Links/Resources
There are a billion and one places to help you with just about everything and anything writing related. These are just the ones I tend to use and/or frequent and/or recommend for some reason or another. I'm not really looking to grow this list, as I think most resources lists are a bit overwhelming.
Tools
Market Listings
- Quintamid
- Quintamid is the brainchild of Bluejack. The vision? A collection of related applications, services, and sites of interest to all those active in the so-called 'Speculative Fiction' genres -- Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror.
- StoryPilot
- StoryPilot's Science Fiction & Fantasy Market Engine, Since 2003.
- Spicy Green Iguana
- This site is designed for writers of Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy, as well as artists and readers searching for new markets to submit their work. I've compiled over 650 speculative fiction magazine links (some dead) for you to browse. Site designed, published by Matt Hayes. Launched March 21, 1997. Spicy Green Iguana graciously accepts any complimentary book or magazine issues for review. Even a reciprocal link will do. A new site is better than a dead site...
- Duotrope
- A database of over 750 current markets for short fiction and poetry. Use this page to search for fiction markets that may make a fine home for that short story or poem you just finished. Use the menus at the top and right to explore the rest of the free services we offer writers and editors.
Critique Groups
- Zoetrope
- In March of 1998 Francis Coppola launched a website where writers could submit their short stories to his magazine, Zoetrope: All-Story. A community of writers quickly formed around the website. It became so popular so quickly that a few months later he launched sites for novellas and screenplays.
The Virtual Studio, which launched in June 2000, brings together the original sites as departments, plus includes new departments for other creative endeavors. Members can workshop a wide-range of film arts, including music, graphics, design, and film & video, as well as access some of the best e-collaboration tools. This site is the culmination of years of work by the Virtual Studio staff—and of course Francis Coppola who hatched the original idea, oversaw every stage of development, and funds the whole caboodle. - Critters
- Critters is an on-line workshop/critique group for serious writers of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. You get your work critiqued in exchange for critiquing the work of others, both of which are invaluable ways to improve your writing. It's run by Dr. Andrew Burt, former vice-president of SFWA, and his army of software minions.
- Imaginaries
- Imaginaries, formerly the mouthful "The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers' Co-operative", is a global writers' co-operative for science fiction, fantasy, horror, and whatever else happens to slip through the cracks; we work together to improve each-other's writing by sharing works, ideas, news, and criticism. Membership is open to anyone interested in participating in this process.
- Critique Circle
Critique Circle is an online writing workshop for all authors, whether they write literary fiction, genre fiction, articles or short stories. Their purpose is to provide a place for writers to give and receive feedback on their work, and thereby learn from one another. The Critique Circle also includes forums as well as helpful writing tools for manuscript progress, submission tracking, character generation and more. They use a credit system. Each critique can get you 0.5 to 2 credits. Submitting costs 3 credits. Jón Bjarnason created the website. Day-to-day operations are handled by Sigrún Erna Geirsdóttir and Hulda Bjarnadóttir.
Critique Circle is one of Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites 2006 and they also became number 1 in the Pred Ed poll in 2004 and 2005.
Agent/Editor Blogs
- Miss Snark, the literary agent
- In which Miss Snark vents her wrath on the hapless world of writers and crushes them to sand beneath her T.Rexual heels of stiletto snark.
- Pub Rants (Kristin Nelson aka Agent Kristin)
- A very nice literary agent indulges in polite rants about queries, writers, and the publishing industry
- Anna Louise Genoese, Editor
- I'm cantankerous, easily annoyed, liberal, vegan, and very picky about everything. I'm an editor at Tor Books, and I have plans to eventually take over the world. If you want to ask me a question about how publishing works, or about a specific aspect of publishing, click here and leave your question in the comments -- or you can check my "demystifying publishing" tag to see what I've already talked about.
General Resources
- The Speculative Literature Foundation
- Mission: To promote literary quality in speculative fiction, by encouraging promising new writers, assisting established writers, facilitating the work of quality magazines and small presses in the genre, and developing a greater public appreciation of speculative fiction.
- Backspace
- The Backspace Community is dedicated to helping writers navigate the often confusing world of Big Publishing. With over 400 members from a dozen countries and a constantly revolving line-up of guest speakers including literary agents, editors, and authors, the online forums are a virtual writer's conference that runs year round.
With regularly updated articles, columns, and news from industry insiders, the Backpsace [sic] homepages are your first stop to a career in publishing.