Ten Great Writing Websites and Forums
Finding Strength in Numbers
I have often said that writing is a lonely gig. We writers spend countless hours hovering over our keyboards, pounding away in search of the perfect phrase. We mutter to ourselves, chastise ourselves and mentally flog ourselves each and every day, all for the opportunity to follow our passion.
Rejections slips pile up and days go by without a single positive comment from readers. A good hitter in baseball succeeds three times out of every ten. As writers our batting average is considerably less and yet we keep searching for new ways to combine nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives, and we follow that inner voice that keeps telling us that today will be the day.
If you are feeling a bit walled-in, and would like to rub proverbial shoulders with other writers who feel and think as you do, then the following websites might be worth a visit. Some of these websites will help you to become better writers. Some will help you to find motivation. Still others will aid you in being seen in the community through networking possibilities.
Whatever you are looking for or whatever you many need, chances are you can find it in one of the following websites.
BACKSPACE www.bksp.org
The mission statement of Backspace is to provide a forum where writers can help other writers. They offer a free five-day trial and then membership is $40 annually which includes access to discussion forums.
This is a great website of writers who believe that writing should be a community effort and not a competition. They are there to help each other, and the existing group includes quite a few bestselling authors.
You can find help with your first manuscript. You can find advice on how to market your work. You can find help from agents and publishers who will give you invaluable suggestions.
AUTHONOMY www.authonomy.com
I love the mission statement of this site. “To flush out the brightest new writing talent.” How can you pass up a site like this one?
Registration is free on this website with an email address and password. You can even download manuscripts with a 10,000 word minimum.
This is a clearing house for writers to test their work and receive feedback in the process. Publishers and agents regularly visit this site to find the next great author.
NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH www.nanowrimo.org
Their mission statement says it all: “To help people bash out a 50,000 word novel in the span of one month, November…and have a great time doing it.
There is no entry fee required. Simply click on “sign up now” and follow the simple instructions.
When you aren’t writing your novel in November, this site offers forums for novel swapping, conversations and tips.
Words of advice
WRITING.COM www.writing.com
Close to a million members and growing, this site was created “to provide a creative environment for writers, offering them hundreds of unique tools and opportunities for inspiration and creation.”
Registration is free and with it you receive a portfolio, personal email address, storage space and tools for uploading work. You can also pay for five other levels of involvement that give additional storage space and tools.
FREELANCE SUCCESS www.freelancesuccess.com
Membership is $99 per year for this forum and a weekly market guide. This is a great place to meet other writers, make new friends and build up your networking.
ABSOLUTE WRITE www.absolutewrite.com/forums
Within this forum are mini-forums for different genres including freelance writers, novelists, bloggers and screenwriters. This is a very supportive group where encouragement is the name of the game.
The importance of a website
CRITTERS WORKSHOP www.critters.org
Designed specifically for science fiction, fantasy and horror writers. Most downloaded pieces will receive 15-20 critiques, which of course can be daunting, intimidating but always useful.
THE WRITER’S DIGEST FORUM http://www.writersdigest.com/forum/
This is a free site where writers can share advice, share compliments and also share leads. The more active you are the better your chance of finding something you dearly need that will help you grow as a writer.
THE INTERNET WRITING WORKSHOP www.internetwritingworkshop.org
This is not a traditional forum but rather a set of email discussion lists. Browse the lists and find one that works for you. These lists are extensive so no matter what genre you write in, you are sure to find something here for you.
MY WRITERS CIRCLE www.mywriterscircle.com
Very popular site with writing challenges, critiques, job opportunities and friendship. Great site for networking and becoming a part of a large writing community.
Join me on my writing blog
- Artistry With Words | A topnotch WordPress.com site
A blog for and about writers. Come join us and discover helpful tips, suggestions and sites that just might help you.
Of Course, There Are Many More
All you have to do is go to Google and type in “writers sites” and you will be inundated with possibilities. However, these ten have been personally checked out by yours truly and thus carry my seal of approval.
I hope you find these helpful. I am a firm believer in the fact that you get out of something what you put into it, and writers’ sites are no different. The more you become involved, the greater the rewards that you will receive.
Good luck and happy writing!
2013 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
"Helping writers to spread their wings and fly."
