Over the past year and a half or so, I’ve taken part in an increasing number of Zoom calls with other writers. Sometimes it’s a group thing – usually involving breakout rooms, and sometimes it’s a no frills one-on-one.

Much as I love meeting with other people in person, these are a darned good alternative.

If you haven’t allowed yourself the pleasure of being involved with this, you’re doing yourself a great disservice. Networking is a key part of being a screenwriter, and this really is a golden opportunity to do that.

At its heart, it’s just a conversation between two (or a few more) people. Just shootin’ the breeze.

The biggest benefit is just being able to talk to somebody equally as familiar with all the trials and tribulations of being a screenwriter. Topics of discussion usually include where we’re from/where we are, how we got started, what our scripts are about, what we like to write, and what we’re working on.

I always get a special satisfaction seeing somebody get excited and enthusiastic when they talk about their work.

Granted, non-writing topics are usually also involved, but eventually it all works back to that one detail we all have in common.

What’s also great is that geography doesn’t play a factor in any of this. I’ve had conversations with writers in my neck of the woods and those literally on the other side of the planet, which is kind of mind-blowing when you really think about it.

As we all know, writing is primarily a solitary activity, and most of us welcome the chance to interact with somebody. The detail that this version of it is while both of you are sitting at your desk is a minor one.

Is there a writer you know via social media you’d want to talk to? Ask them. Chances are they’ll be more than happy to do it. A lot of the time the biggest obstacles are timing and scheduling – especially if you’re in different time zones. It might take a little time to coordinate, but once it’s set and the chat begins, it’s a pretty safe bet you’ll both have a great time.

And as we head into the holiday season, some writers might even see the chance to take an hour out of their day to just sit and talk with another writer as the respite they didn’t know they needed. It’s always great talking to a kindred spirit, and talking about your respective works can be a real boost and/or motivator for creativity.

So don’t hesitate to take advantage of the fact that the technology is easily available for you to have a great conversation with, and potentially establish a professional relationship with another writer, no matter where they are.