Writing Resources
Let Us Hear Your Voice! Do you have a great writing tip to share? Send your tips and opinions typed in the body of your email toinfo@markhamvillagewriters.com.
Famous Quotations
“If you start to revise before you’ve reached the end, you’re likely to begin dawdling with the revisions and putting off the difficult task of writing.” Pearl S. Buck
This month’s writing prompt:
All I really need to know, I learned…
Resources
52/250 If you love flash fiction or want to start writing it, this is a great place to visit. http://52250flash.wordpress.com/
Adjectives That Start With… This clever site created by Paul Aubrian features lists of adjectives that begin with a particular letter or syllable. Handy for writing acrostic poems, playing Scrabble, or completing those tricky crossword clues. http://adjectives-that-start-with.net/
Ask Allison This is a great, informative and relaxed site where readers can ask Allison Winn questions about publishing and agents and have them answered. http://www.allisonwinn.com/ask-allison
BeTheStory.com is an informative site filled with articles and tips on how to improve your fiction writing: http://bethestory.com/
The Big Bad Book Blog Loads of information for new and experienced authors; those who want to sell a book for the first time, and those who want to promote the book they’ve already sold. http://www.bigbadbookblog.com/
BlackHorseExtra is a great site for writers or would-be writers of westerns. It is run as a blog but a scroll down the left side of the screen will enable you to quickly go to back issues where subjects such as western noir and to plot or not are discussed. http://www.blackhorsewesterns.com/bhe22/
BloodAtTheSource is a site for mystery writers on how to research mysteries. Written by a librarian, it points you in the right direction no matter what you need to know. http://www.barbarafister.com/BloodattheSource.html
BookBuzzr takes the mystery out of new technologies like Twitter, Kindle and Facebook, and shows you how to market your book using these new platforms. Helpful articles are posted at least three times a week on the blog, and you can sign up (for free!) on their site to get their weekly newsletter, a cute little book widget for your website, and more. http://www.bookbuzzr.com
Catnip4Writers.com A database of free writing resources aimed mainly at science fiction and fantasy writers but usable by all. It has a monthly updated ‘what’s new’ section featuring blogs and upcoming events, lists of contests, free writing tools, essays on writing and a huge selection of sites. http://www.catnip4writers.com/index.htm
Concerned Journalist If you want to become a journalist or just want to learn some journalist techniques, such as tips for better interviews, then check out this set of tools for student journalists. http://www.concernedjournalists.org/tools/filter/11
The Crafty Writer Free online creative writing course, set up by Fiona Veitch Smith. Topics covered include “How to write a short story”, “Writing dialogue”, “Poetry: how to write poems”, and much more. Visit http://creative-writing-course.thecraftywriter.com/
Creative Nonfiction Magazine online classes Creative Nonfiction, a US-based literary magazine that is the country’s oldest publication devoted exclusively to creative nonfiction writing is currently offering online classes for writers. For more information, visit http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/mentor/mentor.htm#onlinecourse or contact online course coordinator, Anjali Sachdeva, Online Course Coordinator sachdeva@creativenonfiction.org
DearEditor.com The author of “Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies” shares tips and answers questions on writing YA fiction at http://www.DearEditor.com
EasyStreetPrompts has a set of visual prompts, a variety of photographs of all sorts of things, people and places to inspire you to get writing. http://www.easystreetprompts.com/
Editorial Department This site contains a wealth of information for writers of fiction and nonfiction alike. Check out their resources and, in particular, the First 50, where they look at what made fifty books publishable. http://www.editorialdepartment.com/
Elements of A Novel Peder Hill takes you through the process of writing a novel as he wrote one. http://www.musik-therapie.at/PederHill/index.htm
Expressions and Sayings A huge collection of the origins of words, phrases and expressions. http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/sayindex.htm
Flash Fiction Chronicles is a blogzine to help all writers and potential writers of flash fiction. They have a huge archive, including such topics as twitter fiction, as well as market listings and prompts. http://www.everydayfiction.com/flashfictionblog/
Free Stuff for Freelance Writers Tools (hourly rate calculators, word count trackers, planning sheets), free themes for WordPress, free ebooks, and more. Visit http://allfreelancewriting.com/free-stuff-for-writers/
Ghostwriter Dad, by Sean Platt This blog covers topics of interest to any professional writer, not just ghostwriters. And there are lots of tips here! Recent posts have covered grammar, writing tweets, social media, and ways to earn more money. http://ghostwriterdad.com/
Guide to No Fee Writing Courses Offered by Universities If you’ve ever fancied studying writing with a university but couldn’t face the fees, then check out this handy site which lists all the non-charging online writing courses offered by universities around the world. Courses include beginners, poetry, essays, fiction and editing. http://tinyurl.com/yw8p58
Guide to Verse Forms This is a great site for all potential poets. It contains advice on all types of verse forms and help for anyone starting out in poetry. It covers such a huge range of forms that any poet will find useful. http://www.volecentral.co.uk/vf/
Horror Writers’ Writing Tips This is a collection of writing articles in the horror genre written by members of the Horror Writers Association, who are all published horror authors. The site also has links to useful sites for horror writers as well as industry news. http://www.horror.org/writetips.htm
How to Write a Screenplay This site from the BBC written by two successful screenwriters tells you how to go about writing a screenplay and has links for further information. http://tinyurl.com/2uevgb6
InkPop A site aimed at teen authors where they can submit their work, review others’ work and if they’re lucky, have their work read by a HarperCollins editor. http://www.inkpop.com/
Maralys Wills Writing instructor, speaker, and memoirist Maralys Wills is the author of 12 books, including the writers’ manual Damn the Rejections, Full Speed Ahead. Visit her website and blog for writing advice and pithy anecdotes about juggling work and family life. http://www.maralys.com/
911 Writer’s Block This takes a while to load but it IS worth it. Imagine a helpline you could ring when you just can’t think of what to write or when you can’t get started or when your plot just comes to a full stop. This site by Webook provides just that. Make sure you have your sound turned on. http://www.webook.com/911writersblock
On Writing And Grammar Great site it you’re looking for a variety of information about writing and grammar. http://onwritingandgrammar.blogspot.com/
The Origami Poems Project features instructions for creating your own mini-collection of poetry that can fit on a single sheet of paper, to be folded origami-style into book form. Participants’ books, with folding instructions, are available for free download from the website. The project was founded by Rhode Island poets Lynnie Gobeille, Jan Keough, and Barbara Schweitzer, who also distribute the featured books as free gifts at local libraries, coffee shops, art centers, and bookstores. http://www.origamipoems.com/
Poetry Dances All about writing poetry. http://www.poetrydances.com
Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson, gives you help with all your plotting dilemmas. http://www.plotwhisperer.blogspot.com/
Proofreading Test If you think you can accurately proofread you might want to think again. Try this free proofreading test from the Society for Editors and Proofreaders to see just how good you are and where you might need to do a little work. http://www.sfep.org.uk/pub/train/self_test/index.asp
Rhymer.com This is a free tool that helps you to find rhymes for your poetry. It offers a variety of rhyming options and is fun to play with. http://www.rhymer.com/
The Savvy Book Marketer by Dana Lynn Smith helps you find more book promotion ideas for social networking sites. http://bookmarketingmaven.typepad.com
Scribblepad Tips on every aspect of writing you can think of from how to write horror to being a writing mentor to turning your writing into a play. http://www.scribblepad.co.uk/
Scribendi Helpful articles for writers and bloggers. http://www.scribendi.com/advice/authors/page/authors
SF Squeecast This site is a must for science fiction and fantasy readers and writers. Published writers like Elizabeth Bear, Paul Cornell and Seanan McGuire talk to each other about science fiction and fantasy works, authors and plots. http://sfsqueecast.com/about/
Short Stories: 10 Tips for Creative Writers Handy guide for beginner short story writers. http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative1/shortstory/
Simile Stack Looking for the perfect comparison? This site lets you search for similes based on keywords (or submit your own); in the results, you can then click on tags that will lead you to more ideas. Might be a good story-starter page! http://www.SimileStack.com
Six-Word Memoirs If you’re feeling a bit bored then why not try and write your life story in six words? I’ll warn you, this site can become addictive! http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/
Story Generator This site offers a program that randomly generates plot ideas (more fun than useful), and also has a wealth of information on building characters based on psychological personality traits. http://storygenerator.net
Story Pitch Generator Type in a few details about your novel and main character to create a sample pitch for your novel, or novels. You can use the sample pitch as a starting point to write an exciting introduction to post on your website or blog and intrigue potential readers. http://www.kathycarmichael.com/generator.html
Sunshine in a Jar presents.an online learning experience for writers! Beat the February blahs with an online creative writing workshop, entitled The Creative Mind. Every morning during the month of February at 5:00 am a new post will be added with lessons, homework, reading, writing prompts, and/or assignments. You will have free access to the course from February 1 to March 31, 2012. Visit http://www.sunshineinajar.com for more information. I hope you can join this new online learning community.
Travel Writer’s Life offers a beginner’s section for newbies to the trade, as well as publishing tips from seasoned travel writers. http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/
Travel Writing Portal A collection of helpful articles on all aspects of travel writing written by real-life travel writers. http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/travel/travel_writing/index.shtml
What Makes a Good Ghost Story? This is a free pdf file of a ghost story writing workshop run by the BBC. There are some good activities here, especially for anyone new to writing ghost stories or stories in general. http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/pdf/ghostwriting_norfolkpack.pdf
Wordplay is a regularly updated blog for fiction writers and would-be fiction writers. It contains posts on most aspects of fiction writing as well as general matters such as grammar. Subscribers also get an eBook on developing characters. http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/
WM Freelance Connection is a one-stop writing resource for all freelance writers, from beginners to seasoned professionals. http://www.thewmfreelanceconnection.com/2010/12/new-years-inspirations-for-writers-10.html
Writeaholics.net has a bunch of writing ebooks on various aspects of writing. Books include Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, Mark Twain’s How to Tell a Story, as well as more practical articles on self-publishing, making money from your writing, and so on: http://writeaholics.net/free.html. Crime writers will want to check out the recommended forensic database: http://forensic.to/forensic.html
Writeexpress.com If you have to write a type of letter or document that you’ve never done before, then this site is a goldmine. It covers all sorts of letter writing and even resume writing and writing for the web. http://www.writeexpress.com/tips.html
WritersHistory This is a serious literature site where you can research writing styles by movement or by author, learn more about each style, and even submit work. http://www.writershistory.com/
TheWritersPlan is a comprehensive, completely free online book with templates to help you to create your own writer’s plan. http://www.thewritersplan.com/
Writing for Radio This is a small but comprehensive site that details how and how not to write radio plays and tells you which stations around the world commission or buy them. http://www.irdp.co.uk/page7.htm
Editing Services Are you a writer looking for someone to edit your work? If so, the WCDR has a new way to connect you with editors through a new series of pages on the WCDR site all about editing! Now you can learn more about: the different kinds of editing that editors do; what to look for in an editor; what editors need to know to create a quote. If you are an editor, we want you to join our all-new editing directory. All directory applications will be reviewed by the WCDR’s new editing committee — tell us about your editing training, skills, and area of expertise, and we’ll provide a listing on the WCDR website that details your contact information, your past experience, and the kind of editing services you provide. Are there any other questions about editing that you’ve always wanted to ask? We also have a new “Ask-An-Editor” page; feel free to ask questions about topics like grammar, punctuation, book production, and more. To learn more, head to the WCDR’s new section on editing at: http://wcdr.ca/wcdr/?page_id=6206
Manuscript Evaluations “Barbara, thanks so much for all the help in getting there.” Steven T. Wax, author of “Kafka Comes to America” Starred review in Publishers Weekly. I enjoy helping emerging writers get their books into top shape with a manuscript evaluation. Several authors have gone on to see their books published. I’d be happy to help you succeed, too. My evaluation gives a comprehensive overview of your manuscript, and offers recommendations on how you can improve and develop your work. I provide the evaluation by telephone. During our phone discussion, which runs up to two hours (one hour for the $150 Special), I will give you my analysis of the work’s strengths and weaknesses, including detailed comments on story structure, character development, dialogue, setting, POV (point-of-view) and prose style. I’ll also offer suggestions on how any weaknesses might be improved. As we talk, you can feel free to ask me any questions pertaining to the work. For full details see my website: www.barbarakyle.com. Rates are as follows (note: all pages double-spaced): For manuscripts up to 300 pages: $2.50 per page. For example, for a 295-page manuscript the rate is $737; After 300 pages: $2 per page. For example, for a 375-page manuscript the rate is $750 for the first 300 pages plus $150 for the next 150 pages=$900; Not sure if the full evaluation is for you? I now offer a $150 Special for an evaluation of your book’s first 50 pages. (Includes a phone conference of up to one hour.) If, after we’ve discussed the first 50 pages, you decide that you’d like an evaluation of the full manuscript, the $150 you’ve paid will be deducted from the full rate. To schedule a manuscript evaluation contact me at bkyle@barbarakyle.com
Allyson Latta: Memoir Writing, Days Road Writers’ Workshops Allyson invites writers interested in memoir writing to explore a new feature on her site. “The Writers Den: Conversations on Memoir” is a space devoted to interviews Allyson has conducted over the past five years with fascinating people in the realm of life writing–self-published authors, a literary agent, a book coach, a travel writer, acclaimed authors including David Gilmour and Catherine Gildiner, and more. Visit www.daysroadwriters.blogspot.com and spend some time in The Writers Den. If you’d like to be added to Allyson’s “Google Group” in order to be notified when there are occasional new posts to her site, please contact her at lattamemoirs@gmail.com.
Wordwrights Canada For two decades, Wordwrights Canada has helped those who strive for a high professional standards in their writing, be it fiction, literary nonfiction, or poetry. Among the many resources available, you’ll also find: The online poetry writing course Lessons in Writing the Poem; An extensive list of Canadian Links of Interest to Writers; Susan Ioannou’s book of encouragement and support, Holding True: Essays on Being a Writer. For more details, visit www.wordwrights.ca.
Quick Brown Fox A literary bulletin e-mailed to 5,000 subscribers Note: Please forward this email to anyone who might be interested. Also, please email me about anything your fellow writers might like to hear about: good markets, contests, calls for submissions, new writers’ groups, etc. Most especially, let me know about your successes at brianhenry@sympatico.ca