By Penny Reeve

My memories of starting out as a writer feel very isolated. 

I remember a stack of ‘How To Write’ books from the library, a notebook of story fragments and a mountain ideas. But when it came down to it, there was just me.  I didn’t know anyone else who wrote and, as someone about to go overseas to serve in a mission capacity, I wasn’t really in the position to join a writers’ group. 

Writing isolated taught me to be tough on my work and become very self-reliant in my craft, which I now see as a good thing. However, there were times when I felt very alone and unsure I was on the right track.

Then one day, after I arrived back in Australia from time overseas, an older lady pressed a picture book into my hands. It was by an established Australian author from the lady’s church. The older lady suggested I contact the author because we were both writing for children. Of course, I read the book. But I didn’t contact the author. Not then. Not for a long while. I was nervous. I felt dwarfed by what this author had accomplished.

Yet, one day – maybe it was even a couple of years later – I did reach out and gave the other author a timid call. The multi-published author invited me over for lunch. She chatted honestly with me, about writing and the writing life in a very no-frills, down to earth manner. And then she asked if I’d like to join her writing group. Just like that. 

I didn’t realise at the time how amazing what she’d given me was: the acknowledgement, acceptance and chance to learn beside her about this craft of writing we’d both embarked on. Her simple generosity from one writer to another, went on to have considerable impact in my own writing journey.

And this is what I’ve learned about being a writer: no matter what stage of the journey you are on, if you can share that journey with other writers you have an underestimated opportunity to encourage. 

Encouragement doesn’t need to be fancy. It doesn’t need to be expertise dressed up as advice, or perfectly worded. It can be as simple as acknowledging the grit it takes to be a writer, whatever we write. Never underestimate the power of putting your own work aside and really listening to another writer tell you their writing story. 

Yes, we need to build platform. Yes, we need to network. But as we look for opportunities to mingle with other writers – be it at a conference or bumping into one online – may we also be the ones who speak life into discouragement, acceptance into shyness and gentleness into the frantic, isolating world of an emerging author. 

How have you been encouraged by another writer? Or what could you do to build another writer up today?

Penny Reeve (also writing as Penny Jaye) is the award winning, Australian author of more than 25 books for children. ​She writes picture books, junior fiction, children’s Bible studies and young adult fiction. She’s an experienced writing workshop leader, conference presenter and writing coach with a particular interest in equipping Christian children’s writers. Her most recent books are a series of collaboratively written, self-published children’s fiction called the Pet Sitters (available as ebook, audio and print too). You can learn more about Penny at www.pennyreeve.com and www.pennyjaye.com