How Author Communities Are Empowering the Next Generation of Writers

by Emilia Rose

You’re sitting in front of your computer, staring at the screen and typing for hours on end, living in your own little world with just your characters and nobody else in your life who gets the feeling of writing the stories in your head.

You’re all alone. Isolated.

But you don’t have to be.

Author communities across the world, like NovelBound, are rewriting the rules of what it means to be an author in the digital age. At Ream, we believe the future of publishing belongs to creators who build strong communities around their stories. That’s why we wanted to spotlight NovelBound as a perfect example of how authors can use communities to grow their careers.

When co-founders Madi and Sophie reconnected after college, they found themselves in one of the hardest stages of the trad author journey: querying. “Querying is lonely, but we realized it was a lot easier to go through it when you have people who understand what it’s like,” Sophie says.

That shared experience became the spark for NovelBound; which is an online space with resources, events, and retreats designed to bring writers together. What started as a small support group has grown into a vibrant ecosystem helping authors at every stage of their journey. Whether you’re querying, self-publishing, or writing your first draft, communities like NovelBound help you reach your goals and remind you that you’re not in this alone.

Why? Because success in today’s publishing world depends a ton on connection.

You’re no longer sitting by yourself in your bedroom, trying to make this all work. You can be surrounded by people who get it.

In NovelBound, authors celebrate book launches, plan writing dates, and even show up for each other in real life. “The online community is just as rich,” Sophie says. It's a "supportive space where people can find critique partners, beta readers, [and]... share opportunities," both writing related and not.

This is the same energy driving communities on Ream, where authors and readers connect directly in stories through commenting. Just like NovelBound connects authors together, Ream gives creators the tools to foster genuine relationships with their readers, not just through posts, but through shared storytelling (ie. commenting, author notes, StoryPulse, and more).

Within its first year, NovelBound has seen five members sign with literary agents, several self-publish books, and many complete their first-ever novels. “We also hosted our first retreat in April and have one upcoming in Oregon with nearly 30 writers and a literary agent,” Sophie shares. “We didn’t expect to be able to do retreats until a bit further down the line, so it’s been a great endeavor that really brings the community to life in a new way.”

We know it’s cliche (but hey, cliches work!), but when we share knowledge and experience, everyone's boat rises. Whether that’s education, resources, or author communities, connection helps you lay a stronger foundation, provide support, and build a career doing what you love.

“Community is everything,” Sophie says. “Publishing is really hard, and the landscape has been changing in the digital age... The more we are in community, the more we can learn from each other, and the more successful we can be, whatever our individual paths look like.”

While NovelBound is paving the way with retreats, writing camps, and mentorship opportunities and its upcoming industry summit, Ream is helping authors take that same energy and turn it into thriving reader communities built around their work.

If you’re ready to build a deeper connection with your readers, grow your author brand, and publish stories your way, Ream is here for you. And to learn more about NovelBound’s retreats, events, and community resources, visit https://novelboundcommunity.com/ and follow their journey as they continue inspiring authors everywhere.

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