Sometime around 2021 or 2022, I realized that I needed to find a writing community. I know a lot of people find their people on social media, but that didn’t really seem to be working for me. I did some Googling, and I stumbled upon Inked Voices. Like with anything that costs money, I was a little hesitant, but I didn’t know how else to find a community. So I decided I might as well go for the trial and see what I thought.
Inked Voices is organized by various groups and genres, and you of course can be in multiple groups! My main group is the one for middle grade authors, but I’ve also joined subgroups for creative non-fiction and a short story study group. Plus, in any group, you can post the first few thousand pages of your story for feedback. (Admittedly, it doesn’t seem like a lot of people critique work that is posted.)
What I really love about Inked Voices is all the opportunities and resources it provides. The admin running the groups are incredibly hands-on and helpful. Any time I had a question about finding a group or a partner, all of the administrators were kind and responsive. I love all the resources, too. So far, I’ve done a complete manuscript swap with another middle grade writer, watched a few webinars, and participated in a first pages workshop (which I paid for).
Every quarter, Brooke (the creator of Inked Voices) sends out a newsletter sharing updates, happy news, upcoming workshops and opportunities, and more. And thanks to Inked Voices, it’s how I found Highlights Foundation, where I went for my first ever personal writing retreat.
If you’re looking for a writing community, this might be a good fit for you. Plus, there’s a ton of opportunities to learn more about writing and to get involved. I’m happy I’m a member– and I’ll keep inking away.