Pop Quiz: Which platform has more users: Twitter or Reddit?
The answer is Reddit, which you might have guessed given the title of this blog. Surprised?
Reddit is intimidating if you aren’t familiar with it. There are dark and ugly corners where you’ll find unsavory people, and its layout is hauntingly reminiscent of the days of dial-up modems.
On the flip side, Reddit has many communities that can inspire and educate you, help you grow your career, get published, and even overcome writer’s block.
I’ve put together a list of my absolute favorites—these are the best subreddits for writers, plus some tips on how to use Reddit for maximum results.
How to use Reddit effectively
If you already know the basics of how to use Reddit, you can skip this section and get right to my list of subs. But if you’re new to Reddit, here are a few tips to make the most of your maiden voyage.
First, a disclaimer: Consider this one big trigger warning for literally everything. Because Reddit is so open and uncensored, you are going to see offensive content. You can filter out posts that are marked Not Safe For Work (NSFW), but that doesn’t mean you won’t see things that upset or shock you, even in this relatively innocuous list of subreddits I’ve put together.
If you’re willing to take the risk in order to see some truly awesome content, then read on.
So what is Reddit?
Reddit is a collection of communities, known as subreddits or “subs.” These communities can be about literally anything (as you’ll see below), and in most cases, they are open for anyone to join.
When you venture into a sub, you’ll see a list of posts from members of that sub. That’s the wonderful thing about Reddit, and what sets it apart from Twitter and Facebook: You can see posts from anyone, even if you have no connection to that person.
If you want to participate in discussions or post your own content, you’ll need to start by creating a username and logging in. This will allow you to customize your Reddit Homepage with only the subs you follow.
Logged-in users also have the ability to “upvote” or “downvote” posts, which will move content higher or lower within the subreddit feed based on how popular it is. For this reason, when you first visit a subreddit, you’ll see posts that are both recent and popular.
Pro Tip: You can use the filters at the top of a sub to rearrange them for best viewing.
- Hot allows you to see recent posts with the most upvotes.
- New allows you to see newest posts first. This is great if you want to join discussions early on.
- Controversial shows you posts that have an equal balance of upvotes and downvotes (meaning some people love the post, others hate it).
- Top is great if you want to see the best of the best. You can select a time range here, from Best of Today to Best of All Time.
- Rising are newer posts that are gaining steam.
When you see a post that piques your interest, click on it to view the discussion happening beneath. You will quickly find that some of the best advice and content comes from comments, not the posts themselves.
Don’t worry if it sounds confusing—just give it a try. The deeper you go, the easier it will get.
My last tip is this:
Don’t take it too seriously, and be prepared to get addicted. In fact, if you really want to use Reddit for inspiration rather than procrastination, you might want to use a timer or alarm to make sure you switch off when it comes time to put your inspiration into practice.
Now, on to the best subreddits…
Reddit writing prompts (beyond just r/WritingPrompts)
One of the best writing subs on Reddit is /r/WritingPrompts, where people post very inspirational and creative (and occasionally stupid) writing prompts like these:
If you’re looking for a quick, fun exercise to stretch your fingers and get you writing, these kinds of prompts can be incredibly useful. And on the rare occasion, people have turned a prompt from the subreddit into a full novel.
But if you’re suffering from writer’s block and want to work on your own ideas rather than Reddit writing prompts, there are plenty of other subs you can turn to for more general inspiration.
Reddit writing communities
Reddit has many, many communities where writers can interact with each other. There’s a lot of overlap between these communities, so I’ve divided them up into like groups.
One other quick thing to note: You’ll see a lot of subreddits on here with the word “porn” in their title. Don’t worry, I’m not actually recommending pornography to you. Something like “book porn” for example will feature beautiful images of books, not naked people.
Writer workshops and discussion boards
These subs are the best places to find other writers to share ideas with, ask questions, and swap feedback.
Reading and literature subreddits
To be a good writer, you must be an avid reader. Use these subs to find inspirational reading and book suggestions
Word nerd and grammar subreddits
Looking to expand your breadth of knowledge about the English language? You can improve your grammar and vocabulary with these subreddits.
Self-publishing subreddits
Ready to move beyond the writing stage? Here are a few subreddits where you can get tips on self-publishing.
Learn how NOT to write
Sometimes, bad examples of writing can be great ways to steer your own writing in the right direction. Here are a few communities with plenty of bad examples.
Subreddits for character inspiration
Need some help building a character’s personality, look, or story arc? Reddit can help out there too. Though these subs aren’t built for writers, they present “slice of life” content that can help you incorporate realism into your characters’ lives.
If you’re working on something that’s out of this world, you can use these subreddits to explore your genre or see curious creatures and settings that inspire you.
Sci-fi, Dystopia, and Fantasy Reddit
The basics
For general discussions on these genres, including places where people share their writing, ask questions, and make suggestions, try these subs.
Reddit’s Imaginary Network
In this network of subs, artists, and other creatives post artwork of weird and incredible imaginary things. Use them to inspire characters, monsters, and tech in your novel.
Worldbuilding subreddits
Need some inspiration for the world you’re creating on the page? Here are some good places to start. (But seriously, be sure to check out r/ImaginaryNetwork as well.)
Subreddits for horror writers
Calling all Stephen King fans: “Horror Reddit” is a genre unto itself. Find inspiration for your next horror story or read something truly scary for inspiration.
Educational subreddits to blow your mind
Learning something new is one of the best ways to overcome a creative block. Learn something new with these communities.
Hopefully, at least a few of these subs have spoken to you and will help you overcome the creative obstacles you’re facing. If you have others you love, pop them in the comments below.
Need more guidance on how to move your writing career ahead? You can always get in touch with me directly.
I help writers of all sorts overcome their career obstacles, whether they’re facing writer’s block or simply need help finding new clients.
I’d love to hear from you.
