It is quite a lot easier to become a professional writer now than it used to be. Thanks to the advancement of technology, it has become much more convenient for people to express themselves through written word. There are plenty of online resources that you can use to help you become a better writer, and we will tell you about some of these resources.
Online Writing Communities
One of the best places to get inspiration and encouragement as a writer is through online communities. These are message boards or social networks where people with shared interests can come together to foster interaction and build communities. You can create a blog community for writers, a readers’ group, a family group, or even a group for people whose hobbies are putting words to paper. You can use these communities to share your work, get feedback, and connect with other writers. The great thing about online communities is that they are open to everyone, so you do not have to be a “pro” to join!
There are plenty of online communities that you can join to get inspiration and encouragement as a writer. Some of the more well-known ones are:
LiveJournal
If you are looking for an open-source blogging platform, then you should check out LiveJournal. It was initially designed for bloggers, but you can use it to create other kinds of content as well. You will find a lot of creative writers and artists on LiveJournal, so it is a great place to get inspiration.
It is a very popular choice among writers because it has all the necessary tools to create a fully functional blogging platform. You will find a variety of WordPress alternatives on the market, but if you are looking for a free blogging platform, then consider using LiveJournal.
Writer’s Room
One of the more established online communities for writers is the Writers Room. It was started back in 2009 and currently has more than 12,000 members. You can use the site to find articles and essays to help you with your own writing projects as well as get feedback from experienced writers. You can sign up for a free account on the site, and if you join the group, you will gain access to all the features. Most of the members are published authors, journalists, and bloggers. It should be noted that this is not a site that promotes one brand of product over another; everyone is welcome!
While LiveJournal and the Writers Room are two great options for getting online writing inspiration, it is important to remember that they are both closed groups. This means that while you are free to browse the forums and contribute to the conversations, ultimately, your opinions and input will be valued more than those of a casual visitor. You will have to prove your expertise by adding value to the conversation or your opinion will not be as valued.
Tiptop
If you are looking for something more mature and established, then check out Tiptop. It is a social network for writers that was launched in 2014. The site is a combination of Twitter and Pinterest, with the emphasis on sharing and collaboration. You can follow other users’ blogs and read their stories as well as contribute your own. There is a lot of interesting content on the site, and it is very easy to find what you are looking for. Just remember that while the site has a lot to offer, it is still very much a work in progress, so take some time to get familiar with it and its various features before using it for inspiration.
Publishing Weekly
If you want to get your work published, then try out Publishing Weekly. It is not an advice column or a place to get feedback, but it does provide a useful platform for up-and-coming writers to get their work published. The site offers a $15,000 prize for the best non-fiction novel (which can be broken down into chunks of $1000), as well as a $5000 prize for the best short story. You can also find an editor who can help you polish your work and get it published in a professional manner. Some of the popular posts on the site include:
- The Novel Writing Process (useful for those who want to write a novel)
- How to Give Your Writing Monologues
- How to Promote Your Writing Without Sacrificing Quality
- How to Handle Rejection
- The Dos and Don’ts of Self-Editing
These are just some of the most useful resources for writers who want to get their work published. If you are looking for places to get feedback and criticism, then try out sites like r/writeforwriters, which is dedicated to all things related to writing. Or, if you are looking for a way to meet people who share your interest in writing, then try out Scrivener, which is a team editor that allows you to work remotely with others across different time zones. You can also use Trello, which is a project management tool that can be used for whatever you need (including writing projects).
Now that you have some ideas where to get your inspiration, what do you think? Do you have a favorite website or blog post that you find especially useful? Let us know in the comments below!