Open Arts Forum is an independent, ad-free creative writing community for poets, fiction writers, essayists, and other writers who want serious exchange around the work itself. Members share drafts, offer thoughtful feedback, discuss craft and publishing, and take part in the community behind the work OAF publishes.
A creative writing forum built around real work
OAF combines a working creative writing forum with an edited public journal. In the forum, members can share work privately with other registered members and editors, workshop drafts, and join conversations about poetry, fiction, essays, craft, publishing, and the creative life.
Forum submissions are not visible to the public or search engines. Work selected for publication is published separately on the public OAF site.
Get feedback without turning writing into a popularity contest
The emphasis is on useful, respectful, craft-focused response. OAF is designed for writers who want more than likes or quick reactions: the goal is conversation that helps writers see the work more clearly.
Read the work the community produces
Explore poetry, fiction, essays, readings and video, and the broader latest work published by OAF.
Submit writing for editorial consideration
There is no submission fee. Writers submit through the members’ forum, where the work can also receive community response. OAF editors review work for possible publication on the public site. See the submission guidelines for the full process.
Poets have a dedicated entry point
If poetry is your main form, start with the Poetry Forum & Community, which explains how OAF’s poetry workshop, feedback, and editorial process fit together.
Join the community
OAF welcomes both established and emerging writers. Create an account to take part in the forum, or browse the Authors & Artists directory to see the people already publishing here.