Writer’s Digest Best Writing Community Websites 2023
Here are the top writing community websites as identified in the 25th Annual 101 Best Websites from the May/June 2023 issue of Writer’s Digest.
1. Catapult’s Don’t Write Alone*
Don’t Write Alone, run by the publisher Catapult, seeks to make the writing process less isolating by collecting resources to help writers at every stage of their writing projects. Resources include essays on craft, author interviews, pitching help, writing prompts, and more.
2. Community of Literary Magazines & Presses*
The CLMP aims to connect small presses, literary magazines, and independent publishers to reader and libraries so if that’s more your style than the Big 5 or if you’re an independent publisher yourself, check out their plentiful resources which include a directory of publishers, events, calls for submissions, and select opportunities for funding.
3. Gutsy Great Novelist*
Founded by award-winning indie author Joan Dempsey, this online community truly feels like a community. With sections for business, craft, inspiration, and a bookstore, not only are the conversations well organized, the participants are thoughtful and supportive in their responses. Plus, Joan hosts “shed” hours where she answers your questions live from her writing shed.
4. Lambda Literary
For more than 30 years, Lambda Literary has been a leader in recognizing and elevating LGBTQ+ writers and readers. The organization offers book reviews, events, a writer’s retreat, and more—including the annual Lambda Literary Awards (known as the “Lammys”) which celebrates more than 150 authors across 24 categories.
5. NaNoWriMo
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) started as a month-long challenge to write 50,000 words in November. It has now expanded to include shorter challenges in April and July, the Young Writers Program, and the Come Write In program for libraries, bookstores, and other community spaces.
View our best job and market websites roundup here.
If you love to write and have a story you want to tell, the only thing that can stand between you and the success you’re seeking isn’t craft, or a good agent, or enough Facebook friends and Twitter followers, but fear. Fear that you aren’t good enough, or fear the market is too crowded, or fear no one wants to hear from you.Fortunately, you can’t write while being in the flow and be afraid simultaneously. The question is whether you will write fearlessly. In this workshop we’ll look at several techniques you can use to keep yourself in the creative flow and out of the trouble and misery fear always causes.