Resources
In the resources section you will find links to articles, markets, dictionaries, anything that can help you write your books. All links will open in a separate window. If you know of anything that should be here please email me.
A few things first:
New Workshop! – Social Media for Writers – I’ll be teaching a social media for writers workshop in May 2013. You can sign up on the Register page by clicking on the PayPal button. It will be done through a Yahoo! group and I’ll only be giving the workshop once this year. Explanations of the major social networks and how to get started. It will also only be offered twice in 2014.
For Writers Having trouble with your pitch? Is your 25 word logline ending up being 45 words and still doesn’t convey what the story is about? How about your three line pitch? Is it falling flat? Join TestYourPitch to get feedback from members so you can improve your pitch before you submit.
Interview – Part 1 of my interview with David Rambo (writer/producer from CSI) is up on my blog.
Part 2 of the David Rambo interview.
Part 3 of the David Rambo interview.
Writing tools
CharacterChart – Fill this out and know everything there is to know about your character
Writing Generator – Includes a character generator, quick story generator, theme generator, villain generator and much more
Behind the Name – Generates first and middle names. Pick the ethnicity of your character. Writing Fantasy? Indicate whether your character is a fairy or a witch.
Random Name Generator – Generate male and female names. From the US census.
Tavern Name Generator – For those of you writing medieval. Need a tavern name for your hero and heroine to stop at? Try here.
Writer Buddy Toolbox – Has a name generator, block busters, plot generator
Writing Software
There are so many writing software programs out there. I’ve only listed a few here. But if you go to Publishing Central (link provided below) you will find way more than I could ever find on my own.
NewNovelist – Has tesitmonials from published authors, looks pretty user friendly and offers a free writers advice newsletter
StoryMind – Purchase some of the most popular writing software including Dramatica Pro and Story View
Dramatica Pro – Probing questions help you find untapped potential in stories
Final Draft – Script formatting software, it automatically paginates and formats your script. But it can do so much more
Movie Magic Screenwriter – Write Brothers, Inc. developed Movie Magic
Screenwriter, Dramatica, StoryView and other screenwrting software
Publishing Central – This place has it all – that’s why you’ll see it all over this website
Submission Tracking
Now that you’ve written it and sent it out you need to keep track of where all those stories, articles, novels, poems have gone and what you got paid for them.
Query Tracker – Track your query submissions.
Write Again – Manage your projects, markets/contacts, submissions and deadlines. I use this software and love it.
Luminary Writer’s Database – Free submission tracker.
Power Tracker – Automatic reminders, detailed reports, expense tracking
Writing Websites
firstwriter.com – Agent, Contests, Markets databases and much more. Writing tips, free newsletter, book reviews
The Write Resource – Articles, literary services, resources, education, reference
Screenwriter’s Utopia – Script news, forums, live chat, interviews, screenwriter profiles
Breakingin.net – Tools, tutorials, tips and advice
My Writer Buddy – Forums, downloads, newsletter, toolbox, columns. Free to register
Publishing Central – Awesome site. Has everything you could want to know about publishing. Has a section for Canadian information
Preditors & Editors – Listing of agents with recommendations. This is a great site to check out an agent you might be interested in. They give positive and negative recommendations.
Writer Beware Alerts for writers.
Publishing Houses
Kensington Publishing Corporation
Agent Information
Agent Query – A great place to find agents. Select your search criteria and a list of agents is generated.
Preditors and Editors – Find out if the agent you want is recommended or not. Do they have any complaints against them? Do they charge a reading fee?
Writer Beware – Agent Info – Tons of information about agents including information about dishonest agents, everything you ever wanted to know about fees and additional cautions.
Script Writing
So you want to write for Hollywood. Here you’ll find links to screenplay writing information.
Screen Writing Info – A great jumping off point to learn the basics. Has a glossary.
Script Frenzy – NaNoWriMo for Script Writers.
Writers Guild of America East – Information on Rates, News in the industry, script registration and agency list.
Writers Guild of America West – Lots of information here including a list of agencies and they offer script registration.
Drew’s Script-O-Rama – Lots of free scripts to use as a learning tool.
Simply Scripts – Free scripts to use as a learning tool.
Writing Groups
Where do you find other writers? The internet is a good place to start. Do a search for writing groups in your area. Depending on your needs you may or may not want to meet on a regular basis. For me it’s important to have that contact at least once a month with other writers. Face it, only another writer will truly understand a writer. Family and friends may nod and listen intently when you describe your story but they won’t be able to help you with plot holes, weak characters, pacing or anything else a writer can help you with.
Some writing groups out there are listed below. Some have national and local chapters with the local groups meeting monthly. I will also be listing some yahoogroups you can join. There are a number of loops out there to help writers stay in touch. I also have a forum where you can post messages about all things related to writing.
General
Genre
Crime Writers of Canada – National organization for Canadian crime writers
Crime Writers Association of Great Britain – Professional group of crime authors
Mystery Writers of America – Has eleven regional chapters
Romance Writers of America – Has local chapters all over the United States,
Canada and overseas
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Sisters in Crime – Has a number of chapters across the U.S. as well as two in Ontario, one in Germany and one in Australia
Non-fiction
American Society of Journalists and Authors
International Federation of Journalists
Medical Writer – The European Medical Writers Association
Society for Technical Communication
The American Medical Writers Association
Writing Contests
If you’re just starting out, even if you’ve been writing for a while, contests are a good way to get feedback on your work before sending it out to an editor or agent. A number of the contests listed here are through RWA
and in most cases you must be a member to enter. Information is only listed for RWA contests that I was able to find online without going to any members only areas. In some cases the deadlines have already passed but most are yearly contests so there will be another opportunity next year to enter. If you want to write romance I strongly encourage you to join RWA. Chapter contests offer feedback and in some cases the finalists are judged by aquiring editors or agents.
I’ve listed other contests as well. But having never entered any of them I can’t say how good they are. No matter what contest you enter it will teach you at the very least how to stick to a deadline.
When you get your scores back take any advice given with a grain of salt. The judges don’t agree to judge to try and discourage other writers. They judge to help other writers. If you disagree with what a judge has said, put the entry aside and pull it out in a week or two. Longer if you need to. And then see if you can see where they are coming from.
Good luck!
RWA Sponsored Contests
LARA Foot in the Door Writing Contest Enter
a query letter and synopsis. Final round judged by editors and agents.
Touched By Love Contest – From the Faith Hope and Love chapter.
Golden Gateway Contest – From the Heart Romance Writers.
Haunted Hearts Contest – From Gothic Romance Writers. Scroll down to find the link to the printable entry form, scoresheet and judges’ training manual.
The Daphne du Maurier Award for Unpublished Authors – From the Kiss of Death RWA chapter
The Daphne du Maurier Award for Published Authors – From KOD
Award of Excellence Contest – From Outreach International Romance Writers
PASIC’s Book of Your Heart Contest – This is the Published Authors Special Interest Chapter of RWA but you don’t have to be published to enter their contest.
Original Golden Opportunity Contest – From Toronto Romance Writers. It is a great contest from my local chapter.
ScriptContests
Poetry Contests
Writer’s Journal Poetry Contest
Short Story Contests
Writer’s Journal Short Story Contest
Toronto Star Short Story Contest
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