12 Useful Writing Subreddits For Every Type of Writer

Reddit, or the self-proclaimed “front page of the internet,” is a social networking platform that’s essentially a massive collection of discussion boards.

There, you’ll find communities called “subreddits,” which focus on subjects that range from the fairly normal and safe, to the weird and inappropriate.

It definitely has its dark side, but Reddit also offers a ton of networks and material that can inspire and educate you in your personal pursuits, including writing.

Best Writing Subreddits

I’ve put together a list of the best writing subreddits (which I personally follow) that you can check out and join.

1. r/writing

Members: 1,729,059

R/writing is for general discussions about the writing craft. Here, you can find and share tips, news, and anything connected to writing. It’s designed to be accommodating for all writers, regardless of experience or niche. It’s a great place to look for inspiration, build up your knowledge, and build your personal network of writers.

They have a weekly critique and self-promotion thread, which is exactly what it sounds like. You can post your works to either promote them or ask for feedback. The subreddit is extremely active, so expect some comments in a few hours.

2. r/DestructiveReaders

Members: 30,529

If you’re a writer looking for honest, no-holds-barred reviews, then this is the subreddit for you. As the community says, they’ll tell you the good, the bad, the ugly, and the horrible of your writing.

What’s great about this subreddit is that their rules (and the moderators that enforce them) ensure that each critique is in-depth and high-quality. Before you can even ask for critiques, you’ll have to critique a work yourself.

3. r/nanowrimo

Members: 32,592

This subreddit is a fan-organized version of the official NaNoWriMo organization, where an entire community supports each other in writing a brand new novel with a minimum of 50,000 words in only 30 days.

It’s a great community for keeping yourself on track with your writing goals. You can check out updates, motivations, and suggestions that you may find useful in your writing sprints. Though it’s most active in November (because that’s NaNoWriMo month, of course), you’ll still find engaging discussions throughout the year.

4. r/PubTips

Members: 25,658

So you’ve written a novel, had some beta readers check it out, and after a ton of revisions, you feel like testing the waters in getting it published. r/PubTips gets you in touch with professionals who have worked in both the writing and publishing industry who might be able to help you out.

This is your go-to place for any publishing news and tips, opinions, and firsthand accounts from experts ranging from authors, publicists, agents, and editors. Feel free to ask any questions about publishing, however specific they might be.

5. r/worldbuilding

Members: 699,487

Though it’s not strictly for writers, the r/worldbuilding subreddit can be a valuable resource if you’re a fiction writer. Most of what you’ll find posted are images but there’s a typically a ton of worldbuilding discussions going on in the comments.

If you’re looking to build your own fictional world, you’ll find valuable tips on setting up the foundations down to the tiniest details that may affect your plot.

6. r/writers

Members: 111,336

If you want to talk shop with fellow writers, then this is the subreddit to go to. It welcomes writers in all genres and niches, so you’ll see fiction and nonfiction writers, bloggers, and more interacting in this subreddit.

You can request critiques for your work, share valuable resources, and discuss any topics with your fellow writers.

7. r/freelanceWriters

Members: 67,429

This is a pretty laid-back community for freelance writers who want to discuss the different facets of freelance writing. It invites members to share their insights, experiences, and questions, plus any fun or frustrating interactions with clients.

Discussions can range from the highly technical aspects of writing to more humorous topics. What’s great about this subreddit is that when discussions are started, they really get going. There’s a lot of gems to find in the comment section.

8. r/hireawriter

Members: 46,639

Exactly as it says on the tin, this is a subreddit for writers looking for jobs and employers looking to hire. You can either advertise your writing services or look for employers who have posted jobs. They’ve also got a solid set of rules to ensure fair compensation and an active set of moderators who enforce it.

So if you’re looking to earn some money as a writer on the side, it’s worth it to check out this subreddit. It’s a fairly active subreddit with a couple dozen or so posts a day, so do regular posts to avoid being drowned out.

9. r/KeepWriting

Members: 70,305

Do you need the motivation to keep writing? Whether you’re looking for feedback, critiques, or just want to get out of a writing rut, then r/KeepWriting is the place to go. It’s a community that focuses on purely motivating writers in continuing their craft.

As the subreddit says: “We are a subreddit dedicated to motivating writers to stay consistent and constantly grow their craft.”

10. r/books

Members: 19,174,135

Reddit has its own (very massive) book club! Not only is this a place to find books to add to your reading list, but it also encourages members to discuss everything that’s related to books, authors, genres, and publishing.

The moderators ensure that bad behavior is reprimanded, and the overall quality of the community doesn’t fall, making it a fun and safe place to facilitate discussions and meet people with the same interests.

11. r/WritingPrompts

Members: 15,155,799

If you want to exercise your writing skills and have a ton of fun while you’re at it, then check out r/WritingPrompts. It’s easy: simply write a short story for any prompt that you like. The wonderful thing is you also get feedback for your work, and can offer feedback in return.

The topics range in a wide variety of genres, from fantasy and science fiction to thrillers and alternative histories. And get this: some of these prompts have led to full-length novels that were actually published!

12. r/CharacterDevelopment

Members: 16,990

Characters are a cornerstone to a story’s excellence. You can have a flawless writing style, but if your characters are not on par, then everything falls flat and becomes unmemorable.

This subreddit is dedicated to discussing and developing characters for your stories, providing you a space for exchanging character critiques and suggestions in order to create a believable and memorable character.

Subreddits About Genres and Forms

There is a lot of genre-and-form-focused communities on Reddit. I’ve chosen not to include them in this list because if I did, you might as well be reading a book about Reddit. But here are a few of the larger communities.

Tips for Navigating Reddit

First, a disclaimer: Reddit is a vast and very open website. That means that you might encounter some offensive content. Though you can filter out most of them by optimizing your settings, you might still scroll through the occasional NSFW post. Always keep that in mind!

Now, when joining subreddits, these are a few things you need to check.

1. Engagement

Check if the subreddit is still active or has become a “dead” subreddit. You can do this by sorting the posts by “New” and seeing when the latest posts were uploaded. Check if most of the posts also have comments.

You can also look at the “About Community” section at the top of the subreddit. There’s usually a count of how many members are currently online.

2. Subreddit Rules

Each subreddit has a different set of rules that you need to follow; otherwise, you might get banned. They can be found on the side of the subreddit (you might need to scroll down a bit), or a FAQs/About page, if the subreddit has one.

It’s essential to read these things if you want to properly engage with the community, especially if you want to post something. Posts that don’t follow the rules automatically get unposted. When in doubt, ask the moderators.

3. Learn Reddiquette

Reddiquette is an informal set of rules and values that Reddit users have set for themselves over time. They’re a way of ensuring that communities don’t get toxic or destructive. Though the mods are there to help enforce subreddit rules and police posts and discussions, they don’t have much control over the platform.

Sometimes things slip from their watchful eyes, and it’s your turn to do your best in being a responsible and helpful Redditor. So learn some reddiquette and abide by them.

Purpose of Writing Subreddits

Writing can be a lonely occupation. There’s just not much socialization in writing. You often spend hours in front of a computer just typing away.

Reddit offers a place where you can explore your craft, obtain valuable resources, and get support from like-minded individuals. The best part? You can do this while still wrapped up in your room and typing away at your keyboard. It’s a place that makes writing less lonely.

So if you’re craving more social interactions and want to mingle with fellow writers while learning at the same time, then Reddit’s one of the best platforms to visit.

Are you part of any of these subreddits? Share your experiences in the comments below!

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Cole Salao

Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!