The internet has become so unwieldy that now you need sites to tell you which sites to go to. Here are 6 of my favorites.
Below are two of the best compilations of online sources of information about all things writerly, followed by two sites offering a wide array of essays, blogs, and other forms of advice about the writing life, and two sites I recommend to authors at any stage in the writing process.
Warning: Any one of these sites can lead to procrastination heaven…or hell, depending on your deadline.
The Compilations
http://www.internet-resources.com/writers/
Internetresources.com offers a well-organized collection of every imaginable link an aspiring writer might need, from dictionaries and grammar guides to writing prompts and cures for writer’s block to how to (maybe, someday) get published.
http://www.writersandeditors.com
Pat McNees’ site provides a more curated compendium of online and offline resources for writers and editors than the one above. Every time I check in, it seems to have expanded its listings, but a handy index will help you find your way.
Essays and Advice
http://writerunboxed.com/
Billed as being “about the art and craft of fiction,” Writer Unboxed is chock full of wonderful advice and essays from an impressive array of writers and publishing professionals.
http://sinandsyntax.com/
Constance Hale, the author of three books about writing, edits this “online salon” about writing, in which she and a number of guest bloggers cover a range of writerly topics as small as the comma and as large as the end of publishing.
Focused Advice on Pitching your Writing
When the writers I work with are completing their books, they need more focused advice. Janefriedman.com is the one site I most often refer people to when they believe they’re ready to pitch their book to an agent. The whole site is full of useful advice, but for nonfiction writers, the most important page is How to Write a Book Proposal.
I like to send novelists to publishingcrawl.com to grapple with writing a synopsis. It is a bracing and eye-opening exercise, and less experienced fiction writers should consider trying it even before they think they’ve finished their novels, because the process reveals a lot about plot structure and character development: How to Write a 1-Page Synopsis.
