Writing Stories Online

You’ve written something worth sharing. Now what?

You can write and share stories online for free using platforms like Wattpad (excellent for romance, fantasy, and young adult fiction), Archive of Our Own (the top choice for fanfiction), FictionPress (original fiction across genres), and Inkspired (serial stories). For writing tools, Reedsy Studio offers a free online app with chapter organization, goal setting, and collaboration features. To get feedback, Scribophile uses a critique-exchange model where writers review each other’s work, while Reedsy Prompts provides weekly writing challenges with community support.

Key Takeaways:

• Free platforms are plentiful: Wattpad, Archive of Our Own, FictionPress, and Inkspired all offer free story sharing with active reader communities
• Different platforms serve different genres: Wattpad excels for romance/fantasy/YA, AO3 dominates fanfiction, and Inkspired supports serial publishing formats
• Writing tools differ from sharing platforms: Reedsy Studio and Novlr focus on helping you write; Wattpad and AO3 focus on sharing and community
• Feedback requires participation: Critique-exchange communities like Scribophile work best when you actively engage and review others’ work

The internet has transformed creative writing from a solitary pursuit into a collaborative, community-driven journey. What used to require traditional publishing gatekeepers now just requires an internet connection and the courage to share your work.

But here’s where it gets overwhelming: there are hundreds of platforms out there. Which one do you pick? Where do you start?

This guide breaks down online writing into three categories— sharing platforms, writing tools, and feedback communities. Think of it like this: platforms help you publish, tools help you draft, and communities help you improve.

Sharing your stories online is one of the best ways to grow as a writer— not despite the vulnerability, but because of it.

Let’s start with platforms designed specifically for sharing your stories with readers.

Story Sharing Platforms

Free story-sharing platforms like Wattpad, Archive of Our Own, FictionPress, and Inkspired let you publish your work and connect with readers— each with distinct strengths for different genres and formats.

Wattpad is an excellent choice for fiction writers who want to connect with fans of romance, fantasy, and young adult fiction. The platform has a massive reader community. Stories publish serially, which means you can share chapter by chapter and build an audience as you write. Readers comment, vote, and interact with your work in real time.

If you write fanfiction, Archive of Our Own isn’t just a good choice— it’s the obvious choice. AO3 is a top choice for fanfiction writers. It’s entirely community-driven, free, and hugely popular among people who love writing and reading transformative works. The platform is operated by the Organization for Transformative Works, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting fanworks. The tagging system is powerful— you can tag everything from characters to tropes to content warnings, making it easy for readers to find exactly what they’re looking for.

Beyond these major platforms, FictionPress (sister site to FanFiction.Net) welcomes all original fiction genres with a straightforward, no-frills approach. Inkspired supports multiple formats from novels to interactive stories— particularly strong if you’re building connected fictional worlds. And Commaful combines text with images for visual storytelling in short-form work and poetry.

Here’s the thing: you don’t need to pick just one. Many writers use multiple platforms to reach different audiences.

Finding your people in a genre-specific community is one of the most exciting parts of sharing work online. When a reader comments on chapter three saying they can’t wait for chapter four— that’s the kind of connection that keeps you writing.

But sharing platforms are only part of the equation. You also need tools to actually write your stories.

Online Writing Tools and Apps

Google Docs works fine until you hit chapter fifteen and can’t remember what you named that secondary character in chapter three. Online writing tools like Reedsy Studio, Novlr, and NovelEasy solve the organization problems that emerge when ‘just writing in a document’ stops being enough— all free and accessible from any device with an internet connection.

Reedsy Studio is a free online writing app to help you go from blank page to published book. It offers chapter organization, goal setting, and formatting tools. You can collaborate with others in real time, which is helpful if you’re working with a co-writer or editor. Everything is cloud-based, so you can write on your lunch break at work, then pick up where you left off at home. When you’re done, export to Word, PDF, or ePub.

Novlr is built by writers, for writers— in fact, it’s the world’s only writer-owned creative writing platform. The workspace is designed to be distraction-free. You get goal tracking, planning features, and a clean interface that lets you focus on the actual writing. The writer-owned model means the platform is designed for writers’ needs, not investor demands.

NovelEasy offers novel-specific tools with planning features to help you organize complex projects. A free tier is available.

You don’t need fancy software to write a book. But having the right tools makes it easier. Most writers abandon complex tools within a week— start with free options like Reedsy Studio or Novlr that prioritize simplicity over features. You can always level up later.

The key difference: writing tools focus on helping you draft, organize, and format your manuscript. Sharing platforms focus on publishing your work and connecting with readers. Most writers use both— tools for writing, platforms for sharing.

Tools help you write. Platforms help you share. But what about getting feedback?

Feedback and Community Platforms

Feedback-focused platforms like Scribophile and Reedsy Prompts connect you with other writers who’ll review your work— but you’ll need to actively participate by critiquing others’ writing too.

For writers looking for feedback, Scribophile is one of the best websites for writing stories. Writers critique each other’s work in exchange for feedback on their own. You earn “karma points” by reviewing other people’s writing, and you spend those points to post your own work for critique. There’s a free limited plan; the paid version unlocks full features. The focus is on constructive criticism— not just cheerleading, but actual developmental feedback that helps you improve.

Here’s what people get wrong about feedback: they expect to post once and get detailed reviews. That’s not how it works. The critique-exchange model exists for a reason— it prevents one-sided interactions where everyone wants feedback but no one wants to give it.

If you’re not willing to critique other writers’ work, don’t expect detailed feedback on yours.

Reedsy Prompts offers weekly writing challenges with community voting and feedback. It’s best for short-form work. The community aspect adds accountability— you’re not just writing into the void, you’re writing for an audience that will respond.

Beyond these platforms, communities exist on Reddit (particularly r/writing), Critique Circle, and various writing-focused Discord servers. Each has its own culture and feedback style.

Managing feedback is its own skill. Not all feedback is equally useful. You’ll need to learn to filter— taking what strengthens your work and leaving what doesn’t serve the story you’re trying to tell. And that takes time.

Building trust in a feedback community takes time too. But when you find your people— writers who understand what you’re trying to do and can help you get there— it’s worth every hour you invested.

So you know where to share, what tools to use, and how to get feedback. Now, how do you actually get started?

Getting Started: Your First Steps

Your first step depends on what you need most: if you have a finished story, start with a sharing platform; if you’re still drafting, start with a writing tool; if you need accountability and feedback, start with a community.

Don’t overthink this. Pick one platform and try it.

If you have a completed story ready to share, choose a sharing platform based on your genre. Romance, fantasy, or YA? Start with Wattpad. Fanfiction? Archive of Our Own. Original fiction across other genres? FictionPress.

If you’re still drafting and need help organizing your manuscript, start with a writing tool. Reedsy Studio is the easiest to start with— it’s free, intuitive, and works across devices.

If you need motivation and feedback to keep writing, start with a community platform. Scribophile works well if you’re ready to give critiques to earn feedback. Reedsy Prompts works well if you want low-stakes weekly challenges to build momentum.

You can (and should) use multiple platforms over time. Just don’t try to join everything at once. Start with one. See how it feels. Add others as needed.

Analysis paralysis kills more creative projects than bad writing ever will.

3-Step Starter Plan:

1. Identify your immediate need: Sharing finished work? Still drafting? Need feedback?
2. Pick one platform from the relevant category: Don’t try to join everything at once
3. Set a small, achievable goal: Post one chapter, write 500 words, or give one critique this week

Most platforms are free, which means there’s no financial risk to trying them. The only risk is not starting at all.

The best platform is the one that matches where you are right now in your writing journey— not where you think you should be.

Writing and sharing your stories online is more than just publishing— it’s joining a community of people who believe creative expression matters.

Your Story Awaits

Writing stories online transforms creative writing from a solitary activity into a community experience— and that connection, feedback, and shared passion is what helps writers grow.

Your creative work is part of living with purpose. Your stories matter. The act of sharing them matters. And the internet has made it easier than ever to find your people— readers who connect with your work, writers who understand your journey, and communities that celebrate creative expression as part of a meaningful life.

Don’t wait until your writing is ‘good enough.’ It’s already good enough.

The best time to start sharing your writing was when you first had the idea. The second-best time is today.

If you’re exploring how creative expression fits into your larger sense of purpose and calling, explore our resources on purpose and meaning. Writing is one of many ways to express what matters to you.

FAQ

Where can I write stories online for free? You can write and share stories for free on Wattpad, Archive of Our Own (AO3), FictionPress, and Inkspired. All offer free accounts with no paywalls for readers. Reedsy Studio also provides free writing tools for drafting and organizing your work.

What is the best site for fanfiction? Archive of Our Own (AO3) is the top choice for fanfiction writers. It’s entirely free, community-driven by the Organization for Transformative Works, and offers powerful tagging and search tools that make it easy for readers to find specific content.

How do I get feedback on my writing online? Scribophile uses a critique-exchange model where you review other writers’ work to earn credits for feedback on yours. Reedsy Prompts offers weekly writing challenges with community voting and commentary. Both require active participation— you give feedback to get feedback.

What’s the difference between writing tools and sharing platforms? Writing tools (like Reedsy Studio and Novlr) focus on helping you draft, organize, and format your manuscript. Sharing platforms (like Wattpad and AO3) focus on publishing your work and connecting with readers. Most writers use both: tools for writing, platforms for sharing.