The saying “It takes a village” may have originally been meant for raise a child but it applies to writers as well. It takes a village of support and constructive critics to train your talents into skills. The goal is to create a community that you trust. This is not to say that those in your fellowship will not challenge you (in your views, perspectives, or abilities). But it does mean that those in your circle will be there for you. And you will need to be there for them.

I think we can all agree that Frodo wouldn’t have made it out of the Shire much less to Mordor without the fellowship. Frodo would never have escaped the Nazgûls hunting him. Without his companions, he no doubt would have been struck down by Sauron’s followers.

Even those who barely knew Frodo were compelled to help. Aragorn had not grown up with Frodo and Sam. He didn’t know them and yet he risked his life to help the hobbits. There are many more cases of strangers becoming friend in the Lord of the Rings series.

I believe that is something that we can take away from Tolkien’s works. The idea that fellowship is vitally important and that it can come from anywhere. There is such a diverse cast of characters. The fact that we have so many unique people coming together to support Frodo is inspiring. From dwarves, to hobbits, to humans, to elves. From long time friends, to acquaintances, to complete strangers. Together they fight to give Frodo a chance.

This is not just a fairy tale coincidence. A fellowship is possible for you in your own odyssey as a writer. Adventures in the fellowship category are created to help teach you how to develop your own community and support group. People are on the hunt for others who will cheer them on and even challenge them to rise to the occasion. But they are not likely to show up at your door uninvited.

It takes time to build relationships. Especially in our adult lives. But the more you put yourself out there into your local or online community, the more people will begin to share with you. One of the best things you can do as someone looking to develop a fellowship within a certain community is listen. Simply sit and hear what someone else has to say. The more you listen, the more you learn. And eventually, they will turn to you and listen to you.

Much like the journey and development found in the Lord of the Rings series, we will learn more and more about our fellowship members. As we do, then we see their true personalities and passions come to life. Sharing our passions with others is quite an exiting feeling. Hearing someone’s excessive joy over their dreams is the real treasure.

As you grow your community, try not to focus solely on what you can gain from the relationships. When we do that, we miss the mark. Instead value the time you have with others and use what you learn to inspire you. Once you have the foundation of a true and honest friendship, you will see others come to your defense, rally the troops, and prepare for battle with you. One of the darkest evils in our world now is loneliness. But you don’t have to be alone. You simply have to reach out and try.

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings