Inside the Buzz: Unpacking the Secrets of the Industry Intel Writers Group

In the competitive world of writing, it’s crucial to keep up with trends and opportunities. One type of writers' group that focuses on these areas is the industry intel group, which serves as a vibrant hub for connecting with author peers, sharing insights and tools, and navigating the changing demographics of readers and the evolving landscape of publishing.

While I've talked about various types of writing groups, which are designed to help you do the work of writing, I haven't covered the industry intel group and there's a reason for that.

The purpose and topics of the industry intel group are intended to focus on the business of being an author. If you're just starting out or if you're not interested in treating your author work as a business, then the industry intel group is probably not for you. But once you have a little experience and a desire to develop as an authorpreneur, then the timing for an intel group might be right.

BTW, you probably have a sense of this type of group already because the purpose and substance can overlap with broad writing communities that you've likely come across on Facebook, Bluesky, Reddit or Discord, or groups within professional writing organizations. Still, a dedicated industry intel writers' group offers an edge:

1. Provides a narrow focus on business elements within certain guidelines (e.g., genre or brand)

2. Serves as a source for personal connection, motivation and encouragement around your business

What does an industry intel writers' group do?

A key aspect of the industry intel group includes bringing the lens of the authorpreneur to analyze current trends in the industry.

Here's an example: I belonged to a short story intel group for about a year. The members of the group regularly shared calls for submissions, announcements about new magazines and closures of old publications, as well as first-hand experiences with various short story outlets. They also discussed good submission practices to follow and shared tools to manage the process. Their words of wisdom were priceless contributions, helping everyone better understand the submission processes, manage their submissions efficiently, and gain insight into the short story anthology and publication landscape.

As another example: A writer acquaintance explained to me that in his intel group members are writing different books but working within the same broad genre. He described periodic discussions that included new titles within the genre, cover art trends, changes to existing distribution platforms, and author site recommendations. He said that members regularly share links to YouTube videos, articles or studies that reveal news or patterns that will influence the members' business decisions.

To illustrate the impact of the group, he shared a story. He was considering taking down his blog and transitioning to a newsletter only for his readers/customers, and brought his idea to the group. The group had a robust discussion based on their own experiences, and shared some existing research, including 2024 data from Master Blogging that indicated U.S. readers spend three times longer on blogs compared to emails.

The writer ultimately decided to keep his blog, and felt his final decision was well informed. He appreciated the opportunity to tap into the collective wisdom of the group, and discuss the data, which he wouldn't have known about otherwise.

An Added Benefit: Writer Networking and Support

Networking can be daunting, especially for those who are new to writing. In large writer communities, where membership is sprawling and fluid, it can be difficult to make meaningful connections with others.

A smaller group offers a valuable benefit, providing a manageable supportive space where all members can contribute and feel appreciated. Knowing you have a group that understands the ins and outs of the writing world at your back can be incredibly reassuring, while you're on your authorpreneur journey.

Writers sharing information.

Embrace the Intel Group Opportunity

As I mentioned, this type of group doesn't focus on your creative writing work or practice. Instead, it helps writers stay informed about publishing trends, market changes, useful tools, and professional development, while providing networking opportunities.

This means, you'll find critique circles, and accountability and write-in groups more easily than you will find intel type of groups. But good places to look for existing groups or to create your own are:

1. Professional writers organizations

2. Your existing network of writers and writer coaches in your genre

3. Your favorite writers in the genre you're working in

About your favorite writers: What I mean is that authors sometimes offer Patreon, Substack, or other platform memberships via their social media, These memberships can include smaller, focused groups designed for the members to support author business development. Of course, not every author offers these kinds of opportunities so you need to check out the authors you follow for their offerings.

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An optimal industry intel group offers a nurturing environment that fosters deeper knowledge about your business through shared insights, while also offering essential support that will keep you going through the inevitable ups and downs. Connecting regularly keeps everyone informed about the latest opportunities and strengthens the membership bonds.

So, if you are looking to develop as an authorpreneur, consider joining an intel group and see how the buzz of collective knowledge can elevate your author business from where you are today to where you want to be. And if you're already in this type of group, I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments.