The Ink & Quill Collective : An Insider’s Account of a Writer’s Community

The internet can be a heinous, time-consuming monster bent on ruining a writer’s dream. But its power to connect can be a lifesaver. Like it was for me.  

When I started writing, Pixxie, my two-year-old lab, was my only companion. Pixxie is a sweetheart but not that brilliant for bouncing off ideas. She doesn’t have strong opinions about the main character and seems more interested in my sandwich than in the plot I’m narrating to her. So, I was pretty lonely and clueless – aka, a writer’s personal hell. That’s when I decided to make a change and found an online writing group named the Ink and Quill Collective.

Let me tell you all about them!

The Ink & Quill Collective (IQC) began as a small WhatsApp group for live writing sprints. Most us initial members either met at one of the HWR courses or the First Draft Club. Now, IQC has evolved to a community of 200+ writers who support fellow writers in growing their confidence, honing their craft, and getting their stories and/or novels in top-notch shape before putting it out in the world.

{Here’s a guide on how you can make the most out of the First Draft Club.}

“It used to be known as the 10.30-morning sprint group. We met, chatted, and wrote. We bonded, spoke more and wrote more. Soon, we were beta reading, talking craft, cheering, and sharing tissues for rejection emails. Today, this group is revamped. It even has a new name. But at the core, it remains that bunch of people who finish chores to be at their desks, click on links to chat, share ideas, and finish every call with a cheery—Happy Writing! If this isn’t the magic of shared passion, I don’t know what else is!”
– Sudha Subramanian

 Why should one join a writing group?

When asked how to write, Hemingway famously replied: “Put pen to paper.” The statement still holds true today, even if the paper and pen are now digital. Few occupations invite such idealistic preconceptions as being a writer does. Most are intrigued by someone who says they are a writer. They conjure up images of sitting in a cafe, giving birth to grand plots and ideas. Only those who do it, know how difficult it can be, mainly because it is a lonely endeavour.

Every aspiring and published writer has faced this scenario: You tell yourself today’s the day you shall write. Grand promises are made in your head. You sit to write, but your traitorous mind wanders. You need to ensure there have been no urgent messages from your spouse or from your best friend who went to Bali last week. What if she fell into a ditch? You check your social media and before you know it, 45 minutes have passed! You’ve liked and shared ten funny dog reels on Instagram, and levelled up on Candy Crush.

 But the promised words? They never come.

{Wondering if getting a writing buddy can help you meet those word count targets? Here’s how 2 HWR Alums made it work for them.}

And that’s where being part of a writing community can make a difference. Setting aside time to write with a bunch of kindred spirits instills a sense of discipline and accountability. It’s no magic pill, but the community is not about perfection, it’s about progress. 

You must show up everyday.

You must put pen to paper and let the words flow.

But now you can now do it with others like yourself. You are no longer the weirdo who says “My characters are not doing what they are supposed to do!” Your co-members feel your pain, whether it is starting or editing a draft or an existential crisis, they walk with you, welcoming all your nuances. And if you feel bold enough to share your writing with your peers in the group, the constructive feedback and new perspectives are worth their weight in gold. 

But don’t just take our word for it – here are some excerpts from aspiring and published (yup! they too have demons to conquer) writers on how joining a writing community has helped them.

 “I am a retired school teacher, perhaps the oldest in this group. I am 66. Though a passive member, I learn much just by reading the shared posts and links. I get good vibes and immense energy. I would love to learn more about the sprints and the cave. Pleased and grateful to be accepted in the community.”

– Mala Singh

“I am a short story writer, and I’m working on my first novel. I love the freedom and sense of community that IQC offers all writers. The daily sprints, conversation on craft & technique, and the invaluable support and friendship of fellow authors on the general ups & downs of writing help one develop and hone one’s writing routine & discipline.” 

– Suchitra Sukumar

“I have been a part of the IQC for over a year. This group has got me on track with my writing. It has induced a sense of discipline; the icing on the cake is sharing a platform with like-minded individuals without judgment or help provided without questions. I could overcome rejection by a major publishing house only because of the support from this group and move on. A major project that involved AV representation got a shot in the arm when some group members came up with pointers that helped me pitch my story. I am grateful to this group that has provided the impetus for my upward literary journey.”

–  Priya Nayak-Gole

“After my first book was published, I started outlining my next project. With IQC, I was introduced to diverse voices, each at different stages of their writing journey. I am a regular at the writing sprints, which has been instrumental in fuelling my daily writing discipline. The sprints also offer a window for serendipitous discussions on craft-related points. The different touch points of the group- the sprints, the group chats, or the peer reviews, all maintain a consistent ethos of a non-judgemental space to express and learn. 

P.S – I also found collaborators from this group for my upcoming anthology, Vanishing Eden.” 

– Krishnakant Jonnalgadda 

“The Ink and Quill Collective is a beautiful writing community that fosters intellectual debate, a sense of belonging, and the one thing vital to a writer – regular writing sessions via writing sprints. Due to the time difference, I haven’t had the chance to join the sprints, but I have participated in group discussions and the writer’s feedback session, and this inspired me, motivated me, and helped me stay on track. The initiative of published author interviews and Q and A sessions is an additional accomplishment that will help the community.”

– Salmah Ahmed

“When I started writing, I felt lonely with no one to share with for review or address my fears. As an introvert seeking out other people working similarly didn’t seem possible. The Ink and Quill Collective has provided me with a safe space to share my work and be a part of others’ writing journeys. I am working on my second book and the community members have helped me achieve more words per week than earlier. I have never written a short story before, but with IQC, so far, I’ve written two!”

–  Anagha Mehta

{We have curated a list of Writing Groups in India for you.}

What to expect when you join IQC?

Most events in IQC started as ‘what if we…?’ ideas, turned into pilots, and were eventually embraced as a must-have for the community. We have a group of admins who volunteer their time to run all the below online events (and, as a member, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say their efficiency would impress most Swiss watchmakers). 

 Writing Sprints: The writing sprints tend to be 45 minutes to an hour where writers work in companionable silence. On days when you are inspired, you may write for over an hour, just clickity-clackity-ing away with sheer happiness. On other days, the doom-and-gloom-and-everything-I-write-is-garbage day, you may barely be able to write twenty minutes. Either way, what’s important is showing up to write. Everyday. Or as often as you possibly can.

But writing sprints are more than that. These sprints are about connecting with a community of wickedly brilliant and talented writers whose faith in this art will inspire you not give up. At the start of every IQC sprint, members discuss what they are working on, the challenges they’re facing, upcoming courses and contests that others may benefit from, stories from the scary publishing world, and so on. Sometimes, just hearing your fellow writers may turn a gloom-and-doom day into a slightly better day. Other times, they will help you claw your way back onto the writing bandwagon so you feel less guilty. Even if you choose not to participate, knowing you have a network of writers to connect to when needed is good enough.

Friday Peer Reviews: As (aspiring) writers, we all have our horror/trauma stories of rejection. Months of hard work and fine-tuning end in a nasty rejection slip from an unknown but almighty Publisher. 

 “I love my rejection slips. They show me I try.” — Sylvia Plath.

{Need hacks to squeeze in the maximum amount of time for writing in a day? Check out – How to use an iPad (or a tablet) for writing.}

While there’s no way to prevent future rejections, getting your writing critiqued can surface perspectives you wouldn’t have considered. Character blind spots, logical jumps in plots, or the darlings we cling to rather than kill. The IQC includes writers of different genres, ages, and backgrounds who know how to ask smart questions while being encouraging but honest. It is a hard balance but it works when the aim is to inspire while being honest.

The online weekly peer reviews typically last an hour. Every reviewer gets about three to five minutes to share their feedback. Feedback can address a variety of elements, such as the strength of the title, the overall tone, word choices, inconsistencies, the opening, closing, and structure of a narrative, and overuse of cliches, plot, logic, and characterisations. Authors, when submitting their work, are asked to guide reviewers on what they require feedback on. Only once all reviewers finish giving their thoughts does the author have the stage to ask for clarifications or provide explanations if needed. The peer reviews are, thus, a great practice for you to listen to criticism rather than defend your story. Hard! I know! But it helps in the long run because once you publish your story, your editors and readers will not be as diplomatic yet will expect you to listen. 

Before I presented my story for review, I had asked several writers what I could expect. I am paraphrasing their advice, but it sums it all up:

 When you create anything, you will get feedback. That’s inevitable. The hardest parts are listening and learning what to take back to the drawing board. Having your work critiqued without being able to defend it will almost cause a physical reaction. But after a few rounds, you will realise there were so many aspects you had completely missed because of your inexperience or assumptions. Then, once you get all the feedback, it can be confusing on what to take and what to reject. That’s when you need to get to the roots of your story – what are the non-negotiables? What inspired you to write it? Knowing this is important to identify feedback that strengthens your work. When you get to the stage of going through professional editing, these experiences will help you know what to edit and when to put your foot down. It won’t be so overwhelming then. 

A Writer’s Jouney (Monthly Author Meets) : At the end of the day, experience trumps all. A Writer’s Journey is an initiative where community members interact with published authors who share their experiences. These hour-long sessions help us see how authors took their stories from a mere idea to a fully-published book gracing the windows of a bookstore. These conversations are both inspiring and educational. The questions often cover different aspects of a writer’s journey and are meant to surface tips and tricks published authors have gathered from their trials. We have had a host of notable authors, including Ankush Sakia (author of the Detective Arjun Arora series and one of the recipients of the Shanghai Writers’ Association’s 2018 fellowships, among other accolades), Deepa Anappara (author of Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, a portion of which won the Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award, among others) and Santanu Bhattacharya (winner of the 2023 Desmond Elliott Prize Residency and author of One Small Voice, among other wins). IQC is generous with sharing these recordings with anyone who finds value in them. You can view the videos of our author meets on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@theinkquillcollective.

{Here’s a 7 step guide on self-editing fiction that may help you polish your manuscript.}

Impromptu Open Mics: As a writing community, things are kept interesting so you never tire of writing. Be it fiction writing events such as the Murder Mystery Night or narrating poems drafted during the NaPoRiMo, these events will always pull you into the world of writing. The icing on the cake is  ensuring your writing gets exposure. The IQC instagram continuously features poems and stories penned by the members. You can read these by joining the IQC instagram family at: @inkquillcollective.

The Ink & Quill Collective Magazine: Remember we talked about ideas turning into pilots? The home-grown IQC magazine will be one such example. It will feature select fiction and non-fiction stories, poems, graphic fiction and journals written exclusively by IQC community members and vetted by a group of beta-readers and experienced editors (from the group itself), giving many the opportunity to be published.

Conclusion

Right…so, that’s all. If you want to join the Ink and Quill Collective: click here.

And when you do, like it was for me, you will find a community waiting to support you, celebrate your wins and soothe your defeats. But above all, it will make your writing journey less lonely and scary. 

Kind of like the Fellowship of the Rings, with fewer orcs.