Author Communities

The following resources are for authors and readers to share, collaborate, and critique original writings. These websites are valuable assets if you are looking for assistance or feedback on your writing. Click on the bold titles on the left hand side to read more about each site.

Independent
Scribd

Scribd is considered the largest social publishing website out there today. A fabulous site, Scribd also connects individuals, yet Scribd allows authors, (traditional or self) published or not, to upload original writings for review and comments by others.
Authonomy

Another social publishing website, authonomy invites authors, published or unpublished, to create their personal writing page, where other users are able to read and comment on your work. Also free, authonomy was created from HarpersCollins, allowing for authors to expose their work for publishing through this traditional publishing house.
Filedby

This members only website allows users to share their work with other users of the site. This site is great not only for readers, but also for authors.
EditRED

This site is similar to other author communities. Authors are able to make a personal profile page and upload their writings. Membership is free, but a paid upgrade will allow authors to sell their published books, including e-books, through their profile page.
Creative Writer's Network

The creative writers network is an online networking site for authors. They describe themselves with four traits: Meet, Post, Communicate, and Collaborate.
Critique Groups

This free website allows for collaborative feedback on a variety of genres of writing. Authors are able to make personal author pages where users can see the books they’ve written, books that are in progress, as well as their favorite books.
Writing.com

This website, similar to other free online writing communities, allows authors and readers to share their work and criticisms. Each user has an online portfolio where they are able to upload their work.
Author's Den

Authors den is a free comprehensive online writing community which prides themselves in having the largest amount of users, with over 1.4 million readers a month. Authors are able to post their original writings and gain feedback from the vast number of readers on the site.
Smashwords

Smashwords is a digital self-publishing platform that allows for authors to share their books in the e-book format. This site is excellent for authors who would like to distribute their work.
Collaborative
Storymash

Storymash is a collaborative creative writing community. For authors, it allows several different users to contribute to a story.
WEBook

WEbook is an free online book publishing company that unites writers, editors, illustrators and reviewers, together to produce original works. This site is great for aspiring writers as well as avid readers.