# Author Communities

> Join thriving author communities and forums where indie publishers share strategies, support, and industry insights

Source: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities
Listings: 26
Last verified: 2026-06-18

## 20BooksTo50K

> The largest business-focused Facebook community for indie authors, with 70,000+ members sharing data-driven strategies for building sustainable income through genre fiction, series, and smart marketing.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/20booksto50k (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/20booksto50k.md)
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/20Booksto50k
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: facebook, business, strategy, community, networking, rapid-release, writing-to-market, series, genre-fiction, kindle-unlimited, ads, direct-sales

## Absolute Write Water Cooler

> The internet's most comprehensive free resource for vetting agents, publishers, and publishing services, anchored by its Bewares & Background Check board maintained in partnership with Writer Beware.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/absolute-write-water-cooler (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/absolute-write-water-cooler.md)
- Website: https://absolutewrite.com/forums/
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: forum, writing, publishing, scam-warnings, bewares, agent-research, vetting, craft, free

## Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)

> The only professional membership organization exclusively for self-published authors, offering vetted service ratings via the Watchdog Desk, free contract advice, publishing guidebooks, and a global community forum.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/alli (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/alli.md)
- Website: https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org
- Pricing: paid — $119–$169/annual
- Tags: professional, membership, vetted-services, advocacy, community, watchdog, contract-advice, nonprofit, education, networking

## Authors Guild

> The oldest US professional organization for writers, offering legal services, contract reviews, AI copyright advocacy, and website hosting for traditionally and independently published authors.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/authors-guild (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/authors-guild.md)
- Website: https://authorsguild.org
- Pricing: paid — $100–$149/annual
- Tags: professional, membership, advocacy, legal, copyright, ai-advocacy, contract-review, web-hosting, education, community

## Critique Circle

> A peer critique community running since 2003 where writers earn credits by reviewing others' work and spend them to receive structured feedback on their own writing.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/critique-circle (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/critique-circle.md)
- Website: https://www.critiquecircle.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$18/monthly
- Tags: critique, workshop, feedback, manuscript, fiction, novel, peer-review, writing-community, private-queue

## Goodreads: Support for Indie Authors

> A Goodreads group of 16,600+ indie authors for craft discussion, publishing advice, and peer support — with strict no-self-promotion rules and direct presence on the world's largest book social network.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/goodreads-support-indie-authors (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/goodreads-support-indie-authors.md)
- Website: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/154447-support-for-indie-authors
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: goodreads, community, discussion, self-publishing, free, peer-support, craft, book-marketing, cover-critique, blurb-workshop

## IBPA

> The largest US publishing trade association giving indie authors access to cooperative marketing, 100+ partner discounts, and industry advocacy since 1983.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/ibpa (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/ibpa.md)
- Website: https://www.ibpa-online.org
- Pricing: paid — $155/annual
- Tags: membership, professional, advocacy, cooperative-marketing, trade-show, book-award, networking, discounts

## Indie Author Magazine

> Monthly print, digital, and audio magazine for self-published authors covering marketing, design, distribution, business strategy, and AI tools.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/indie-author-magazine (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/indie-author-magazine.md)
- Website: https://indieauthormagazine.com
- Pricing: paid — $6–$20/monthly
- Tags: magazine, education, business, marketing, distribution, podcast, training, monthly

## KBoards Writers' Cafe

> The original indie author forum with 2.1 million posts of searchable self-publishing knowledge from 2007–2018, now in low-activity archive mode.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/kboards-writers-cafe (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/kboards-writers-cafe.md)
- Website: https://www.kboards.com/forums/writers-cafe.60/
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: forum, archive, kdp, amazon, kindle, self-publishing, historical, searchable

## Mythic Scribes

> A dedicated forum community for fantasy fiction writers covering craft, worldbuilding, critique, publishing advice, and genre discussion — with 7,800+ members and over 370,000 posts.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/mythic-scribes (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/mythic-scribes.md)
- Website: https://mythicscribes.com/community/
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: fantasy, forum, worldbuilding, craft, feedback, critique, speculative-fiction, self-publishing

## Nonfiction Authors Association

> The only major membership organization built exclusively for nonfiction authors, offering weekly media leads, virtual events, a massive resource library, and an annual online conference.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/nonfiction-authors-association (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/nonfiction-authors-association.md)
- Website: https://nonfictionauthorsassociation.com
- Pricing: paid — $390–$2490/annual
- Tags: nonfiction, membership, professional, conferences, networking, media-leads, book-awards, marketing

## r/selfpublish

> Reddit's most focused community for the practical business side of self-publishing — from KDP and ISBN decisions to cover design and scam avoidance. Strictly no self-promotion outside weekly threads.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/r-selfpublish (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/r-selfpublish.md)
- Website: https://www.reddit.com/r/selfpublish/
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: reddit, forum, advice, discussion, free, community, indie-authors, kdp, amazon

## r/fantasywriters

> Reddit's largest fantasy-specific writing community for genre craft, worldbuilding, and publishing discussions, with a linked Discord for real-time collaboration.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/rfantasywriters (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/rfantasywriters.md)
- Website: https://www.reddit.com/r/fantasywriters/
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: reddit, fantasy, writing, craft, feedback, worldbuilding, genre-fiction, discord

## r/worldbuilding

> One of Reddit's largest creative communities for building fictional worlds, with 1.9 million members spanning writers, game masters, and artists across fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative fiction.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/rworldbuilding (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/rworldbuilding.md)
- Website: https://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: reddit, worldbuilding, fantasy, science-fiction, craft, maps, lore, magic-systems, tabletop

## r/writing

> Reddit's largest writing community for craft discussion, advice, and resources — covering all experience levels, genres, and publishing paths.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/rwriting (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/rwriting.md)
- Website: https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: reddit, writing, craft, discussion, free, community, critique, advice

## SCBWI

> The world's largest children's book organization, with 80+ regional chapters, bi-annual international conferences, and dedicated indie publishing grants and awards.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/scbwi (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/scbwi.md)
- Website: https://www.scbwi.org
- Pricing: paid — $80–$99/annual
- Tags: childrens-books, picture-books, illustration, membership, professional, grants, awards, indie-resources

## Scribophile

> Online writing workshop where members earn karma by critiquing others' work and spend it to post their own writing for structured peer review — with genre groups, contests, a Writing Academy, and a beta reader directory.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/scribophile (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/scribophile.md)
- Website: https://www.scribophile.com
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$15/monthly
- Tags: critique, workshop, feedback, manuscript, fiction, beta-readers, writing-community, peer-review, karma-system, genre-groups, writing-academy

## SFWA

> Professional SFF writers' organization with Nebula Awards eligibility, Writer Beware scam alerts, and Emergency Fund grants. Self-published authors accepted since 2015.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/sfwa (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/sfwa.md)
- Website: https://www.sfwa.org
- Pricing: paid — $100/annual
- Tags: science-fiction, fantasy, membership, professional, genre, awards, nebula, writer-beware

## Shut Up & Write!

> Free global writing accountability community in 400+ cities and 80+ countries, running structured write-in sessions with no critique, no feedback, and no genre restrictions.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/shut-up-and-write (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/shut-up-and-write.md)
- Website: https://shutupwrite.com
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: writing-sprints, accountability, online-events, productivity, free, write-in, pomodoro

## Sisters in Crime

> Nonprofit mystery and crime writing organization with 4,500+ members in 60+ chapters worldwide, offering grants, education, and community with no publication requirement.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/sisters-in-crime (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/sisters-in-crime.md)
- Website: https://www.sistersincrime.org
- Pricing: paid — $60–$95/annual
- Tags: mystery, crime, thriller, suspense, membership, professional, genre, grants, nonprofit, networking, indie-author, women-writers

## SPF Community

> Mark Dawson's free Facebook community for indie authors focused on book marketing, advertising, and launch strategy — backed by the Self Publishing Formula ecosystem of courses, podcast, and annual conference.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/spf-community (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/spf-community.md)
- Website: https://selfpublishingformula.com
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: facebook, marketing, ads, strategy, community, podcast, conference, book-launch, email-list, facebook-ads, amazon-ads

## Successful Indie Author

> Craig Martelle's personal indie author community on Facebook, with practical publishing advice, twice-yearly writing challenges, 1,200+ Five Minute Focus videos on YouTube, and an active Substack newsletter.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/successful-indie-author (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/successful-indie-author.md)
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuccessfulIndieAuthor
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: facebook, business, strategy, marketing, community, writing-challenges, productivity, youtube, encouragement

## The Creative Penn Patreon

> Joanna Penn's Patreon membership offering near-weekly exclusive content: patron-only audio Q&As, behind-the-scenes author business videos, live office hours, and a growing back-library — focused on AI, direct sales, and sustainable authorship.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/the-creative-penn-patreon (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/the-creative-penn-patreon.md)
- Website: https://www.patreon.com/thecreativepenn
- Pricing: paid — $2–$10/monthly
- Tags: patreon, membership, podcast, education, marketing, AI, author-business, direct-sales, mindset

## The Indie Author Mindset

> Adam Croft's Facebook community for indie business strategy, run by a 2-million-selling UK crime novelist with 7 Amazon storewide #1 rankings.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/the-indie-author-mindset (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/the-indie-author-mindset.md)
- Website: https://indieauthormindset.com
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: facebook-group, mindset, strategy, business, wide-publishing, uk, community, marketing

## Wide for the Win

> The flagship community for indie authors who publish across multiple retailers — Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, libraries, and direct sales — instead of going exclusive with Amazon/Kindle Unlimited.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/wide-for-the-win (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/wide-for-the-win.md)
- Website: https://wideforthewin.com
- Pricing: free — $0
- Tags: facebook, wide-publishing, strategy, distribution, community, kobo, apple-books, ku-alternative, podcast, direct-sales, multi-platform

## Writers & Artists

> Bloomsbury's UK writing community for 70,000+ subscribers, with free craft resources, editorial services, forums, and live masterclass events.

- Details: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/writers-and-artists (markdown: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/writers-and-artists.md)
- Website: https://www.writersandartists.co.uk
- Pricing: freemium — $0–$400/annual
- Tags: UK, community, forum, editorial-services, manuscript-assessment, yearbook, traditional-publishing, masterclass