Founded by Holly Lisle, 1998

Site Owner, Lazette Gifford -- 2003 to Present

Quick Help

Keep track of things at FM

Easy answers to common site questions

Where are the missing threads?

 It sometimes appears as though threads have disappeared. They're usually still there. Try these four steps to find them again.
  1. User menu
  2. Edit your preferences
  3. Date Limit
  4. All Available Topics
What are the restrictions on the different types of boards:
  1. Public -- Open to everyone to read and post

    You must be a member and logged in to Forward Motion (not chat) to post on anything other than the public boards, and you will not even see anything in the restricted or private boards if you are not logged in.

  2. Protected -- Can be read by everyone, but only members can post.

  3. Restricted -- Only members can read and post.

  4. Private -- Only selected members can read and post. (These are mostly the private critique groups.)

Need more help? Drop us a line!
admin@fmwriters.com

Forward Motion for Writers

Write here... Write Now

Welcome to FM.

This site is filled with people who are following the treacherous path toward traditional publication. It isn't an easy hike, but there are many members willing to help. This is also a place where you can share both the joys and the insanity of writing with those who understand what you are talking about.

Forward Motion's core purpose is to help writers become professionally published. We welcome serious writing hobbyists as well, but our purpose and goals are geared toward professional careers. We do not allow fanfiction posts and we don't promote self-publishing.

Belonging to Forward Motion is free, and includes everything you find on the site, from critique circles to classes. Forward Motion has undergone numerous changes through the years, but the site remains true to its purpose of 'writers helping writers.'

Forward motion is a large site. We recomend that you start out with just a couple boards -- things like Newcomers, the Main Board, perhaps Roving Crits and one of the genre boards. Wander around and find what interests you. If a board seems abandoned, post and see if others join in. Sometimes, that's all it takes to draw people back!

What's new for July!

  • The Senses of Summer July Dare
    Try your hand at writing about the sight, taste, feel, scent and sounds of summer, either as a personal memory or as something your characters experience.
  • July/August Dare
    Do you need a little push to get something done? Want to try a new genre, or maybe get some editing done? Try the two month challenge!
  • Alternate Challenge
    This open-genre short story challenge runs all year long. It's especially helpful for months where the dare is in a genre that doesn't suit you.
  • July Word Count Marathon
    These very popular marathons draw a lot of people and are quite fun!
  • July Advanced Challenge - Critiquing
    If you've been following the year, we've written and edited, so for many of you, critiquing is the natural progression.
  • Vision: A Resource for Writers
    Stop by and read Issue #52 of this popular writing-related ezine!

Have you seen...

  • Creativity Boards
    Writers do more than write! Share your other creative pastimes with the people of FM.
  • Reading Room
    Writers are readers. What books are you reading and what books have you enjoyed in the past?
  • Advanced Writers Board
    This board is aimed at writers who are past the basics of writing their first novels or stories