Recently I was lucky enough to participate in my writer’s group annual retreat at a sleepy hamlet on the Victorian coast.

It’s the second year I’ve attended, and again I came away inspired, awed by the talented and generous group of women and on a bit of a feel-good high from all the giggles and warm-fuzzies that come from spending time with people who share our interests. Okay, and the hilarious game of charades might have contributed to the giggles too!! We’re all at different stages in our lives and from varied backgrounds, but we have something that binds us together – a love of books, stories and writing.

I was saying to one of my fellow retreat-goers that it felt so good just to be able to talk about my stories.  These ladies get it. There’s no looking at me like I have two heads when I attempt to describe the convoluted plot twists I’m currently wrestling with.  The lady said to me, ‘You’ve found your tribe.’

And yes, it does feel that way. It’s wonderful to have people who can celebrate and empathise with the steps and challenges of the writing journey. Not to mention the value in having people willing and expertly able to brainstorm with, critique work and share craft and market tips. It feels nice when I am able to help others with their work as well.

So how to find your ‘tribe’?

• Writer’s associations are a good place to start. Often they’ll have lists of groups in your local area, or those that cater to particular genres. For us Victorians, Writers Victoria is worth checking out:
  http://writersvictoria.org.au/help-for-writers/writing-groups

• If you’re into a particular genre, do some research to see if there’s an organisation that can help you. If you’re into romance, you’re in luck with Romance Writers of Australia. RWA has a variety of ways you can link in with other writers such as conferences, workshops, online forums and critiquing schemes:
  http://www.romanceaustralia.com

• Writers Festivals can be a good way to meet others with similar interests. 
  
  
• Melbourne Writers Festival is on in August: http://mwf.com.au/
  
  
• And keep an eye out for next year’s Emerging Writers Festival http://www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au/
  
  
• You could take a short course at a community centre or Tafe. Often you will get to do some critiquing in groups which is a good way to get to know other people, and you might make some lasting contacts.
  
  
• Local papers and local libraries often have events and literary groups.
  
  
• Why not check out groups available online – there are lots of forums and groups available. Meetups offer everything from ‘distinguished dorks’ to ‘Shut up and Write!’
  http://writers.meetup.com/cities/au/melbourne/

If there’s not something that’s just right for you, why not start your own? Call your tribe to you!

Most writers I know have very busy lives. We juggle full-time and part-time work, families and other responsibilities and try to fit in some creativity around the edges somewhere. Sometimes life gets in the way of writing.

When I’m having a bit of a run like this I sometimes find it difficult to call up that creative muse again.  At these times I like to take the pressure off by doing some things I enjoy. This helps me fill up the creative well.

My favourite things to do to re-energise and re-connect with creativity include:

• Watching a movie or TV show or reading a book. Sometimes I might pick up something new, sometimes an old favourite.
  

I find old favourites comforting and affirming. You know what you are going to get! This is probably why I love romance so much – the guarantee of a happy ever after. At my house, we’ve just been working our way through the classic Star Wars movies. I know – daggy – but watching something that we love is a good way to remember why we write and what type of stories we want to tell.

For me, Star Wars covers a lot of my favourite tropes and themes. It is inextricably linked with a sense of childhood wonder and a sense of adventure imbued since the first time I watched it and the many times since. It’s like spending time with an old friend. The themes are around friendship, loyalty, love and the little guys triumphing over evil. What’s not to like!

• Getting out into the world
  

Nature and a sense of place are important to me when I write. Getting out and about into nature is one of my favourite things to do with my young boys. (Anyone who knows young boys will also know getting outside and being active is also sanity saving!).

Kids have such an eye for detail and the quirky things, so often they notice things that I don’t. Like those red toadstools with white spots, or a splash of rainbow in a puddle.

We were tramping along a lakeside recently and we found these amazing leaves. The leaves had been trapped between some rocks and battered by the wind until there was nothing left but a lacy skeleton. Pretty! And somewhere in my head there is a metaphor forming between that leaf and one of my characters!

• Music
  

Music is like a snapshot of emotion, of character. Songs are like mini-stories and I find they can often fuel creativity. I often listen to the lyrics, watch the film-clips and wonder, who are these people and what is their story? Other times I just listen for the enjoyment as I go about my day; either way I find music a really nice way to shake up the mood and fill that creative well.

I came across this song recently. It has tortured hero all over it! The hero in my current story doesn’t have blue eyes, but I think I can definitely use the sentiment. (Behind Blue Eyes Limp Bizkit.)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-kO1jKE3DM

• Images
  

I’m a really visual person and so looking at interesting and beautiful things is another way I like to tap into creativity. This can be in nature – give me a beautiful sunrise or sunset any day! Museums and art galleries can be good too. I know a lot of people use vision boards or Pinterest to help them imagine their stories as well. A lot of my ‘fill the well’ things intersect as you can see – the picture above is sunrise at Point Lonsdale on an early morning walk.

• People
  

As they say, truth is stranger than fiction. You don’t have to look far to find inspiration and things to pique your curiosity in friends and strangers around you. I find the weekend papers a great source for this – one of my favourite columns is ‘Two of Us.’ It tells the stories of two people - friends, family members or intimate partners. I find the exploration of what draws people together in relationships endlessly fascinating.

What do you do to fill your creative well?