Wacky fan theories. Juicy tales of relationship strife. Wildly implausible yet deeply imaginative conspiracy theories (flat-earther, anyone?). No, this isn’t a Friday night on cable. We’re talking about all the things you’re likely to encounter during a good hour-long Reddit binge.
OK, two hours.
With its user-generated content—subreddits (topic boards, the names of which start with “r/”) containing user posts and comment “threads”—Reddit isn’t just entertainment, it’s a one-stop shop for creative inspiration, venting, gigs, and advice. Wondering where to shack up in Thailand for a few weeks? Ask on r/DigitalNomad. Need to vent about a new clickbait low? r/MediaCriticism. Work drying up? r/ForHire.
And it’s not just useful for writers. Designers, videographers, animators, data scientists, and more can find ideas, feedback and inspiration, provided they know where to search. Here are our top subreddits to get started.
1. Data is Beautiful
Even if you’re a graphic design pro, this board offers a ton of inspiration for anyone seeking to visualize data to tell a story. Most posts come from amateur designers showing off a data set they found online, and the lion’s share of comments (or threads, in Reddit speak) are constructive criticism from data viz pros.
2. Media Criticism
r/MediaCriticism is a community of media watchdogs calling out any number of indignations—political bias in the news, lazy reporting, fact-checking faux pas, and more. Some scoops are especially juicy, like this CNN controversy, which alleges that the network planted interns and politicians as stand-ins for “mothers, voters, and students” at a February 2019 Bernie Sanders town hall.
3. Anti-Asshole Design (AAD)
Uplifting news about good-natured business practices is hard to come by these days. AAD highlights companies that went out of their way to create thoughtful features that benefit users, like Tinder’s alerts for LGBTQ users in locations that could be LGBTQ-unfriendly. It’s the opposite of r/AssholeDesign, its cynical cousin, which calls out brands for shady business practices.
4. Educational Gifs
Think of this subreddit as a lazy man’s YouTube: Learn anything from Excel to Australian wildfire patterns to cat-trick training in less than 60 seconds.
5. Writer Motivation
Blocked or self-doubting writers, look no further for a place to commiserate. In r/WriterMotivation, writers share their productivity problems, hacks, and the like.
6. Just Writer Things
Writers flock here to post freely about daily struggles. Less about commiserating, more about laughs, r/JustWriterThings is the place to go when you’re used up sympathy from friends and family.
7. Freelance
This subreddit is a grab bag of anything related to freelancing: comics mocking our woes, cringe-worthy stories of freelancer abuse, legal questions and advice, gig platforms to try out or avoid, and more. Just don’t expect to find any work through this board—that’s for the next one.
8. For Hire
Yes, this is subreddit to find freelance gigs, but before you dive in, remember that you might want to proceed with caution (think Craigslist). Even if you don’t find anything relevant here, pro users can redirect you to other subreddits that may have opportunities better suited to your expertise.
9. Digital Nomad
Threads in r/DigitalNomads are filled with the pros and cons on all your wish-list destinations, plus helpful tips like where and how to score great sublet deals and remote job opportunities.
Whether you’re starting out as a freelancer looking to build up your portfolio or you’re established and looking for your next big idea, these subreddits can start you on your way down the Reddit wormhole.
Adam Hadad is the editorial intern at Contently. When he’s not interning, you can find him writing about the environment, video games, and pop culture.
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