Useful Links for Writers

I often answer writers' questions on my blog. Follow the tag Young Writers Q & A. http://cindachima.livejournal.com/

Of course, the kinds of links are useful to you will depend on what you’re writing. But here are some of my writing favorites.

Writing Organizations

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association of America
Their web site is packed full of useful content, from information about writing techniques to member web pages, to warnings about unscrupulous and predatory editors and agents.
You don’t have to write science fiction to benefit from this site.
http://www.sfwa.org

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Even if you’re not a member, this web site delivers. The links alone are worth the price of admission (free!) Join the SCBWI, and you can benefit from their publications and member message boards.
http://scbwi.org

The Authors’ Guild
This organization is an advocate for writers of all kinds. You need to meet publication standards to join, but the web site posts publishing news, information about book contracts, and other information. The Authors’ Guild provides free web design to members and inexpensive web site hosting.
http://www.authorsguild.org

Author link
Another member organization with a site that is useful to non-members, Publishing news, interviews with editors and authors.
http://www.authorlink.com

Information About Agents
Keep in mind that agents can submit themselves for placement on many sites. Thus a listing on a site is no guarantee of quality or honesty.

http://www.agentquery.com – a searchable list of agents who represent a wide range of works

http://www.sfwa.org/beware/agents.html tips for avoiding fraudulent agents

http://www.sfwa.org/beware list of agents whose clients have complained to SFWA

http://www.sfwa.org/contracts/agents_cont.htm model agent contract

http://www.aar-online.org Association of Authors’ Representatives includes list of members and suggested questions for an agent you are considering. AAR members must meet standards including adherence to a code of conduct and a minimum number of sales.

http://www.fictionaddiction.net/agents.html A list of literary agents. Agents can post their own information, so do your research.

http://scbwi.org SCBWI offers a listing of agents to its members. If you write for children, it’s well worth joining.

General Information

The Purple Crayon
Site focused on Children’s Publishing. By Harold Underdown.
http://www.underdown.org

Rejection Collection
Tired of rejections? This site will give you a lift.
http://rejectioncollection.com/rcollection

Write4Kids is the web site of the Children’s Book Insider, a subscription service, but includes lots of free articles and info.
http://www.write4kids.com

Apollo’s Lyre
Information on writing technique, markets, agents.
http://www.apollos-lyre.com

Homework for Aspiring Writers
Visit Cynthia Leitich-Smith's information-packed writer resource page with
information on agents, marketing, and craft.
http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/for_writers/writers_reading_list/writers_reading_list.html

Great Advice for Teenage Writers from John Scalzi
http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/004175.html

Markets

Ralan’s Webstravaganza
Specifically targeted at science fiction, fantasy, and horror markets.
http://www.ralan.com

Speculations
Web site of a science fiction, fantasy, and horror web zine. Even if you don’t subscribe, the site includes the Rumor Mill discussion board and lots of markets.
http://www.speculations.com/welcome.htm

WritersMarket.com
Subscription site; continuously updated, affiliated with the hardcopy Writers Market. Can search agents and publishers, by a variety of criteria.
http://writersmarket.co

Other Authors

Children's and Young Adult Author Cynthia Leitich Smith
Official author site features biography, bibliographies, articles, interviews, links, etc. Smith's books include Jingle Dance (Morrow/HarperCollins, 2000), Rain Is Not My Indian Name (Harper Collins, 2001), Indian Shoes (HarperCollins, 2002), Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007), and Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006).

http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/

Critique Links
You will notice that a lot of these resources related to science fiction and fantasy writing. That’s because SFF writers have a long history of workshop critiquing.

Longridge Writers Group
This site covers rules of critique as well as guidelines for managing critique group problems
http://www.longridgewritersgroup.com/rx/st01/starting_a_critique_group.shtml

Turkey City Lexicon
Site directed at science fiction and fantasy writers, but all writers will see themselves here (and have a good laugh too)
http://www.sfwa.org/writing/turkeycity.html

http://www.fictionfactor.com/articles/critiquing.html Tips for the actual process of critiquing

James Patrick Kelly’s article on Writing Workshops
http://www.sfwa.org/bulletin/articles/workshop.htm