Writers tend to be quietly reflective, and the ones that I work with will tell you that it can be hard to find company inside of their schools. Over the years, many of them have turned to online communities for support, and every time, I learn a little bit in the process. These are the writing communities that I’m happy to recommend, based on their experiences. One word of caution: I always let writers know that they may not engage in those spaces without adult consent, and if they wish to participate while writing at Studio, I seek parent permission first.
Figment won the American Association of School Libraries 2014 Award for Best Website for Teaching and Learning. Studio kids have been writing there for years, submitting work for feedback, and connecting with others who share their interests and goals as writers.
Wattpad is the world’s largest social platform for publishing. Writers submit their works in progress, build upon them over time, and chat with others about what they’ve read.
A few of our writers have participated in the National Novel Writing Month forums and have nothing but positive feedback about their experiences there.
John Spencer, Brad Wilson, and Bob Armbrister recently launched Write About, a social platform specifically for teachers and students. It features visual writing prompts, a gallery, and groups that invite connection. I’m looking forward to introducing Studio kids to this community during our next session.
This isn’t an exhaustive collection of communities, but they are ones that I am happy to recommend. I’ll be updating this post over time, as new groups begin forming and the writers I work with have opportunities to engage in them.
