best websites for writers 2022

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25 Online Resources and Websites for Writers to Improve Their Skills

Fellow writers, online communities help your skills grow. Writing websites unpack goldmines of expert advice and opportunity, including insights on AI writing tools .

Early drafts can struggle - websites for writers refine my techniques. Their constant support sustains creativity and provides guidance on how to write a blog post .

Stay current through emerging hubs. Join discussions on websites for writers and meet helpful friends for writing sprints.

Online also births marketplaces for websites for writers. Accept freelance gigs without coffee shops and learn about types of content for a blog .

So explore top resources on websites for writers. Digital buffets nourish your craft constantly. Follow communities strategically to continuously develop your skills.

How We Picked the Best Websites for Writers ✍️

• Types of articles/guides: The variety of helpful tutorials, tips, etc. available on websites for writers.
• Member numbers: Sites with lots of active users to get feedback from.
• Covered topics: Resources on different writing areas like style, publishing, and careers.
• Easy navigation: Simple ways to find content and connect with others.
• Regular updates: Frequent new posts so the site stays interesting.
• Beginner to pro support: Options for all experience levels.
• Learn and network: Ways to improve skills and make industry connections through writing websites.
• Writer diversity: Including authors from various backgrounds on writing websites.
• Skills improvement: Contests or challenges to develop your abilities.
• Expertise: Signs they are trusted experts in the writing space.

Why You Should Trust Us 🤝

• Extensive research experience selecting the top sites since 2015. We know what makes a great writing resource.
• Rated a Theme Forest Power Elite Author, joining just the 0.3% of top-performing authors.
• Our highest-rated list of websites for writers has over 600 reviews with a near-perfect rating. Writers love our past recommendations.
• We're published authors ourselves, so we understand what you need to improve your skills.
• Our 25 picks of websites for writers have been rigorously vetted and guaranteed to provide inspiring content for all experience levels.
• Trust our expertise to introduce you to new favorites for enriching your craft via highly engaging material.
• Previous lists have seen over 8,000 sales, showing writers value our guidance on the best online spots.

Writing Resources and Advice

1. querytracker.

QueryTracker

QueryTracker, one of the notable websites for writers, helps writers submit work, including those seeking do my essay services. Users log query and submission details, which are then aggregated. Statistics on acceptance rates, response times, and preferences help writers target submissions strategically. The platform centralizes tracking for ongoing queries. QueryTracker is free, making it a convenient submission management tool websites for writers.

2. Jane Friedman

Jane Friedman

As a 25-year publishing vet, Jane brings invaluable expertise. She's held leadership roles at major brands like Writer's Digest and helped them thrive digitally on the best websites for writers.

Now Jane shares her insights through her popular paid newsletter and social platforms. She offers loads of case studies, stats and practical tips on topics for marketers.

An innovator, Jane is always experimenting with different projects. From satire to teaching courses, she's super well-rounded.

3. 🏅 Our Pick - Writer’s Digest

Writer’s Digest

Writer's Digest has supported writers for over 100 years. They offer resources for all genres like fiction, screenplays and poetry on the best websites for writers. Workshops, tutorials and conferences help writers at every step. Their annual conference is great for learning and networking with editors/publishers.

Writer's Digest hosts writing competitions with prizes and recognition. Winning one is a big career boost on the best websites for writers. Their magazine has been publishing tips since 1920. Online forums and video tutorials add to the learning on the best websites for writers.

Why is Writer’s Digest Our Topic Pick as a Writing Resource?

• The breadth of content: For almost a century, they've supported all types of creators at every stage on the best websites for writers. Valuable info covers many topics and genres.
• Robust community: An engaged space connects users through feedback, collaborations, and contests. helpful for developing skills.
• Complete toolkit: Beyond articles, they offer real-world tools, samples, and marketing guidance. A one-stop shop.
• Constant adaptation: Innovation keeps the most useful resources accessible anywhere, anytime. Leaders in evolving with needs.
• Long-term value: Whether starting or established, their mix of practical and creative resources consistently aids growth over the lifetime of a career.

4. Helping Writers Become Authors

Helping Writers Become Authors

K.M. Weiland has helped many writers over 15 years. She has useful books on outlining stories, structuring novels, and developing characters.

Her books teach techniques in an easy way. Her own experience makes the lessons practical. In addition to books, her blog and guided visualizations offer helpful tips. People clearly find her guidance valuable. Her free e-book is popular. And she has over 1,500 social media followers.

5. Almost an Author

Almost an Author

Check out Almost an Author. Jana Oliver shares 17+ years of publishing expertise through tutorials on craft, character, marketing, and more.

Her engaged social media following shows content truly resonates. Articles break down concepts well - one taught invaluable book branding. Beyond the blog are classes, editing, and even book trailers.

Whether self or traditionally publishing, Almost an Author offers skills to improve your process. After one visit you'll feel inspired again.

6. Daily Writing Tips

Daily Writing Tips

Run by author Jim Azevedo for 15+ years, it provides fresh advice constantly. With thousands of archived tips, it's a huge handbook of writing hacks. Sign up for their email and get pro-level lessons daily. Tips offer specific strategies, like using quotes or starting paragraphs. They evolve skills with frequent, tactical nuggets of wisdom. Daily Writing Tips is perfect for constant writing improvement.

7. The Write Practice

The Write Practice

Run by Brandon Sanderson, they know mastery takes practice like sports legends. Daily prompts and lessons help hone technique. A supportive community improves skills through feedback. Inspiring author interviews show even greats like Shakespeare evolved. Give just 15 minutes weekly for guaranteed growth into a compelling writer’s voice. Whether starting out or stalled, The Write Practice kickstarts a habit that gets you published. It’s a smart investment in your craft.

8. Write to Done

Write to Done

Run by author Omer Redden, they've been helping writers thrive since 2020. As part of Selfpublishing.com, their toolkit and community have grown.

With over a decade of experience, Omer provides pro strategies for plots, publishing, and more. Real-world examples bring tactics to life. We love their community for motivation and accountability. Leave feeling inspired to write!

Whether you're new to writing or going pro, Write to Done has what you need to level up. Invest time to see rewards for your business and future books. Your stories deserve to be told, so start writing!

9. The Creative Penn

The Creative Penn

Run by author Joanna Penn since 2008, the site provides free writing resources. Whether you're starting out or seeking publishing guidance, Joanna distills career knowledge into actionable lessons.

Browse practical advice on plots, drafting, editing and promotions. Learn from real authors' experiences. Struggling with isolation? Engage with the supportive writing community.

From novice to bestseller, The Creative Penn equips creatives at every stage. Discover tools to boost your skills and motivation without signup fees. Exploring could help you finally finish your book. What are you waiting for?

Publishing and Literary News

10. manuscript wish list.

Manuscript Wish List

Manuscript Wish List gives writers unique insight into what publishers seek. Agents and editors specify genres, themes or queries of interest on their profiles.

Beyond wish lists, MSWL provides networking, educational resources and manuscript feedback. Take online classes led by industry professionals. Consult directly with experts to refine your work.

Global MSWL events foster connections with representatives. Ongoing community forums offer support and advice. Periodicals share industry trends and opportunities.

11. 🏅 Our Pick - Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

In 1933, publishers doubted Virginia Kirkus' idea to review galleys for buyers. Undeterred, she launched the Virginia Kirkus Bookshop Service amid the Depression.

Breaking from convention, Kirkus provided honest pre-pub assessments to subscribers, empowering bookstores. Operating modestly, Virginia steadily ramped up coverage of unbound galleys through early promotion and dedication.

Now a publishing powerhouse, Kirkus continues innovating across reviews, formats, and audiences. Where buyers once gambled, its expertise guides industry decisions and reading discoveries.

Why is Kirkus Reviews Our Topic Pick as a Publishing Website?

• Helps with new books: They do early reviews to help authors and publishers share new books.
• Fair reviews: Kirkus looks at all books the same without liking some publishers more.
• Knows about books for a long: Reading lots of books over the years means they know how to help with books.
• More than just reviews: They have news, writer talks, and other tools too for writers and readers.
• Helps authors sell books: Authors can get more people to see their book and sell more books too.

12. Electric Literature

Electric Literature

Electric Literature is a digital publisher empowering diverse voices since 2009. Through platforms like Recommended Reading, they publish short fiction, essays and more from rising talents.

Accessible content explores literature at social/cultural intersections through different genres. Work has won acclaim from prizes like Pushcart and O. Henry. As a nonprofit, Electric Lit relies on reader support. Whether through donations or spreading word, you can fuel their mission of making literature more inclusive and impactful.

13. Literary Hub

Literary Hub

Literary Hub is the online destination for all bookish discourse. Through original writing and major publisher partnerships, it delivers engaging conversation daily. Articles explore new releases alongside cultural analysis, craft essays and more in versatile styles. Interviews and excerpts spotlight authors across genres.

Curated features from top outlets and indie presses offer breadth of voices. Lit Hub unpacks industry shifts while celebrating diverse stories. Whether researching trends or feeding your bookworm habits, start each day here. One visit satisfies cravings while sparking ideas to fuel discussions for hours.

14. LitReactor

LitReactor offers writers a community and resources all in one. Founded by Chuck Palahniuk's team, its features include articles, writing workshops, and classes taught by published authors.

Through their peer workshop, members at any level provide constructive feedback - building skills and camaraderie. Lively discussions explore craft and literature, while contests bring out competition.

Featured in major outlets, LitReactor clearly succeeds in its mission. If nurturing your skills and joining a dedicated group of writers appeals, consider making this inspiring site your online base.

15. LitRejections

LitRejections

We've all felt the sting of rejection in the writing life. LitRejections collects agent and publisher denial letters to remind us we're not alone.

Browse submissions and reasons for passing to gain solidarity and learn from others' experiences. Curated advice also offers guidance straight from industry sources.

Whether seeking solace or wisdom to bolster your spirit, this site says "we've all been there." Next time denial strikes, turn here to lift your spirits and persist in your craft.

Writing Communities and Workshops

16. 🏅 our pick - nanowrimo.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, supportive community for tackling that book idea. Each November, hundreds of thousands set the goal to write 50,000 words in 30 days.

At 1,667 words daily, achieving this "insane" target is very doable - especially with others all striving for the same. Motivational events and forums keep momentum going when needed.

Past NaNoWriMo novels have seen real success. Their all-year programming and youth offerings are also valuable.

Why is NaNoWriMo Our Topic Pick as a Top Writing Community?

• Lots of people: Over 500,000 join each year. Easy to find help, talk to others, and get ideas.
• Fun goal: Writing 50,000 words in 30 days gives a clear plan. Write something each day.
• Nice environment: NaNo makes it upbeat with online talk, meetups with parties, and fun tips.
• Help for all: Beginners and experts get things like guides, talks, and expert reviews for their writing level.
• Meet locally too: Not just online talks. NaNo has in-person writing groups and meetups near you.

17. Writer Unboxed

Writer Unboxed

As a hub for publishing insights since 2006, Writer Unboxed offers daily discussion on craft and industry from esteemed authors. With 50+ contributors, you'll find guidance to elevate your skills.

Analysis examines creative and business realities with an empowering approach. Comments expand conversations through reader input.

Events and their practical book also allow in-person bonding. Recognized as outstanding by Writing Digest, WU clearly delivers value.

18. Writing.com

Writing.com

Since 2000, one of the best writing websites, Writing.com has welcomed hundreds daily to become one of the web's largest creative hubs. With tools for every level and need, this thriving community awaits your discovery.

Whether starting out or seasoned, find inspiration through portfolio pages, challenges, and a wealth of creativity. Members also generously offer feedback to nourish each other's dreams on one of the best writing websites.

Recognized as the top online resource, Writing.com's warm home has fueled writers for over 20 years. See what makes them beloved - you may find this supportive haven becomes your writing home base.

19. Catapult

This publishing company has become well-known since starting in 2015. Their books and magazine often win awards and praise on various writing sites. Catapult supports new and experienced authors.

They offer writing classes with excellent teachers for students excited to learn. Catapult also provides helpful tools. They try to make writing open to everyone.

Famous authors say good things about Catapult's effect on numerous writing sites. This publisher really helps writers. Whether growing talent or getting better, Catapult encourages your ambitions with writing.

20. Association of Writers and Writing Programs

Association of Writers and Writing Programs

For over 50 years, AWP has promoted creative writing with helpful programs and meetings. Whether just starting out or already published, AWP offers important support. Scholarships, money awards, and mentorship help writing dreams come true.

AWP also speaks up for diverse books and artist freedoms. They help writers be heard in their work. AWP supports writers all around the world. Join this group to feel inspired and empowered in your writing.

21. Live Write Thrive

Live Write Thrive

Whether nurturing your craft or pursuing publication, Jaime of Live Write Thrive has you covered. As a writing conference director and author herself, her expertise spans genres.

Services include full critiques, editing packages and workshops around the US. Feedback goes beyond notes to promote real growth. With bestsellers under her belt, Jaime navigates publishing waters. She freely shares hard-won wisdom.

22. Now Novel

If you want a good website for your book, look at Now Novel, one of the best freelance websites for writers. They connect writers to each other and helpers. Leaders who made it are Bridget, Brendan, and Dagmar. They are also good writers and contributors to the best websites for freelance writers.

Now Novel has useful tools for characters, stories, and worlds. You track your work. Employees help with writing, editing, and making stories better. Their ideas will make your story stronger.

23. She Writes

Seeking a supportive online space? She Writes has been empowering women writers since 2009. Founded by Kamy Wicoff, this global community shares 35,000+ pieces of content. Contributors include bestsellers to bloggers.

Membership has grown to over 32,000, connecting trailblazers at every stage. Network in 350+ groups. She Writes Press also offers hybrid publishing solutions, launching over 200 careers.

24. The Writing Life

The Writing Life

Exploring the path to publication? Since 2005, The Writing Life nurtures writers at every stage. Packed with articles, podcasts and videos, this community spills industry secrets. Bestsellers, agents and editors contribute insights.

Connect with thriving online groups or in-person events. Find your tribe among diverse creators. Resources cover craft, contracts, marketing and more. Empower yourself as the writer you are meant to be!

25. Funds for Writers

Funds for Writers

Seeking resources to sustain your creative career? Since 2000, Funds for Writers guides writers. Whether full or part-time, all are welcome. FFW spotlight funding beyond craft - markets, grants, publishers and more.

Founded by Hope after her own career shift, FFW motivates dreams through a finance focus. Stay tuned via the insightful newsletter. Quality ads and endorsements writing-related.

In closing, online writing communities offer valuable benefits. Across writing websites, supportive fellow authors gather through inspiration, feedback, and collaboration. New opportunities arise too.

We curated 25 top skill-building websites for writers. Guidance and freelance await on these writing websites. Whether advice or ideas call, trusted resources answer. Exploration cultivates exposure and refinement. Upgrade skills through our accessible recommendations. Success starts now through online networking!

Founder of Code Supply Co., with 7 year experience in building WordPress blogs and magazines. More than 20k blogs were built using the Code Supply Co. premium themes.

Top 10 Websites For Writers 2022

There are dozens of websites for writers out there, many of which pertain to specific genres, publishing and marketing advice, jobs and submission opportunities, courses, etc… Here’s my list of favorite general writing and creativity websites that offer tips and tools, advice, prompts, creative inspiration, and writing communities to connect with. Most are free to join, and some ask for a small contribution to help keep their sites going.

1. Creativity-portal.com . For over 20 years, Chris Dunmire has been providing inspiring articles, ideas, prompts, and exercises to bulk up your creative muscles. The site covers a wide range of topics on a multitude of creative outlets and makes for a great browse if you’re having a little trouble getting started or just need a shot of inspiration. There is a $5/year subscription fee.

2. Nanowrimo.org . As you might know, NaNoWriMo started out as National Novel Writing Month, where you are challenged to write the first draft of a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Since its inception, it has grown into a multi-faceted organization providing year-round challenges, advice, inspiration, pep talks, and local groups to connect with. It’s a lot of fun to be a part of, and a great help to get you moving towards finishing (or writing) that book.

3. Writetodone.com . A comprehensive collection of articles, tools, tips, and resources for both fiction and non-fiction writers. From headline generators and blogging advice to master classes by David Mamet and James Patterson, it covers all the bases. One of my favorites for their lists of resources.

4. Themarginalian.org . (Previously known as Brain Pickings) Maria Popova has collected over 15 years of interviews and writing by some of the best literary giants of our time. Book reviews, poetry, current topics, and newsletter subscriptions to keep you up to date on all that is going on in the literary world.

5. Thewritelife.com . A huge assortment of information for everything writing-related, from freelancing, productivity, publishing, blogging, and finding inspiration and publishing opportunities.

6. Almostanauthor.com . Another general resource guide, especially good for those just starting out. From writing the first draft to publishing options, chat rooms, resources, and links to many other writing-related websites.

7. How to Be An Artist . Jerry Saltz’s 33 Rules on How To Be An Artist on vulture.com. This isn’t a website, but a fantastic list and insight by New York art critic Jerry Saltz. Words of wisdom on how to live a more creative life.

8. Writing.com . A community of thousands of writers sharing and offering advice. You can upload your work for reviews, or just enjoy reading what everyone else is writing about. A very supportive and thriving environment with a great library of resources.

9. 99u.adobe.com . This is an excellent site for anyone in a creative field, especially those freelancing from home. From managing anxiety and isolation, developing creative routines, and dealing with self-doubt, I highly recommend checking this site out. Articles, interviews, videos, and tools to help you be your best.

10. Writermag.com . Inspiration, articles, publishing opportunities and contests, tips and advice for all writers, as well as links to other resources. A great spot for general information, copyright laws, submission guidelines, and answers to many questions for those just starting out.

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Filed under Art , attitude , Creativity , focus , freelancer , inspiration , poetry , writer , Writing , writinglife

Tagged as art , attitude , creativity , focus , freelance , inspiration , writer , writing , writinglife

15 responses to “ Top 10 Websites For Writers 2022 ”

Yaaay! Fantastic list. I’m so interested in NaNoWriMo.

Thanks Christine! NaNoWriMo is a fantastic community to be a part of, and the challenges push you to accomplish things you’d never imagine you could do. So glad you stopped by!

Eeeeee! I think I’m going to do it! Thanks for the inspiration ❤

Awesome! I’ll be rooting for you!

Thank you so much for sharing this. Great post!

My dad was born in Rhodesia The Nobel Prize in Literature 2007 was awarded to Doris Lessing “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe http://www.craigsquotes.wordpress.com Do it NOW” “mr doo-little”

Love that Goethe quote as well… I guess the moral of the story is that the time is always right to just start now. Whatever it is…just start (which is so often the hardest part).

Reblogged this on The Writing Journey .

Thanks so much Craig!

Oh wow, that introductory pic-slash-quote was amazing. I really needed to hear that, because we do indeed have this tendency to wait for the right moment to start writing.

And awesome list you’ve come up with too. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Stuart!

I agree re: the importance of the Lessing quote. I’ve recently been using a similar mantra to quell my own anxious thoughts and imposter syndrome: “Enjoy the good moment before it leaves and comes back again.”

Adam I like that mantra too. The time is always right, and I like that you know that the good moment always comes back again. Thank you for sharing that!

To make living itself an art, that is the goal. - Henry Miller

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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Last updated on Feb 07, 2023

The 23 Best Writing Tools of 2024: A Guide for Writers

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Martin Cavannagh

Head of Content at Reedsy, Martin has spent over eight years helping writers turn their ambitions into reality. As a voice in the indie publishing space, he has written for a number of outlets and spoken at conferences, including the 2024 Writers Summit at the London Book Fair.

Before the computer there was the typewriter, and before the typewriter there was pen and paper, and before pen and paper there were plenty of other lost tools of writing — like clay, papyrus, wood, slate, parchment, and, of course, pens made out of reeds. (Fun fact: the name “Reedsy” is inspired by the “reed pen,” which was used as early as 800 B.C. for documentation).

As you can tell by now, the act of writing has been a part of human culture from the days of chiseling stories onto the walls of caves — and as we have evolved, so have our writing tools . In fact, today’s writers and storytellers are spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding which tools to use.

The following list details our favorite writing tools and resources for taking any idea through to its written conclusion. If you want to cut straight to the chase and find out which is the right writing app for you, we recommend taking this quick 30-second quiz.

Which writing app is right for you?

Find out here! Takes 30 seconds

Otherwise, let's dive in!

Writing tools

We all know Google Docs and Microsoft Word, so we’re not going to waste your time giving those two a run-down in our list. Below are four other word processors you might not know about, and that are worth checking out.

1. Reedsy Studio

Cost: Free Does “fake it ‘til you make it” ring true to you? Well,  Reedsy Studio  is a free, online word processor that formats your book as you write. See your drafts automatically turn into a professional-looking, ready-to-publish manuscript — and allow this glimpse of your work as the final product spur your motivation to write.

It comes with an automatic spell-checker — and a built-in goal reminder system to get you back into shape if you find that you're falling behind on your writing schedule! Another one of Reedsy Studio's best functions is that it lets you instantly typeset your manuscript to EPUB and print-ready PDF files.

Check it out if: if you want a writing tool that takes care of formatting and conversion for you.

FREE WRITING APP

Reedsy Studio

Set goals, track progress, and establish your writing routine in our free app.

Cost: Free Do you like a helpful tap on the shoulder, reminding you about something you need to do? Well, you’ll likely enjoy Draft then, because this kind of writing software not only keeps track of how many words you write per day , it can also email you daily reminders about your daily word count goals. (Of course, if this sounds a little too “hands-on” for you, you can always turn the reminder function off).

Other than that, Draft functions a lot like Google Docs: allowing you to track changes, collaborate via suggested edits, and make comments on the doc.

Check it out if: you like Google Docs, but want an even simpler interface. 

3. LibreOffice

Cost: Free Yes, we did say that we wouldn’t mention Microsoft Word, because by now everyone knows that it’s a useful writing tool. But we didn’t say we wouldn’t mention its free counterpart: LibreOffice .

LibreOffice is the open source answer for people who want to try Microsoft without paying the price tag. (Open source means that the software is built on code that anyone can inspect and enhance). Plus it’s compatible with all of the regular file types people are used to, such as  .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, and .pptx files.

Check it out if: you like a classic word processor — and moreover, a free one.

Cost: $50 (or try a 30-day free trial) The people behind Mellel don’t just know word processing — they also know catchy, memorable marketing. Their description of why writers should choose Mellel starts like this: “Mellel is a writer's dream come true. To start, it is exceedingly boring: it just works, day in and day out, reliably. An enormous number of people used Mellel to write and they all report that their journey with Mellel was boring and uneventful. As well it should. In other words, it does all the mundane bits, and leaves the creative stuff to you.”

Mellel is not free (and note that it’s only for Mac). In return for the price tag, you’ll get more book-specific tools than other, perhaps more traditional word processors — such as outlining and bibliography-making functions. And, judging by the witty, funny copy on Mellel’s website, Mellel makes the process of writing much more fun than they let on.

Check it out if: you’re a Mac user who wants more than the Pages app offers.

Organization tools

Plotters tend to finish their writing projects quicker than pantsers — simply because when they hit a wall, they have their notes or outlines to reference, allowing them to jump straight over that hurdle and hit the ground running. P.S. You can grab a free template for your book outline here in this comprehensive guide to outlining.

The following resources will help you keep your thoughts organized so that any bouts of writer’s block don’t slow you down.

5. Milanote

Cost: Free for basic plan or $12.50/month for premium. Milanote is an easy-to-use creative writing app to organize your research, ideas, characters and outline in one place.

The vast majority of novelist-oriented writing software is organized around the idea of a linear document. But for most people, writing isn’t linear — because thinking isn’t linear. Writing is about gradually getting a jumble of ideas into shape, and Milanote's writing app matches the way writers think.

Check it out if: you're a plotter who likes a flexible workspace to organize ideas and see a birds-eye view of how your story outline is coming together.

FREE RESOURCE

Get our Book Development Template

Use this template to go from a vague idea to a solid plan for a first draft.

6. Evernote

Cost: free for basic plan or $9.99/month for premium. Its cute, little green elephant logo aside, Evernote is a great and easy-to-use option for writers who could do with a little more organization in their lives.

The app lets you quickly jot down thoughts, record audio notes, save online articles you’re hoping to reference, and it will sync all of this information across all of your Evernote-installed devices. What’s also handy about the app is the collaborative aspect of it: you can create shared accounts, so that multiple people can access saved documents at once.

Check it out if: you’re prone to getting great ideas while on the go, and need somewhere to make sure you don’t forget them by the time you’re home.

Cost: $5/month or $40/year (or try a 14-day free trial) While it’s ultimately a writing tool, one of the best assets of comprehensive programs like Ulysses or Scrivener are their organizational features. At the end of the day, whether you’re writing a blog post or a full-length novel, the seed of an idea doesn’t get too far without the ability to organize that idea into a cohesive piece of writing.

And that’s exactly what Ulysses allows you to do: organize your thoughts into a well-written work. This is accomplished through features like customizable writing goals and deadlines , plain text enhancements, a distraction-free typewriter mode, bookmarks, outlining functions, and more.

Check it out if: you’re working on a lengthy piece of non-fiction, like a blog post or essay. (For a comparison of Scrivener vs. Ulysses, keep reading!)

8. Scrivener

Cost: $45 (or a 30-use free trial) Literature and Latte ’s word processor is a popular writing tool — also, in large part, thanks to its organizational capabilities that seamlessly allow writers to turn fragmented ideas into a fully realized book/script/research paper/or whatever else you’re writing.

Scrivener vs Ulysses Apart from the price (Scrivener charges a one-time licensing fee while Ulysses charges yearly), the two platforms offer many of the same features. So we’ll focus on what makes the two programs different.

• Scrivener’s corkboard function is an absolute favorite for writers who rely on visual aid to help with outlining. The function looks like an actual corkboard, and lets writers pin notes to the board in chronological order.
• Scrivener offers templates for works such as fiction, essays, recipe collections, screenplays, comic books — which gives Scrivener another point for versatility.
• Ulysses boasts an interface that is slightly more clean and simple — so if ease-of-use is high on your priority list, it might be the better option for you.
• Ulysses offers a very helpful WordPress and Medium integration, which bloggers who publish on either of these platforms will love.

Check it out if: you’re working on a longer piece of content (like a book or screenplay) and want one comprehensive place to manage all your work. (And don’t forget to check out our equally as comprehensive review of Scrivener’s newest update : Scrivener 3!)

9. Hubspot's AI Content Writer

Cost: Free, with premium upgrade available

HubSpot’s Free AI Content Writer is designed to help bloggers streamline their content creation process. This tool can generate drafts of blog posts, website copy, emails, and more with ease and without additional resources, by relying on prompts or topics provided by users. For those suffering from writer's block, the AI content writer can also create outlines to help spur writing along. 

For those already using HubSpot's marketing and sales tools, the AI content writer's integration will be extra handy. 

Check it out if: you're a blogger short on time or inspiration.

Productivity tools

Alright, let’s kick things into high gear now. You know what you want to use to write, and your thoughts and ideas are concisely organized. If you’re finding it difficult to buckle down and get the job done (or struggle to write quickly or consistently ), these resources will help you realize that Nike manta: just do it.

10. Ommwriter

Cost: free web version or $7 for the full program Do you find the clacking sound of old typewriters satisfying? Do you find soft, neutral colours calming? Does nothing really get you focused quite like a purposeful, long, deep breath? If so, Ommwriter might be the tool to help you reach your goal. As the site’s tagline reads, Ommwriter is “a perfect place to think and write.”

With soothing background noises, customizable keyboard noises, and peaceful backgrounds to choose from, Ommwriter could just be the “break” from everything else going on around you that you need to write.

Check it out if: your very best writing ideas come to you while in “savasana.”

11. To Doist

Cost: free or $4/month for premium plan Have you ever woken up in a cold sweat, panicking about something important you forgot to do? Or, god forbid, gripped in dread about how far behind you are on your word-count goals?

Well, To Doist might be able to help. It’s the ultimate app for creating to-do lists — but these aren’t your grandma’s pen-and-paper lists with little check marks beside them (though we mean no offense to your grandma). It lets you get a daily or weekly overview of your tasks, prioritize the tasks that are most important, and even lets you assign tasks to other people if you’re working on a specific goal with other collaborators.

Check it out if: you have never been able to find an agenda that’s souped up enough to keep you on track.

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12. Marinara Timer

Cost: Free The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method meant to promote productivity. In a nutshell, it stipulates that you should work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute  break, then work for 25 minutes, take another 5-minute break, etc., etc.

The free-to-use Marinara Timer makes this easy for you by alerting you each time your work sessions and breaks are up. It also offers customizable timers in case the 25/5 isn’t quite right for keeping you on track. Fun fact: taking a break to stand up or walk (or do anything but sit!) every hour is also a good way to protect your back if you sit hunched at a computer working for long stretches at a time.

Check it out if: consistent breaks from work help actually keep you focused on the task at hand.

13. Cold Turkey

Cost: Free for basic plan or $20 for premium plan “Meet your match, Zuckerberg,” says Cold Turkey ’s tagline. In case that, paired with the writing tool’s name, doesn’t make it clear enough, Cold Turkey is a program that allows you to completely rid yourself of distraction. And when we say “completely,” we mean completely.

With Cold Turkey, you can block yourself from accessing certain websites — or even your entire computer — for periods at a time, only allowing you to use the current document you’re working on.

Check it out if: “willpower” is not a characteristic you’d ascribe yourself, and the only way for you to get something done is in a totally distraction-free state.

14. Freedom

Cost: $7/month or $29/year (or a 7-use free trial) Apart from pleasantly getting the “freedom” refrain from Aretha Franklin’s “Think” stuck in your head, the Freedom app is another resource that can turn your devices into tools of productivity once more.

It functions like Cold Turkey; however, a unique function of Freedom is the ability to sync your distraction-free periods across all your devices. So if you know that on Tuesdays, you want your computer, phone, and tablet to all block access to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook — you can!

Check it out if: letting other people know not to bother you during your non-negotiable writing time isn’t enough, you need to let yourself know not to interrupt, well, yourself.

Cost: Free If total silence encourages your mind to wander, whereas light sensory action keeps your thoughts on the task at hand, Noisli will be a friend to you. The tool lets you choose from a range of soundtracks, such as rain, coffee shop, wind, lake, and more. You can mix several sounds at once, and choose the volume for each one. So let’s say you want to create the atmosphere of writing by a babbling brook, with a fire crackling next to you, and the moon shining brightly overhead. Noisli will make this happen for you!

Check it out if: you get the most work done with white noise.

Editing tools

If you’re planning to publish a book — or any kind of writing you’re hoping to make a profit from, it’s crucial that your work is thoroughly edited. To that end, working with a professional editor is an investment you should give serious thought to.

In the meantime, here are a few editing tools that can help you out along the way. Hopefully, they’ll either ensure a typo-free draft, so by the time you do work with an editor, they can spend less time fixing small typos and more time on big-picture work, or, if you decide to forego a professional edit, you’ll have the tools to do the best editing job you can.

16. Hemingway

Cost: Free The Hemingway app claims to make your writing “bold and clear.” It has a number of handy features like a word-counter and an automatic readability score. But its real use lies in the features that make suggestions to your prose. For instance, it might highlight a complex sentence that’s hard to read. It also highlights instances of passive voice , qualifiers, and adverbs. Let’s take a look at how this passage from Ernest Hemingway’s very own To Have and Have Not fares:

“Just” is highlighted because it’s a qualifier, and Hemingway suggests, instead: “Be bold. Don’t hedge.” The sentence in red is highlighted as being hard to read. And “probably” is pointed out as an adverb — the app suggests using a forceful verb instead.

Check it out if: you want to bring out your inner Ernie. (Curious what else Hemingway offers? Check out our full review of the app right here .)

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17. Fictionary

Cost: $19/month or $169 per year 

The Fictionary Story Editing software creates intelligent visuals that help you improve your story's structure, characters, plot, and settings. Using Natural Language Processing, Fictionary identifies your key story arc scenes and gives you actionable insights to improve the structure of your book.  Annual subscribers get access to year-round live classes on writing and editing. Think of it like Peloton for writers. Check it out if:  You want to get your story structure in the best possible shape before submitting to agents and/or editors.

18. Marlowe Pro

Cost: $29.95/mth or $199/year; $45 for single reports

This manuscript assessment tool will provide in-depth feedback on your novel within minutes. Using artificial intelligence, Marlowe can analyze your plot, pacing, story beats, and readability — then provide actionable insights ( as well as comp titles ) based on its database of bestsellers across a number of genres.

To try out this AI editor, claim a free report by entering REEDSYFREE at checkout. And for a 15% discount on a Marlowe Pro subscription , enter REEDSY15OFF when prompted at checkout.

Check it out: to take a scientific and methodical approach to your developmental edits.

19. Cliché Finder

Cost: Free Cliché Finder is exactly what it says on the tin: it combs through your writing in search of clichés, and then highlights them for you. It’s not always necessarily bad to use clichés in your writing, but when you do, you want to be purposeful about it (and not to mention aware of it!).

Check it out if: you want to avoid clichés like the plague, and for your book to sell like hotcakes — and the rest is history.

20. Grammarly

Cost: Free Have you ever sent an email, only to realize that you'd made a glaring typo just as you hit “Send”? Well, no more!

Grammarly essentially functions like the spell checker tool from Microsoft Word or Google Docs, but here’s the great part: it’s a plug-in that will work wherever you happen to writing. That means Twitter, Gmail, Google Docs, Facebook — anywhere. Plus it offers vocabulary or alternate word suggestions — for instance, it might suggest you replace “walking aimlessly,” with the word “wandering.” For a more in-dept analysis, check our full Grammarly review . 

Check it out if: you’re typo-prone! (Read below for a comparison of Grammarly vs. ProWritingAid.)

21. ProWritingAid

Cost: Free browser extension or $79/year for the full software ProWritingAid is a tool you can install that will proofread and spell check your material for you , no matter where you’re writing. It will also offer suggestions to improve your overall language — outside of just grammatical technicalities. (You can even get 10% off via this special offer !) 

ProWritingAid vs Grammarly The two programs offer a lot of the same services, so you might be wondering which one to pick. We have a review of ProWritingAid  that dives deep into this comparison, but the main differences are:

• Grammarly is free to use, and while ProWritingAid offers a free Google Chrome plug-in, this free option only offers spell checking services, it won’t make editorial suggestions.
• ProWritingAid is slightly more tailored towards authors, while Grammarly is a slightly better fit for articles and essays. Ultimately, both tools lend a very helpful editing hand, so deciding between the two mostly boils down to the one you enjoy using more.

Check it out if: you want to make sure your writing is as polished as possible.

Workspace tools

At the end of the day, all you really need to write is a pen and paper. All the fancy tools and apps in the world won’t get the words out for you. That being said, creating an environment that’s appealing — and conducive! — to write in can make the whole process more enjoyable, and encourage you to get the job done.

Here are few physical tools to look over if you’re thinking of sprucing up your workspace.

22. Livescribe Pen

Cost: starts at $100 If you prefer writing on paper, but dread the process of transferring your words to a computer, Livescribe will likely be right up your alley. Through Bluetooth technology, the pen can actually transcribe your pen and paper words to your device. What’s more, it can also transcribe voice notes into digital documents for you.

Check it out if: you’ve ever felt envy at Rita Skeeter’s Quick-Quotes Quill in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire .

23. Ergonomic desk setups

Cost: Varies As more and more of the workforce moves to sedentary jobs where the majority of 9am to 5pm is spent sitting — usually hunching — at a computer, a growing number of sitting-related health injuries have been occurring. That’s why looking into more ergonomically friendly desk setups is a good idea for writers who spend long hours at the computer — or even writing in a notebook. This could be a standing desk, or even just a number of textbooks piled under your desktop so that your screen is eye level, resulting in less stress on your shoulders.

Check it out if: you don’t want writing gains to come at the cost of growing back pains.

24. Computer Glasses

Cost: Varies Writers are all familiar with computer-caused eyestrains. Because you blink far less when looking at a screen than you do otherwise, computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a condition people have been developing due to long stretches of staring at a computer.

One way to help alleviate this — other than just making sure to take time looking away from your computer — is to invest in some computer glasses. They typically come in blue or amber shades, and are coated with a protective coating.

There are several brands you can check out, such as Pixel Eyewear or Felix Gray .

Check it out if: you notice itchy or tired eyes after long writing sessions.

Have you tried any of the above writing tools — and if so, which were your favorites? Or maybe you feel there are some great resources missing from this list? Let us know in the comments below!

Mystic says:

24/10/2019 – 03:38

I tried Cliche Finder several times and it found a couple of items in my text, but it didn't highlight where it was at. The rest of the tools here, that I can use since I'm on a strict income, are amazing!

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16 Best Author Websites & What They Do Well

Published: January 05, 2024

Whether they write fantasy, fiction, or non-fiction, are self-published or published by one of the “ Big Five ,” authors need a website.

The internet is one of the — if not the  — first place readers and publishers will look to learn more about you and your work. A website is also a great way to connect to your audience, inform them of upcoming releases and events, and let them know more about you personally and professionally.

If you’re an author in need of a website, or just like looking at cool website designs, then check out some of the best author websites below for inspiration.

Best Author Websites

• N. K. Jemisin
• Leigh Bardugo
• Rick Riordan
• Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Aytekin Tank
• Joan Didion
• Ibram X. Kendi
• Miquel Reina
• Helen Hoang
• Jennifer Egan
• Sandra Cisneros
• Mark Dawson

The author websites below are categorized by the genre they write in (fantasy, non-fiction, and fiction) and whether they're self-published or not. It's important to note that many of these authors work in multiple genres, and have been self-published and traditionally published.

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Fantasy Author Websites

1. n. k. jemisin.

N. K. Jemisin has one of the best minimalist websites that exemplifies how powerful a few words and details can be.

On the homepage, visitors immediately see her name, the typography of which matches the typography used on the cover of her latest book, The City We Became (a great touch!). Above that is a testimonial which informs new readers, diehard fans, publishers, and movie scouts alike that she's a widely-known and popular sci-fi and fantasy writer. Below that are three CTAs inviting visitors to read her bio, learn more or purchase one of her books, or read her blog.

What We Like

• Minimalist design 
• Clear CTAs across site
• Blog is frequently updated and tone is casual and intimate

2. Neon Yang

Neon Yang's website immediately grabs visitors' attention with its neon green accent color and bold typography. But it avoids looking crowded by striking a balance between text and images. In fact, it provides only the most essential information, starting with who Neon Yang is, what awards they've been nominated for, and some praise they've gotten in the press. At the bottom of the homepage, you'll find out how to connect with them over email or on social. 

• Accent color and animations keep users engaged as they scroll
• Clearly lays out Yang's books, stories in anthologies, and standalone fiction so visitors can browse or find a specific work they're looking for 
• Offers multiple ways to connect with author

3. Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo's website is a great example for prolific writers with lots of work. It features a carousel slider to promote multiple books, including her latest release Ninth House , recent sequel Rule of Wolves , and collector’s edition of Shadow and Bone , as well as a link to her author bio. It also includes a link to a reading order, which can help first-time readers figure out which book to start with, as well as the "Grishaverse." This microsite is designed to provide visitors with a more in-depth look at the fictional universe Bardugo has created.

• Carousel slider on homepage promotes multiple works and author bio
• Can't miss newsletter opt-in form
• News page outlining releases, acclaim, and TV adaptations

4. Rick Riordan

Visiting Rick Riordan's website takes you on a mini quest, like many of his characters embark on. Starting at the "Explore" CTA on the homepage, you can scroll down to learn about the many different series and books Riordan has written. As you scroll, the yellow-dotted line will turn solid and change color. It's a unique twist on the traditional reading orders you find on most author websites. 

• Interactive reading order
• Lots of images and drawings make his website feel "bookish"
• Book pages include audio files, YouTube clips, reading guides, and other resources

Non-fiction Author Websites

5. ta-nehisi coates.

Ta-Nehisi Coates's website is an excellent example of user-centricity. It immediately tells you a little bit about the author and promotes his latest book, The Water Dancer , with clear and colorful CTAs. The homepage ends with a simple email opt-in form. If visitors are hoping to take another action on his site, the sticky navigation menu makes it easy for them to find info about his books, graphic novels, speaking engagements, and events.

• Color scheme and typography inspired by cover design of best-selling work, Between the World and Me
• Email opt-in form appears in different variations on different pages, including as a parallax section and in the sidebar

6. Roxane Gay

Roxane Gay's website is designed to showcase her work first. On the homepage, her latest release, The Selected Works of Audre Lorde , is promoted above the fold. Next is a larger selection of her recent books with a CTA encouraging readers to view all her work. Only after does she have an About section that's linked to her bio page. Notice this order is reflected in the navigation menu: "Books" is listed first, whereas "About" is listed last. 

• Design tailored to promote and sell her work
• Masterful use of whitespace and accent color
• Images are engaging and informative

7. Aytekin Tank

Jotform founder and CEO Aytekin Tank’s website immediately showcases his expertise as an entrepreneur, with his popular book Automate Your Busywork front and center. The homepage presents a clean, modern aesthetic with clear, accessible navigation. The design is elegant and functional, creating an inviting space for readers and followers to explore his work.

Aytekin puts his books first on the homepage as well as the navigation bar, and then introduces himself as an automation enthusiast.

• Simple opt-in form with a clear CTA for Aytekin’s newsletter
• Articles on productivity and automation are featured on the homepage
• First-time visitors can read a free chapter of Automate Your Busywork right away

8. Joan Didion

Joan Didion has won several awards, been the poster girl of Céline, and the subject of a Netflix documentary — so most people know who she is. That's why her website can focus on promoting her work first, just like Roxane Gay's.

Didion's homepage starts with a quote and title of an anthology of her work, "We tell ourselves stories in order to live." Below that is a carousel slider showcasing her large collection of work while taking up little space. Next there is an excerpt from her work The Year of Magical Thinking , with a CTA to read more. At the bottom of the page there is a short section about who she is with a CTA to read her complete bio. 

• Promotes collection of work before herself
• Unique page dedicated to excerpts from her writing
• Each book page includes a short description, reviews, quotes, and a longer excerpt to help readers make decision to buy

9. Ibram X. Kendi

Ibram X. Kendi is a best-selling and award-winning author, podcast host, contributor writer at The Atlantic and CBS News, professor, and Founding Director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. Instead of having to go to one place to purchase his books, another to read his essays, and another to listen to his podcast, his website clearly displays and organizes all of his content, media appearances, and events so you can find exactly what you're looking for, or spend time browsing. 

• Website is a hub for all his works and accomplishments
• His books, essays, pod, and press pages have grid layouts to display a lot of content in a clean and easily digestible way
• Two easy ways to donate to BU's Center for Antiracist Research in header and footer

Fiction Author Websites

10. miquel reina.

When landing on Miquel Reina’s website, it looks deceptively simple. There's his logo to the left, some navigation items to the right, and what appears to be an image of his book Lights on the Sea in the center. But if you stay on the page, then the book at the center is replaced by different translations and covers of his novel. This is an engaging and informative technique for visitors looking for the book in a particular language.

• Animated GIF displays each translation and cover of his book Lights on the Sea
• Offers discussion guide, free excerpts, and signed copies that you can purchase directly on site
• Simple email opt-in form and social media icons

11. Helen Hoang

Helen Hoang's website shows how authors can promote not just one, but multiple pieces of their work. Thanks to their position above the fold and colorful cover art, Hoang's trilogy immediately captures visitors' attention. Visitors can click to learn more about one of these books, or scroll down to learn about the author. You can find these options in the navbar as well. Here, you can also find a page dedicated to the many translations of her books and a page showing all the different places you can purchase her work. 

• Multiple ways for readers to learn more about her work and purchase
• Page dedicated to translations of her books that are available for purchase
• Color scheme based on cover of her first bestseller, The Kiss Quotient

12. Jennifer Egan

Jennifer Egan's website is unlike any other author website on this list. It offers a completely immersive experience to visitors. Those landing on the page will see the title of her latest book Manhattan Beach . Encouraged to scroll down the page by the vertical lines, visitors feel as if they submerge into the ocean thanks to a parallax scrolling effect. As readers continue to scroll, excerpts from the book float to the surface. Once they're done reading an excerpt, they can click to reveal the next in the series. Photographs are included as well.

• Interactive website invites visitors to immerse themselves in her latest book, Manhattan Beach
• Excerpt for each book available with clear CTA button
• Reviews and testimonials throughout site help convince readers to buy

13. Sandra Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros is an international best-selling author whose won multiple awards, fellowships, and honors. Her website offers a more intimate look into who she is, with photos of her swimming, posing with her dogs, and traveling. She also includes a "guestbook," where she displays messages she's received and responded to. This includes a contact form so you can send your own message as well. 

• A very personal author website
• Guestbook shows letters she's received from readers and responded to
• Section for letters to her readers as well

Self-published Author Websites

14. rupi kaur.

rupi kaur has one of the best interactive websites that carefully guides the reader toward different resources and pages on her site. When visitors land on the page, they see a hero image with rupi holding a copy of her latest poetry collection, home body . As readers scroll, the navar transitions from transparent to solid so visitors who know exactly what they're looking for can click on one of those links. The rest can just keep scrolling.

A section featuring her latest collection of poetry with a CTA to buy slides in first. Then, videos of rupi on The Tonight Show and a trailer of her stand-up poetry special appear. Next is a link to her shop, books, and bio. At any point, readers can click on one of the links in the sticky navbar at the top of the screen. 

• Super easy to navigate and fun to browse
• Unique layout with different text alignment and lots of whitespace so it looks like one of her poems
• Includes shop with stationary, art, and other goodies

15. LJ Ross

• Animated background image and hover animations engage visitors
• Fly-out menu with hamburger menu perfect for mobile
• Unique grid layout for book archive pages

16. Mark Dawson

Looking like one of the covers from his best-selling John Milton series, Mark Dawson's homepage perfectly encapsulates his brand. Only two elements are overlaid on top of the background image. The most eye-catching is the email newsletter opt-in form, which pops thanks to its white shadow effect. There's also the navigation bar, which is split into primary navigation items (on left) and secondary items (on right). Notice that "Books" comes first, since they're the main focus of the website. 

• Consistent branding so readers can easily recognize relation to his book series
• Multiple ways to connect, including email opt-in form and social follow buttons
• Built-in shop for purchasing books directly on site instead of being redirected to third-party site

The Online Presence of Authors

Authors can use a website to attract new readers, inform their existing audience of new releases and events, and share some more personal and professional details about themselves. The websites above are all unique but they have one thing in common: like the best bookstores, they’re easy to browse for hours.

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Best story writing websites in 2022

What are the best storytelling websites? We’ve put together a selection of writing sites offering writing tips, help with plot and character, book publication and promo resources and more.

• Post author By Jordan
• 27 Comments on Best story writing websites in 2022

Need writing resources? Here are some of the best story writing websites. We’ve updated these resources to include writing tips, story plotting resources, publishing and book promo help, and more.

Fiction writing websites – categories

Writing tips and insights from authors, community and writing critiques, help creating plot and structure, advice on creating characters, worldbuilding and creating story settings, writing tools for planning stories, creativity, inspiration and writing prompts, editing and evaluating your writing, insights from and help finding agents, story and book publishing help, help promoting your writing, writing genres and genre-specific insight.

• Further writing resources and roundups

Let’s dive in and explore some of the best writing resources on the web. Use the links on the right (if on a desktop device) to go to the section that interests you:

The websites in this section aren’t so much story writing websites as resources offering a peek into authors’ writing process , inspiration sources and advice:

The Paris Review

The Paris Review’s ‘Art of Fiction’ series includes interviews with celebrated authors and editors.

Interviewed luminaries include Toni Morrison, Ernest Hemingway, Ray Bradbury and others. See, for example, Faulkner on why believing you can rewrite better is positive motivation for an artist.

The books section of NPR offers many interesting interviews, podcasts (with transcripts) and book picks.

The New York Times By the Book

The New York Times is an excellent website for writers generally due to the caliber of its writing. The ‘By the Book’ section of this writing website offers illuminating author interviews.

Read Ocean Vuong on bringing books to lunch dates , ‘just in case’. Although the NYT is paywalled, it’s one of the more worthwhile (and cheaper) sites to subscribe to.

Writers & Artists

UK writing platform Writers & Artists has many blog articles and interviews. Their ‘advice’ section is particularly helpful for writers.

See this article by author Michèle Roberts , Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. Roberts shares how to get over writer’s block.

The Writer Magazine

Founded in 1887, The Writer magazine offers many illuminating interviews with authors. Here, for example, author Emma Straub talks character development , writing routine, the writing process, and more.

Additional resources

Is there another website whose author interviews you love? Please share your favorites in the comments below. Read advice from eight Nobel-winning authors here .

Writing groups are a fantastic way to develop your story (as our Group Coaching writing course alumni attest). Here are places to get feedback on your writing:

We’ll toot our own horn here: Now Novel’s critique groups are home to first-timers and experienced writers alike. Members who earn our ‘top critiquer’ badge frequently and consistently give thoughtful, considered writing feedback. We’ve regularly featured in Reedsy’s list of top writing communities and other best-of roundups.

Read our article on how to give feedback that rocks here .

Develop Your Story With Support

Finishing writing is hard – get help and stay accountable to your goals.

The writing platform Medium is described as an open platform ‘where readers find dynamic thinking’.

You’ll often find interesting thought pieces, such as Katie Lawrence’s piece on writing a bestseller here , as well as readers’ engaging comments.

Absolute Write Water Cooler

Absolute Write is a free writing forum and community. Here, writers share tips on subjects from writing software to approaching agents and editors.

See the full list of writing forums , spanning basic writing questions, how to deal with having stories turned down for publication, and much more.

The /r/writing Subreddit

Reddit is the more verbal of all the social platforms, and thus a natural fit for writers. The /r/writing subreddit currently has over two million members, and there are daily discussions about writing tools and software, and weekly critique and self-promotion threads too.

Creating the plot and structure for a story is hard without a framework. The fiction writing websites below offer plot frameworks, ways to understand story structure, and tips for writing page-turning stories.

To get brainstorming stories right away, start with Now Novel’s browser-based story outlining tool , the Now Novel dashboard.

The Nashville Film Institute provides a useful breakdown of Dan Harmon’s ‘Story Circle’ plot structure template , which itself is derived from Joseph Campbell’s classic The Hero’s Journey story structure concept .

UC Berkeley teaching resources

UC Berkeley has a portal with resources for teachers that includes a wonderfully clear summary of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey . The resource includes deep dives into the hero’s journey in myth and film. Explore various ways this story pattern recurs in different media.

Screenwriting tricks for authors

Author and screenwriter Alexandra Sokoloff’s blog offers many tips on plot and story structure. See a plot structure series Sokoloff wrote for NaNoWriMo on three-act story structure, beginning with the inciting incident .

The Plot Whisperer

Author Martha Alderson offers plenty of advice on how to plot and structure stories on her Plot Whisperer blog.

See, for example, ‘ 15 tips to create a compelling plot for your story ‘.

Aerogramme Writers’ Studio

Although Aerogramme Writers’ Studio has been taking a hiatus since around 2020 from posting new content, there is still a trove of useful story plotting and structure info on this story writing website.

See teacher and author Kenn Adams’ breakdown of the ‘story spine’ , a simple, eight-step ‘fill-in-the-blank’ process to find the core focus of a story.

Plot generator

This plot generator tool churns out some pretty wild plot ideas (‘Bernadette is a killer fuelled by homophobia, who watches teachers and shaves them’.) You may find useful plot tidbits in the midst of the absurdity.

The Learning Network on the NYT

Another helpful part of the New York Times (apart from the author interview section linked above) is its learning network.

See for example 1000 writing prompts for students in this article. These could be interesting questions to ask your fictional characters, too.

The secrets of story structure by K.M. Weiland

Author K.M. Weiland’s blog has many helpful articles on story craft. Her fiction writing website includes multi-article guides such as ‘The Secrets of Story Structure’ here .

ChatGPT by OpenAI

This AI writing generator is a helpful tool for finding writing prompts, synonyms, creating permutations of lines and ideas, and more. See our article on 10 helpful uses of AI writing tools where we explore the tool’s uses and limitations.

Learning how to create characters in an ongoing process of writing, learning more about the psychology of goals, motivations, desires and conflicts, and reading great character studies. Read our best articles on creating characters , and find useful character creation resources below:

Writers Write

Writers Write, originally founded by Amanda Patterson, has many articles on character development. Read this blog post for 350 ideas for character traits .

Ian Irvine’s character how-to’s

Author Ian Irvine has a great selection of character-building advice here , which he has condensed from Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Iglesias .

Random motive generator

Random generators are hit and miss, but this character motive generator can give you some ideas for the motive part of goal, motivation and conflict.

See more tips on creating clear goal, motivation and conflict for your characters in this extract from our monthly writing craft webinars with Now Novel coach and HarperCollins-published author, Romy Sommer:

This person does not exist

This AI-driven image creation tool composites a massive sample of images to create images of humans who do not (in theory) exist, generating characterful new people from visual data . Try refreshing the page a few times, then write a paragraph of description imagining who the person in front of you is.

Live Write Breathe

Author Janalyn Voigt offers plenty of writing advice on her blog, including this characte-building worksheet .

Worldbuilding is vital for creating believable settings that feel lived in and plausible. Read our best articles on creating settings and find worldbuilding resources for stories below:

Azgaar’s fantasy map generator

Countless fantasy novels begin with front pages showing fictional maps. Create your own with Azgaar’s fun, free browser-based fantasy map generator .

TED-Ed is the American media organization TED’s (of TED Talks – ‘ideas worth spreading’) platform for educational materials. Among the resources shared, you’ll find this rap from YouTube creator Flocabulary on why setting in stories matters .

TV Tropes offers many succinct wiki-style pages on film, TV and book tropes (motifs or devices that recur in popular culture and literature). See a post on the ‘standard fantasy setting’ that also links to TV Tropes’ page on urban fantasy.

The British national archives

If you are setting your story in England in a specific historical period, the national archives are a great resource for finding information. The collection spans 1000 years plus, including subjects such as the military, census records, famous wills, photographs of famous prisoners and more.

Writing a story set in another non-fictive country? Google for digital archives that may supply texture and detail for your setting.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America has many useful worldbuilding resources. See, for example, Patricia C. Wrede’s comprehensive list of fantasy worldbuilding questions .

Planning stories and creating outlines in advance is one way to ensure that you stay on track and don’t get stuck while drafting.

Read ways to use Now Novel’s story outlining tools and find more tools for planning stories below:

Several Now Novel members have mentioned that they use this well-known desktop-based writing software in tandem with Now Novel’s own online story brainstorming tools, as each compliments the others set of features. Read more about Scrivener’s features .

Although exclusive to Apple devices, this is a popular writing app that includes features such as word count tracking, as well as folders where you can organize writing project snippets by material integrated into your manuscript, material in review and process work or scrapped ideas.

Milanote is note creation tool pitched to story-boarders working in film, advertising and novel-writing as well . Like Evernote, it has a web clipper for saving snippets of articles you read to notes.

One stop for writers – timelines

In addition to offering helpful writing advice on their blog at Writers Helping Writers , Angela Ackerman and co provide a story tool with a timeline-creation tool that you may find useful if the sequence of events in your story is important.

Trello is a flexible browser-based project-management tool with a board-based interface (similar to Milanote) that you can use to organize scene summaries (much like our own Scene Builder, which is more story-oriented). Here’s an article from Trello’s blog on ways to use it to organize your story or story research.

How do you find a story idea ? The resources below include writing prompts, resources for finding story inspiration and more:

The Write Practice blog

The Write Practice has many helpful articles for writers on their blog, including this selection of writing prompts .

The Marginalian

The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings) is Maria Popova’s fantastic blog about writers, inspiration, creativity and more. See for example how she unpacks complex ideas about inspiration from Ursula K. Le Guin .

Positive Writer

Bryan Hutchinson offers helpful personal accounts relating to writing and inspiration, such as how creative journaling helped his writing process .

Advice to Writers

Jon Winokur’s writing website offers ‘writerly wisdom of the ages’ in daily quotes, such as this one:

I’ve tried to figure out what good writing is. I know it when I read it in other people’s work or my own. The closest I’ve come is that there’s a rhythm to the writing, in the sentence and the paragraph. When the rhythm’s off, it’s hard to read the thing. Sebastian Junger, quoted by Jon Winokur.

Encyclopedia Mythica

Myths, legends and fables have always been fantastic sources of inspiration for new stories. Encyclopedia Mythica is a helpful wiki all about mythology and famous mythic figures.

Reedsy Plot Generator

Reedsy has a fun tool for generating plot ideas by genre that may help you find initial inspiration for something you can alter and make your own further.

Nonsense Generator

This is another idea generator tool that churns out absurd sentences. More silly than serious, you might find an image that strikes you all the same. Example generated: ‘Two-finger John set a treehouse on fire’.

Bookfox (formerly The John Fox) has many articles with writing prompts and inspiration. Here’s a list of how 50 authors prepare to write and get inspired.

Resources for editing stories will be more important to you perhaps if you are nearer the end of your manuscript. Find out about Now Novel’s editing services here and keep reading for helpful editing tools and resources:

Chicago Manual of Style’s shop talk blog

The Chicago Manual of Style is a trusted style and editing manual. Their ‘shop talk’ blog has helpful tips on grammar, style and punctuation. Also find articles such as this on using Word vs Docs to edit your manuscript.

ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is ‘an AI-powered writing assistant’ that checks writing for style and grammar issues. See their article on why they’re a good choice of editing plugin to use with Now Novel .

Hemingway App

Hemingway is a simple, browser-based editing tool for checking paragraphs for issues such as sentence structure, reading level, and grammar.

Grammarly is another style and spelling checker that is widely used.

Oxford grammar practice resources

Practice your grammar online with these basic, intermediate and advanced lessons from Oxford University Press.

Grammar Girl

Grammar Girl is a resource that’s part of Mignon Fogarty’s ‘Quick and Dirty Tips’ network. It’s a useful resource for brushing up on grammar. Read about the different types of nouns and their uses , for example.

Once you’ve finished writing a book and edited a draft so it is good enough to send off, where do you find help writing synopses or lists of agents open to submissions? Here are some helpful resources around representation and querying your manuscript:

Writer’s Market guides

Writer’s Market publishes useful annual guides on the publishing industry. You’ll find query letter templates as well as guides to getting agency representation packed with actionable advice.

The Query Shark

Janet Reid’s blog Query Shark provides excellent insight into the parts of query letters that work and pique interest.

Association of Authors’ Representatives

Many agents belong to associations such as the AAR. These agent listing platforms provide a useful way to search for agents interested in your genre and whether they are open to unsolicited submissions or require referrals.

Querytracker

This platform provides a useful list of agents as well as individual agent profiles where querying authors comment their experiences and whether or not they received full or partial manuscript requests. It’s helpful to determine which agents are active and which tend to be more responsive to queries in a specific niche.

Agent and publishing coach Rachelle Gardner

Agent and publishing coach Rachelle Gardner offers plenty of useful advice on writing and publishing, such as this article on whether or not you should write to market .

Curtis Brown Creative’s blog

Curtis Brown Creative, a London-based literary agency established in 2011, offers plenty of advice from agents and agent-represented authors on their blog. Founder and director Anna Davis offers some excellent advice on preparing to submit to agents .

Guide to literary agents

Writer’s Digest’s ‘Guide to Literary Agents’ blog section touches on querying, the importance of perseverance in getting published, and more.

NY Book Editors

NY Book Editors have an excellent blog – the linked article on writing query letters gives plenty of good tips as well as helpful examples of strong openings and more.

Poets & Writers agent database

Poets & Writers magazine has a helpful database of literary agents where you can find agents’ contact details, the genres they’re interested in representing, and further details such as their respective agencies’ websites.

Nathan Bransford’s blog

Nathan Bransford, an author and former agent at Curtis Brown, writes a blog where he offers tips such as how to write a query letter .

Evil Editor

Evil Editor breaks down synopses and explains pitfalls writers should avoid.

Publishing is a vast subject area, from choosing between indie and traditional publishing to understanding market, Kindle store categories, what the publishing process is like, and more.

Watch a video extract from our monthly webinars below where Romy Sommer explores paths to publishing. Then keep reading for useful publishing websites:

Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is a great resource for all things publishing-related, including weekly information on recent book deals that will help you abreast of what’s happening in publishing.

Writer Beware (the SFWA)

Writer Beware , a subcommunity of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, offers a great resource on dubious publishing tactics and would-be agents and other pitfalls to keep aware of.

Publishers Marketplace

Publishers Marketplace is another useful publishing resource (particularly for US-based writers), including information on agents, their commission rates, recent book deals and more.

Jane Friedman

Jane Friedman’s blog focuses on the publishing industry and helping authors navigate processes such as starting out as an unpublished author. See her beginner’s guide to getting published .

The Creative Penn

Joanna Penn’s blog includes podcasts and interviews with specialists in a range of niches, including book publishing and promo. See for example this podcast interview on going wide with publishing consultant Mark Leslie Lefebvre.

Publishing Perspectives

This publishing portal offers news on recent writing prize winners, news round-ups about events in the book industry, and more.

Hawes Publications

This useful internet resource keeps an updated list of brief plot summaries (loglines) describing popular releases, a two-sentence plot summary or blurb . Reading over succinct summaries could help you tighten your own elevator pitch or logline.

Writing Cooperative

Writing Cooperative is home to many useful resources for writers, such as this list by Austin Hackney of 128 publications that pay for short stories.

BookBub’s blog often features helpful articles on publishing matters, such as this article ‘ 50+ Publishing Resources You Should Know About ‘ by Diana Urban.

Reedsy offers a comprehensive directory of publishers that have been vetted, including data such as location, size, what genres they publish, and whether or not they are indie and open to submissions.

Kindle Publishing Guidelines

If you’re planning to indie publish a book on Kindle, Kindle Direct Publishing has a handy knowledge base with information on everything from cover image guidelines to enhanced typesetting tips.

Book marketing is something many authors find challenging. Reading the right resources and putting time into promoting your work (or rather, building relationships with future readers) is key to selling. Find useful resources for book promo below:

Penguin UK’s blog

Penguin’s blog has many articles offering succinct tips, such as this post on ways to promote your book (including video on what a book publicist does).

NetGalley is a book promo platform devoted to helping build your ‘street team’ – readers who may receive advance copies in exchange for honest reviews.

Smith Publicity

Smith Publicity is a book publicity agency that offers helpful guides to doing book promo. See these 110 tips for marketing your book.

Whitefox, a company offering publishing consultancy and other services relating to publishing and distribution, offers helpful tips on book promo on their blog. See this round-up, where nine book industry insiders give advice for creating pre-publication buzz.

Scribe Media

Scribe Media offer, among other services, book launch preparation and assistance getting media exposure. Read their helpful post on thirteen ways to get more exposure for your book .

Dave Chesson at Kindlepreneur

Dave Chesson provides useful introductions to book promo (pertaining to selling via Amazon’s Kindle store), such as this guide to choosing the right categories for giving your books maximum visibility.

The Book Designer

The Book Designer, in the same stable as Self Publishing School, has several helpful articles related to book promo, such as this one on how to get reviews for indie-published books .

Self-Publishing School

Self-Publishing School offers various tips on book publishing and promo, and this is a helpful round-up of free and paid sites where you can promote your latest publication .

There are many internet resources that provide insight and help specific to different writing genres. Find resources for romance, fantasy, mystery, crime, sci-fi, historical and more below:

Writing romance

Find our best romance articles here and extra romance writing websites below:

Write for Harlequin

Harlequin has long been a big name in romance publishing. On the ‘Write for Harlequin’ blog, the publisher frequently shares editors’ wish lists such as this summary of stories sought in the historical romance subgenre .

The Mills & Boon blog

Mills & Boon is another big name in romance publishing, and their blog features many interesting romance subgenre and trope discussions, such as authors on why they love writing the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope .

Diana Gabaldon’s blog

Diana Gabaldon, author of the successful romantic historical Outlander series, has an active blog where she shares interviews from the archives, news and more. Here’s an interview where Gabaldon speaks on writing an honest romance book that will ring true regardless of setting, time period, and how much (or little) autobiography it contains.

She Reads Romance Books

Review communities dedicated to specific genres are a great way to delve into the minds of readers in your target market and see what makes readers love the books they do. This romance-focused site offers round ups of the best romance books over the years and more.

Nicholas Sparks’ blog

Some of the tips on romance author Nicholas Sparks’ blog may read a little pat, but in the ‘advice to writers’ section of the author’s website there is this good advice:

Over time, quality work will lead to an audience for your work. In the end, readers always choose. Nicholas Sparks, author’s website.

Romance Writers of Australia

This Australian romance writers’ organization offers a fun ‘three things I learned writing …’ series where romance authors discuss three things they learned while writing their published books. It’s full of motivating lessons from romance writing such as ‘anything is fixable’.

Romance Writers of America

The RWA likewise has an archive of helpful articles on romance writing . Articles range from industry news to tips for building your newsletter.

Writing fantasy

Read all our most popular fantasy-writing articles here , and more on the genre below:

The SWFA’s blog

This has been mentioned already above in a different context, but in addition to its excellent guides and resources, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America also offers articles by guest contributors on topics such as walking the line between good style and too much fantasy jargon and slang .

Ursula K. Le Guin archives

The ‘about writing’ archives on Ursula K. Le Guin’s website are a great selection of the late fantasy and science fiction author’s musings on fantasy-related and more general writing topics. Here’s a good open letter on plausibility in fantasy with interesting discussion of the way Tolkien uses settings.

Neil Gaiman’s blog

Author Neil Gaiman’s career has spanned an eclectic range of genres and formats, from dark fantasy to sci fi, graphic novels and screenplays. The author’s blog is full of interesting insights into fantasy, such as an appreciation post for Sir Terry Pratchett or this essay on where Gaiman gets his ideas .

The Speculative Literature Foundation

The Speculative Literature Foundation is ‘a global nonprofit dedicating to promoting literary quality in speculative fiction’. Resources the organization offers include lists of grants for fantasy and sci-fi writers as well as interviews with speculative fiction writers and deep dives into writing matters .

Fantasy author Brent Weeks

The fantasy author Brent Weeks offers plenty of excellent advice on fantasy worldbuilding , magic systems, writing fight scenes and more on his personal blog.

Writing science fiction

Another complex speculative genre, science fiction has many fantastic writing organizations and story writing websites dedicated to the genre:

Neal Stephenson’s writing advice

Although not a separate story writing website, speculative fiction titan Neal Stephenson’s writing advice on the TED-Ed blog is simple and golden.

Galaxy science fiction magazine archives

Galaxy was a science fiction magazine published from 1950 to 1980 and is thus an interesting time capsule for SF writers. You can read stories by Ray Bradbury in its pages (including his story ‘The Fireman’ which later became his cult novel, Fahrenheit 451 ).

Philip K. Dick on androids and humans

One of the most influential sci-fi authors of all time gave a speech titled ‘The Android and the Human’ at the Vancouver Science Fiction Convention in 1972, available to read here .

Asimov Online

Isaac Asimov, one of the so-called ‘big three’ science fiction authors, is the subject of this internet archive of sci-fi resources , essays and more.

Arthur C. Clarke at 100

On the centenary of Arthur C. Clarke’s birth, Adam Roberts reflects on this ‘big three’ sci-fi author’s legacy and works such as Rendezvous with Rama (1973) and 2001: A Space Odyssey for The Guardian .

Tor, a speculative fiction publishing company, runs a blog featuring interesting science fiction reads such as this article by author Adam Oyebanji on how science ‘nudges fiction towards new frontiers’.

Locus Magazine

Billed as ‘the magazine of the science fiction and fantasy field’, Locus’ fiction writing website has speculative fiction publishing news, reviews, interviews, lists of sci-fi and fantasy conventions, and more.

Writing crime and mystery

The crime and mystery fiction writing websites below include writing organizations, useful crime-writing and mystery resources, and more:

Mystery Writers of America

The Mystery Writers of America writing organization describes itself as ‘the premier organization for mystery and crime writers, professionals allied to the crime-writing field, aspiring crime writers, and folks who just love to read crime fiction’. See their list of vetted publishers of crime and mystery .

The Crime Writers’ Association

Another crime-writing organization based in the UK, member benefits include co-promotion of new crime novel releases, monthly crime fiction -devoted newsletters, and more.

International Thriller Writers

The International Thriller Writers organization like the CWA has a debut authors program , whereby you get extra help with launching and promoting your debut in return for membership.

Agatha Christie archives

This website devoted to the seminal mystery author’s life and work includes interesting information such as this article on how Christie wrote , along with bibliographies, reading lists and more.

Louise Penny’s author site

Mystery author Louise Penny offers tips and encouragement for getting published on her personal author site.

Crime Reads

A crime and mystery-writing website, Crime Reads offers blogs on mystery topics such as the ‘fine art’ of writing riveting plot twists .

Sisters in Crime

Founded in 1986 to advocate for women crime writers, Sisters in Crime offers writing webinars, resources for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, and more.

Jungle Red Writers

This blog helmed by seven women who write crime has many interesting reads, such as Hannah Mary Mckinnon’s article on embracing research .

Elizabeth Spann Craig

Cozy mystery author Elizabeth Spann Craig blogs about writing mysteries and also has an well-curated writing guide roundup she shares via Twitter called ‘Twitterific Writing Links’.

Criminal Minds blog

The premise of this story writing website is simple: ‘Each week, we respond to provocative questions about crime fiction, writing, publishing and life.’ Read crime and mystery Q&As .

Crime by the Book blog

Crime by the Book is ‘the result of one girl’s ongoing exploration of crime fiction from around the world’. You’ll find crime book reviews, recommended reading lists and more on this portal dedicated to the crime genre.

Crime Fiction Lover

This crime-focused writing site offers crime novel reviews, author spotlights and interviews, a virtual book club and more.

Author Bryn Donovan’s blog

Author Bryn Donovan offers helpful tips for mystery and crime writers, such as this list of 25 case-solving clues you could use in a story.

The unsolved mysteries subreddit

Reddit is full of interesting topic threads with deep dives and articles shares. A good subreddit or community for mystery authors is the Unsolved Mysteries subreddit .

Here, members discuss unsolved cases and their theories about what happened. [Note that stories may share disturbing elements relating to unsolved police cases].

Writing children’s and YA fiction

Writing for younger readers entails writing to specific reading age norms, knowing what is age-appropriate and more. Find useful writing websites for YA and kids’ lit below:

The Atlantic

The Atlantic is not dedicated to YA and kids’ lit, but has a helpful article here where YA authors share their best tips on writing for and about teens.

The YA Bookshelf

The YA Bookshelf is a useful website for YA book reviews and resources. See their roundup of YA book blogs , for example.

Hannah Holt’s blog

Children’s writer Hannah Holt has an interesting deep dive into YA author stats (though published in 2017, it has all kinds of insights into YA author advances, average submissions until being published and more).

So You Want to Write

So You Want to Write has a comprehensive guide to writing YA by YA fantasy author Mackenzie Belcastro.

John Green Q&A

It’s great when authors give concise answers to complex questions. YA author John Green’s writing FAQs on his website answers interesting questions such as ‘how do you write about adolescents when you aren’t one?’

Vlogbrothers

Writing for younger readers necessitates using platforms younger readers love well and meaningfully. See John and Hank Green’s vlog on YouTube for ideas of how to create meaningful video content for your YA readers.

Sarah Webb’s children’s writing tips

Children’s author Sarah Webb shares great advice for writing for children on her author site.

Michael Morpugo’s teaching resources

Sir Michael Morpugo, one of the best-loved children’s authors and author of War Horse , shares inviting question and quiz resources for parents and educators to go with his books via the author’s website. An inspiring ed-tech format to use with your own children’s writing.

Interview with Maurice Sendak

The Guardian has many fantastic articles mixing essay with interview, such as this biting and fascinating conversation with Maurice Sendak , author and illustrator of the beloved Where the Wild Things Are . His statement ‘I refuse to lie to children’ is an interesting maxim for writing for younger, truth-seeking readers.

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

This helpful resource for children’s book writers and readers includes interviews with authors, information on the Children’s Book Award, and more.

Writing historical fiction

Writing historical fiction naturally involves research due to stories being based on real events. Here are some of he best internet resources for researching and writing historical books, including museum archives with digital collections and universities’ subject specialist research guides.

British Pathé archives

British Pathé is a fascinating resource for historical footage and photo collections. See, for example, their outline of key events from WWII.

The National Archives (UK)

The National Archives is a vast archive spanning 1000 years of UK history. The searchable collections have many photo albums and articles, on everything from coronations to crime and punishment in specific eras.

The Smithsonian Institute

Across the Atlantic, the Smithsonian Institute offers vast archives of research materials to do with American history, from conservation biology to art history.

National Archives of Australia

Writing books set in Australia? The National Archives of Australia provides research guides for subjects such as first peoples and colonial history, foreign relations, military history and more.

USC Latin America resource guide

The University of Southern California offers a useful, organized guide to resources on Latin American history and archives from this region as well as the Caribbean. Google ‘.edu’ and the area you’re interested in and ‘resources’ to find similar librarian-developed research resources for historical fiction.

Yale’s European history library guide

Yale University has a fantastic library guide to historical research resources about Europe . Includes resources for general Western European history and medieval, early modern and modern Europe.

The Historical Novel Society

Founded in 1997, this organization is devoted to historical fiction and offers a quarterly magazine, information on historical fiction conferences, member directory and more.

A Writer of History by M.K. Tod

Historical fiction author and blogger M.K. Tod shares many interesting historical fiction discussions and interviews on her blog. For example, this deep dive on behind-the-scenes facts from WWII .

Africa is a Country

Africa is a Country (the title is ironic) is a fantastic resource for nuanced journalism and contemporary, left-leaning analysis of African culture and politics, reviews of books about African and diasporic issues, and more. A good research resource for studying African issues and debates.

English Historical Fiction Authors

This history writing blog began in 2011 and shares all kinds of interesting micro history accounts by historical writers from various periods of British history.

Queen Anne Boleyn blog

This site devoted to historical fiction and named after the famously executed second wife of Heny VIII has many interesting blog articles. See, for example, where history authors weighed in on casting decisions and the question of race and representation in adapting historical stories for film and TV.

Jane Austen’s World

This blog offers thought-provoking deep dives into Austen’s writing , the Regency period (such as social customs of the time) and more.

Further writing resources

Mcsweeney’s internet tendency.

A long-standing humor site that publishes biting satire and parody, such as ‘If people talked to other professionals the way they talk to teachers’ by Shannon Reed . A good regular read for aspiring humor writers.

Quora is often a very useful resource when you have a specific writing-related question you’d like to crowd-source answers for (for example, ‘ What is plot development? ‘).

Chuck Wendig’s Terrible Minds

Chuck Wendig’s Terrible Minds blog is full of interesting and profanity-laden articles about the writing process [not for the expletive-squeamish] and now features guest articles on topics such as ‘five things learned while writing a book’.

Writer’s Digest

Writer’s Digest is one of the longest-standing writing sites on the web, with WD having been founded long before the interne in 1920. They offer fiction and non-fiction writing resources, a very broad section on getting published and more.

National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo has a simple premise: Challenging writers to try produce a book draft in a month. Anyone who has written or attempted to write a book knows this is no time at all, but many authors use the write-a-thon as an exercise to see how much they can churn out of a manuscript within 30 days.

Writer Unboxed

This story writing website founded by Kathleen Bolton and current editorial director Therese Walsh offers an engaging blog and also published a writing manual , Author in Progress in partnership with Writer’s Digest. The manual is billed as ‘a no-holds-barred guide to what it really takes to get published’.

Literary Hub publishes a wide variety of material, but their ‘craft and criticism’ section is perhaps the most immediately useful. Read this article by author Vauhini Vara on how to keep a long project alive (with advice from writer and Emeritus Professor of English Tobias Wolff).

What are your favorite literary writing websites? Let us know in the comments below. Start writing a book with structured support and a caring community’s help.

Related Posts:

• Writing a fantasy novel: 34 must-visit websites
• Publishing a novel in 2022: 10 useful insights
• How to get your book published: Detailed 2022 guide
• Tags writing resources , writing websites

Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town.

27 replies on “Best story writing websites in 2022”

Always great content on here! Really impressed at how in depth this list is. Bookmarking it for later.

Thanks so much, Ben.

Great content and we are really impressed with the way of presentations

This was such an awesome article. So awesome in fact I’ve featured it on my top 15 best articles on writing – ever! http://reflectionsfromaredhead.com/the-best-articles-on-writing/

Thank you, Janine! Have shared your post on social media.

That is quite an extensive list. Thank you very much for this comprehensive blog post.

Take a look at Writelight as well.

Thank you for the suggestion, Artem.

Hello, I Like your blog, I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wish you best of luck for all your best efforts. Bonobology | Romantic Story

If this list gets update sometime, some sites for Writer Podcasts and Book Cover resources would be good addition.

Hi Adrijus, great suggestions. It’s on my list!

Happy to share some if needed.

P.S. Do you take guest posters on? 🙂

Hi Adrijus, we do when it’s good content relevant to aspiring authors primary challenges (e.g. craft, organization, publishing process, etc.) The best thing to do is submit a pitch to help at nownovel dot com via email including topic and title suggestions and we’ll see if there’s fit.

Thanks for asking.

Sounds good. Thank you!

Hi Bridget, you have done a great work here. I’m really impressed.

This was such an awesome article. You can also publish your story on https://highlightstory.com

Thank you! I’m not sure I’ll check out all these resources, but I’ve already found some useful ones for me. I find great support in writers’ blogs and the block with general tips is very useful for me. In addition, I want to share some interesting articles: https://stacitroilo.wordpress.com/2019/07/19/author-inspiration-writing-links-83/ I read this blog regularly as yours and find many useful ideas.

Thank you, Anna. Thanks for sharing helpful resources you’ve come across too.

[…] Novel: “Story writing websites and resources: 200 of the best,” a comprehensive resource divided into useful categories including everything from plot […]

Some of your links need to fixed. One’s like Deborah Bruch’s Plot Analysis Worksheet leads to a “Forbidden” access page, and you have Reedsy leads to the previous option of Nonsense Generator. You have a shit ton of great links, some just need to be cleaned up a bit.

Thank you, JD. Will do – this one hasn’t had some attention in a while. Thank you for reading our blog.

i love writing stories guys

That’s great, Larric – keep writing them 🙂

Nice collection Jordan! I also have a blog where I share my writing tips for story/book writing.

Hi Pauline, thank you for sharing that. I had to remove your link to your site as there is a lot of advertising on-page and the content that I read had several confusing paragraphs and would benefit from editing. Readers could thus see the site as spammy (a reason we don’t run third-party ads on this blog). I would suggest looking at those aspects if you want your readership to grow.

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Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers 2022

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Each year, Writer’s Digest compiles the 101 Best Websites for Writers. See the complete 2022 list here.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve shared our 101 Best Writing Websites for 2021. Originally featured in our May/June 2021 issue, these websites will help inspire, educate, and connect you to other writers as you start or continue on your writing journey.

Writer’s Digest Best Creativity Websites 2022

Writer’s Digest Best Live Streams, Podcasts, and YouTube Channels 2022

Writer’s Digest Best Writing Advice Websites for Writers 2022

Writer’s Digest Best Everything Agent Websites for Writers 2022

Writer’s Digest Best General Resources Websites for Writers 2022

Writer’s Digest’s Best Genre/Niche Websites 2022

Writer’s Digest’s Best Publishing News and Resource Websites 2022

Writer’s Digest Best Job and Market Websites 2022

Writer’s Digest Best Writing Community Websites 2022

Writer’s Digest Best Self-Publishing Websites 2022

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WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

Helping writers become bestselling authors

The Sites I Recommend the Most to Writers

March 22, 2022 by ANGELA ACKERMAN

By Angela Ackerman

So, three things about me:

• I like to help (really, I’m a bit psycho about it – be warned)
• I like to build unique storytelling tools
• I like to share great resource finds with other writers

Online, I try to match people with the information they need. Sometimes people reach out through email or a Facebook page to see if I can help them solve a problem they’re having. Many writers tend to have similar struggles, and so I often end up recommending the same tools or sites again and again. I thought it might be fun to round up the resources I recommend the most.

#1: The Critique Circle

A lot of writers reach out because they’ve 1) written a book and need guidance on the next steps, 2) they’ve become frustrated because they can’t seem to sell their book and need to know if there’s something wrong with it, or 3), they need an editor for a manuscript. While it sounds like these writers may need different things, likely they don’t. All three could benefit from the same thing – unbiased feedback.

Critique Circle is an online community where you can submit your work for critique and offer feedback to others in turn. You’ll get a variety of critiques (six, ten, maybe more) from writers at different levels. Having six sets of eyes (or more) on your work means collectively you’ll get some good guidance on what to fix, and multiple critiques can help with spotting patterns. If several folks are all pointing out the same or similar issues, you know there’s a problem to fix.

You might be wondering why I would send someone who is submitting to agents and publishers to a critique group and not an editor, right? Well, it’s simple: many writers submit before they’re ready. (I sure did, back in the day.) And taking your book to an editor right off the bat is going to cost money, whereas the Critique Circle is free (they do have a paid plan, too). Starting with a free option is a good first step.

So, unless a person tells me they’ve extensively workshopped a book and have already used critique groups, I recommend starting at Critique Circle, even if a person just needs an unbiased opinion on whether a book is ready for submitting. Once the writer has learned what they can at the critique level, they can decide if they need to move to an editor, or focus on their query letter & targeting to achieve a better response rate.

#2: ProWritingAid

Another handy-dandy tool I suggest to writers all the time as they polish and tighten is ProWritingAid . It’s a brilliant tool with a free and paid version (and the cost is reasonable and offers great value). As I mentioned above, hiring a freelance editor can be costly, so the stronger you make your writing before seeking one out, the better. And if you are querying, or sending a synopsis and sample pages, you don’t want typos, grammar or weak writing to distract an agent or editor from your brilliant story premise.

#3: Jane Friedman

One reason why it’s such a great time to be a writer is that our community is packed with experts willing to share their experience to help us navigate publishing. In the old days, it was straightforward – you wrote the best book you could, got an agent, and then submitted to publishers. Straightforward, but far from easy. Like today, you needed a stellar book with a fresh premise, a killer query, and then to win the lottery by finding the right agent and editor at the right time, who was looking for a project just like yours. That’s traditional publishing.

Of course now we have self-publishing and hybrid publishing options, too, and so we need to think about the right path for us. Once we decide, we need to buckle in and get ready for a mountain of work. But fear not, writing friend, because we have Jane Friedman ‘s beautiful brain and her step-by-step guidance as we navigate the publishing path we’ve chosen.

Jane been in the industry for a long time and knows it inside and out. She’s taken a deep dive into different publishing routes and so has many articles and resources to help writers. (Her blog is also filled with tons of great articles on craft and marketing, too!)

Ah, marketing, the necessary evil. We can write a book, and publish it, but if we don’t market it, chances are, no one will find it. So, we need to proactively think about our audience and how to reach them. I know you’re worried about coming across as car salesman-y, but here’s a secret – marketing isn’t about selling books. It’s about having a focus, being authentic, and building relationships. (You can read more about my FAR Marketing Method here .),

If we want to find our reading audience across the entire world, we should get online and embrace social media to some degree. Don’t worry, we don’t need to do it all, but we should do some, focusing on platforms where our ideal audience hangs out.

A big problem with social media is that it can steal a lot of time, so using tools in the right way can help us be more efficient. A tool I couldn’t live without is Buffer . It allows me to schedule content on all my social platforms, so I’m always sharing helpful articles and occasional items to help people discover how I can help them. Scheduling this content means I get time back to use my social media time to hang out and chit-chat on feeds and DMs, as being social is what it’s really about.

Between writing, publishing, marketing, and running a business, well, writers juggle A LOT. Lists can be our friend, but having a way to visualize our action items and track important spreadsheets, links and sites in one place is really helpful. Becca and I use Trello , which allows us to create boards, lists, and cards for everything we do from our publication process for each book, to marketing objectives and goals, to brainstorming ideas for blog posts, books, and new tools for One Stop for Writers. Cards can be dragged from one column to the next, reordered, labelled, etc. It’s a brilliant way to map out a to-do list or process, or even brainstorm ideas for a new book. Did I mention Trello has a generous free version? Check it out !

#6: One Stop for Writers

As you know, Becca and I work to help writers strengthen their description skills because the better we get at showing the things that matter in a story, the more readers can truly experience the story, and a good book becomes exceptional. Many are familiar with our Thesaurus Writing Guides, and so write us to see if we have a thesaurus on a particular topic they need help describing.

Ironically, more often than not, we point them to One Stop for Writers because we have many more descriptive thesaurus topics there (16) than we do in book form (7). Our thesauruses are all centralized in one database, meaning it’s all in one place, saving writers time.

The site has a lot of other special lists, generators, worksheets, and crazy-helpful tools (like the Character Builder ) that can help writers with everything to do with a story, so even if something isn’t covered in a thesaurus, it’s tackled somewhere. If you’d like to poke around to see all the resources and tools, test drive the 2-week free trial .

#7: Wide for the Win Facebook Group

If there’s one truth in this world, it’s that writers work freaking hard to get their books into the world. And that work doesn’t stop at writing “the end” or hitting the publish button at Ingram, Amazon, or elsewhere, either.

When we choose to be authors, we’re also choosing to become business owners, marketers, publishers, publicists, and accountants. And boy, is there a lot to know.

One of the best sources of information I’ve found is the Wide for the Win Facebook group. It’s over 10,000 strong, and each member is motivated to share knowledge and experience to help one another succeed.

If you’re an indie, this is the group for you. But honestly, I think even if you’re traditionally published, I think there’s a lot to learn here about how to sell. One thing to note – this is a “going wide” group, meaning discussion is around leveraging multiple platforms to reach readers, not restricting a book to Kindle Unlimited.

#8 The Storyteller’s Roadmap

Another thing people ask about is where to hire a story coach ( here are some options ). A story coach can be wonderful for someone who needs guidance, but for some, the cost is not in the budget. Becca and I created a solution for writers who want step-by-step help but are on a budget – the Storyteller’s Roadmap .

There are a lot of steps to planning, writing, and revising a powerful novel, meaning more than a few places where writers can become stuck, blocked, lost, and frustrated enough to quit. It’s important to keep going because this story called out to be written, right? There’s a diamond within, and if it’s written, it can be fixed.

The Storyteller’s Roadmap is your writing GPS, helping you navigate your way to a publish-ready novel. It guides you to what you need as you need it, too, pointing out tools, resources, and advice that help make your job easier. You loved your story enough to start it, and the Storyteller’s Roadmap at One Stop for Writers will help you finish it.

#9: I Need Help With… Resource Mother Lode

Finally, last year when we redesigned Writers Helping Writers, we built a powerful I need help with… section on the home page with our very best articles, tools, tip sheets, and more. You’ll find a ton of help in key areas, not only to help you write a stronger story, but also market your book, and manage your mindset and business. Just choose your topic to find what you need:

These are my top recommendations…what are yours?

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers , a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

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Reader Interactions

April 30, 2022 at 12:17 am

Oh I forgot to add. I use Publer to take care of my social media accounts (all the usual suspects Twitter, FB etc etc). Saves a TON of time.

April 30, 2022 at 12:15 am

What a great list! I have to check all of them out.

March 24, 2022 at 12:46 am

Writers Helping Writers is on my list! 🙂

https://www.lisapoisso.com/editing/writing-resources-fiction/

March 24, 2022 at 6:37 pm

You are the best!

March 23, 2022 at 4:48 pm

I agree great information a lot to take in I am going to take a look at Buffer. Many new things for me (interested)Thank you

March 23, 2022 at 5:46 pm

So glad this is helpful. And yes, give Buffer a try. It’s a really useful app as long as you’re also making time to connect with people on social media. 🙂

March 24, 2022 at 12:44 am

I’m ready to switch to Meet Edgar, but I’ll have to wait until my current sub to Buffer is up. Edgar does more of the work of keeping your evergreen rotation moving with variations. Check it out! https://meetedgar.com/

March 24, 2022 at 6:38 pm

I did look into this tool a while back, and I was wondering if it would e better or not. Let me know what you think about it!

March 23, 2022 at 10:31 am

Thanks for the shoutout to the Wide for the Win group! That was so sweet of you. And this list as a whole is terrific. ❤️

March 23, 2022 at 1:00 pm

I am so appreciative of the knowledge shared there. I feel like I juggle a thousand balls at any given time and I KNOW I’m dropping many of them. But when I need guidance or a quick answer to help me manage, I always come the group. So very glad you guys created it! 🙂

50 Websites That Pay You To Write Fiction (2022)

How many times have you found yourself with a polished piece of writing that you’d like to submit for publication, only to find it infuriatingly difficult to find the right market or outlet, especially writing sites that pay ? Once you’ve done the hard work of planning, researching, drafting, redrafting, and editing your fiction, you want to find it the perfect ‘home’, where it will reach your intended audience – and where you will get paid to write!

The trouble is, many listicles of websites that pay you to write fiction have become outdated since their publication. They can lead to dead-ends, links to since-closed submission pages, or even to writing websites that have since gone out of business. Even worse, they sometimes lead you to extortionate scams framed as “writing courses”, which offer you the privilege of paying money for the potential of being published. 

That’s why we’ve compiled an up-to-date list of paying markets for 2021. We’ve checked each listing for legitimacy, and it’s constantly being updated. We’ve also deliberately avoided adding any soul-destroying “content mills”. At the end of this list, you’ll find a great opportunity to get paid to write fiction online . You can even earn $200 – without doing any of the writing (scroll down to see it now!).

Relay Publishing

Relay Publishing is a multi-genre fiction publishing company that’s been in business since 2013. They have a catalog of more than 1,000 books in English, German and French, with their focus on romance, young adult fantasy, science fiction, thrillers, and post-apocalyptic fiction. 

There are so many advantages to ghostwriting for an agency like Relay, including a steady stream of long-term projects (no more juggling multiple clients!); in-house resources, outline writers, and editors to guide and support you; competitive pay; and the ability to earn money writing fiction online – from the comfort of your own home! There are a variety of exciting jobs available . Here’s what one freelancer had to say… 

“It’s great that Relay has up-to-date manuals and instructions for so many stages of their process. I love that level of investment. It’s very good to be able to get feedback after a project. It’s great for a company to value freelancer input, and treat all those involved as bringing something valuable to the project.”

Get Paid to Write Contemporary and Literary Fiction

AGNI is a literary magazine run out of Boston University. They champion emerging authors, meaning you don’t need an extensive portfolio or social media presence behind you in order for your submission to be considered. In addition to short contemporary fiction, they also accept poetry and critical essays. Their submission period is between September and May every year, and if your piece is selected for publication, they pay $10 per printed page for fiction, and $20 per printed page for poetry. They also throw in a year’s subscription to the magazine, and several contributor copies of the issue!

• Apparition Lit

Apparition lit is a themed quarterly literary magazine that specialises in pieces with a speculative slant. They publish short stories, poetry, and artwork, and ask for your best “strange” and “misshapen” tales. Apparition is a semi-pro rate magazine, paying $0.03 per word, with a minimum payment of $30.00 dollars for short stories and a flat fee of $30 per poem.

• Black Warrior Review

The Graduate English Department at the University of Alabama produces Black Warrior Review twice a year, and they pay a one-year subscription and undisclosed “nominal lump sum fee” for risky and diverse fiction. The magazine particularly welcomes writers from diverse backgrounds, including women, LGBTQ+ identities, BIPOC, and disabled contributors.

• Boulevard  

Boulevard is an award-winning publisher of literary fiction, including contemporary short stories, essays, and poetry. They have been operating since 1985, and are welcoming to new and previously unpublished writers. Their submission period is between October and May each year. Their minimum payment for prose is $100, and their maximum payment for prose is $300.

Carve is a good publication for writers who prefer traditional ‘literary’ stories – they don’t tend to publish genre fiction like romance, horror, crime, fantasy, or sci-fi. Editors typically respond with personalized feedback instead of form rejections, and they pay $100 per accepted story. 

• Craft Literary

Craft Literary is an online writing community offering publication and feedback through their website. While successful submissions don’t appear to be paid, they do hold several writing competitions a year, including a First Chapters Contest, a Flash Fiction Contest, and a Short Fiction Prize. Their most recent Flash Fiction Contest, closed on October 31, 2021, offers a prize of £1,000 for stories of up to 1,000 words. (This does, however, come with a $20 reading fee). 

• Fabula Argentea

Fabula Argentea invites writers to submit pieces of up to 8,000 words for their quarterly magazine. They publish in January, April, July, and October. Their submission guidelines have specific “likes” and “dislikes”, so be sure to have a thorough read through the expectations to ensure your story is a good fit. They pay $5 for pieces up to 1000 words, $10 for 1000-5000 words, and $15 for 5000-8000 words.

One Story publishes literary fiction between 3,000 and 8,000 words. They pay $500, and also provide 25 contributor copies in exchange for First Serial North American rights. They have a separate Teen imprint, “One Teen Story”, for writers between 13 and 19 years old. One Story’s current submission period is open between October 4 – November 14, 2021. 

• Ploughshares

Ploughshares is an award-wining, paying literary journal that’s been publishing since 1971. They produce four quarterly issues a year, and their literary blog features new writing every day. Since 1989, they’ve been operating out of Emerson College, in Boston, and their current submission window is open between June 1, 2021 and January 15, 2022. You can submit to their journal, to Ploughshare Solo Stories, to their Look2Essay segment, or to their Emerging Writers Contest, for previously unpublished authors.

• The Iowa Review

The Iowa review has been publishing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for more than 50 years. Each issue is indexed in international online interdisciplinary databases like EBSCOhost, JSTOR, and ProQuest, making it easy for readers to find you. They pay $1.50 per line for poetry ($40 minimum) and $0.08 per word for prose, with a $100 minimum payment. 

• The Missouri Review

The Missouri Review publishes quarterly, and they have an “open submission” policy, meaning that instead of holding specific reading periods, they welcome submissions all year-round. Each issue contains a mixture of poetry, short stories, and nonfiction, and they do not solicit specific writers or pieces. The website does not specify an amount, but “authors are paid per printed page.”

• The People’s Friend

The commissioning editors at The People’s Friend are up-front about the fact that they publish fiction espousing traditional, family-centric and marriage-positive values, and won’t accept work that doesn’t fit their distinctive style. They publish fiction, poetry, features, photography, and pocket novels. Their guidelines confirm that payment is upon acceptance.

• The Southern Review

The Southern Review’s current submission window is open: they are actively reading fiction between October 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022. Established at Louisiana State University in 1935, they publish fiction (up to 10,000 words), nonfiction, poetry, and translations, and pay $50 for the first printed page and $25 for each subsequent printed page with a maximum payment of $200, plus two copies of the issue in which the work appears, and a one-year subscription to the magazine. However, please note there is a $3 submission fee. 

• Threepenny Review

The threepenny review is open for submissions January through April each year. They publish literary and contemporary fiction, and pay $400 per story or article, and $200 per poem or Table Talk piece.

Upstreet publishes fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, including an author interview each article. Their reading period is from September 1 to March 1. Fiction and nonfiction pieces must be 5,000 words or less in length, and the magazine will not accept any piece with partisan political themes or topics. Payment, upon publication, ranges between $50 and $250. 

Children’s Fiction and Flash Fiction

Zizzle Literary is an anthology book series with the aim of bringing children and parents together for a reading experience focusing on flash fiction. They pay a flat rate of US $100 for each accepted flash story, and a flat rate of US $250 for each accepted short story. Their separate annual flash competition has a first prize of $1,000, a second prize of $500, and an award of $150 each for the top three finalists. 

• SmokeLong Quarterly  

SmokeLong Quarterly pays $50 per published piece of flash narrative, and also offers editorial feedback in the form of general submission feedback, senior editor feedback, and an asynchronous 7-week course entitled The SmokeLong Quarterly Flash Workshop Online. 

• Vestal Review

The Vestal Review is the longest-running online publisher of flash fiction (up to 500 words), and they are currently open for submissions: their reading period is from August 1 to November 30, 2021. Their first 2022 reading period will be from February 1 – May 31. They charge a $3 reading fee, and pay successful contributors $50 upon acceptance. 

Make Money Writing Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror, and Crime

• Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine

HHMM is one of the foremost publishers of short-form crime, suspense, and mystery fiction. They’ve been operating since 1956 and have won a plethora of awards in that time. Their rates are from $0.05 to 0.08 per word, “sometimes higher for established authors”.

Since it was established in 1930, Analog has published more than 60 Hugo and Nebula award-winning stories from the most prominent writers of speculative fiction in the world. The magazine itself has won more than 75 awards. They pay $0.08 to 0.10 per word for short science fiction (up to approximately 20,000 words), $0.06 per word for serials (40,000-80,000 words), $0.09 per word for fact articles, and $1 per line for poetry.

Apex magazine publishes original short science fiction of up to 7,500 words. Payment is up to $0.08 per word, with a minimum payment of $50. If Apex turns your story into a podcast, they will pay an additional $0.01 per word. 

• Asimov’s Science Fiction

Founded in 1977, Asimov’s pays $0.08 to $0.10 per word for short stories of up to 7,500 words, and $0.08 for each word over 7,500. They don’t often accept stories shorter than 1,000 words or longer than 20,000 words, and don’t serialize novels. They also pay $1 per line for poetry, which they say should not exceed 40 lines in length. 

• Black Static

Black Static is one of the most well-known publishers of short-form horror fiction. They are always open to submissions of up to 10,000 words. As part of TTA Press, they are a sister publication to Interzone, which publishes sci-fi, and Crime Zone, which publishes crime fiction, mystery, and suspense. 

• Clarkesworld

Clarkesworld publishes speculative fiction of both science fiction and fantasy bent. They have been putting out monthly issues since October 2006 and pay $0.12 per word for SFF stories between 1,000-22,000 words in length – no exceptions. They specify that they don’t accept horror, but dark SFF is okay. 

Crimewave is a sister publication to Black Static and Interzone, all of which are subsidiaries of TTA Press. They buy crime fiction of up to 10,000 words in length. 

• Daily Science Fiction

Daily Science Fiction publishes, well, every day! Despite the title, they also accept and champion fantasy stories. Submissions should not exceed 1,500 words in length, and they pay $0.08 per word. 

• Dread Imaginings

Dread Imaginings is a new online fiction magazine. Their editor wants stories of up to 4,000 words “that present your protagonist’s encounter with the horrific, disturbing, uncanny, weird, macabre, and/or grotesque.” Original monsters and concepts (rather than the familiar and well-trodden paths of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts) will likely be an easier sell than tropes already-established. The magazine pays $0.01 per word.

Throughout September and October 2021, Escape Pod is only accepting themed submissions that have to do with “Joy.” After that, they are returning to their general submissions schedule, which reopens November 1, 2021. Their primary format is audio, and they prefer stories of high clarity and tight-pacing to suit this format. They pay $0.08 per word for original science fiction. 

• Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine was established in 1941, and since then has published some of the most innovative voices in crime fiction. They accept stories between 2,500 and 12,000 words, but in the past have published stories as short as 250 words, and short novels as long as 20,000 words. However, stories outside of the average length are less likely to get accepted. They pay $0.05 to -$0.08 per word. 

• Fantasy & Science Fiction

Fantasy & Science Fiction publishes a wide range of speculative stories up to 25,000 words in length. They pay $0.08 to $0.12 per word upon acceptance. Founded in 1949, the magazine has published illustrious stories such as Stephen King’s Dark Tower , Daniel Keyes’s Flowers for Algernon , and Walter M. Miller’s A Canticle for Leibowitz .

• Fireside Magazine

Fireside operates on a guest editor model, and is open to submissions roughly once every three months. They accept stories of up to 3,000 words in length. Their guidelines state, “Our budget allows us to pay for up to 7,000 words per monthly issue of Fireside Magazine, which means we are always going to buy more shorter fiction than longer stories.” They pay $0.125 per word for accepted stories. 

• Giganotosaurus  

Giganotosaurus, named for what was “almost the largest carnivorous dinosaur”, publishes one mid-length speculative or SFF story a month. The rule of thumb is, longer than a short story, but shorter than a novel. Most acceptances range between 5,000 and 25,000 words. They pay $100 per story upon acceptance. 

• Interzone  

Founded in 1989, Interzone is the sci-fi wing of TTA Press, which also houses Crimewave and Black Static. They publish stories of up to 10,000 words that fall under the speculative or SFF umbrella. 

Nightmare publishes horror fiction and dark fantasy. They also publish horror-themed flash fiction, CNF, and poetry. While multiple submissions per category are not allowed, their submissions engine allows you to make one submission in every open category. They welcome stories of between 1,500 and 7,500 words, and stories of 5,000 words or less are preferred.

Founded in 2008, PodCastle is a weekly fantasy-themed podcast that produces audio performances of fantasy short fiction, including plenty of different subgenres of fantasy, such as magical realism, urban fantasy, slipstream, high fantasy, and dark fantasy. They open again for submissions on November 1, 2021, and generally accept stories of up to 6,000 words. You are able to submit one original story and one reprint at any one time. They pay $0.08 per word for original fiction, a $100 flat rate for reprints more than 1,500 words, and a $20 flat rate for flash fiction reprints (stories that are less than 1,500 words in length). 

Pseudopod champions genre fiction, primarily horror, in an audio format. Their guidelines say, “We’re looking for horror: dark, weird fiction. We run the spectrum from grim realism or crime drama, to magic-realism, to blatantly supernatural dark fantasy… what matters most is that the stories are compelling.” They are a sister to PodCastle and pay the same rates as listed above. They have a schedule available online detailing their reading periods and auditions for narrators. 

• PULP Literature  

PULP Literature embraces genre fiction in all its forms, including crime, mystery, thriller, and suspense. This quarterly book-length magazine (produced in print and digital editions) features short stories, novellas, novel and graphic novel excerpts, and graphic shorts. They accept stories of up to 20,000 words, though stories less than 5000 words have a better chance of being accepted. They pay $0.05 to $0.08  per word for short stories (to 7000 words) with adjusted pay scales for longer works. 

The editors are currently reading for Reckoning Issue 6, the deadline for which was September 22, 2021. They publish creative writing and art about environmental justice up to 20,000 words and pay $0.08 a word. 

• Strange Horizons

Strange Horizons will be open to submissions the entire month of November 2021. They want speculative fiction of up to 10,000 words, but generally prefer pieces that come in at less than 5,000 words. They pay $0.10 a word, with a minimum payment of $60. Their guidelines include a “stories we see too often” page, to give you an idea of what they are and are not looking for.

Terraform pays $0.20 a word for pieces of science fiction, or what they call “near future” fiction, that are 2,000 words or less in length.

• Weird Tales

Established in 1923, Weird Tales buys “prophetic tales of dark fantasy, cosmic horror, supernatural revenge, and the sorcery of terror.”  After a several-years-long hiatus, it returned in 2019. 

Write Romance and Erotica & Get Paid

• Bella Books

Bella Books publishes novel-length fiction celebrating women and diverse communities. They are interested in romance, mystery, thriller, paranormal, erotic, and LGBTQ+ stories. Their guidelines detail what your submission package should include. 

• Black Velvet Seductions

Black Velvet Seductions acquires book-length romance and erotica, including the subgenres of contemporary, historical, thriller, supernatural, fantasy, and more. 

• Deep Desires Press

Founded in 2016, Deep Desires Press is currently looking to acquire romantic and erotic manuscripts. The founders say that, ““At the core of our company, we have two primary objectives. The first is to provide a superior erotic reading experience. The second is to create a community of happy and successful authors, and this includes recognizing and celebrating an author’s success outside of their work with Deep Desires Press.”

• East of the Web

East of the Web publishes a wide range of short stories across many different genres, including romance (crime, sci-fi, fantasy, and children’s stories are also welcome). They state that romance stories here should include a thriller or mystery element, and previously published stories will be considered. They pay $0.05 per word. 

• Heroes and Heartbreakers

Heroes and Heartbreakers is an imprint of Macmillan, specializing in short stories and novellas in the romance genre. They pay a $1,000 advance against 25% royalties.

Mslexia is a feminist and pleasure positive publication and there are 17 ways to submit your writing to them. The deadline for submission slots for Issue 93 is January 10, 2022. They also run writing competitions and have plenty of resources for writers. Pay varies. 

• Shades of Romance

This quarterly print and digital magazine emphasizes diversity, including stories by and about people of color. It publishes short romance stories as well as tips and tricks about writing and motivational or inspirational nonfiction. Any genre of romance is acceptable, though erotica is not. They ask that writers query before submitting, and they pay flat fee of $25. 

• Totally Bound Publishing

Totally Bound Publishing is currently accepting Romantica, Erotic Romance and Sweet Romance manuscripts between 10,000 and 100,000 words – please see their website for a long list of acceptable subgenres. They have a series of themed calls for submissions currently running, as well as their year-round open reading window. Pay varies. 

The Best Paid Opportunity To Write Fiction In 2021…

As you can see, there are many ways to write at home , and in doing so, make money writing. Writing for money is a challenging but rewarding career path, and one of the best ways to make money writing online is to work for an agency like Relay. Instead of relying on Wattpad paid stories, or trawling through the hundreds of sites that pay you to write in order to find the right one, why not earn money writing online with one of the best paid and most consistent fiction writing jobs there is? Many ghostwriters for Relay , like Paula Hawkins, have gone on to have illustrious careers publishing under their own name. Best of all, Relay even offers a $200 finder’s fee for sending suitable applicants their way!

Harry  Wallett  is the Founder and Managing Director of Relay Publishing. Combining his entrepreneurial background with a love of great stories,  Harry  founded Relay in 2013 as a fresh way to create books and for writers to earn a living from their work. Since then, Relay has sold 3+ million copies and worked with 100s of writers on bestselling titles such as  Defending Innocence ,  The Alveria Dragon Akademy Series  and  Rancher’s Family Christmas .

Harry oversees the creative direction of the company, and works to develop a supportive collaborative environment for the Relay team to thrive within in order to fulfill our mission to create unputdownable books.