Interview with WH,WN Admin Clare Dugmore

For our final Write Here, Write Now Community Spotlight interview, we have—ME! Yes, it's a bit weird for me to ask myself these questions, but WH, WN is a huge reason why The KCC even exists, and it's an honour to be part of WH, WN since its inception.

1. What inspired you to get involved with this writing community, and what keeps you passionate about it?

KAREN! She inspired me to join. As soon as she told me her ideas for WH,WN, I wanted to be involved. I loved the concept of a community where authors could learn, grow, and support each other. I’d already seen what wonderful things Karen can do when she puts her mind to it — like multiple charity anthologies — and I knew WH,WN would be no different.

Actually, it was different… it was even better than I expected!

What keeps me coming back is the genuine friendships I’ve formed and the bond we’ve built. I’m truly invested in seeing everyone succeed — both in their writing and in life. We’re a real found family.

2. How would you describe the mission or heartbeat of this community to someone who’s never heard of it?

That every voice deserves a platform. Every story deserves the chance to be told. And that anyone who wants to be a writer can be — sometimes, they just need a little guidance and support.

3. What aspect of the community do you think makes it unique or especially supportive for writers?

The found family vibe, hands down. Whether it’s supporting each other’s writing, cheering on life goals, or sharing adorable baby and pet pictures — we show up for each other. If you’ve got a question, a rough day, or something to celebrate, someone’s always there for you.

4. Can you share a memorable moment or success story that happened because of the community?

Karen founded WH,WN at the same time I was going through my autism and ADHD diagnosis journey, and in my mind, the two are deeply connected. Writing has always been impacted by my ADHD — I carried a lot of shame about perceived failures and inconsistency. But through the support and encouragement of this community, I not only wrote and released both a novella and a novel in the same series, but I also learned to be kinder to myself. I started celebrating what makes me unique instead of dwelling on the areas where I felt “not enough.”

5. What role do you personally play as an admin, and how has it shaped your own writing journey?

My main role right now is hosting our twice-monthly work-chat sessions. I love them! They actually started as a way to meet my own ADHD need for “body-doubling” — having someone with me (even virtually) while I work on writing, admin tasks, or scheduling social media.

Just knowing another friendly face is there beside me makes it all easier. I hope these sessions help other members too! 😄

6. How do events like writing sprints or accountability sessions support members’ creativity and consistency?

The sprints, goal-setting sessions, and celebration posts have been hugely helpful for me. The sprints help me stay focused — having someone working alongside me keeps me off social media and on task.

The goal-setting sessions are great for visualising progress. I get to map out where I want to be in a few months, and Karen gently keeps me on track (without ever making it feel like pressure).

And the Celebrating Success posts? One of my favourite things every week. Seeing others share their wins is so inspiring — it really fuels my own motivation too.

7. What’s something behind the scenes that people might not realise goes into running or supporting this community?

The sheer amount of time and heart Karen pours into this group. She creates the masterclasses — sometimes writing and presenting them herself, other times sourcing amazing guest speakers. Every fun initiative, like Music March, is one of her ideas. She genuinely eats, sleeps, and breathes WH,WN.

And she still manages to run her own editing business and publish her novels! It’s mind-blowing.

8. What are some of the biggest challenges you've encountered in building or maintaining the community, and how have you overcome them?

Visibility. There are so many writing groups out there — often with a heavy focus on self-promotion — and it can be hard to show people how different WH,WN really is.

We’re not just another writing space. We’re a support network, a cheer squad, a safe haven. Helping people discover that has been the biggest challenge, but it’s one I’ll keep working on because this space deserves to be seen.

9. How has being part of this community impacted your own writing or personal growth?

As I mentioned earlier, I strongly associate this community with my neurodiversity discovery journey. It’s where I found like-minded people to share experiences with, and a whole group of others who are always ready with encouragement when I need it most.

10. What hopes or visions do you have for the future of the community?

I hope we grow — not just in numbers, but in connection. I want to make more friends, see more people succeed, and celebrate more stories being told.

I’d love to see us create another charity anthology, raising even more money for a great cause. And I hope we continue supporting and uplifting each other for years to come.