Anyone in an online writers' group?

[BookWorm45]

Hi All

My enthusiasm for writing is very high right now as I did an Arvon course a few weeks ago..... so I'm looking to find a writers' group. There aren't any in person ones that I can find which are near me, and which happen at a time of day / day of week that I can do, so I wondered about joining online writers' groups.

Has anyone tried these such as Scribophile, Inked Voices, Write Words, Mslexia ? Are there any that people would particularly recommend (or not) ?

[MargaretThursday]

I use Scribophile-we have a Mumsnet Writers Group on there.

I find it great. Currently I'm in a novel critique group, where we have committed to critique 2 chapters a week with a look at the overall story rather than the smaller issues, and it's really helpful.

It does take a bit of effort (and nerves) at first. I was convinced my critiques would be pretty useless and was terrified people would tell me!
The way it works is you critique other works for karma and then spend karma to post your work. Roughly, I normally critique 3-4 works per one I post, which is about right.
Critiquing also helps your own writing because you start spotting things that you don't in your own, and then that helps you avoid them when you're writing.

The people are very supportive and helpful, and I've made some good online friends.

I joined for free at first, but realised I was going to use it enough to justify premium.

[BookWorm45]

Thanks Margaret that's very useful

[waterhorse123]

I belong to Critique Circle and have tried Scribophile for a while as a friend recommended it. However, I soon gave up as you can't post as much on there as you can on CC, which I found very frustrating. In my opinion Critique Circle is far superior to Scribophile. Very friendly, very helpful, and it's thanks to all the great critters on there that my books found a traditional publisher and I now have an agent. I would not have got there with Scribophile.

[BookWorm45]

Thanks waterhorse.
Looking forward to reading Guinevere now after your pic !

[waterhorse123]

Thank you Bookworm! CC is so worthwhile doing. And a totally safe place to post your stories. You can put a chapter up each week, up to 10,000 words (only most stick to around 3,000) and once you have established some nice crit partners you can go into a private queue. I've done that. Been on there since July 2018. I've done about 3,400 crits, but because I have great partners (and I think partly because people like my books) I've had nearly 4,900 return crits of my stories. Far more than I'd ever have got anywhere else. I used to belong to Youwriteon which was quite useless as you couldn't choose what you wanted to read, plus you could only really post the opening chapters. On CC you can put through an entire novel. I've put through 14 books now! Good luck with it. There are six in my Guinevere series (three of which are out - the one pictured, Guinevere: The Bear's Heart and Guinevere The Sword, and three yet to come - Guinevere Warrior Queen, Guinevere The Quest for Excalibur and Guinevere The Road to Avalon. I'd absolutely LOVE it if you read my book(s) - I still can't get over anyone but family and friends even wanting to! Dream come true.

[BookWorm45]

I've already got Guinevere (1st one) donwloaded to my Kindle - looking forward to having some time this evening to enjoy it !

Thanks for the comments about CC as I'd not come across them before - v useful.

[waterhorse123]

Glad to have been of help. Hope to see you on CC some time - I'll give your chapters a read if you contact me on there. I'm Flicka on there and you can PM me and I'll have a read.

[everythingcrossed]

I'd never heard of CC but I've just done my first two crits thanks to this thread and now, in theory, I can upload a chapter of my book. But I'm terrified to - can anyone get me over this?

[waterhorse123]

Hello everythingcrossed. Just remember that everyone on there started off having to post something for the first time. Maybe in your author notes mention that you are very nervous of finally posting. People do read the notes. And send me a message on CC (I am Flicka and you will find me on there) and I will read your first post and be kind and supportive. That's what we're here for. I think I've had about 4,800 crits of my chapters now, and not one has been a mean one. Quite a few have been blunt and to the point (and therefore very helpful) but no one has ever been nasty to me. Take the plunge!

[meah69]

Hi, could you please send me a link to cc?