Guide | Author groups
The best author group is the one that matches your next goal: writing groups for craft, Facebook author groups for connection, and Book Profits Club for building a business behind your book.
This guide ranks five kinds of author groups on the same criteria: focus, cost, meeting rhythm, faith integration, and business training. Book Profits Club publishes this guide and lists itself first as its own pick, so read every entry with that in mind and choose the group that fits your stage.
Last updated: November 2026 | Published by Book Profits Club
Join a writing group if your book is not finished, and a business community if it is. Writers still drafting usually need sessions and deadlines; authors with a finished book usually need offers, funnels, and an audience.
Book Profits Club wins for message-driven authors, speakers, and coaches who want to turn readers into clients inside a faith-aligned community. An alternative genuinely fits better if you want manuscript critique, timed writing sprints, an in-person local group, or a secular space.
The ranking
Published by Book Profits Club. Each entry gets a short factual reason for its position.
Publisher’s own pick
Listed first because Book Profits Club publishes this guide. It is the entry here whose stated focus is the business behind a book: turning readers into clients, coaching offers, funnels, and recurring revenue, with openly faith-aligned culture. Free, $47, or $97 a month.
Craft and community
Structured memberships with workshops and Q&As suit authors who want ongoing craft support. Manuscript Works reports one such membership priced from $27 to $47 per month or $500 per year, including brainstorming sessions and a Slack community.
Writing time
Best for getting words on the page. Manuscript Works describes sessions from an hour to 90 minutes, co-working from 25 to 75 minutes three times a week, and challenges built on 30 minutes of writing each weekday.
Open discussion
Useful for quick questions, beta readers, and meeting other writers, usually at no cost. Size and structure vary widely, so depth and accountability depend on the group and its moderators.
In person
Libraries, bookstores, and regional writers associations often host critique circles and meetups. Best for authors who value face-to-face feedback; availability depends entirely on where you live.
Compare
| Criteria | Book Profits Club | Paid writing memberships | Online writing groups | Facebook author groups | Local author groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Business behind the message: clients, offers, funnels | Craft, brainstorming, workshops | Protected writing time | Open questions and connection | Critique and in-person connection |
| Cost | Free, $47, or $97 a month | Example: $27 to $47 a month or $500 a year | Varies | Usually free to join | Varies |
| Rhythm | Weekday devotionals at 8:30 AM; monthly group calls on Premium | Q&As and workshops | Sessions of an hour to 90 minutes | Ongoing posts | Scheduled meetups |
| Faith integration | Openly faith-aligned | Varies by group | Varies by group | Christian groups exist | Varies by group |
| Business training | Nine named trainings, by tier | Varies | Not the focus | Informal | Not the focus |
Figures for paid memberships and online writing groups come from How to find an online writing group, Manuscript Works.
By type
Christian author groups gather writers who want their faith present in their work and their community. You will find them through churches, writers conferences, social media, and online memberships. Book Profits Club is one example: it hosts Morning Devotionals Monday through Friday at 8:30 AM and offers a Faith and Business Alignment training. When comparing Christian author groups, ask how faith shows up week to week, not just in the description.
Independent author groups and indie author groups usually center on self-publishing: covers, launches, ads, and retailer tactics. They are valuable for the mechanics of getting a book out. Book Profits Club picks up where they often stop, with training on lead generation, high-ticket sales, and recurring revenue. Many independent authors benefit from both kinds of group at different stages of their career.
Facebook author groups, which many people search as author Facebook groups, are the easiest place to start: they are usually free and full of writers at every level. They work well for quick questions and finding beta readers. Because they are open and large, accountability is informal. Pair one with a structured community if you need deadlines, coaching, or a peer group that checks in on your goals.
Looking for author groups near me? Start with your public library and local writers associations. If nothing nearby fits, an online author community removes the distance problem. Read more about what a Christian author community offers or return to the guide on building a faith aligned business.
How we chose
We judged every entry on five criteria: main focus, cost, meeting rhythm, faith integration, and business training. We used Book Profits Club's own published facts and, for other groups, figures published by Manuscript Works. Where a source gives no single figure, we say it varies.
This guide was written by Book Profits Club, the business that publishes this site, and it is not independent. Book Profits Club is listed first as its own pick; the order of the other entries reflects how closely each one serves authors building a business. Full details are on our methodology page.
FAQ
Book Profits Club is free to join on the Standard tier. Meet authors who share your faith and drive, then decide if Premium or VIP Elite fits.