Top Online Writing Communities – The Ultimate List for 2023
Are you a writer grappling with character development or an idea that you want to convey? It is time that you connect with like-minded groups of people and discuss your craft. Throughout history, to encourage writing, writers, critics, and serious readers of all walks of life gathered and formed circles, with some attaining timeless fame – the Socrates School, the Bloomsbury group, Stratford-on-Odeon, the Dill Pickle Club, and the Inklings, to name a few. The digital era has revamped these support systems to online writing communities meeting the diverse needs of promising and established writers alike. Read on to get yourself familiarised with some of these online groups for writers and the support and services which these provide.
So, what are online communities for writing? Which are the different platforms for such communities? How do they work and what forms of assistance would you receive from these online writing groups? Let’s take a look.
Written words, despite being passive, hold more power for transformation than most other devices. If you are a writer, you have the grave responsibility to use your faculty judiciously. But with great responsibilities comes the demand for great sacrifices.
When it comes to writing, one has to often isolate oneself and concentrate completely on the flow of thoughts and write down the words as a story unravels in one’s mind. But at the end of the day, you would exhaust your thoughts and ideas if you are in want of some social interaction. You would also encounter a lack of constructive feedback for your work.
It would take only a minute on your mobile or laptop for you to search for online writing communities which are suitable for you. These are virtual communities or groups, monitored either by a single person or a group of persons and where writers, editors, critics, and readers connect. They function on different social media platforms or as websites and serve a slew of services to their members.
The following are some of the reasons why writers would want to choose such writing communities for help in the progress of their writing career:
➔ Critiques and Reviews
So, you have spent hours arduously typing words and have finally finished your dream book or an article. Asking your near and dear ones their opinions wouldn’t suffice. You, as a writer, need a detailed review of your work from a critic who can dedicate a good amount of time to the same.
Joining a reliable online community for writers would help you find a critic who has expertise in your field of writing. You can also review other writers’ works thereby honing your critical skills.
➔ Beta Readers
Now that you have polished up your manuscript, it’s time for you to seek feedback for your writing from a representative of an average reader. Though you could ask your friends and family to read your work, it is best to opt for beta readers with whom you are not acquainted.
You can invite beta readers who would read and suggest improvements that would help in effectively engaging your readers. You can opt to choose more than one beta reader for an all-rounded opinion. Writers often swap beta reading for each other’s works in these communities.
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➔ Call for Submission
Another advantage that comes with joining one of these writing communities is the ease of access to information regarding calls of submissions. This opens a vast opportunity for finding the right publishers for your writing.
➔ Marketing
After getting your book reviewed and edited, you are all set to publish it. But another aspect that has to go hand in hand with publication is marketing. You have to increase the recognition for your work.
Most of the writing communities provide designated space where writers write a word of publicity for their work. This also helps you to get acquainted with the works of your peers.
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➔ Support and Encouragement
Many writing communities provide an emotional boost to writers in their writing careers. Being in a community of writers helps you to share the problems you face as a writer with people who have been through the same and can suggest practical solutions. Online groups also motivate and aid writers with writing contests and free or paid resources.
The following are some of the best online writing communities you should consider joining in 2023:
1. Academic Writing Club
Academic Writing Club is an initiative for supporting professors and students to overcome writer’s block. There are three joining plans from which you can choose to fulfill your writing goal. This online group for academics works on the principles of self-accountability.
There is a progress page where you can log your daily work to develop a habit of writing regularly. Writers write in marked time blocks to make steady progress. There are also daily coaching sessions where you answer questions on a hurdle you face, to get more insight on the same.
You can also make use of helpful comments from your coaches and colleagues. Academic Writing Club is the online writing group for academics to derive motivation for completing dissertations and other academic writings.
2. AgentQuery.com
AgentQuery.com is a creative writing community with a free membership. It holds one of the most elaborate databases on literary agents. It is the go-to website for writers of fiction, nonfiction, and short stories, whose works are completely ready to be published.
Writers of these genres can go through the website to learn how to write an appealing query letter to receive invitations for chapters of their manuscript. You can also go through the portfolio of these literary agents before deciding to contact them. At AgentQuery.com, you also get useful information regarding the intricacies involved in the publishing process of both traditional hard copies and e-books.
3. BookRix
BookRix is a creative writing community where writers can go for free self-publishing and for assistance in marketing their e-books on popular e-book shopping sites. Its online editor makes your work ready for sale.
This is one of the most suitable online writing groups for beginners who want greater freedom with their published books while earning from the monthly royalty. You will also get feedback for your work from its large community of other writers and readers.
4. Commaful
Commaful is also another creative writing community where you can give more life to your work of creativity with the help of custom images. Flash fiction and poetry conveyed in page-by-page format with meaningful images is what makes this site different from other support platforms for creativity.
Commaful is the online writing group for beginners who want to try their craft in short pieces of writing or for anyone interested in engaging stories told in brevity.
5. Critique Circle
Formed in 2003, Critique Circle is one of the oldest writing communities which is relied on by both top writers and beginners alike for genuine critiques for their works. Among online critique writing groups, Critique Circle boasts the services of acclaimed writers.
There is also an opportunity to rate feedback. Writers can sign up on this platform for critique writing and later if they wish, they can upgrade as premium members to enjoy more features.
6. CritiqueMatch
Critiquematch is one of the online critique writing groups that bring out the best critic in you. In this creative writing community, you can either swap reviews with a free partner or can choose to get a detailed analysis of your writing from a paid freelance editor. High ratings for your critique on this online writing community bring the opportunity for you to be recognized as a pro critique to earn for your services.
7. Critters.org
Crittters.org is the online writing workshop for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Critters is also the community to go for a review of your whole novel. A membership would improve you not only as a writer but also as a critic.
Unlike the other online critique writing groups, on Critters, writers do not directly mail their critiques to the requesters but submit them for approval. Thus, they are held more accountable for what they write. Critters also come with a wide range of writing resources designed for improving the art of literary criticism.
This online group has a queue system for getting your manuscript critiqued after you submitted. With non-pro members required to write one critique per week, and pro members having to submit one critique per month, Critters is one of the best online critique writing groups where you can learn to do a detailed scrutiny of your fiction.
8. Facebook Groups
If you are someone who prefers social media to connect with your peers then you can choose from among a group of Facebook pages like The Street Team, Ten Minute Novelists, Calls for Submission, and Writers Unite!
These Facebook groups mostly work as morale boosters and as communities for creative writers. Their stern attitude against self-promotion except for on selected days and uncompromised monitoring of posts and comments ensures that you are joining an affable community.
9. Holly’s Writing Classes
Holly’s Writing Classes is an online writing community started by American writer Holly Lisle where members can join by creating an account for free. The group boasts a membership of 7000 members.
This is the perfect online writing community for beginners who would like to get well-structured guidance as they take baby steps in creative writing. Pro writers too, benefit from Holly’s specially designed classes while learning ways to improve their literary works.
10. Insecure Writer’s Support Group
This is one of the most appreciated online writing communities where writers write about their struggles. A writer gets a therapeutic experience from this blogging platform. The members are presented with a question on writing struggles every month.
A blogger can either use the question as a prompt for his post or can write on another subject that holds personal significance to him. If you are writing a blog post on this platform, make sure that it is regarding the worries of writers. You can make a blog post on the first Wednesdays of every month which is observed as the insecure writer’s Support Group Day.
11. Mythic Scribes
Mythic Scribes is an online community that privileges fantasy fiction writers. It is one of the best online writing communities for beginners and it also facilitates the discussions between writers and fans in its Fantasy writing forums.
Writers can get their articles on fantasy writing featured on the homepage weekly. There is also a Showcase forum where you can post your stories or excerpts of your book for other members to read and give feedback when requested.
12. NaNoWriMo
Started in 1999 and later becoming a nonprofit organization, NaNoWriMo is one of the most popular online writing communities that encourages creativity and empowers writers. It has to its credit a worldwide network of members.
NaNoWriMo is famous, particularly for its intimidating dare to complete 50,000 worded novels in the 30 days of November which is known as the National Novel Writing Month. Young Writers Programme is another initiative of NaNoWriMo that encourages writers under the age of 18 to write in a goal-oriented manner.
At Camp NaNoWriMo held every year in April and July you can make progress in any of your creative writings while being guided by published authors. As a writer, you shouldn’t overlook the free membership of this reputed creative writing community.
13. Reddit Groups
Reddit, with its numerous subreddits, is best suited for writers who want to join online writing communities that focus on niche threads. On Reddit, you can also find subreddits that provide writing prompts and useful information related to writing.
Writing, Writing Prompts, DestructiveReaders, Worldbuilding, Fantasy Writers, Character Forge, Writerchat, Self Publish, Logophilia, FreelanceWriters, Books, etc are some of the major subreddits on writing.
14. Scribophile
Critiques, beta readers, free writing resources, and lifelong friendships with other members are all promised in this creative writing community. Scribophile is one of the most acclaimed online writing communities in which you can join to work along with writers of all levels of experience.
Their vast collection of free lessons to perfect writing and to familiarise you with different literary jargon would be invaluable. Scribophile also aids you in publishing your works.
15. She Writes
She Writes claims to be the biggest online community of women writers irrespective of their expertise, genre, and generation. At She Writes, you can also read articles on the life and experiences of writers which are contributed by bestselling female authors, reputed bloggers, and publishers. She Writes Press is also an initiative to publish deserving manuscripts of female writers.
16. SFFChronicles
SFFChronicles is a creative writing community that focuses on science fiction and fantasy. If you are a die-hard fan of Science fiction or fantasy you can find a lot of engaging discussions on popular works as well as new books of these genres. This online writing community provides dedicated areas for writers who have attained high recognition.
You can also submit your fiction for detailed reviews and editing on this site. But SFFChronicles is not confined just to literature as it has distinct forums and subforums to discuss films, series, and history which either pertains to or contributes to science fiction and fantasy writings.
17. StoryADay.org
StoryADay is the online group for short story writers who want to motivate themselves by taking Julie Duffy’s challenge of writing a short story a day in May and September.
Like, in many other online writing communities, here writing prompts act as a fillip to your writing. At StoryADay you can choose from different challenges mapped out to encourage you in your creative endeavor. StoryADay also publishes blog posts and podcasts.
18. Talentville
Among a slew of online writing communities, Talentville stands out as the most indispensable creative writing community for storytellers and screenwriters. At Talentville you get valuable feedback for your storytelling and you can return the favor and support to other writers.
This is also the right place for you to make connections with publishers and media persons who might contact you directly if they are impressed by your work showcased in Talentville’s script library.
19. The Next Big Writer
The Next Big Writer has its niche among the best online writing communities for its critique-driven support to its members. Writers can choose from monthly, quarterly, or yearly plans to join. As a premium member, you can participate in the writing contests for free.
20. WRAC
An acronym for WRiter ACcountability, WRAC is one of the best goal-oriented online writing communities where writers are encouraged to be accountable for their progress.
As a member of this creative writing community, you can publicize three realistic goals a year to write and finish a work in the most presentable form. Best works would be featured in the annual WRACList.
21. Wattpad
Wattpad is one of the most favored online storytelling platforms for writers all over the world. With ninety million members, Wattpad is the writing community that allows you to publish chapters of your unfinished work to gradually grow a fanbase. This is also one of the best online writing communities where publishers and media persons go searching for new talents in storytelling.
Wattpad also encourages its members through Wattpad picks where their works get the spotlight if they get cherry-picked by Wattpad staff. The annual Watty Award is also an opportunity for writers to get more recognition on this online writing platform for creative writing.
22. Writer’s Cafe
Writer’s Cafe is the writing community where online writers can post their creative writings and get critiques and reviews for the same. This is one of the best online writing communities to make friends with other writers, subscribe to their writings, and showcase your work to them.
On this site, you can either join existing groups or can create a new one. Free online writing courses and writing contests are other attractions of this community.
23. Writing.com
Writing.com is the online community of writers who enjoy writing in the comfort of anonymity by choosing a nickname. Among the online writing communities, Writing.com allows a free member to showcase up to ten creative works in their portfolio.
In Writing.com you use your proprietary points called gift points to purchase memberships, other resources and products, and also services of other members.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I become a member of a writing community?
You can begin by searching for writing groups in your locality. Often you get such information from local libraries or coffee shops which host writer’s retreats.
You can also make use of websites like Meetup.com which facilitates people who share similar interests to get to know one another and form support groups. If you are not particular about being a part of a physical group you can opt for online writing groups, many of which have a free membership.
2. Can writing skills be improved?
Yes, writing skills can be improved and for that, you have to keep writing. Journaling which involves a free flow of thoughts helps you to practice writing without much intimidation. You can attend writing workshops to familiarise yourself with specific methods to polish your writing.
Reading a good piece of literature, trying to understand sentence construction, tone, and style of the writer, and later explaining it in your vocabulary too would help you to improve your writing skills.
3. What is meant by a workshop for writing?
A workshop for writing is meant to improve your writing. It mostly consists of four parts – minilesson, writing, conferring, and sharing time. Minilesson is when an instructor introduces a specific skill in writing.
In the next step, students try to master the skill by using it in their writings. After that, the instructor takes a look at the individual works and determines the following action to be taken in the workshop. Share time is when students share their works with others.
4. Can a fresher be a freelance writer?
You can become a freelancer with no experience if you can still produce enough sample writings to showcase to any potential employers willing to hire freshers. These writing samples could build an impressive and credible portfolio for you.
You can start by creating a blog of your own and posting regularly. Medium, Quora, Goodreads, etc are other platforms where you can write to increase your digital presence.
Conclusion
Now, it’s time for you to stop worrying about writer’s block. Join one of these dedicated virtual groups for writers and notice your steady progress in writing. You might also earn reliable friends for a lifetime.
