Links for Writers

Newsletters for Writers

http://www.cafeirreal.com 

Unusual fiction in a surreal landscape.

The Cafe Irreal

In this webzine, you will find thought-provoking short stories that stay with you a while and make you remember that you still need to touch up your vocabulary. Don't forget to read the theory section to learn what irrealism is. 

www.theonion.com

When the news just isn't funny enough...

The Onion is the perfect newspaper for a depressing day, hilarious in an unexpected way. 

Information about Literary Agents

  http://www.sfwa.org/beware/agents.html

You may need to avoid some literary agents!

Warnings and Cautions for Writers-Literary Agents

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. is famous for revealing hoaxes and downright unfair deals for writers. They make sure you know what you're getting into, so check out literary agents you're considering with them. 

http://www.literaryagents.org/

*A favorite site*

This is without doubt, a favorite among writers in the know.

If you’re seeking an agent for your finished book, read at least part of every article Todd James Pierce provides. He also lists new agents and some authors' agents. The amount of information (and the quality) is incredible. A friend told me that Mr. Pierce gave a writer advice that got him out of a potential deadlock in a publishing contract.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/site/editorial.htm

Subscribe to Absolute Write's free newsletter about literary agents.

All the details and half the strain.

Website Wizard

If you read my blog, you'll know that I'm technolgically challenged. Unfortunately, I appreciate complex websites. Then, I found Website Wizard. This site offered me convenience, great customer service and it was all as easy as it gets. You still have to work, just not too hard.

http://www.bravenet.com

Where to find all the cool stuff to add to your site...

Bravenet

If you want visitor counters or other cool tools, visit Bravenet. You can get your website hosted there and tools for no charge. If you need more memory or pages, you may have to pay a nominal fee. I was referred to this site by a friend who works in the computer industry, so...

Freelance Writing Links

http://www.worldwidefreelance.com

New writing markets, always now!

Subscribe to the "Worldwide Freelance Newsletter" if you're looking for new magazines in which to get published. This includes paying markets, of course, and provides the perfect chance for you to make your name a household word!

http://www.fwointl.com/FWOFormatter.html

Get paid for writing, today.

Format and Word Count: This site is offered by the Freelance Writing Organization International, with pages of information for freelance writers.

Poetry Links

http://www.poetry.com/

Become a published poet, today.

After you enter your poem in a competition, it will be posted on its own page online. The site has a database of famous poems and some magnetic poetry games online. Fun and good for a first electronic poetry experience. You may also qualify to be published in an anthology.

www.winningwriters.com

Thoroughly ranks more than 650 poetry contests.

 Book Marketing Links

http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/

Fresh ideas to sell your book.

John Kremer has many unique ideas for promoting your book that will work for other things you need to sell/advertise as well. Free newsletter with regular tips. Subscribe to his Tips newsletter.

Authors' Websites

www.houseofgentlemen.com/home.html

One of the best book promoting websites.

Visit the room of this eerie house to learn more about Kathy Hepinstall's shocking book, The House of Gentle Men.

http://www.stephenking.com

King's voice and humor shine through.

Read the FAQ to appreciate the man that is King.

www.davebarry.com

"If you leave this website, I will kill this defenseless toilet."

Don't worry, Dave Barry would never kill his illegally imported Canadian toilet. Dave Barry's humor goes hand in hand with Stephen King's, as it should for two longtime buddies. Check out Barry's columns from The Miami Herald.

Research and Resource Links

THE SCRIPTORUM

A Writing Room with resources for writers to assist them with creativity, productivity and organization.

http://www.thescriptorium.net

Right away, I love their Toolbox!

http://www.thescriptorium.net/toolbox.html

At the Scriptorium, the Writer’s Toolbox has printable worksheets to help you plan your stories and novels. Worksheets are available for:

Plot, Scene Lists, Critique Form (for when others edit your work or self-editing), Character Building and World Building. Ooh yeah!

The Scriptorium also has great creative ideas to help you jumpstart that story or book you planned to write.

http://www.thescriptorium.net/creativity.html

How to Create an Instant Bestselling Novel

http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/bestseller.html

Cliff Pickover’s website offers tremendously useful information about how to write and do it correctly. He provides concrete examples which instruct and inspire the aspiring novelist to learn what he or she can and pen a dream novel.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/site/editorial.htm

Spend some time on Absolute Write and you will discover two free newsletters, one with general writing tips and markets and another free newsletter for finding Literary Agents. The website has Writing Markets, a forum, a screenwriting area, an online writing university (writing classes) and more. Certainly worth a look. Editorial services cost $40/hr. or they will make a deal, if needed.

To begin a search, this is where it's at:

http://www.google.com/

Google consistently provides what you need. If you're not getting what you seek, modify your search words.

When you have to ask a question... 

http://www.ipl.org/div/askus

The Internet Public Library

This link takes you directly to the research question page, where you can post a question to be answered by a researcher.

How do I punctuate dialogue?

The Chicago Manual of Style
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/cmosfaq/cmosfaq.html

You must purchase the book to get all of the cool information, but the website answers most questions about basic punctuation rules.

How do I use an apostrophe?

The Elements of Style from William Strunk, Jr.
http://www.bartleby.com/141/

Bartelby.com does us an excellent service by making the 1999 The Elements of Style available online. You'll be amazed at the amount of information they provide.

What does that new word mean?

Glossary of Internet and Web Jargon from the University of California

Internet Jargon Summary

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet

/Glossary.html

This website gives a good overview of Internet and web jargon that the average Internet user might encounter.

I need to know about the French monarchy—now

Wikipedia

Free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Find useful articles about almost anything.

Find a quote to get you started.

The Literature Network
Bartlett's Familiar Quotes
http://www.online-literature.com/quotes/quotations.php

Read a poem a day for inspiration.

Poetry 180
http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/

Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab, OWL-The OWL Family of Sites:

OWL calls me back time and again, with simple explanations of grammar and research details provided in worksheet formats: free college assistance. Thank you, Purdue!

This is the original OWL, which is currently the best:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/oldindex.html

This is their grammar page:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/index.html

Grammar PowerPoint Presentations (slide shows):

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/pp/index.html#basic

Purdue plans to move the web address to:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Writers' Tools: Perfecting Your Craft

Do you want to be a better writer?

http://www.write101.com

Is your vocabulary impressive? Jennifer Stewart's weekly newsletter, which you can sign up for at the website and access through the Writing Tips section, has some perspicacious vocabulary. Also check out the Articles section to learn techniques for stronger writing.

A Writer Finally Tells Us How to Do It

http://www.carolynsee.com/Books/literarylife.html

Carolyn See's Making the Literary Life is a gift you should buy for yourself. Not only does she give you inspiration, but she also discusses tax breaks for writers and ways to promote your book. Read a review at this link.

Inspiration

Need Help Writing a Short Story?

Check out Seton Hill University's recommendations. Super ideas!

http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative/shortstory/

This page offers fast and easy ideas for starting that short story you want to publish with Humdinger. D.G. Jerz's emergency ideas inspired me immediately.

Need a Writing Fix?

Go the the Writing Fix and it'll Get those Juices Jiving

For wonderful writing exercises designed for any type of writer (even any age!), please check out The Writing Fix. When you've selected one of their word or prompt generators, scroll down the page to get to the options. Chris highly recommends this website for bringing out the writer in you.

http://www.writingfix.com

For poets, this exercise inspires new uses for vocabulary.

Serendipitous Oxymoron Generator from The Writing Fix:

http://www.writingfix.com/rightbrain/serendipitous_oxymorons.htm

To try all of their Right-Brained Poetry Prompts:

http://www.writingfix.com/rightbrain/!Right_Brained_Poetry_Home.htm

http://writing.shawguides.com/

Travel to a quite place and write a smile on your face.

The Guide to Writer’s Conferences and Workshops

Imagine writing on an siland in Puget Sound or in Hawaii. That's true inspiration! Sign up for workshops to get inspired; visit conferences to meet other writers, editors, and publishers. Tip: Take copies of your latest manuscript to leave with editors or agents.

http://fanfic.theforce.net/

A Star Wars Fans' wall of inspiration.

TheForce.Net’s Fan Fiction Archive

Since I’m a fan of Star Wars, I got lost there in the stories and worlds that George Lucas created. Just what some people need to get their creativity going. For Sci-Fi writers and readers.

Online Publications

ZOETROPE: ALL-STORY

Do you want Hollywood’s attention?

http://www.all-story.com

I added this link because I recommended it to one of our writers. The director Francis Ford Coppola realized that short stories can become movies and started this website to find talent. Directors, Producers and Agents visit this site. According to the website: “Zoetrope: All-Story is a quarterly literary publication founded by Francis Ford Coppola in 1997 to explore the intersection of story and art, fiction and film.”

*Submit* your stories for Zoetrope at:

http://www.all-story.com/virtualstudio.cgi

There’s a price, though. You must read and critique other writers’ stories in order to submit. It takes time and effort, but this IS read in Hollywood . . .

Pirate Links (They were too cool to drop)

Take this QUIZ and find yer inner pirate to get reconnected with yer inner self, argh!

www.talklikeapirate.com/ppi.html

Get a Pirate Name

Find yer Pirate name by typin' in yer name...

Pirate Name Generator:

http://gangstaname.com/pirate_name.php

Swashbuckler Quiz

Think ye be Pirate? Take t' "What Type of Swashbuckler Are You?" QUIZ. Naturally, I be Pirate!

http://quizilla.com/users/Dawg/quizzes/What%20Type%20of%20Swashbuckler%20ARe%20You?

English to Pirate Generator

Or does ye prefer t' refresh ye mind about how t' Pirates speak?

English to Pirate Generator

www.talklikeapirate.com/translator.html

Pirate Research

Find yer Pirate Ancestors at The Pirate's Cove.

www.geocities.com/Athens/7012/bios/pirates.htm