Gathering A Party: D&D and Finding a Writer Community
- Alex Capocasale
- Apr 24
- 5 min read
Again and again, the pervading cultural image of the author is a solitary figure. A wild-haired person hunched over an oak desk in a lonely manor. A bespeckled creature chain-smoking in a cramped apartment, tormented by a typewriter. A misunderstood daydreamer studying happy passersby from behind a cafe window.
We love imagining the writer in this way: gifted and cursed by their vocation. Forever genius, lonely, and unreachable.
And it’s nonsense. Romantic nonsense, sure, but nonsense nonetheless.
Coming Out of My Creative Shell
If you tuned in to my last blog post, you’ll know that the turning point for me as a writer was starting a D&D group with some peers. It’s given me a creative outlet unlike anything I’d ever experienced but, hey, I was still an insecure college student with anxiety at the beginning. I took some warming up.
In fact, I was the last person to turn in a backstory for my character during our first campaign. I had one! I was just terrified to share it. What if they laugh at it? What if they think it’s cringey and weird? What if it’s so boring, they don’t even finish it? After all, I was playing a traumatized six-foot-three beefcake with the social bandwidth of a ficus and an undisclosed homoromantic hang-up from his past. It didn’t exactly feel . . . low stakes.
But also, I could’ve written the most well-adjusted man in the world and I still would’ve been freaking out. Who can blame me? Writing is personal! It’s vulnerable! It’s scary!
After heavy encouragement from one of my fellow players, I sent the short narrative along to my DM (several sessions in). I prepared myself for a lukewarm response, at best, and was met with effusive support and genuine engagement.
It confused and astonished me. It made me feel safe.
Thanks to the rapport we built as fellow students, coworkers, and friends, we can trust each other with our work. When I need to get out of my head, when I know something isn’t working, when I need someone to push me, I have my group. I want the same for you!
What Should I Look for in a Writing Community?
The right type of community will depend on your needs as a writer. Here are some curated questions to help you narrow down which traits suit you best:
In Person vs. Online
Do I live in an area with any local groups accessible to me?
Am I more socially comfortable discussing my work face-to-face or digitally?
How social do I want this group to be?
Low Obligation vs. High Activity
How much time do I have to offer?
How much energy do I have to offer others’ work right now?
Would asynchronous fit into my schedule better? Or would simultaneous be more productive for me?
Do I want to meet once a month, once a week, or more often?
Support vs. Critique vs. Networking
Where am I struggling to stay motivated in my writing process?
Do I need help with accountability?
Do I need an outside perspective on my work?
How am I networking as an author, and do I need to develop connections?
Group Identity
Should the group be genre-specific?
Am I a writer that belongs to an underrepresented group and want my group to share in that identity or experience?
Small vs. Large
Would I be comfortable working one-on-one? Or in a small group?
Would a large group with varying viewpoints and experiences be better?
Does the size of the group affect my motivation?
Where Do I Start Looking?
I lucked out, stumbling into my writing community. For some, it might take more conscious steps. A few places you can start your search are:
Online Network
Whether you’re an aspiring author or published, chances are you have a social media profile or two. Maybe it’s a Bookstagram page or a Bluesky dedicated to posting writing prompts. If so, try making that a place where you engage more actively! Comment on posts, reach out with questions, and use that space to develop relationships.
I completely understand the social hurdles there. But more often than not, your fellow writers are delighted to talk! Professionals in the indie sphere especially welcome it. After all, they know how hard it can be to tackle the industry.
Don’t be afraid to give established groups online a try, either. Discords and subreddits are popular options these days, if you want to avoid designated websites like Scribiophile or Critique Circle.
Indie Bookshops & Libraries
Independent bookshops and libraries are invaluable resources for writers. They typically host a variety of events each month from book clubs to workshops to author talks to writing groups and more. These are great places to look, whether you want to headline an event yourself or simply be among books.
Chances are there’s a writer or two milling about the aisles, carrying a foot-high stack of novels anyway.
Professional Programs
This option likely won’t appeal to everyone. MFAs and comparable programs are a hefty commitment, financially and otherwise. But it may be on the table for you, and there are benefits.
You’d be in a space dedicated to your craft, surrounded by people with similar goals, and guided by a professor as you work. Many walk away with enduring connections, which can be crucial as a writer, along with more developed writing.
Writing Conferences
Why dip your toes in when you can cannonball straight into the thick of it? Conferences and festivals may be a challenge to the more socially avoidant, but they are one of the best opportunities out there. They provide opportunities to socialize, network, advertise, and learn. And you might even get to meet a favorite author or two!
The good news is that you don’t always have to travel for them, either! Nowadays, conferences may offer digital attendance options, like the Fold (which you can read Brenna’s experience of here!). So, you get to learn, engage with the greater community, and still stay in your sweats at home.
The Next Step
Many will say that writing is a solitary process, and I’m not disputing that. Writing is often something you do alone. But you don’t have to be alone as a writer.
The road to becoming an author is long, and sharing your work may be one of the hardest obstacles you face. But I promise you, as terrifying as it is for someone to hold your work in their hands, it’s just as exhilarating. Because when it’s the right people—whether your traveling party is a table of D&D nerds, a close colleague, or a few caffeine-dependent creatives in the same spot as you—your work comes to life through their eyes.
Good luck on your journey, adventurer!
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Alex is part of the Bookmarten Editorial team behind the scenes. She doesn’t have a platform you can follow her on at the moment, but she looks forward to seeing you in the Bookmarten Editorial social media comments and potential future blog posts!
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