Favorite Writing Websites
- Miss Snark’s blog Excellent, excellent website to study! Learn about the publishing industry from a real agent–how to get an agent, how to lose any chance of getting an agent, publishing etiquette, biggest mistakes, how to write a query letter and why it is so important, how to write hooks, synopsis’ and other inside industry techniques.Miss Snark no longer offers online, anonymous critiques, but past critiques are available in the archives and they are a gold-mine. You can read other people’s mistakes, and other people’s genius and learn from them.
Miss Snark spent an enormous amount of time on this project. My hat is off to her!
- Other agent blogs:Lit Agent X blog Agent Rachel Vater has excellent info for getting a feel for how the publishing world works. Updated off/on, when she’s taking questions, jump in!
Agent Kristin Nelson has a great blog. She sometimes posts cover letters that she likes, offers info on standard contracts and just has great all-around information about the publishing world.
Janet Reid has one of my favorite blogs–with writer tips, query letter critiques, general ranting and raving, a lot of love for authors and books.
Brillig Blog Joshua Bilmes doesn’t always talk agenting, but he does talk books and the industry. There’s gems to be found in these pages.
- Hey there’s a dead guy - a blog that includes two or three writers, a editor, a publisher and an odd character or two. Each person does an article once a week. Lots of learning opportunities here. The blog authors are very good about answering questions in the comment trail.Here’s a particularly good post for all writers from the site.
- Baen’s Bar If you are looking for a critique group, a place to polish short stories (and submit to Baen’s Universe as an “Introducing” author) this bar is the place to go. I don’t like critique groups as a rule, especially the various online ones because you can get some nasty, uneducated comments. Not so, Baen’s Bar. It’s moderated and there are slush editors reading the entries to send the best ones on up the line.If you do participate in this or any other critique group–Please Do Your Part. Read and comment on the other stories out there. I’ve often been appalled at how many people post stories, but do not bother to even read ONE other story posted. The point of critique groups is participation. Yes, it is time-consuming, but you also gain a tremendous amount of knowledge, skill and insight by reading other stories and the comments about those stories. Learn by example and lead by example.
- Science Fiction Writers Association Scam Check Good site to check for info on agent backgrounds.
- Related scam check blog Just a lot of common sense posts and commentary on things going on in the publishing world.
- Fantasy and Paranomal author Holly Lisle: Archives have excellent writing tips and useful info from this published author.
- Thriller and mystery author J.A. Konrath: writer tips; marketing your book tips, very informative author blog. Here’s a link to a download that is basically an e-book of his publishing experiences, tips, advice, etc: Konrath Ebook
- Fantasy author Jim C. Hines has a lot of writer advice, writer angst, news of the industry and every Monday he does a great LOL cover–where he inserts a new title of choice on various covers.
- www.Ralan.com great website that lists most of the short story speculative fiction markets
- Writing tips–bad writing, bad habits, do’s and don’ts
- Kirsch’s Guide to the Book Contract by Jonathan Kirsch.This should be required reading for any author. Even if you have an agent, this book will really help you understand how contracts work, how much you can expect to be paid and how “rights” work. A must read.
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