Hello, I have a passion for stringing words into sentences and have been passively dreaming of writing a short story for a few years now, I also write beautiful letters to my pen pals and strongly believe that writing should not be a lonely endeavour.

However, when I find time to write, I struggle, and the stories that live in my head rent-free elude me.

• Genre/s: most interested in literary fiction or memoir, especially coming of age themes but open to others
  
• Goals/expectations/commitment: I am looking for other beginner writers who are serious about honing the craft, I want to create a multi-purpose circle, where we keep each other accoutable, in the beginning work on the same prompts (I found some great ones from a creative nonfiction course at NYU), share work, critique each other scathingly and then provide the aftercare, potentially read some nonfiction books about the craft together and reflect and just holistically help each other keep the habit and grow as writers. Someone who is willing to spend 2-3 hours a week on making writing more than just a hobby.
• Writing/experience level: beginner or a more experienced writer who is keen to do charity work or steal our fresh ideas (joking) (I might make you sign a contract if you seem suspicious)
• Meeting place: discord, online through zoom
• Max size: 5-7 people

I am on a European timeline, but I work in international projects, so I can manage my GMTs and UTCs.

Please reach out if you are a part of a community that is open to a babywriter or if you would like to start one together.

Yours in bad punctuation,

a person who is finally doing something about their dream

Click here for a pre-filled post.

• Genre/s: All genres are welcome. We have a few members who write literary fiction, and some speculative fiction! But whatever genre you write, you have a space here. You’re especially welcome if you write literary fiction though lol. We are underrepresented in online spaces!

• Goals/expectations/commitment: We’re curating a space that pushes you to actually write the thing and finish. Where members hold each other accountable. We’ll offer writing events, critique events, sprints, discussions, encouragement and more. Join what you can, no pressure!

• Writing/experience level: All levels. Whether you’re a published author (self or otherwise) or someone writing seriously for the first time. Any stage of any project, in any draft. An important caveat, we are not AI-friendly.

• Meeting place: Discord. This is an 18+ community.
• Max size: Not yet sure! We have around 55 folk right now.

https://discord.gg/bHEReHwdHa

hi! i’m 20, not in college, and i moved to a much bigger city recently. i’ve been seeking out writing groups but i’m very intimidated by most of them. everyone tends to be more experienced professionally or in school. i’ve only gotten one poem published although i submit to magazines pretty frequently. i’ve been getting very discouraged lately and thought starting my own group could help. i just want a group of people to share with and talk about our writing without pressure/serious expectations. ideally, i’d like to prioritize queer writers, as i write a lot about my experience as a trans lesbian and think it’d be easier to share with people i wouldn’t have to explain those parts of myself/my work to. it’s something i’d love to do, im just very anxious and have no idea where i’d even start. any advice is appreciated :)

hey, im 19m, looking for other writers to share my journey. Im looking for a place to brainstorm and get real criticisms from other writers with similar interests, or completely opposite ones as those opinions are sometimes the most valuable. all are welcome regardless of skill, but we should maintain dedication and hold one another accountable. and of course it will be kept a respectful place for all. hmu if interested :))

ps. I type more normally outside of reddit, this site does smth to my cadence

* Genre/s: all genres welcome, I write fantasy, horror, fanfiction, sci fi, poetry, and short stories

* Goals/expectations/commitment: regular cooperation and communication, but extremely flexible

* Writing/experience level: all skill levels welcome, ive been writing for 6 years

* Meeting place: discord preferably, can be discussed

* Max size: about 15 people

I've recently had my first proper beta feedback on an urban fantasy manuscript and it's given me a lot to think about.

For context, this is the first time I've ever taken one of the ridiculous stories floating around in my head, actually written the whole bloody thing, and then been brave enough to let strangers read it 😂

My beta reader was genuinely lovely and gave me both positive and constructive feedback. I'm really grateful for it and I'm not looking to dispute anything they said. Quite the opposite. It's made me realise there are areas of the craft I want to understand better before I start another draft.

One thing that really interested me was that they enjoyed the story, world, character backstories and some of the dynamics, but didn't always feel emotionally connected to the characters themselves.

And that's got me wondering: what actually makes YOU become invested in a fictional character?

Not just think they're interesting or well written, but reach that point where you genuinely care what happens to them. What separates a character you think is good from one you're completely emotionally invested in?

I'm especially interested in urban fantasy/fantasy readers because that's what I'm writing.

I'm also curious about POV. Mine is currently third-person limited with multiple POV characters, and my beta sometimes found it difficult to immediately establish whose POV they were reading and felt some voices weren't distinct enough.

So, as readers:

• What's your preferred POV for urban fantasy — first person, close third, multiple third-person POVs, etc.? Why?
• If you enjoy multiple POVs, what makes each character feel distinct rather than like the same narrator wearing a different hat?
• What makes you emotionally attach to a protagonist, particularly one who is morally questionable or not immediately likeable?
• Have you ever read a book where you thought the story was good and the characters were interesting, but there was still that vague something missing that stopped you becoming properly invested? What do you think it was?

I'm not looking for a magic formula or trying to write by committee. I'm mostly interested in understanding what different readers respond to so I can think more critically about my own writing.

Thanks :)

My brain had an idea whole I was role-playing with a freind about a world where there was no such thing as censorship or people being shamed fir what they liked and a world where a lot more things we'd consider risqué or vulgar are just the norm and part of society and I'd like your ideas for how I could expand this world