Well here it is, the big, scary first post of the brand new Writer’s Workout blog. Maybe it’s not scary for you but as I write this inaugural post, I can’t help but think back to where we started… and marvel at how far we’ve come.

The Writer’s Workout began in September, 2014, with 44 members. These first 44 were competitors in the first ever Games—a 48-hour, no-holds-barred, whirlwind of excitement, drama, and words. We decided to stick together to honor the value of a community for writers. We became The Writer’s Workout.

Two years in, and we keep our eyes on the prize: improvement of craft. Our group provides weekly motivation, writing prompts, and critiques designed to foster support and growth for each writer no matter their skill, style, or genre. We learn from each other through open communication every day.

When we can, The Writer’s Workout produces workshops with authors and literary agents to provide members with real-world examples and insight into the publishing industry. Monthly Flash Fiction contests give members an opportunity to share their growth and be judged by peers. Each contest focuses on an important aspect of writing—characterization, plot, setting, narration (just to name a few)—or a specific stylistic avenue for writers to explore.

Of course the Writer’s Games is the main event at The Writer’s Workout. This annual contest is structured as a series of seven consecutive writing prompts. Each prompt, like the monthly Flash Fiction contests, focuses on a specific aspect of writing and is designed to help writers improve quickly regardless of genre or skill. No matter their placement, every entry for the Individual portion receives personalized feedback from multiple sources for the duration of the Writer’s Games. Later this month, 42 winning entries from the 2016 Writer’s Games will be published in the anthology, 72 Hours of Insanity. Proceeds from the sale of this anthology go to the Office of Letters and Light, who produce, among other things, the National Novel Writing Month.

So if you’re looking for a community of writers who love to talk words, join our nearly seven hundred writers worldwide and be a better writer.

Look for an awesome guest post about Deep Third POV from member and second place Writer's Games winner, Jennifer Worrell, on the 25th.