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Writer's Digest's Best Writing Community Websites 2021

Here are the top writing community websites as identified in the 23rd Annual 101 Best Websites from the May/June 2021 issue of Writer's Digest.

Here are the top writing community websites as identified in the 23rd Annual 101 Best Websites from the May/June 2021 issue of Writer's Digest.

Writer's Digest's Best Writing Community Websites 2021

Critique Match
CritiqueMatch.com

With a mission to help writers strengthen their craft, Critique Match is a service that helps connect writers, beta readers, and freelance editors. You can either swap your work with another writer for a free critique or hire a rated editing professional for a fee.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group
InsecureWritersSupportGroup.com

Writing can be isolating in the best of times and even more-so during a pandemic, and in the face of rejections by editors and agents, we all feel insecure occasionally. Connect with other writers in the Insecure Writer’s Support Group to commiserate, lift each other up, and get advice from industry experts who guest blog.

MFA App Review
MFAAppReview.com

MFA App Review aims to “increase access to fully-funded MFA
programs and build community among underrepresented writers” by pairing historically underrepresented MFA students and alums with historically underrepresented MFA applicants to offer free, informal reviews and critiques on their applications and personal statements.

NaNoWriMo
NaNoWriMo.org

National Novel Writing Month is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting creative writing around the world. They’re most known for their annual program in which writers attempt to write 50,000 words during November. Participants have access to pep-talks from authors, the online community, and free writing resources through their website and newsletter.

Pitch Wars
PitchWars.org

Pitching your book to agents can be scary, but not when you have mentors and a whole community cheering you on. Pitch Wars helps pair writers with industry professionals to spruce up their pitches in preparation for the big #PitMad event and Agent Showcase. Read the blog for success stories and advice for pitching.

Scribophile
Scribophile.com

Scribophile is the best place on the internet to build your writer karma—literally. The site awards karma points to users who provide detailed critiques of writing posted to Scribophile. Points can be spent on posting your own work for critique and entering contests. Users can also join writing groups, discussion forums, and learn from Writing Academy craft articles.

Story a Day
StoryADay.org

Story a Day is a semiannual writing challenge (in May and September) where writers attempt to write and finish one story per day. Outside of the challenge, they offer year-round access to the Serious Writers’ Accountability Group (SWAGr), weekly writing mini-lessons, a blog, and a podcast.

Wattpad
Wattpad.com

Wattpad allows writers to share their work with the world by uploading their books chapter by chapter. With more than 80 million monthly users, writers have the chance to get feedback on their work and build a community of readers. A select few authors have earned traditional book deals and movie adaptations through gaining a large following on the platform.

21 Days to Your Novel Outline and Synopsis

This course is designed to help you understand how to craft a winning premise, how to outline your novel, and then how to take both of those things and assemble a synopsis that will act as a guide for you to write your novel and sell it.

Click to continue.

Differences Between US and UK English for Writers, by Matthew Adams

9 Differences Between US and UK English for Writers

Matthew Adams explains nine differences between US and UK English and includes some tips on how to convert between the two.

Perfectionism in Writing: Overcoming the Pressure to Be Flawless, by Deanna Martinez-Bey

Perfectionism in Writing: Overcoming the Pressure to Be Flawless

Author Deanna Martinez-Bey discusses perfectionism in writing and shares strategies for overcoming the pressure to be flawless.

Beth Kander: Write the Book You Want To Rewrite

Beth Kander: Write the Book You Want To Rewrite

In this interview, author Beth Kander discusses how entering a competition at the last minute led to her writing her new literary novel, I Made It Out Of Clay.

One Piece of Advice From Short Story Authors in 2024

One Piece of Advice From 7 Short Story Authors in 2024

Collected here is one piece of advice for writers from seven different short story authors featured in our author spotlight series in 2024, including Sally Wen Mao, Deepa Rajagopalan, Greg Sarris, Naomi Wood, and more.

Finding Your Writing Niche, by Chris Saunders

Finding Your Writing Niche (And Making the Most of It)

Chris Saunders discusses the importance of finding your writing niche and how writers can make the most of it.

Joshua Corin: On Modernizing the Classic Sleuth

Joshua Corin: On Modernizing the Classic Sleuth

In this interview, author Joshua Corin discusses how getting reacquainted with Golden Age mysteries helped inspire his new YA mystery, Assume Nothing.

Poetry Prompt

Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 721

Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and an example poem to get things started for poets. This week, write an only one poem.

Writer's Digest JanuaryFebruary2025

Writer's Digest January/February 2025 Cover Reveal

Presenting the January/February 2025 issue of Writer's Digest, featuring articles to help you write your next great story and an interview with Booker Prize-winner Pat Barker.

online prompt 12:10

Imperfect Day

Every writer needs a little inspiration once in a while. For today's prompt, write about a perfect day gone awry.