Writers Helping Writers: Why Community Matters After the Conference

From Edie: Larry Leech shares why writers need each other after a conference and learn simple ways to help, encourage, and celebrate fellow writers all year long.

Writers Helping Writers: Why Community Matters After the Conference

by Larry J. Leech, II @LarryJLeechII

Having just returned from a series of conferences, I am exhausted but riding a high for a number of reasons. At each conference, in different regions of the country, I saw the same thing over and over again—writers helping each other, encouraging each other, celebrating each other.

At meals, during appointments, before and after workshops, like-minded people smiled, voiced words of affirmation, and cheered when another announced a milestone in their writing journey. So much fun, for me, to witness. Writers helping writers. More importantly, people helping people.

But it seems re-entry into daily life changes our focus from enjoying the community of fellow writers to diving back in the routines of work, eat, and sleep. 

Lilka Raphael and Julie Lavender wrote great blogs for this site about the business side of writing after a conference. Both are great blogs. You can read them here: https://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/2026/06/writing-conference-checklist-part-3-how.html#more and https://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/2026/06/what-writers-should-do-after-writing.html#more

With the focus on improving our craft from what we learned at a conference, let’s not forget to continue to help each other, encourage each other, and celebrate each other. All of these don’t take much time.

Help each other

Most writers return from a conference exhausted but excited to implement what they learned. Many organize. Others jump right into writing again. Some launch a blog, create a website, or start a newsletter. In each instance, one may ask for feedback on their direction or idea. Don’t hesitate to offer suggestions if someone asks. 

Encourage each other

This goes hand-in-hand with help. We writers, editors, and coaches often deal with invasive thoughts. The enemy whispers dreadful words into our ears, sometimes nonstop for hours and days on end. When this happens, that person needs encouragement. If this has happened to you, reach out to others. Could be a single person. Could be a group of people. A word of encouragement here would be to not try to fight off those invasive thoughts alone. Call in others to lift you up, refocus your thoughts from despair or anxiety to one of gratitude and joy. And let people help you through a rough stretch.

Celebrate each other

When we stay in touch with other writers—through texts or various social media accounts—we read and see when someone signs a contract, announces a cover reveal, mentions a new release. Anyone who has walked the path to publication knows the tiresome work involved in getting to release date. So, along the way, celebrate with the author with a kind word on a post or text. You might even want to send a congratulatory gift when someone you know releases a book. And, of course, write a worthy review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and any other place one might purchase the book.

Remember the help given and received during the time at a conference where people helped, encouraged, and celebrated each other. Keep it going. 

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Writers Helping Writers: Why Community Matters After the Conference from @LarryJLeechII on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Usually with a hot beverage nearby, Larry J. Leech II spends his days working with words—as a writing coach of award-winning authors, as well as Acquisitions Editor and Master Book Coach for Illumify Media. More than forty years ago, Larry started his career as a sportswriter in southwestern Pennsylvania where he covered prep sports, college sports, and the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers. In 2004, after 2,300 published articles, Larry shifted to book publishing. Since that time, he has ghostwritten thirty books, edited more than 450 manuscripts, and coached hundreds of authors through the writing and publication process. For nearly two decades Larry has taught at numerous general market and inspirational conferences nationwide. When he has a minute, Larry likes to hang out on Facebook and Instagram. You can also find out more about him on his website: larryleech.com.