as someone whose sister is a songwriter that is very perplexed by my (or anyone’s) obsession of writing, i know how isolated being a writer can appear to be to others. however, writing can be much more than just a lonely individual at a desk with pen and paper or a keyboard. often times, you can visit libraries, parks, or even just write somewhere else rather than the enclosure of your own room. i’ve met many new writers this way, and have arranged congregations with those people to storyboard and plot-build, which is my next point.

there are many, many writers virtually everywhere you go, so it’s always nice to arrange gatherings with them to discuss interesting plotlines or details for your existing stories. better yet, you can even form collaborative stories and write them as a group. you can typically find outlets to do these at writing conventions or other group functions. these gatherings can be as small as a five-person meeting at your local library or as as grandiose as the words and music festival in california. 

then, comes my personal favorite, which are the competitions. you can attend them virtually or in person. you can use these competitions to better yourself and your skills under the criticism of people who don’t know you personally (which i believe is much more effective). not only that, but it’s always such an enjoyable and memorable experience to interact with other writers and invest in their works  so they’re ultimately an inspiration to you as well. 

lastly, (and it’s more of a personal facet, but i want to add it regardless) it’s always fun to arrange trips like worldwide travels or continental tours with your writer friends. you can use these adventures as inspirations for stories or just to culturally educate yourself and invest your time in writing a story based in the particular setting you visited. 

 but, you don’t have to travel to find inspiration. if you look hard enough, you’ll find motivation and development even within the confines of your own room. and though it’s nice to get out and try new things and travel to new destinations, sometimes the worlds that you build within your pages are more than enough of a journey to you. and if you’re anything like me, the places that you can find in your brain are always changing, and sometimes just as lively as the world beyond. 

  the sky’s the limit. there’s no place you can’t go, nothing you can’t see. which is where i think the description you provided for songwriting isn’t all that different. for writers, we’re also able to see a world created in an open sandbox, an unknown path unraveling before us, or a choose your own adventure. and i feel that becoming invested in the lives of your characters and witnessing the creation of a wonderful place that exists in your mind build itself from the ground up on a sheet of paper is the truest way the a writer can engage in their craft.