Scribophile

For the previous post on Writers’ Resources, I listed several interesting and helpful books for writing that mostly cover technical areas: editing, marketing, research, etc. This time around, I’d like to introduce a website that provides feedback on your work and connects you to other writers, all in one shot.

Scribophile is a workshop-style online writing community that allows people to connect through its website to critique each other’s projects. It works on a give-and-take system, where you can critique chapters of someone else’s project and earn points. When you have enough points, you can post your own chapters and get in-depth feedback in return.

I first came across the site last summer while trying desperately to find beta readers for my WIP. I’d joined a couple Facebook groups, which is also a valid option. But with Scribophile, you get quality, in-depth feedback in small, manageable spurts. Usually, chapter by chapter. But the site even has a “beta spotlight” option, where you can post works of any length.

Set up your profile, look at some writing, post your own, and you’re all set!

my profile on Scrib

The well-organized forums allow for questions about pretty much anything: writing, marketing, publishing, general advice, and more. In addition to the forums, you can message and favorite other writers and even join fun writing groups with people that share interests in your favorite genres.

Scribophile offers a free version of the site, but honestly, it only goes so far. The premium benefits allow you to get way more out of the resource, and the cost is only $50 annually. For me, it’s absolutely worth it.

I’ve met several amazing writers on Scribophile, and the experience has been extremely beneficial for me. I can see why the site has been positively reviewed by Writer’s Digest, NaNoWriMo, and Wesleyan University. My WIP is coming along nicely thanks to the feedback I’ve gotten.

Of course, you as the author still must do a significant amount of work. You need to pick and choose what to keep and what to discard from the feedback you get. But that’s true for any type of revision, and most of the critiques I receive are super helpful anyway.

Getting feedback for your WIP is a very important step in the writing process, and while Scribophile might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it can be an extremely useful tool. Try it out and see for yourself!