Most Supportive Community You've Been Part Of

[Noor]

Joining this group and seeing how supportive everyone is of each other reminded me of another online community I was a part of many years ago.

It was a moderated fanfiction community where people not only obsessed over the Harry Potter books and wrote their own fanfiction, but also supported each other, gave awesome feedback, ran contests, taught courses, and just had fun. I learned so much from being a part of that community of authors and readers. Joining this group has reminded me how great it is to have groups and forums like that, where authors can share ideas and help each other out.

So I'm curious to know about everyone else's experiences with supportive communities whether online or offline.

What was the most supportive community you've ever been part of as an author?
Was it a real-life community in your neighbourhood, workplace, school, library? Or was it online?
Is it still on-going?
What was the highlight of it for you as an author?

etc.

:)

[Christina]

Honestly, this is the most supportive community I've found.

[G.G.]

I second Christina. Love love love this community. :)

I also was a part of an online writing group who were also supportive and had constructive feedback. It used to be called F2K but now they incorporated the F2K class with their all year long on-going website. I've learned a lot about characterization and the uses of senses there. How to give constructive feedback without being blunt and hurting and most importantly without discouraging the author.

[Melissa]

Mine was also a fanfic fandom. I met a lot of people, made a lot of friends, and with so many people willing to beta, my writing improved a lot.

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

This is the most supportive group I've ever been in anywhere. I'm grateful to be part of it. Thanks everyone! Hugs!!

[Riley, Viking Extraordinaire]

Honestly, I used to help with support groups in a psych hospital. Some of them were the most supportive environment you could imagine. When everyone drops their masks, it's amazing what you learn about life. Ironic, since none of my profiles show my face x D

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

Riley, what a nice statement. Hmm... is there something you're hiding about yourself? Something I'll learn about you when I read your book? Lol! Hugs!!

[G.G.]

Us Mods, we were lucky enough to see his actual face! He is adorable. Not quite sure why he's hiding behind a mask... but don't tell him I said that. :P

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

As an author? Then it has to be this one. Many here are willing to give their candid feedback when a blurb doesn't feel right, when I need to test out a cover, etc. I am fortunate enough to be a mod here, and get a tremendous amount of support from the other mods behind the scenes. Those poor people have to endure hearing about every one of my hundreds of ongoing projects.

I have learned over the years, however, that a group is really what you make of it. An example of what I'm talking about. Some years ago, I was making a living as a telemarketer. (I know. Boo. Hiss.) Anyway, there was this comedian named Tom Mabe who made CDs of himself tormenting* telemarketers that called him. When I first learned of this, I visited his web site and found there was a message board there. I started off leaving cocky, jerk-ass comments to people who were complaining about telemarketers, but after a couple of days I changed my tune. After all, before getting into that world, I hated telemarketing calls, too. And so, I started sympathizing with the ones who were complaining and ended up making several friends out of the anti-telemarketers. They became my support group when I had a rough day at work. Other telemarketers hated me, but as Coach once said on Cheers, "Que so what so what?"

*A little inside info for anyone familiar with him: At least some of the calls are fake. He invited me to call him at one time and we were plotting out what would happen, but I think neither of us were happy with how it was going and gave up on it.

[Jane]

I think this group and its baby sister take some beating for mutual support

It's nice to be able to whinge pathetically and have another author understand precisely where the whinge is coming from.

I also think we should give an enormous amount of respect to the mods who keep us honest and kind.

[Dan]

I've only been here a couple of days, but the amount of help (and genuine enthusiasm) I've seen people offer in that time has been heartening. There's a thing about a lot of writer's groups I've been a part of over the years that always turns me off, and it's this sort of air of petty rivalry mixed with a jealous, jaded pretentiousness.

Any time someone in any of these groups would start to show a real flair for something, people would start cutting them down and doing everything they could think of to diminish that person's individual creativity.

These people talked a big game, but at the end of the day, what they wanted was a dictatorship, not a community. That's now how creativity thrives.

TLDR; This group is awesome!

db

[Anna]

This is a really supportive group and I'm so glad I joined.

The only one that comes close is www.kindleusersforum.co.uk, so if you need specific help re the UK market or from Brits that might be useful for you too. And you can advertise your books in the UK market there too.

But this group lets me jump straight in with 'Help!' It is great.

[Christina]

Dan wrote: "I've only been here a couple of days, but the amount of help (and genuine enthusiasm) I've seen people offer in that time has been heartening. There's a thing about a lot of writer's groups I've be..."

And we're not afraid to cut those pretentious and competitive comments off before they begin. (I suspect this is why we get the beating Jane refers to). I've personally been accused of trading harsh truth for unicorn farts and all I have to say on that is: unicorn farts are better for our collective blood pressure. ;)

[Noor]

Just wanted to chime in and say thanks to all the mods who work so hard to keep this place as awesome as it is! So great to hear everyone's thoughts and examples of supportive groups!

In my short time as part of this group I've learned a lot and it has definitely helped me deal with all the uncertainty and the slow sales and the rest of it!

Unicorn farts? LOL

[G.G.]

We have been called to prefer unicorn farts over the truth because we don't allow negativity. Some people think that because of that we bury our heads deep in our...well our unicorn holes and that we are doing a disservice to the authors. But the fact is that we are not here to bring people down. (Too many people are set to do that already.) Nope, we are aiming to support authors as the name of our group states.

[Annie]

Unicorn holes smell like rainbow cupcakes.

Couldn't resist. Yeah. But for reals, love this group!!

[Christina]

G.G. wrote: "unicorn holes"

Once again, water is coming out my nose. XP

[B.A.]

This group is the most supportive. You can ask any question and get multiple answers to consider. I love it.

"rainbow cupcakes"? Ok, that's a new one for me...lol.
I spend so much time going over the posts, It takes me at least and hour to get to work once I start..lol.

[Thomas]

I love this group a lot...but... (warning: life story event incoming!)

The most supportive community I've been a part of started in the basement of an art gallery where a very small indie author event was held for people to stop by and take a look at indie books. I had just published my first, and here was this woman who had a massive set up. Big banner, lots of little giveaway goodies, and multiple books published. She intimidated the hell out of me (and I've told her so!).

And yet, she became an amazing friend and formed a small group out of some of those indie authors who would go in on booths and tables at conventions together. Through making many new connections, networking, and inviting people to come meet us, we built a tight-knit group that we could always count on to help us out in many different ways, online and off. The "Northwest Authors" group became a family and I love every one of our members.

[C.B., Beach Body Moderator]

While I really love this group and everyone in it, I am going to have to go with The Underwear of the Month Club. They have been the most supportive.

[Thomas]

C.B. wrote: "While I really love this group and everyone in it, I am going to have to go with The Underwear of the Month Club. They have been the most supportive."

I don't even know how to respond to that...except to laugh.

[Jane]

C.B. wrote: "While I really love this group and everyone in it, I am going to have to go with The Underwear of the Month Club. They have been the most supportive."

Bad CB. LMAO

[Annie]

Supportive underwear, eh? Yeah, I can see the appeal ^_~

[Madeline]

I'm gonna go with fandom here. For the first two or so years, Orphan Black fandom (tv show about clones, it's the best) was like family. Then the show got more popular and there were more people and it got less cozy.

[Samantha]

I like Our Shared Shelf (a women's rights book club started by actress Emma Watson) and the Winston Graham Poldark group (a group for fans of the Poldark books and tv series). I even posted a Poldark fan-fiction in progress and a few members found liked it!

[C.B., Beach Body Moderator]

I can't help myself!

[Brian]

C.B. wrote: "I can't help myself!"

Man...i started off laughing at unicorn holes, then at at supportive underwear groups, and finally at my own stupidity in not being able to properly use a reply button. This is my first day in this group and i'm having fun already :)

[Christina]

Next time someone cuts me off in traffic: "Blow it out your unicorn hole!"

And welcome Brian. Looks like we accomplished our goal. ;)

[Erica]

Love, love, love this group! I have highly recommended this community to many other indie authors I have met. You are awesome!

[C.B., Beach Body Moderator]

Brian wrote: "Man...i started off laughing at unicorn holes, then at at supportive underwear groups, and finally at my own stupidity in not being able to properly use a reply ..."

We will be here all week! (Then after that as well, cause we like it here, and don't want to leave.)