To Build a Community
XPress Access | April 2022
Building a Community
I’m learning a lot by interacting with you in our thread discussions and the comment sections. It’s been a highlight of my experience since starting the Substack in 2021. There’s something special about connecting with like-minded individuals, despite that connection taking place via a screened interface syncing us into a shared virtual world. I’d wager we’re experiencing a transformation of sorts, a shift in how we develop and engage with entertainment and its creators. Gone are the days when an author might publish a story and never interact with readers unless on a book tour. The book tour can now exist in an ethereal realm, ever-present and constantly engaging. How does this affect the relationship between the reader and the writer? And where do we go from here?
I grew up immersed in other worlds, mostly in my imagination. Although I went outside to do the everyday outdoorsy things kids do, I gravitated toward movies and video games. I bring this up because gaming (depending on the game) used to be a rather isolating activity. There were multiplayer standouts, but for me (back then), gaming was an escape into a hyper-realized world that someone else had created. The isolation part of the equation has since changed. According to this study done by Simon-Kucher and Partners, “The majority of gamers surveyed (60 percent) indicated that they are playing different games during COVID-19, shifting away from games with shorter sessions to games that are more involved, take more time, and have more social interactions.”
Gaming, more or less, has become about communities. When you get online (see even this term ‘online’ infers you’re going somewhere) and see your friends playing a game, you want to play with them. Multiplayer video games have become a multi-billion dollar industry, which is growing year over year. There are many reasons the gaming industry is growing rapidly, one of which is the interconnectivity of it all, how you don’t have to leave your house to be with your friends or even to meet new friends. People will pay to play and spend more money and time in these worlds because that is where they want to spend their time and money. These games are communities.
So how does all of this relate to writing and publishing? Well, when was the last time you went to hang out in the lobby of your regional publisher’s office? If you’ve been recently, that’s pretty cool, but I’ve never been inside a traditional publishing house before. Which is weird to say, given that I’ve made it my goal to be a publisher. I’ve been to the Guinness Brewery in Ireland, though (I highly recommend it). When I’m out writing, it’s at a library or a local coffee shop. Something about the hustle and bustle of life moving all around inspires me. I also like going to bookstores to see all the hard work that thousands of people put countless hours of their energy into, culminating in the final products displayed on shelves for all the world to see.
When I think of writing meetups, I imagine small groups, like 3-5 people sharing their work and providing feedback. Or even like a panel at a Con where a few writers speak to a room full of people (likely other writers or fans of their work). I enjoy both of these offerings, but they aren’t necessarily communities in every sense of the word. For a writing community to work, writers and readers should harmonize within a space. (Writers are readers, too.)
So what is a community's cornerstone, and how do we get there? I alluded to it earlier when I asked if you’d been inside the lobby of a publishing house. The answer is likely “a place where a specific interest group congregates,” just like in the virtual gaming space. Communities can be built on many platforms and in many spheres, but I think it has to be willing to welcome outside members in. Substack serves this purpose quite well for independent creators. I hope The Storyletter can be a desirable place for fiction writers and readers to meet in the comments of their stories published here or on their respective Substacks.
The ultimate dream, however, would be the manifestation of The Storyletter in a physical location. Some day I hope to make that a reality. Until then, I hope to continue sharing good vibes and a welcoming environment for aspiring authors and fiction connoisseurs. Until next time ~ WM
