When you've exhausted yourself trying to strike the right tone, build a portfolio, or remember all those deadlines you've bookmarked, rely on the experts. I have combed through a number of websites and found that there is a lot of rubbish out there. The following list consists of the best of the best, and trust me, finding 5 of them was a lot harder than it seems. Many sites fail the creative community in that they do not offer the type of support or connections required once you are ready to go pro and earn a living from your writing. Here is a list of Top Websites that will help writers practice writing:
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Grammarly- If you are steaming with creative ideas, but editing is not your strong point, and you are not in the position to pay for writing services, Grammarly will become your new best friend. Either use the free composition services or get more bang for your buck with an annual Premium Plan. This website will become one of the best investments you will make for your writing career.
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Medium- Medium is the best way to self-publish your work online. Use to develop a readership to your style of writing a connect with others in your specialty. Remember, anything you publish here will note be able to be submitted to literary journals or writing contests
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Poets & Writers- Though a bit overwhelming, P&W is a fantastic website for upcoming submission contests and searching for an agent. The website is jammed-packed with content, so make sure you have time to explore if you plan on utilizing its many parts. They also offer a magazine subscription as low as $12 annually.
Submittable- Search through a number of publications looking for new writers. The majority of the contests here are from tiny press journals, so be careful to not send your writing before doing careful research. The last thing you want is to have your work published on a site that caters to ideas of extremist groups who throw pipebombs at abortion clinics and alter your story to match their twisted agenda. You've been forewarned!
NaNoWriMo- November is National Writing Month, and there is no better way to commit to yourself than to dedicate time for writing. The NaNoWriMo website offers a wide range of resources and tools to help keep writers motivated and organized. A caring community of volunteers and staff help moderate group discussions, and provide participants with the help needed to write a 50,000 word novel over the course of 30 days. Even if novels are not your thing, setting aside time each day to improve your craft can only help you on the path towards the wizarding world of writing. Trust me when I say, you really have everything to gain by joing this site. Don't wait until November to get started. On the website, you can sign-up for workshops, prep with coaches, and participate in ongoing writer conversations virtually or in person. I can think of no better way for writers to practice writing than to participate in this annual challenge.
Last, but not least, my absolute fave!
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Reedsy Marketplace- This is the best website for writers who are in the process of looking for an editor, ghostwriter, or help with marketing. The services provided do come at a cost, but if you are ready to begin the process of going pro, this is the best place to start! By selecting the sponsored link and create an account, you will also receive a $25 Reedsy Credit that will be applied to your first Marketplace quote! In addition, use Reedsy to get writing prompts, free publishing courses, and free webinars. I cannot wax poetic enough about Reedsy. It is literally my Home page when I log on to my computer.