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Deadline: Thursday, July 17, 2025
Online Writing Community Round-Up
There’s A Digital Writing Space for Everyone. Which Is Right for You?
Conferences and author events spark connections, but the real magic often happens when you carry those relationships back home. A digital writing community suited to your interests awaits—and you don’t even need to leave your home or change out of your cozy slippers.
With a few pecks at your keyboard, you can enter a realm of kindred spirits to spark your creativity, hold you accountable, and discuss publishing trends. Launched by writers for writers, the writing communities on this list give you a buffet of choices from which to choose—and though most of these author communities are hosted on Facebook, a few host community spaces outside of social media channels as well, so you can connect with your community from anywhere.
20BooksTo50K®
Before Author Nation took over the Las Vegas event, 20BooksTo50K® hosted the largest annual indie author conference in the world. The Facebook-based group that spawned the event is also one of the largest online writing communities on social media. Founded by Michael Anderle, the group’s name comes from Anderle’s goal to publish twenty books or more in his career, a number he determined could earn $50,000 annually based on his average sales. Today, the group provides a space for indie authors to learn and share winning strategies for self-publishing multiple books.
Best for: Authors focused on building or expanding their self-published book catalog and generating sustainable income; authors looking for ideas on how to market their work
Members: Around 81,400
Find it at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16wkZDJ1uj
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Successful Indie Author
Think of this Facebook-based group, founded by former 20BooksTo50K® co-founder Craig Martelle, as a writing community water cooler, but instead of trading thoughts on last Sunday’s game, members instead trade insights and strategies to help one another develop their businesses. Along with member posts, Martelle also frequently posts advice and musings from his own author career.
Best for: Authors who are looking for mutual support, encouragement, goal-sharing, and advice on marketing and writing
Members: Around 8,000
Find it at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1WFH13XAdG
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Write Fast, Sustainably
Accountability is a good thing—especially when it helps you reach your publishing goals. Sci-Fi author Kevin McLaughlin’s Write Fast, Sustainably Facebook group is the community to help hold those fingers to the heat of your computer’s central processing unit, keeping you on productivity track without asking you to burn the candle on both ends—and burn yourself out in the process. The group encourages members to set a weekly goal and then check in either daily or weekly—whatever will keep you on track to The End.
Best for: Authors who want to finish and release books consistently but also build long-term, healthy habits that won’t lead to burnout
Members: 158
Find it at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19hmH5K6gE
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Indie Inspiration® with Elana Johnson Discussion Group
Author Elana Johnson leads a Facebook-based, ongoing group discussion for indie authors with a focus on inspiring one another and learning self-publishing strategies, such as marketing systems and managing multiple genres and pen names—all topics for which Johnson herself is known. Go there to share your own wins and glean wisdom from others. The focus here is on keeping the vibe upbeat and sharing the reality of self-publishing while avoiding self-promotion and doom-and-gloom commiserating.
Best for: Authors who want an upbeat, supportive community to share wins, stay inspired, and learn practical self-publishing strategies without the noise of self-promotion or negativity
Members: Around 6,200
Find it at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16s5kWguSM
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Wide for the Win
Author Erin Wright’s online community includes indie and hybrid authors and offers a space to collaborate and hobnob with other authors about the industry. The focus of the group is on “wide” publishing topics, meaning distributing your books beyond Amazon KDP’s exclusivity model—discussing Kindle Unlimited or KDP Select goes against the group’s rules. In addition to a group page on Facebook, Wide for the Win also has a website-hosted community space for members.
Best for: Authors who want a larger publishing reach beyond Amazon exclusivity and the ability to connect with other indie and hybrid authors to share strategies, industry insights, and support
Members: Around 18,700
Find it at: https://wideforthewin.com or https://www.facebook.com/groups/wideforthewin
Wide for the Win, A group for Indie Authors who publish wide
Heart Breathings
Author Sarra Cannon’s Heart Breathings writing community sprints together, though don’t worry about dusting off your running shoes. The community offers the opportunity for members to share writing advice and hosts regular writing sessions and monthly events, such as Double Down Day, a monthly challenge to write twice your normal word count. Additionally, the group hosts online writing courses several times a year for a fee.
Best for: Authors who want structured writing sprints, regular challenges, and a supportive community to share advice and boost their productivity
Members: Around 5,000
Find it at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19kuKqc2Mp
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Self Publishing Formula
The best-selling self-publisher of more than twenty books, Mark Dawson hosts the Self Publishing Formula (SPF) for other authors, which offers a range of resources, including courses, a podcast, and free books. Through SPF, members can also get access to the closed Facebook group, the SPF Community, which offers discussions on marketing and promoting your work and community support.
Best for: Authors who want comprehensive resources and community support for self-publishing, including marketing strategies, promotion tips, and guidance from an experienced, best-selling indie author
Members: Around 54,000
Sign up for SPF at: https://selfpublishingformula.com/start-here. If you have an SPF account, connect with the private online community at https://www.facebook.com/selfpublishingformula.
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Internet Writing Workshop
Would you like the benefit of fellow writer critiques without having to run out to a coffee shop or gussy up for a Zoom call every week? The Internet Writing Workshop, hosted entirely via email, may appeal. Members can join an array of genre-specific email lists, as well as discussion lists and a blog, all focused on writing craft and critique exchanges. All communications are done via email, and minimum participating requirements ensure that give and take are balanced.
Best for: Authors who want thoughtful, genre-specific critiques and writing discussions entirely via email, without the need for in-person or video meetings
Members: Unknown; works through a forum and email-based mailing lists and groups
Find it at: https://Internetwritingworkshop.org
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Desiree Smith
