Writing.comReviews 236

Apparently I've been a member for a few years now but didn't know about it until yesterday. The site looked, at first, like a fun place to write and review the work of other writers but I seem to have stumbled into the elementary school section and can't find my way out. The stories I'm reading are about puppies, teenage angst and poetry about how life sucks now (but it didn't always). The reviews amount to nothing more than obnoxious graphics with rainbow colored emoticons and breathless reviewers praising the writer with profound perspectives such as: "I love this story so much! Thanks for saying what I would have said if I had only thought of it!" Anyway, I'm giving it a few more days but the complicated layout and busy, noisy graphics are not conducive to the hard work of writing. The site's been around for awhile so it must work for some people.

**Update** I'm quite sure now that I don't have any use for Writing.com. It apparently serves the needs of many 'writers' but it doesn't serve my needs. It's just for kids really.

At first they spread out the welcome mat so fast it makes your head spin. But you quickly learn that it is nothing but a cheap commercial scheme aimed at boosting the egos of some people with no lives and a superiority complex.

In a nut shell, if you don't pay, you forfeit your right to being considered a good writer by the oh-so-supportive community of this website.

They even lure you in and offer you an upgraded membership for a few months when you first join.

My advice, stay away from this website, unless you enjoy interacting with overly entitled, no-talent, snobs.

Also, the reason why there are so many positive reviews on here is that they actually offer rewards to the writing.com community for reviewing products, their own site included.

This site has some creative resources that can really help develop your writing skills. it was the first writing site I had ever used, Then I switched to another, which was full of nasty stalkers, so I returned to writing. Com. Unfortunately, My stalkers followed and when I complained to the site admin, they were unresponsive and it continued, leaving me no option but to leave. I believe the story mistress there may have known my harasser, as she awarded a music badge to him or her, and allowed the breach of their so called policies to continue. I was then hacked by this stalker, but they remain on writing.com. I can no longer recommend this as a safe site.

I have been a member of Writing.Com for four years. The reviews by members, of my writings, has helped me immensely. So much so, that I want to thank all persons at Writing.Com who reviewed my Bible stories. My book, "Bible Stories Told My Way," will be released by Tate Publishing in August 2014. Writing.com members made a huge difference in that accomplishment. I am working on another project which is being considered by a different publisher, which deals with controversial Biblical subjects. Writing.Com via its members has made the difference in how quickly I have learned to master this art of ours, and encourages me to continue enhancing it. Again Thank you Writing.Com authors.

I've only been on writing.com for a couple months now and it has already become a home away from home for me. I go to the site more than any other site. I don't even remember typing it into my browser, it just kind of shows up when I power on my computer.

I've read some reviews here about possible unfair judging of contests and whatnot. I haven't been on the site long and I'm not going to claim to know the judging process of every contest. I can say though that I've already won a contest in which I'm not friends with the judges, so I don't know about all of that nonsense.

Writing.com is what you make of it. You can be as reclusive or social as you want, but you will always have the support of its helpful and caring members. If I can randomly stumble upon it and already have such great friends in two months, anyone can do it. There is always someone who's willing to help with any issue you may have. Whether you're looking for a review or some help with a personal goal, you're going to find the resources and support on this site.

What makes WDC different from other writing sites is the dedication of its members. People devote a lot of time to their own work and to the work of others. There is a level of support that you aren't going to find on other writing websites. No matter what your level of writing is, you're going to find yourself improving if you sign up here.

In the interest of full disclosure: I am a moderator at WDC. As such, I do not get paid in any way for volunteering on the site. Nor do I expect any compensation for this review.

I joined this wonderful site in 2002, and things are constantly improving there. Is it perfect? No. What website is? But one of the best things about this site is that members have a lot of control over its content. Members are free to post writing on any topic at all in their portfolios without any censorship, so all readers can find something that might interest them, whether it be erotica or poetry. Site staff is available to answer any support questions that arise. When you speak to the Storymaster, you are speaking to the man who founded, runs, and maintains Writing.com. On what other writing site do you get one-on-one help from its founder?

Another strength of this site is that it is for everyone, in all phases of their writing careers. There are novice members writing alongside published authors and even publishers themselves. The community is one of sharing and growing.

Although the site may seem overwhelming for new members, I encourage everyone to give it a try for a few months before deciding whether or not the site is for you. There are always other members willing to show newbies the way around. Most of the extremely negative comments I have seen here are from members who clearly never took the time to experience what the site has to offer. As I said, a site such as this one can be strengthened or weakened by the attitude of its members.

I thought I could write before I joined Writing.com, but I've learned so much in the past 4 years that I'm embarrassed about how inexperienced I was back then. I've worked hard on my stories and met amazingly talented people who were all willing to help a newb. In 2013, I got a literary agent and a book contract. Now my book's on Amazon and many other vendors, and it's all because of the awesome writing community at Writing.com.

The site itself is good. It's members that make a writing site uncomfortable. Problems on web sites such as this arise when people join for reasons other than being serious about their writing and improving it. If they cannot take criticism, perhaps they should avoid these sites. I notice that some writers join only to rant or vent, which I believe are inappropriate reasons to join a creative writing site. These types of 'writers' perhaps could join psychology self-help sites or face book. There must be many other sites for people who don't 'get' that writing sites are for creative writing. I find the managers of the site responsible and helpful.

I came to Stories.Com on 3/18/02 which changed its name to Writing.Com. I left for medical reasons in 2005 for less than a month. Medical reasons cleared up and I came back and started over again so with the exception of that one month I have been here ever since. When I left I was a Preferred Author. I have made it back plus. Now as a Moderator I am about to say at 73 years old I will stay as long as I can. Why? Because Writing dot Com is the best place for an old poet like me due to the constant efforts of the Story Master and the Story Mistress.

I have been a member of Writing.com for over ten years now. It's a santuary for me, a home away from home, a place I feel safe to be myself and share my work without being judged. The sense of community throughout that website is immense. It involves me completely and I cannot help but get submersed in everything that goes on daily across the site. There's such a huge range of features there that allow writers to truly be creative, not only creating pieces like stories and poetry, but allowing writers to collaborate on things, work together to create a piece and offer each other encouragement. The reviews on Writing.com and always, I've found, warm, encouraging and genuine. I've never been judged for my work, only offered constructive criticism and I value that. It's the best site for writing that I know and one that I visit every day, I just can't resist!

Writing.Com is a community of peers. I have been a member for 8 years, am currently a moderator; therefore my comments reflect my experience, some of the reasons I remain a member; why I choose to stay.

Writing.Com is a community of peers. From the day I arrived, I was welcomed as a fellow writer, a peer, by both emerging and published writers. They sought my opinion, my review of their work, and encouraged me to post my words for their reading and comment. The founders, StoryMaster and StoryMistress, are constantly building the infrastructure, fostering creative expression, along with the means for members to enhance the craft of writing. Together with the Senior Moderators, they are responsive, ever available to answer questions, provide encouragement and guidance.

Members are free to create activities, forums, contests, which afford additional opportunities to interact in the Community; to write, read and review, for example, genre fiction, poetry, non-fiction, screenplays, lyrics, as they write on.

Kate S.

Writing.com, where do I begin?

I joined the site in April 2012 after reigniting my passion for writing after a 12-year absence. I was so scared to post my writing to an audience outside of my family. After procrastinating for a week I finally took that huge step and posted a poem for the world to read.

I can honestly say this was the best move in my life. Within an hour I received a review of my work, It was not only positive but helpful. My reviewer showed me the strengths and weaknesses of my piece and helped me to not only improve my work but to help me learn why things worked and some did not. Since then I've been hooked.

I've written for and won contests, met like-minded writers, and have even been published in WDC's very own hard-copy anthology. I have improved so much as a writer it's phenomenal, I've even had the courage to self-publish my own short story via Smashwords and Amazon.

WDC's strength is its community, it is so friendly and supportive words cannot express my feelings towards it. For me it was life changing. After a few months at the site, I joined a group called Brainstormers, a specific group set up for members suffering from mental disorders. I have suffered from depression all my life and I found a great home amongst some wonderfully understanding people. During a conversation, it was suggested that I suffered from Bi-Polar Disorder rather than from depression. After talking to my psychologist, he agreed and after lots of trial and error, I am now on the correct medication for my condition. It truly has changed my life. Not bad for a writing site huh?

This is the true colours of the community shining through. It expands beyond writing, the people here really do care! I have friends from across the globe, they help me improve as a writer, inspire me with their writing and they are there for me when I need them as I am for them. I have never felt less than an equal amongst the black, yellow, blue, purple and red cases within the site.

I could go on for another fifty paragraphs about the positives but instead I ask you to come and join us. My name on WDC is nangwaya and I'd love to meet you.

I found Writing.Com a little over 7 years ago, when I was just beginning to get into writing. I joined to get feedback on my own writing but I stayed for the community. Over the course of my stay, I've gotten plenty of help to improve my writing and met many wonderful people that I would call friends.

Like any other endeavor, you get what you put into it. If you are an active member and part of the community, you will get more out of the site and its members than if you aren't. There are always members there to help if you have questions about the site, too. The staff, senior moderators and moderators are helpful and willing to help those who ask for it.

The members of this site strive to make it a place for writers to learn and grow and make it feel like an online home for you and your writing.

I am a senior moderator in Writing.com and I have been a member since June 2001. I believe Writing.com to be the best site for improving one's skills and finding fair peer reviews for one's work.

Before Writing.com, I had a difficult time to get fair and knowledgeable opinions for my work unless I paid dearly for them. Since the site is a peer-review site, surely the opinions change, but still it is the best and cheapest way to find feedback for one's work. This, however, is not the only positive for this site.

Writing.com is also a community, in which we care for each other, and since it is a community, it has rules for the welfare of everyone. This is not a site for those who do not follow any directions, be it for their own good.

Writing.com also is a teaching site. It has teaching groups, contests, activities, and weekly newsletters addressing all areas of the writing craft. Just by reading the members' articles and other work, one can even learn to write on one's own.

Yet, more than all of the above, we have caring owner-administrators and staff who want the best for every writer in the site and work very hard for it.

Writing.com, my favourite site on the World Wide Web! <3

Yes, it is great because I have an online portfolio for all my poetry, because it has encouraged me to get into writing other things like short stories, because of the vast array of inspiring contests and activities available, because I have made friends from all over the World, because I can discuss a hobby with people who have the same hobby, because of the kind gestures, gifts and words from fellow members... but most of all...

Because on Writing.com you are never alone!

I would recommend this site to anyone with an interest in writing of any type - poetry, fiction, articles, song lyrics and anything in between. Whether your main desire in life is to become a published author or whether you just want to meet people who enjoy writing in one way or another and be part of a fabulous community - WDC is for you!

:)

If you think you can get the same benefits provided by Writing.com somewhere else as well, think again. For a writer, it's a home away from home. There are endless ways to share your writing, get feedback on your written pieces, places to improve your skills, not to mention, interact with thousands of members who are always willing to help.

It is up to you and your involvement on the site, that can make a difference in your life. It's an enormous support group, with people from all over the world, helping each other out, encouraging them to write and share there thoughts. There's never a dull moment and every day, something new is created. Check it out for yourself!

The community consists of staff members, senior moderators, as well as moderators, all willing to volunteer their free time to help anyone who has any questions or requires any help learning the ropes.

You couldn't find a better website for writers no matter how hard you tried. Writing.com is a truly amazing site!

In all honesty I oscillate right at about a 4.5 with this site, I think it's way better than good but it's not perfect by any means, then again, who/what is?

LOVE the chance to enhance and really work on my craft. LOVE the diversity of all the users from all over the world. LOVE how involved the site creators, staff and moderators are.

If you are serious about getting involved and finding a place for honest feedback (some reviewers are better than others, but it takes all kinds, remember you get what you pay for and you can actually 'pay' for higher quality reviews if you don't want to put effort into participating in a review group) this is an amazing stepping stone. Several writing professionals are hidden among us amateurs (I'm amateur creatively but a technical writer by trade so I like to think I have a little something to offer) and basically donate tons of skilled time.

NOTE: You do NOT have to PAY for anything. I've been active on the site for over a year and have had a 'Paid Membership' for over 9 months. I have never paid a real dime for anything. I HAVE spent a ridiculous amount of time on the site though... but hey, I like writing! You "pay" for things with "Gift Points" that you can either purchase OR earn, through reviewing, winning contests, and otherwise being active. You DON'T have to be an amazing writer but you DO have to put effort into obtaining and earning advanced site features.

Another interesting feature on the site is 'Portfolio Colors'. You can't buy a color change, you have to earn it. Colors are black, yellow, blue, and purple (red is reserved for creators and staff) meaning author, preferred author, moderator, and... senior moderator respectively.

There is a lot of text on the main page but as a beginner I suggest focusing on the left hand panel and the rest will fall into place. It's really not that complicated but I can see how an anxious individual might feel overwhelmed.

The creators are constantly providing small updates and always looking for ways on which to improve, even after 13 years. I know of many sites that insist on operating the same way they did 10+ years ago. I give the creators' and staffs' dedication to changing with the times and continuous quality improvement 8 out of 10 stars. I withheld 2 stars because of time between major updates and lack of graphics, but it's a small writing site run by about 3 staff and a boatload of volunteers, so that's to be expected.

Writing.com has helped me improve my writing skills in every possible way. Not only that, I am able to communicate with several writers from different corners of Earth with the same passion or hobby as mine, writing. I have hundreds of friends and I joined it in 2011, looking to receive feedback for my writing. Since then, I have received a lot of helpful reviews and feedback for my writings and the website itself if very friendly, open, wide and creative.

LOVE(x1000) the site. HOWEVER. When I give a gift membership to someone, I expect them to receive the benefits of that membership from the powers that be. I don't expect the recipient to tell me they can't access the promised features of the membership level. Example: they are unable to access all the "writing.com tools" features.
If a problem presents itself it should be handled in a professional manner, the member should not be banned simply as a "I have the power and you don't" by the GOD with no opportunity to ever get back into the denied areas.
And if they are not going to allow reentry I should be reimbursed my money. Not points but the real money I invested.

P.s. There was no "personal whim" clause in the contract I agreed to when I invested that kind of money. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL...