# Online writing forums and self-publishing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [October 4, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-writing-forums-and-self-publishing/972707 "2022-10-04T14:56:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Celtic\_Kitsune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celtic_kitsune/32/12086_2.png) [@Celtic\_Kitsune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celtic_Kitsune)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-writing-forums-and-self-publishing/972707/1 "2022-10-04T14:56:31Z")
I do a little writing, nothing fancy, just short-stories. Does anyone have any recommended online writing forums? Just to get some feedback really. I did join one such forum and even paid for membership but it had a strange system that seemed to pressure people into reading and reviewing stories in genres they didn’t even like or understand just to get their own feedback so I let my membership lapse. I don’t kid myself that I’m a particularly good writer but I’ve been considering going the self-publishing route, this particular company has caught my interest - [https://www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk/](https://www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk/) - does anyone have any opinions or prior experiences? On a sidenote while looking for such forums I came across this - [Read Reincarnated As A Silver Fox - The\_master\_zen - Webnovel](https://www.webnovel.com/book/reincarnated-as-a-silver-fox_18284932506196105) - which I thought looked like a fun read, what can I say, I like foxes. It seems though the author hasn’t made any steps to actually write it and I can’t figure out any way to contact them to see if its being progressed. I even joined its forums and asked without success. I’ve never been more confused by a website in my life, I still don’t understand what it’s all about! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-writing-forums-and-self-publishing/972707/2 "2022-10-04T15:31:12Z")
I was on [Critters](http://critters.org/) for awhile (until life interfered with my hobbies). That site is part of [Critique Org](https://critique.org/) which I have not been a member of, but if it is run by the same folks you might find it useful. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-writing-forums-and-self-publishing/972707/3 "2022-10-04T15:40:10Z")
If you have to pay for it, it’s a scam. If you have to generate a quota of reviews, it’s a scam. Especially if you have to do that before qualifying to get any feedback on what you’ve written. What you want is a writer’s community. A place where you _can_ post things you’ve written and get comments from other writers, but aren’t _required_ to. And get tips and anecdotes from authors about what they’ve experienced, including info about lit agents and publishers and self-pub printing services, and which ones to avoid and so on. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-writing-forums-and-self-publishing/972707/4 "2022-10-04T17:38:42Z")
Most people use the NaNoWriMo forums. Scribophile used to be good, too, but (IMO) the quality has lately diminished. As to self-publishing v. traditional publishing, that’ll depend on what your goals are. I’m not familiar with Silverwood, but most of those sorts of setups are scams or, at best, vanity publishing. Money flows to the author, not the other way around. That said, if you pursue self-publishing, then you assume some of the costs. You’ll have to hire an editor, for instance (and they ain’t cheap). You’ll also have to obtain cover art (which can also be pricey). ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-writing-forums-and-self-publishing/972707/5 "2022-10-04T18:35:37Z")
Check to see if there is a writers’ group in your area. They often have critique groups, or you may be able to start one. In California there is the California Writers Club with many branches around the state. I know there are some in New York and I suspect there are some in other places. They also have lots of talks by people who are interesting. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-writing-forums-and-self-publishing/972707/6 "2022-10-04T21:30:57Z")
^^^^ This. As an amateur screenwriter, I was lucky to find a local writers’ group that was happy to read and critique my scripts. I will still need to send them in for coverage, but at least they are much better than they would have been otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Celtic\_Kitsune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celtic_kitsune/32/12086_2.png) [@Celtic\_Kitsune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celtic_Kitsune)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-writing-forums-and-self-publishing/972707/7 "2022-10-04T22:01:06Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > As to self-publishing v. traditional publishing, that’ll depend on what your goals are. > > I’m not familiar with Silverwood, but most of those sorts of setups are scams or, at best, vanity publishing. Money flows to the author, not the other way around. It would entirely be vanity publishing, I’m not looking to make any money from it, it would just be nice to see my name in print and give some actual physical books out to family and friends, most of whom have no idea I write. And well if people purchase the book from Amazon etc that would be nice but not really expected. But thank you, and thanks to everyone else for the answers as well! ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-writing-forums-and-self-publishing/972707/8 "2022-10-04T22:09:03Z")
Books can be easily printed on demand (after editing, typesetting, proofreading, layout, etc.). But who does the marketing to flog it on Amazon? That sounds like something that you have to pay for, even if your novel is brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-writing-forums-and-self-publishing/972707/9 "2022-10-05T05:22:24Z")
> [@Celtic\_Kitsune](#): > > It would entirely be vanity publishing, I’m not looking to make any money from it, it would just be nice to see my name in print and give some actual physical books out to family and friends You can bring your manuscript to Staples after formatting it in such a way that they can print it, chop it in half (to make pages half the size of standard 8.5 x 11, hence comfortable size to hold in one’s hand), bind it, and incorporate a front and back cover of your own design. Depending on how many people you wish to distribute copies to, it can be a lot less exploitative and expensive than signing up with a vanity / selfpub press. If you’re inclined in that direction I can give you explicit instrux. ---
**Author:** ![Celtic\_Kitsune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celtic_kitsune/32/12086_2.png) [@Celtic\_Kitsune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celtic_Kitsune)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-writing-forums-and-self-publishing/972707/10 "2022-10-06T21:16:41Z")
Thank you, I’ll consider how I would like to progress. 🙂