Tuesday 22 May 2012

My favourite websites for writers - Creative, Agents and Online Writing Communities and just added, free books!!

Hi all! I hope you managed to click on a couple of the participants in the RFW A-Z Appreciating the Zealotry challenge. Next post down if you'd like to have a read...

Now onto today's post which is all about links. I do a lot of web surfing while sitting in cafes or libraries with my netbook while I procrastinate about which project to work on out of my myriad of projects. I thought it was about time I shared the results of some of my searching for writing edification.


STOP PRESS: Kiru Taye just sent me a link to a Beach Book Blast. There are free excellent kindle books to be had from 23-25 May. I just bought myself some...

Here are 10 of my favourite web hang outs:

  1. Easy Street Prompts - first of the creative sites for when your writer's brain needs a boost. You can troll through photos and video-based writing prompts. Somewhere in there you'll find inspiration for sure. I'm amazed at how many short stories I've written based on a prompt or a first sentence.
  2. The Story Starter - There are over a billion opening lines here, more than enough to keep you writing for a few lifetimes. Great if you write short stories, especially.
  3. Story Starter for Kids - If you teach writing to school students as I do, or if you just want to get your kids to write, here is a junior Story Starter. (This one only had 2,360 story starters when last I checked).
  4. Pub Rants - Moving onto some agents' sites. This is a great site for when you're knocking your ms into shape - everything you ever wanted to know about publishing and submitting. There are big-time authors sharing advice and there are real query letters to learn from.
  5. Rachelle Gardner - Writer's Digest gives Rachelle's site the 'Best of the Best' agent's award. Great questions and answers about writing and publishing, great discussions in the comments. Always something to learn/think about, and hopefully eventually do something about when you finish your coffee. Here's a cracker of a post I loved on 7 Bad Habits of Successful Authors.
  6. Absolute Write - moving on to online writing communities. This one offers forums where you can get advice from real people who have experience in the world of fiction, freelancing, editing etc.
  7. Backspace - A third of the members here are published/agented, well worth a look. You have to pay to participate in the forums but even nonmembers can lurk and read advice-filled articles.
  8. National Novel Writing Month - one of my personal favourites. Join 250,000 writers who challenge themselves to write 50,000 words in the month of November. Lots of interaction if you like that sort of thing, lots of novel tracking which is exciting, but I join it just for the motivation and I never give up when I've set myself an achievable goal. I've written three novels in the past three years using NaNo as my inspiration. There is a follow up editing NaNo type thingy but I somehow manage to miss that! 
  9. Writing.com - I'm sure you probably already visit this site on a regular basis. You can do a lot for free - share your work, enter contests, join writing circles - lots of writer-related activities.
  10. Review Fuse - If you like writing reviews, you can get three reviews back for every four you write. You have to be a paid-up free (haha) member though to use this service. 
  • Do you have any favourite sites to share?
  • Would you like me to share more another time or would you rather just get back to your writing? 
PS. And talking of finding inspiration through prompts, keep your eyes open for the next RFW prompt on Friday June 1 - Yes, No, Oh, alright then! Write your 400 word story/poem using this prompt. (Sounds right up my alley). Go to the RomanticFridayWriters site for more info...We'd love you to join us. Open to all writers.








41 comments:

Unknown said...

Those are awesome sites!

Kyra Lennon said...

Thanks for the links, I hadn't heard of some of those sites! :D

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Clarissa. They're very helpful. D.

Charmaine Clancy said...

There's some I haven't been to before - but about to rectify that right now!
See you tomorrow :)

catherinemjohnson.com said...

Thanks for the great links, Denise!

Denise Covey said...

See you soon! D.

Li said...

The Pub Rants and the review site are new to me, have to go take a look. Thanks for gathering these and posting them for us to share!

Talli Roland said...

What a great collection of links, Denise. Thank you!

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

I'll check 'em out. Give us more if you have some.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I suck - I haven't visited any of them. And yeah - list more! How about the Writer's Knowledge Database? That one I have visited.

V. Gingerich said...

Very helpful list; thanks for filling up my evening!

Annalisa Crawford said...

I don't have many sites I visit regularly - three different newspapers, Facebook, my blog, the Guardian newspaper crossword, sudoku... when I end up going back to the start, that's time for me to put the laptop down and step away. I REALLY need new web sites - so these will be a good starting place :-)

J.L. Campbell said...

Thanks, Denise. I love me some NaNo. I've got several books out of it.

Romance Book Haven said...

Thanks for all the links, Denise.

Nas

alexia said...

Thanks for the links! That was a good article by Rachelle.

Denise Covey said...

Yeah well the Writer's Knowledge Database I thought everyone would know. I'm glad you reminded me Alex as I need to pass it on to a new writer I just me. D.

Denise Covey said...

I hope you find some useful goodies here Annalisa. D.

Denise Covey said...

Wasn't it just? I found it so good. D.

Lynn Proctor said...

wow--i am learning so much--thank you for all of the wonderful links!

Mary Hudak-Collins livingthescripture.com said...

Hi! I'm dropping by from Andy's May blog hop. Very nice site you have. I don't know much about writing short stories or publishing, but your list is interesting. My son enjoys writing so I'm going to share your list with him. Thanks for sharing!

Denise Covey said...

That's great, Lynn. D.

Denise Covey said...

Hello Mary. I must repay the visit. I hope your son finds some useful links here. D.

Michael Di Gesu said...

He tries to sneak back into the fold without being noticed. Sweat clings to his brow as one tiny drop streaks down his nose splashing onto his chest.

Will he still be accepted again? Will he be welcomed? Will he be shunned? These questions rip through his mind as her writes this comment.

He hopes for acceptance. He knows how forgiving and generous this community is, and SHE being one with the community, the answer must be YES.... Will it be?

As his heart beats to an unknown drummer he waits...

Michael Di Gesu said...

LOL,

This is probably the most I have written in months... I hope you appreciated the humor. I know you did.

I MUST do your next challenge. I love odd number and 37 is a double odd... besides it's time for me to rejoin my writing family.

I hope all is well with you ... I've so missed you!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Still waiting ...

Michael Di Gesu said...

Nails biting, sweat soaking the sheets... still waiting...

dolorah said...

Share more, of course :) Even if we've seen it or visited it before. You can never shout out a good site often enough.

You rock partner :)

..........dhole

Denise Covey said...

Well if I were naughty I'd say I love a sweaty man, lol but I'm not so I won't! If this is what it takes to get you writing again Mr Superior Interior Designer I'm all for it. I'm glad business is good, but living out of a suitcase away from home gets tired after a time, doesn't it? But you have to take the work where you can get it these days...

I'm so glad you're going to put your talented pen to paper for our next prompt.

Looking forward to having you back in the fold my friend!

Denise

Denise Covey said...

Okay boss I'll get some more together for another post. D.

Unknown said...

Loved the post and all the links. I read the seven bad habits of successful writers and loved it. Thanks for sharing.

Ciara said...

Great links. Thanks for sharing these. You know it's funny. Every year I say I'm not going to write a book during NaNo and every year I cave. Seeing that link just made me realize I should give up and just sign up now. LOL

Carol Kilgore said...

Great links! Thanks a bunch. I sneaked over and read the 7 bad habits before commenting :)

Lynn Proctor said...

i have heard of some of these---thanks for the links!

Denise Covey said...

Welcome Lynn. D.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Phew... that was a close one! Almost two hours of nail-biting anticipation.

Thanks for the warm welcome back ... it feels GREAT!

I am so looking forward to #37, June 1st can't come fast enough.

Michael Di Gesu said...

I'd have to agree with Donna. These links are GREAT! I even know of a few of them and LOVE them.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Many of those links I frequent, but some I'm not familiar with.

--gasp--

Thanks for drawing my attention to them :)

Denise Covey said...

My pleasure Lynda. D.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Denise .. I honestly don't know how you have time to write, check out creative websites .. and do all else .. but what a great list and as everyone says such useful links ...

Cheers Hilary

Denise Covey said...

Thank you Chris. I'm on my way over. D.

Kittie Howard said...

Great links, Denise. Thanks for sharing. (I bookmarked your post.)