Updated: Feb 3
Writing a book can be an incredibly isolating pursuit, especially if it's your first. You might wonder if your work is good enough, what you should do when you finish the book, how to publish, and marketing options.
Whether it’s online or in person, a writing group can offer encouragement and advice, feedback on your manuscript, and additional resources. In short, they're a valuable support system that can make the process more enjoyable, save you time, and keep you motivated. I always recommend aspiring authors to join one so here are my top ten writing community suggestions.
1. Pen Parentis
Since 2009, Pen Parentis has been providing opportunities and resources to working writers who are also parents. I only wish I’d discovered this sooner! They offer support in the form of fellowships, mentoring, and networking.
Best for: Parents and caregivers
If you’re interested in writing fantasy, Mythic Scribes is where you’ll find your tribe. It’s an incredible platform for writers and fans where you can share your work, join the various forums, and connect with other members.
Best for: Fantasy writers
3. Paragraph
Paragraph is a community of novelists, short story writers, journalists, editors, technical writers, memoirists, screenwriters, playwrights, and writers of all other mediums and genres imaginable at various levels of their careers. Their virtual membership is just $25 a month giving you access to agent roundtables, events, genre-specific groups, write-ins, workshops and more.
Best for: Writers looking to take their work to the next level
4. She Writes
With almost 35,000 members (at the time of writing), this group is a hive of resources and support. Join one of the groups and get advice on everything from writing and editing to marketing and promotion.
Best for: Female writers
5. Scribophile
Scribophile is a writing group focused on getting you feedback on your manuscript. The points-based peer critique system guarantees you’ll get feedback from writers from all walks of life. You can then use that feedback to polish your writing before you take the next step in your publishing journey.
Best for: Writers looking for feedback
Designed for both writers and readers, this Facebook group is friendly and welcoming. You can give and receive help and encouragement in the art of writing, marketing, and design as well as share and chat about your favourite reads. There are a couple of promotional days each month as well as lots of posts to prompt interesting discussions.
Best for: Writers who love reading
7. Mibba
Mibba is a creative writing community filled with resources for aspiring authors to connect with other writers around the world. It features a variety of fiction and non-fiction stories, expository articles, poetry, blogging and social forums. You can create your own author profile and share your work for feedback. It also has lots of articles and writing resources.
Best for: Young writers
Set up in 2003, Critique Circle is one of the longest-running writing websites. It offers a writing community based on reciprocity where you critique the stories of others and they will do the same for you. There are also active forums and articles and as an added bonus, it's completely free.
Best for: Writers looking for beta readers
A new online writing group set up by yours truly giving members more writing tips, techniques, and hacks to help you get your book written. Offering writing prompts, articles, conversation starters, and blogs, it’s a great place to connect with other aspiring authors.
Best for: First-time authors
10. NaNoWriMo
NaNoWriMo is a nonprofit organisation that provides tools, structure, community, and encouragement to help aspiring novelists find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds. Their annual signature event starts on 1st November where writers are challenged to write a novel (50,000) words in 30 days.
Best for: Aspiring novelists
These groups are just the tip of the iceberg and there are many other writing groups with a different focus.
What writers’ group do you belong to? Join the conversation in my FREE online community of writers!
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