Does anybody know of any online writers' groups like scribophile.com?

Try these:

http://www.writerscafe.org/

http://figment.com/

https://www.writers-online.co.uk/

;)

1

I am a writer, but I am an aspiring author. I don't post my writing on here, and I don't ask questions. Mostly because I don't want to be one of those idiots who ask stupid questions. I promise you, I am not a bestselling author, I write fanfiction. Yes, you are all free to upchuck your lunch. However, I have been a fanfiction since I was 9-10, now I am 14. I am a mediocre writer, so I pretty much hide my stuff on here. ^^ As for writing a novel, don't try to look for a magic potion. If we had two authors who wrote the exact same novel, they probably have written it in completely different ways. Maybe one author took two months to create character bios and outlines, while the other author just wrote a very rough outline and started the very same day. No author writes the same as the other. Jackson A. Pearce (She's on youtube if you want to see her) must outline her story and let it sit. While Kaleb Nation (Also on Youtube) becomes completely obsessed with the idea and must write down every little detail immediately. One author says she likes to break everything down so it is like paint-by-numbers, and Steven King says to never do that. One author says that to write without an outline is just like lying, while another adores going without an outline. When writing a novel, don't let insecurities get to you. This is something I have trouble with. I simply cannot have doubts about my ideas, which is why I stick to fanfiction. Do not be like me and have doubts, just write. Be aware that your idea will lose the 'special' feeling surrounding it. You want to move on and forget the idea. Try not to give up on it unless you truly feel you cannot continue it. If you can't continue it, at least try to finish it. Your first manuscript will not be spectacular in any way whatsoever. My first fanfiction had chapters that were only a paragraph long and filled with spelling and grammar errors. Think of your first few manuscripts as pilots. Learn from your mistakes so you can start anew. I learned (and am learning) that chapters do need to be long. I am sad to say that my longest chapter was 9 pages, and my most current story is around 46 pages long, and contains 6 or 7 chapters. Learn how to make stories longer, learn how to make character bios and outlines. I hate detailed outlines for one. I love having room in my story, therefore I write a very rough outline. However, in my most recent story, I threw out the outline and now am going by the seat of my pants. Also, learn that anyone can write a book. If you can write a sentence, you can write a paragraph. If you can write a paragraph, you can write chapters. If you can write chapters, you can write books. You also need to defeat the magic surrounding the process of writing a book. A book is not a magical realm weaved by powerful magicians and witches. No, a book is simply pages filled with sentences that were written down by a random person. Also, if you can write your question, then you know about writing already. As said before, a book/novel is just pages with sentences and words. There is no magical potion I can give you to make you write an amazing novel. I can only sit here and ramble about my life as a fanfiction writer and share my own view on the craft. Oh, and yes, writing is a craft, not a skill. Writing can be taught and learned. I hope I helped you. Now when someone asks you who gave you such advise, tell them a girl who is a fanfiction author, and is four years younger than you told (or wrote) you this. Trust me, it makes some jaws drop. X3