The first time I was in a room full of other freelance writers, I knew that after looking my whole life I had finally found my tribe. Our friends and family try to celebrate and support us but freelancing is one of those things that someone can fully understand only if they live the life themselves.

There’s something special about other writers. They understand the joys and challenges and struggles of being a freelance writer. And more than that, freelance writers are unique people. They have unique ways of looking at things – they’re curious and interesting and know all kinds of odd things. And if you need to know about some random, obscure topic, all you have to do is pose it to a group of freelancers and you can bet that someone has written about it and can tell you more than you ever wanted to know.

But more than writers just being cool people to hang out with, which we are, of course, I would venture to say that most successful freelance writers have a support system of other writers. Writer friends can celebrate with you, give you a virtual hug when you had a tough day and give you advice when you are at a crossroads with either your story, a client or your career. And writers always know about other jobs that either aren’t a fit for them or that they don’t have time for – so we often share job leads with writers we know and respect. I have two special writing buddies who keep me sane and focused. I honestly would not be where I am without their support, advice and listening ears.

But if you work out of your house and primarily work with editors virtually, how do you meet other writers?

Join Online Forums — The easiest place to meet other writers is online forums. My favorites are the ASTA forums, various Facebook groups dedicated to writers and Freelance Success. If you are doing more content strategy-type work these days, check out Inbound.org as well. It may take a little bit of effort to find the forum that fits your style and the type of writing that you do. It also takes a little bit of time to feel like an insider once you find a writer online with whom it seems you have a lot in common; send the writer an email and see whether the relationship takes off from there.

Attend Writer Conferences — I have met almost all my best writing buddies at American Society of Journalist & Author (ASJA) conferences. (If you haven’t already registered, be sure to check out the upcoming conference in New York City.) There’s really no substitute for hanging out with someone in the hallways, having a drink in the bar after the sessions or even sharing a meal. Plus, there is something fun about putting on grown-up clothes and going out into the world instead of writing at your kitchen table. I’ve also found when I travel to conferences that I am able to totally focus on my writing business instead of fitting it in between the rest of my life. Most of my best ideas for where to take my business have come while sitting in a conference session room.

I went to my first writer conference by myself and was so self-conscious that I spent almost all of the free time memorizing the books in the bookstore. I felt a bit like an idiot. But since then, I’ve learned that you simply have to just strike up conversations with people. “Pickup lines” that have worked well for me include asking what type of writing they do, what session they liked best or whether this is their first time at the conference. If the conference has any small group events, such as luncheons or dinners, be sure to sign up for those, since it’s often easier to connect over food. When you get home, be sure to follow up with your new friends, because otherwise it was just a good time, not an ongoing relationship.

Contact Local Writers — Even if you don’t know it, there most likely are other writers just like you in the same area. But they are often hiding. Do a Google search for other writers in your area, and drop them an email invite to lunch or to meet for coffee. Check out LinkedIn, since it’s likely that you probably know some of the same writer buddies. I have found that most of the freelance writers who work from home are very happy to meet another writer and to make a new writer friend. Check to see whether your town has a local ASJA chapter, meetup group for freelancers, American Marketing Association Chapter or an independent freelance group. Then invite the writers you connect with at the events to lunch or coffee.
How do you network with other writers? What benefits have you found from having writer friends?