Writing may begin in solitude… in a dimly lit room with a cup of Starbucks (or perhaps a glass of Woodford Reserve) in one hand, and a trusty pen in the other. But no writer succeeds alone.
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That idea was at the heart of the inaugural episode of the South Florida Writers Roundtable, a new monthly segment of The Miami Book Hub Podcast created in collaboration with the South Florida Writers Association (SFWA). I was joined by my incredible co-hosts—newly anointed SFWA President Amy Nicole Naim and Vice President C.V. “Ceci” Shaw—for a lively half hour devoted to writers, their journeys, their struggles, and their craft.
Our first “Hot Topic” asked a simple question: Why do writers need community?
Amy described SFWA as “the community I never knew I needed,” recalling how she discovered the association after moving to Miami and searching for fellow writers. What she found was more than a professional organization. She found friends, a critique group, encouragement, accountability and a place where writers at every stage are welcomed.
Ceci put the emotional value of that community into equally practical terms. Writers, she noted, often struggle with imposter syndrome, especially after receiving rejection letters. At those moments, hearing another writer say, “That was really good. I can’t wait to hear what happens next,” can provide exactly the spark needed to keep going.
I could certainly relate. As I shared during the episode, challenging though it may be, “the writing is the easy part.” What follows—finding an agent, publishing your work, understanding distribution, promoting the book, and building an audience—can feel daunting. Writers are essentially expected to become entrepreneurs without ever being handed the instruction manual. That is where fellow writers, mentors and literary organizations become invaluable.
The episode’s “Writers Spotlight” segment also spotlighted Amy’s work-in-progress memoir, Everybody Wants This, along with her earlier books, Advocate and Letter to Amy. Her memoir provided a perfect example of community in action: conversations with other writers have helped her identify stories, memories, and missing pieces that belong in the book. As Amy admitted, “This is why I need y’all,” particularly as she works toward completing a first draft of her new work this year.
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From there, we turned to “The Craft,” a segment highlighting writing workshops, contests and opportunities available locally and online. We discussed resources offered through the indispensable Miami-Dade Public Library System, upcoming author events at Books & Books, SFWA’s monthly writing contests, and other competitions that offer writers feedback, exposure and, occasionally, prize money.
The broader message was clear: community does more than make writing less lonely. It creates opportunity. It builds confidence. It sharpens the work. Sometimes, it even helps transform a stack of short stories into a published collection, or sends a writer’s poetry all the way to the moon (yeah, that’s happening).
The South Florida Writers Roundtable will return monthly with author spotlights, writing advice, literary news, workshops, contests, and candid conversations about the realities of the writing life.
Watch or listen to the full episode of The Miami Book Hub (MBH) Podcast, explore previous episodes, subscribe to the MBH Newsletter, and catch up on previous MBH Columns at www.ThreeTreasuresPress.com. You can also learn more about the South Florida Writers Association at SouthFloridaWriters.org.
Please watch, like, share, and subscribe, and help us continue building a stronger, more connected literary community.
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Until next time… keep reading, keep writing and stay curious, Miami!