He thought back. To an earlier time. But the memory was fragmented. In pieces. Colliding with other memories. Just out of reach. Accessible to him only during rapid eye movement. In a room. No. In the womb. During a full moon. In June. Y.. |
I auditioned for an off-off-Broadway production entitled "A Widow from Montclair," written by a sixty-four-year-old dentist, recently retired, who was now pursuing a career as a playwright. When I finished reading my prepared monologue, the di.. |
Happiness Do you remember real happiness, can you conjure it up? All the wonder and joy of it, you wish it had stuck, Away it drifted, like cottonwood seed, with the warm summer air. Off to that place in the distance, like.. |
You are sweet I am savorEach of us a different flavorOnce mixed can you separate sugar from salt?Both a different taste, no one's at faultWhere does darkness end and light begin?Me without and you withinRoots become trunk, trunk turns to limbsAll now.. |
Autumn in the garden what a sight to see! Leaves begin to fall from almost every tree. Straggling flowers linger to brighten up the scene and the gardener rakes the golden snow to keep the pathways clean. Pots and tubs replan.. |
I wonder if its just shades of gray Or maybe, just black and white How can a king give his Thorne To a court jester just laughs But never sheds a tear As we surrounded by tyranny Father sky how can we pray If its means the end I wonder if we .. |
Vulture, dog, pig and chicken what we call people that us sicken But then what is in a name did someone not say that a rose by any other would smell the same Excuse me for stealing verses a little better than robbing peop.. |
A promising superstitious tale of incomplete-distances readings to the lines/helmets of capitalism's (foreign?) shields. |
It’s Christmas Eve. It’s raining. None of the presents are wrapped. We’re watching “Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer.” Brittany cries when all of the other reindeer laugh and call Rudolph names.Raphael’s roasting ches.. |
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Online courses: creative writing.
Stanford Continuing Studies' online creative writing courses make it easy to take courses taught by instructors from Stanford’s writing community. Thanks to the flexibility of the online format, these courses can be taken anywhere, anytime—a plus for students who lead busy lives or for whom regular travel to the Stanford campus is not possible. These courses are open to all adults, and we encourage all levels of writers to enroll.
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Blog • Perfecting your Craft , Understanding Publishing
Posted on Nov 19, 2018
About the author.
Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.
Editor-in-Chief of the Reedsy blog, Dario is a graduate of Mälardalen University. As a freelance writer, he has written for many esteemed outlets aimed at writers. A traveler at heart, he can be found roaming the world and working from his laptop.
As enjoyable and fulfilling as writing can be, the truth is that it’s often a solitary endeavor. While we might romanticize the focused artist typing away while imaginary worlds and narratives swirl inside their minds — authors know the truth: writing can get lonely. And moreover, when you’re working on a one-person project, it can be hard to remain motivated and accountable. That’s where writing communities come in.
Writing communities are the perfect place to find answers to your writing questions and to discuss the ins and outs of the writing life with people who actually understand what you’re talking about.
So, if you are tired of listening only to the voices in your head, take a look at our list of top online writing communities. (And if you're hungry for more, check out our more exhaustive list of the very best writing websites!)
1. absolute write water cooler.
With over 68,000 members, this is a large and highly active community. Here you can find threads on every genre imaginable, as well as discussions about freelance writing, the publishing industry, pop culture, writing prompts and exercises, and much more.
Perfect for: writers who are looking for a large and active community.
While this forum will come in handy for any writer, it’s especially helpful for authors who have already completed their manuscript and are wondering what to do next. The site boasts a wealth of information on publishing topics such as querying agents, self-publishing tips, and book promotion advice.
Perfect for: writers who are looking to connect with agents and learn more about the publishing industry.
If you’ve ever wanted to go to a writer’s retreat but can’t afford it just yet, then this site might help scratch your itch. Holding online “camp sessions” in April and July, Camp NaNoWriMo offers a digital space to encourage and empower writers at any point of their career. Here you can work on drafts, revisions, short stories, or any other writing project that involves word-count goals.
Perfect for: writers who can’t wait until November to get some writing done .
Feedback should be a vital part of any writer’s process, and this is exactly what Critique Circle offers. This members-only site allows authors to post stories in exchange for feedback on other people’s writing. You can also find storyboarding tools , writing prompts, workshops, name generators, games like hangman, and much more.
Perfect for: writers who want honest feedback on their writing.
As the world’s largest Science Fiction and Fantasy online community, Chronicles offers writers the opportunity to get together and discuss the latest books, news, and pop culture in the Sci-Fi and Fantasy world. This is an active community with thousands of threads that include genre-specific challenges, workshops, critiques, and even publishing and industry information.
Perfect for: writers interested in Science Fiction and Fantasy writing.
If social media is more your style, don't miss the chance to interact with your fellow writers by joining Facebook groups in your own niche. Look for groups with a strict "no self-promotion" rules so that it remains supportive and useful to your writing goals.
There are a lot of groups out there in a variety of topics that range from genre-specific writing tips to traditional and self-publishing industry news. Here are just a few of them:
10 Minute Novelists — a group for the time-crunched writer. Calls for Submissions — for writers looking for publication opportunities. Fiction Writers Global — a great resource for information about traditional and self-publishing. Writers Unite! — an active group with plenty of support and motivation for novice and experienced writers alike.
Perfect for: writers who prefer using social media.
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Whether you are a debut or seasoned author, there’s no doubt that writing a book can be intimidating and rife with bouts of self-doubt. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group aims to help you overcome those insecurities by hosting a community of like-minded authors.
Perfect for: writers who have doubts about their writing and are in need of encouragement.
This is an international forum where writers can receive feedback on their writing and support on every other part of the creative process from drafting to publishing and marketing. The critiques are often thorough and many come from published authors. Keep in mind that there is a monthly cost associated with the membership, but it might be worth it to be able to bend the ear of published authors.
Perfect for: writers seeking in-depth critiques from an international audience.
If you struggle to write consistently, sign up for our How to Write a Novel course to finish a novel in just 3 months.
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More than just a single writing community, Reddit has countless ‘subreddits’ where writers of all genres, interests, and levels of experience flock. While it may not offer workshops or tools, members can find niche threads that relate to their interests, critique other people’s work, and discover helpful sources of information.
There are so many different subreddits that you can get lost browsing them, but here are a few of the most popular ones:
r/writing — for general writing purposes. r/writingprompts — for user-submitted writing prompts. r/destructivereaders — beware, if you don’t like harsh criticism this may not be the best fit. But if you are willing to endure it, you will come out a better writer at the end. r/worldbuilding — user submitted fiction worlds. r/fantasywriters — for anybody interested in the fantasy genre. r/characterforge — the place to be for character building. r/writerchat — for those interested in talking with fellow writers. r/selfpublish — for anybody interested in self-publishing. r/logophilia — “the love of words and word games,” and that’s exactly what you’ll find here. r/freelanceWriters — for anybody interested in a career in freelance writing . r/books — because reading is just as important as writing if you want to be a successful author.
Perfect for: writers who want niche threads based on a particular interest or need.
One of the largest communities in the world, Scribophile offers workshops, tutorials, and critiques for authors in just about any genre imaginable. While it is free to join, only users who pay for a membership get access to all their features.
Perfect for: authors who want to take part in writing workshops alongside writers of all experience levels.
With over 30,000 members, this is the largest writing community exclusively for women. Here you can find articles on writing, editing, and marketing for every genre. There are forums tailored to specific needs, like travel writers, writing about trauma, NaNoWriMo, and many other topics.
Perfect for: women writers who want a place to connect and learn from fellow writers.
If your passion lies in screenwriting, then you’ll want to book a one-way ticket to Talentville. Here, you can get feedback on your writing and learn the skills necessary to perfect your screencraft. Plus, you can work on and build your network of contacts: the site is also a frequent stop for industry professionals (like agents, managers, and producers) on the lookout for new talent.
Perfect for: writers who are interested in screenwriting and networking.
A writing community by Penguin Random House. While any author can find helpful information on this website, it’s geared more towards younger writers. It has a well-designed platform, quizzes, genre-specific information, the latest news on book releases, Q&As with authors, and even some giveaways and excerpts as perks.
Perfect for: younger writers looking for genre-specific information and bookish perks.
This is a free-to-register community where you can find resources for writers, teachers, and editors alike. They offer a vast array of tools to perfect your craft, no matter your level. Their extensive creative library includes webinars, free writing and marketing tools, a thesaurus collection, story maps, idea generators, and more.
Perfect for: writers, editors, and teachers who are looking to build up their writing toolbox.
Sometimes, all you need is a hashtag. And indeed, Twitter's own #WritingCommunity is one of the most robust writing collectives on the web. Ask a question, and it'll almost certainly get answered (without a lot of Twitter's trademark snark). The key here is to keep your questions concise, reply often to others, and don't go crazy with other hashtags. The community can tell if you're just thirsty for RTs. Perfect for: writers who are finally ready to use Twitter for good — and not just for procrastinating.
27/11/2018 – 22:42
Very useful post. Thanks for this. I will be linking to it on my blog.
Dr Jack Edward Effron says:
18/02/2019 – 16:40
You left out taylz.com. It’s truly free. They are not going to give you a rubbish service to make you join their pay site because they have no pay site. Your story can be 8,000 words. They are not going to force you into flash fiction of 3,000 words. One critique out, one critique in: no mucking about with “karma” or critiquing 5+ stories to get one critique. The great new idea whose time has come! And it’s British, not American.
marieseltenrych says:
08/05/2019 – 12:28
Reedsy, thank God you are here! I want to ask a question to other authors or self publishers here: I have been approached by OmniScriptum to publish my books (research) with them. I cannot find much about this company online, so wondered if anyone has published with them recently? Thanks Reedsy in anticipation. Marie
↪️ Reedsy replied:
08/05/2019 – 12:29
Hi Marie! Sounds potentially very shady to me. If you haven't already, check out our post on predatory companies in publishing. One of the rules of thumb is that if a publisher contacts you first, be very wary. I just did 20 seconds worth of Googling and found some people who had a bad experience.
Eunice Brownlee says:
I am a member of illuminate, which is a group designed around supporting women who want to share their stories but don't know how. The majority of us write non-fiction essays and memoirs, but we have a few poets and fiction writers in the mix as well. The overall goal is to support each other, especially through those harder moments of not wanting to write, or not knowing where to start. There are monthly themes and prompts, a weekly exercise inside the Facebook group, and cross-sharing of what we're working on. My favorite feature is the expert review, where you can submit any piece you're working on each month and you'll get quality feedback from one of the editors that manage the group. This group is perfect for anyone who is just getting started writing.
↪️ Brittani B replied:
11/02/2020 – 19:27
I tried the link multiple times both from this page and separately searched and was unable to access the site.
Harry says:
05/06/2019 – 07:51
Personally I think you missed out the best writing community: https://community.jerichowriters.com/ Jericho Writers is a free writing community that writers can safely share thought, make friends, swap work and get advice
Christian says:
08/08/2019 – 12:21
I only recommend Scribophile if you enjoy being coerced into groupthink. If you hope to get meaningful critique that will help you, look elsewhere. The critiques here are mostly SPAG, and it's forbidden to discuss your work on the main forums, except in the broadest, vaguest way.
Randy says:
18/08/2019 – 06:11
I have all my dads writing research and copyrights to 18 different books....all this was before the digital world .... many negatives photos ....every major story from all over the world with his .copyright . These are huge stores and his books are really well written ....what should I do with them .....incredible spy work as well
Ratih says:
27/08/2019 – 03:50
As a new writer this article is really useful for me. Thank you reedsy
Jennifer says:
02/09/2019 – 14:15
Hi guys! Great blog! Just wanted to let you know that we linked to you in a blog on the Peaceful Living Wellness Online Magazine :) It will be published on Friday, September 6th, 2019
↪️ Martin Cavannagh replied:
17/09/2019 – 09:04
Thanks! We appreciate that!
Kaylee Downey says:
14/02/2020 – 19:09
Um...what about Wattpad?
Comments are currently closed.
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Whether you’re putting together a cover letter, drafting an email, or penning a LinkedIn post, details like spelling and grammar affect how you come across, whatever you’re writing. Trying to translate what you want to say into well-structured and easy-to-read sentences, however, is often easier said than done. Luckily, there are plenty of free tools that offer a helping hand! We’ve curated seven free tools and platforms to help save you time and keep your written work accurate.
Good for: Real-time spelling and grammar checking Pricing: Free, with optional paid premium
One of the most popular and well-known writing tools for a reason, Grammarly provides grammar and spelling checks, style and tone suggestions and a plagiarism checker. With the option of integrating across your internet browser, Grammarly will tell you in real time if you’re about to send an email with a spelling mistake or if there’s a way to reword something to improve how it reads.
Check it out here .
Good for: Improving readability Cost: Free
Good for: Spelling and grammar Cost: Free, with optional paid premium
Available in over 25 languages and powered by AI, LanguageTool is a writing assistant that helps with grammar, spelling, punctuation, style and formatting. Particularly useful as a browser add-on, the software can correct spelling mistakes as you go, whether you’re writing an email or a Google doc.
Good for: Real-time spelling, grammar and style checking Cost: Free, with optional paid premium
Another bit of software using AI to check your writing, on the surface ProWritingAid offers very similar functionalities to Grammarly in terms of spelling and grammar, but was also designed with a focus on storytelling in mind. It offers suggestions to improve style, clarity and readability, as well as including a thesaurus, word explorer and a plagiarism checker.
Good for: Spelling and grammar checking Cost: Free
SEO specialists Ahrefs host a number of AI-powered tools on their site relating to writing. Although most relate to marketing copy, their grammar checker is useful for inputting any chunk of text. It uses a language model that learns patterns, grammar and vocabulary, then uses that knowledge to generate human-like text. It only operates on their site rather than integrating into other platforms, but if you’re looking for more straightforward checking, this might be for you.
Good for: Word processing Cost: Free
If you need somewhere to draft your writing that isn’t your notes app, LibreOffice is a free, open-source, cross-platform office suite that can perform many of the same functions as Microsoft Office, but for free! You can write documents, create spreadsheets and embed images on the downloadable app. It does lack more complex features like collaboration, built-in translation or a dictation option, but if you want an affordable alternative it might be worth trying out.
Good for: Paraphrasing Pricing: Free If you’re trying to summarise your work experience into some key skills, or cut down the intro of a brief you’re writing, this tool can help! Another AI-powered writing tool, amongst the usual spelling and grammar suggestions, Quillbot is designed to assist users in rephrasing and paraphrasing content. Also able to be integrated into platforms like Microsoft Word and Google Docs, it is especially useful for help rewriting content to refine things like sentence structure.
... If you have any other suggestions for affordable creative software, feel free to get in touch and let us know at [email protected] !
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Good for: Real-time spelling and grammar checking Pricing: Free, with optional paid premium One of the most popular and well-known writing tools for a reason, Grammarly provides grammar and spelling checks, style and tone suggestions, and a plagiarism checker.
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