Welcome to Absolute Write Water Cooler
Welcome, writers! Absolute Write is a moderated, free, online community of writers, agents, editors, and publishers. Absolute Write provides information about writing as well as editing, publishing, and agents. We welcome writers of all levels of experience and ambition. If you’re interested in freelance writing, screenwriting, playwriting, writing novels, nonfiction writing, comic book writing, or writing poetry and lyrics, you’re in the right place.
Please read The Newbie Guide to Absolute Write
Welcome, writers! Absolute Write is a moderated, free, online community of writers, agents, editors, and publishers. Absolute Write provides information about writing as well as editing, publishing, and agents. We welcome writers of all levels of experience and ambition. If you’re interested in freelance writing, screenwriting, playwriting, writing novels, nonfiction writing, comic book writing, or writing poetry and lyrics, you’re in the right place.
Please read The Newbie Guide to Absolute Write
New Members New
Here’s the spot to introduce yourself. Come on in and tell us a little about yourself!
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Absolute Write FAQs New
Wondering how AW works? The answer is probably here in Frequently Asked Questions about how to use Absolute Write. Mod: MacAllister.
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Bulletin Board New
This is for official announcements from AW staff about the Water Cooler. Members cannot start threads here.
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Be Excellent To One Another New
Times are rough for all us. Here are some ways to care for ourselves, share a laugh or three, help someone who needs, and distract ourselves while self-isolating. Mods: Maryn .
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Tech Tools and Tech Help New
What hardware and software are you using? Ask questions and get help here.
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AW's Discord and IRC Chat Channels New
Guidelines and feedback regarding our offsite writing chat rooms.
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From Other Forums and Message Boards
Check in, post an update, or set up a temporary refugee camp during outages of Internet haunts elseweb. No dissing other message boards or moderators, though! Mod: MacAllister.
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International District New
A gathering place for members from around the world. Mod: Sophia.
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Office Party New
Writers goofing-off, making friends, and getting to know the community.
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Goals and Accomplishments New
Discuss your writing goals and how you’re reaching them. Guidelines. Mod: RichardGarfinkle.
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Rejection and Dejection New
Tales of woe and methods for dealing with rejection.
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Basic Writing Questions New
Basic Writing Questions (BWQs) are perennial questions from new writers or those reaching a new stage, general in nature, including how to write, what to write, or why to write one way or another. Read the Introduction and the other Stickies. Do not post fiction or poetry here.
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Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media New
Blogging, podcasting, social media posting.
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Comic Books, Graphic Novels, and Manga New
This board is for discussion of creating, writing, illustrating, or enjoying comic books, graphic novels, or manga.
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Freelance Writing
Paid writing for magazines, e-zines, newspapers and digital media. Mod: regdog
Not a forum for ads.
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Nonfiction New
Here we discuss all forms of non-fiction writing regardless of subject, format or audience. Mod: bunny hugger
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Novels New
This board is for discussing all aspects of writing novel-length works of fiction. Mods: Sage, Unimportant.
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Outwitting Writer's Block New
Writer's block is a reality for many writers. Here we discuss methods of coping with writer's block and do not debate its existence. Read the Guidelines before posting.
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Poetry New
Here poets discuss the writing, reading, publishing, and appreciation of all forms of poetry. This is not a display site for poems.
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Scripts, Stage, and Screen
Writing scripts for theatre, movies, television, radio, and podcasts; discussing format requirements and software for scripts. Mod: Maryn.
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Short Fiction New
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Writing For Kids New
Picture books, middle grade, chapter books this is the place to discuss reading and writing childrens' books.
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Write 1 | Sub 1 New
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Young Adult New
This is the place to discuss reading and writing books for teens. Mod: Sage
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AW Roundtable New
Honing our craft and sharing what we’ve learned. Mod: Lakey
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Bewares, Recommendations & Background Check New
Here's where to check in and share about publishers, agents, and producers.
Be sure to check the Index before starting a thread.
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Research New
Post here to find experts and research resources. Be sure to search for similar topics before posting.
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Publishing FAQs and Resources
What are royalties? What are standard contract terms? What does this line in my contract mean? How do I find an agent? Mod: CaoPaux.
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General Publishing Discussions New
Publishing trends, royalties, contracts, finding a publisher—the business side of writing. Mod: CaoPaux.
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Ask the Agent New
Our guest literary agents answer your questions. Mod: CaoPaux.
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Ask the Editor New
Mod: CaoPaux.
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Book Promotion Ideas and Advice
How can the author help with book promotion? How can you promote your books? What shouldn’t you do? Mod: CaoPaux.
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Self-Publishing: Print, Audio, Digital, Papyrus or New
Informed choices. Hard truths. No us-vs-them. Mod: CaoPaux.
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Animals and Nature New
Feathers, Fins, Fur and more....
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Contemporary Literature
World War II changed the world's perceptions of life and culture. This is the literature—fiction, poetry, and drama—that continues to reflect and shape our own ever-changing world, while refining our understanding of the world beyond our own borders through the works of authors such as Gabriel García Márquez, Haruki Murakami, and Gillian Mears
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Historical Writing New
Resources and discussions for those writing about the past, whether fiction or nonfiction. Mod: Lakey.
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Religious and Spiritual Writing New
(See this board for sub-genres.)
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Romance | Women's Fiction New
Sweet love stories, historic romance, contemporary or category romance, women's fiction—what are you reading? What are you writing?
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Pop Culture
Movies, music, politics, art, and all that cool stuff we want to write, read, and just can't help talking about.
Movies, music, politics, art, and all that cool stuff we want to write, read, and just can't help talking about.
Politics & Current Events New
Please see the room expectations stickie.
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AW Bookclub New
Talk about that book you just couldn't put down.
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Games New
Games, Gaming, Writing for Games
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Hands-On New
For crafters, artists, photographers, wood-workers, basket-weavers...and for writing about what we love to do.
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Music and Songwriting New
What are you listening to? What are you writing?
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Now We're Cookin'! New
Writing about recipes, restaurants, reviewing, and food in general.
Harriet Van Horne said, "Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all."
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QUILTBAG New
Writing about or writing from non-heteronormative perspectives, situations, and characters. Read the Sticky before posting.
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AW Writing Lab
Roll up your sleeves, put in your BIC time, and write! This area is for posting work for sharing and critting. Only original work that is unpublished and intended for critique may be posted here.
Roll up your sleeves, put in your BIC time, and write! This area is for posting work for sharing and critting. Only original work that is unpublished and intended for critique may be posted here.
Intro to Share Your Work | Posting and Critting
Forum guidelines and info you need to read before posting. Post material for critique in the genre sub-forums below.
Private
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Flash Fiction
Flash Fiction is no longer active. This forum is read-only.
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Writing Exercises, Prompts & Whimsical Pursuits New
Writerly games, including prompts to start your muse, Flash Fiction and other writing-related challenges. Come try your skill, or join a game in progress.
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Voluntary Subscription
If this site is helpful to you,
Please consider a voluntary subscription to defray ongoing expenses. Here are some other ways to help AW.
Please consider a voluntary subscription to defray ongoing expenses. Here are some other ways to help AW.