|
|
|
RESOURCES FOR WRITERS
BOOKS
As a teacher of writing, I have an entire bookcase full of books about writing and publishing. I’ve learned something from every one of those books, but here are a few that stand out as particularly useful:
Fiction Writing by Janet Burroway. This is a college textbook and priced accordingly, but it’s by far the most complete and highest-level book on the topic I’ve ever found.
Self-Editing For Fiction Writers by Browne and King. This guide to editing your own work is a bit simplified but admirably hands-on, with lots of examples and exercises.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Subtitle is “Some Instructions on Writing and Life,” which pretty well sums it up.
On Writing by Stephen King. It’s no accident he’s the world’s best-selling writer.
Techniques of the Selling Writer by Donald Swain. Written back in the days of pulp fiction, when men were men and women were housewives, this book offers some timeless advice on good writing, along with now-hilarious gender stereotypes.
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. This book by a successful literary agent is particularly good on the primacy of conflict in fiction.
WEBSITES
Books & Writers Community: Barbara’s favorite writing forum, a unique place where published and aspiring writers work on their craft and share information.
WritersNet: Good directory of agents and lots of articles and advice.
Preditors & Editors: Essential reading! Before you submit to any agent, check them out on this site’s list of good and evil agents.
Agent in the Middle: the blog of a working literary agent.
Guide to Literary Agents: The latest news from the agenting world.
Publishers Marketplace: Publishers and agents all read it. Shouldn’t you?
Publishers Weekly: Website of the publishing industry staple, Publishers Weekly.
Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Another good agent blog. Learn the do’s and don’ts of submitting.
Writer Beware: read this before you enter any writing contests.
Shaw Guides: Lists hundreds of writers conferences around the world with contact information.
Writer Beware #2: Warnings about literary scams, phony agents and other dangers.
The Association of Authors' Representatives: The homepage of the Association of Author’s Representatives has a searchable database of agents and a canon of ethics adhered to by members.
|
|
|
