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Note from Lisa: As a freelance writer, you need a place to connect with other writers and potential clients. The internet is a great place to find these people. Shari is here today to help you find the best online communities for new freelance writers. I’m excited to check these out!
Take it away Shari…
Living abroad? Working on the beach? RVing across the country? Freelance writing is often touted as the ideal way to live out your dreams. This may be true for some, but the reality is that writing remotely can be a lonely endeavor.
If you’re feeling a little isolated, a writing community might be the answer.
Facebook Groups are a great place to start looking for an online community. You probably already have an account, many groups are free, and you can join those that are most relevant to your situation.
Maybe you want to organize a meet-up with writers who live nearby, discuss a course you’ve recently taken, network to grow your business, or simply chat with someone who understands the ups and downs of freelance writing.
Whatever your purpose for seeking out others who write, Facebook has a freelance writer’s group to meet your needs.
Writing communities are often started by entrepreneurs, as a way to build their businesses and sell their products, so you can often find amazing value beyond the conversation, such as writing courses, templates and topical guides.
The flipside is also true. Sometimes, you can only enter the group if you have already purchased the program, but the group founders are willing to provide value to those who have taken that step.
Facebook Communities for Writers
Whether you search Facebook Groups by type of writing, geographical area, or by your peer group, this platform is sure to have a community that appeals to you. Here are some groups that I have found to active and responsive.
1. Successful Freelance Writing Moms
Are you looking for help with your website, advice about your rates, or do you have questions about marketing?
There is always someone willing to respond here. Besides running this group, Abbi Friedman Perets also offers free and paid writing courses for newbies and hosts a premium community where she provides mentorship and will personally review your copy. Of course, if you’re a mom, you’ll fit right in.
2. Copy Kooks Club
Most members of this group have joined while taking one of Tamsin (Tee) Henderson’s fun and practical copywriting courses. Tee provides though-provoking writing prompts and members are very responsive when their peers reach out for help.
Other members gladly provide reviews of copy you are working on, with no strings attached. Tee is always working on new products too, like Juicy Proposals, designed to help writers close the deal with new clients.
3. Writing Revolters
Are you a serious freelance writer, hunting for tips to get started or ramp up your business? In this community, folks are chatting about SEO, productivity hacks, getting clients, and more.
Jorden Roper also offers helpful free and paid resources, aimed at newbies, to help find clients, build your portfolio, and be a well-paid writer.
Note, lots of useful stuff here, but her trainings contain language that may be offensive to some.
4. Freelance Writing Café
This group has recently scaled back, reducing their content, so they can provide the best value to copy and content writers, specifically.
Michelle Christine provides consistent, valuable blog posts, and you’ll find discussion of niches, goal-setting and other tips and tricks for getting your freelance business off the ground.
5. Copywriting Hacks – How to Write Copy & Influence People
Copywriting Hacks, run by Adam & Louise Parrott, encourage members at any stage of their copywriting career to join. They sell a cool resource pack including contracts, copywriting briefs, fee guides and many more useful documents to help new freelancers, right out of the gate.
You’ll see discussions about favorite copywriting resources, how to help your clients solve their problems, and how to beat writer’s block.
6. The Freelance Content Marketing Writer
Author Jennifer Goforth Gregory shares her experiences and advice, in this content marketing writer’s group. She also advocates for higher pay for writers in the field, with the goal of helping writers raise their rates.
7. No-Fluff Freelance Writing Group
If you join Alina Bradford’s, No-Fluff group, you’ll find information about writing tools, tips for bloggers, and even curated job posts.
A unique feature of this group is the volunteer mentorship program to help newer writers develop their skills in particular areas.
8. Freelance Life (Creatives in Canada)
In this Canadian writer’s community, members post questions and provide advice about social media marketing, branding, productivity, tools of the trade, and work-life balance.
It isn’t specifically for writers, so it’s a great place to network with other creative freelancers. They even offer virtual workshops and networking events.
9. Writers Helping Writers
This group might not appeal to all freelancer writers, but if you also write fiction, it’s a great place to hang out. Members here, are an encouraging bunch. Feel free to ask for grammar advice, help one another flesh out story ideas, and provide encouragement to like-minded writers.
Notes About Facebook Groups
I’ve joined many Facebook groups, with varying results. I stay in groups that are active, welcoming and flame-free. I quickly leave groups that haven’t had a new post in a while, the ones that seem to thrive on politically-charged or dramatic posts, and the ones that aren’t relevant to my particular writing goals.
Obviously, this isn’t an exhaustive list, but all of these groups feel like safe places, to lurk and learn, or if you’re feeling braver, to ask questions that will help you move your career forward.
Now for One That’s Not on Facebook
My final group recommendation isn ‘t on Facebook. It’s a separate, standalone community, for beginning and seasoned freelance writers alike.
10. Freelance Writers Den: Online Writing Community
While FB groups have been a great place to fellowship with like-minded writers, my all-time favorite online freelance writing community is The Freelance Writer’s Den.
When I first became interested in freelancing, I stumbled across Carol Tice’s blog, Make a Living Writing. Her posts are jam-packed with valuable content and her free webinars were so helpful, I couldn’t help but sign up for “the Den” very quickly.
In this writing community, Carol Tice, the creator, offers amazing bootcamp trainings on popular freelance topics, such as running a business, getting clients, writing case studies, writing whitepapers, etc.
Members also have access to very active group forums, where you can have your website and queries critiqued, and where Carol has answered over 10,000 member questions herself. With over a dozen moderators, you’ll always receive feedback in a reasonable amount of time.
There is a waiting list, but the value makes it completely worth the wait and the $25 monthly fee. If you’re waiting to get in, be sure to check out Carol’s blog and free webinars. Her goal is to give freelance writers a hand up, out of low paying markets (or content mills), helping them find clients who will pay what they deserve.
I actually had to leave this community, because I was so overwhelmed by the content offered. If I stayed, I would have been stuck in the learning cycle, never venturing out into the writing world. I will be back though and can’t wait to see the content that’s been added since I left.
Do You Need to Join an Online Community?
Hey, that’s totally your decision. If you are happy on your own and have enough knowledge to write and get paid consistently, writing communities may not be your thing.
However, if you want to learn a new skill, ramp up your business, learn from those who have been where you are, or just enjoy the company of other freelance writers, check out one of these communities today.
Have a favorite that I didn’t list? I’d love to hear about it. Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.
Note from Lisa: Wasn’t that a great roundup of online communities for freelancers? I’m excited to check them out. If you’re looking for an online community of WAHMs trying to balance it all, check out my FB Group here:
Growing a Business From Home While Raising a Family
