Note: Be wary of anyone who wants to charge you money to represent, edit, or publish your work. There are scammers out there. There are also many businesses anxious to help you self-publish your work, which may or may not be the route you want to take. If you want to spend money in order to get published, I recommend investing it in attending a writers’ workshop or conference where you will meet and learn from working professionals.
Dear aspiring writers, please read this post by John Scalzi, On The Asking of Favors From Established Writers.
Then read this article on Vanity and Subsidy Publishers from Writer Beware.
The Craft of Writing
- Manuscript Preparation by Vonda N. McIntyre, an excellent article about proper manuscript format. (Note: Ms. McIntyre is a science fiction author, and provides contacts useful for SF writers.)
- Proofreader’s marks
- Word Counts and Novel Length by agent Colleen Lindsay
- Goals, Attitudes, and Numbers (Heinlein’s Business Rules for Writers) by Dean Wesley Smith
Market Information
- Duotrope.com, free online listing of markets (supported by donations)
- Ralan.com, market listings for genre fiction writers (sf/fantasy emphasis).
- Marketlist.com, market listings for genre fiction writers.
- WritersMarket.com, online edition of the popular market resouce (subscription).
Sites with General Information for Writers
- Forwriters.com offers lots of links to all kinds of information, including conferences, how-to advice, agents, publishers, marketing & so on.
- Publishers Marketplace, industry information (some free, some by subscription)
- Agentquery.com, comprehensive listing of agents, including what genres they represent
- Laura Resnick’s Writers Resources page contains tons of information
Scam Warnings
- Preditors & Editors, A guide to publishers and writing services for serious writers
- Writer Beware, provided by Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America
Workshops & Conferences
- Critters is an on-line workshop/critique group for serious Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror writers.
- SouthWest Writers is an excellent organization for writers in New Mexico and throughout the Southwest. They offer workshops and conferences, as well as connecting writers with critique groups.
Professional Organizations
- Novelists, Inc.
- Romance Writers of America
- Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America
- Western Writers of America
- The Authors Guild
There is much additional information on the web. If you don’t see a specific topic of interest here, try your favorite search engine. Mine is Goodsearch, which contributes to my favorite charity for every search I make.