such a vulnerable thing to do. Keep going! I would love to read your poetry!
My mom gave me the encouragement to follow a dream I’d worked for when I was getting cold feet at the last minute when it was finally coming to fruition. Grateful for that.
That’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Sounds like exactly what you needed!
💛💛💛💛💛