As writers, we spend a great deal of time working in solitude. I believe that in order to produce a continuous flow of meaningful work, a writer must strike a balance between living their craft and experiencing the world in which the live. It also means forging relationships with other writers.
Writers must challenge themselves to expand their circle of relationships to include more writing colleagues. I've started building more connections online, because as a parent my time is somewhat limited. I also attended the Kansas City Literary Festival last weekend and picked up some great information there as well as joining a few mailing lists. Other possibilities are writing conferences and author events in your area.
There are several benefits with getting to know other writers. The more writers you know the better informed you become regarding the publishing industry and the writer's craft. Getting to know other writers allows you to build a circle of people with whom you can workshop, exchange constructive criticism or even plan events of your own. It helps you keep perspective when you interact with other people taking on similar endeavors; being a writer is great, but it's not easy.
Here are a few links to get you started:
Gather.com
Associated Content.com
My Writer's Circle.com
Edit Red.com
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