The World Wide Web is filled with a tremendous number of websites designed to help, guide, inspire and nurture writers. Here are a few of my favorites:
URL: www.alongstoryshort.net
This e-zine features women writers and showcases its favorite contributions to the site. The site’s submission committee provides critiques to aspiring writers, time permitting.
URL: www.LssWritingSchool.com
A complete writing school with classes for all levels of writing at reasonable rates.
URL: www.wizardlywebdesigns.com
A creative, stylish website designer unlike any you've ever seen
The Erma Bomback Writers’ Workshop
URL: www.humorwriters.org
The Erma Bomback Writers’ Workshop page is stocked with articles and links for humor writers.
The Fiction Writer's Journey
URL: www.thefictionwritersjourney.com
This site has writing prompts, exercises and message boards to help fiction writers create unique characters and exciting plot lin
es.
The Writers Journals
URL: groups.msn.com/thewritersjournals/welcome.msnw Entering this site’s monthly poetry and story contests keeps you coming back. If you think you can take it, visit the "Harsh Critique!" discussion board.
Thinkexist.com
URL: www.en.thinkexist.com
Find just the right piece of inspiration here. The site’s 140,000 quotes can be searched by quote, author or topic and then saved to your own personal quotation book.
URL: www.wordpreneur.com
Wordpreneur.com is filled to the brim with articles to help you make money as a writer.
Worldwide Freelance
URL: www.worldwidefreelance.com
A visit to its home page says it all: "Find writer’s markets, sell your work to editors, set up a home office and much more."
WriteCraft
URL: www.writecraftweb.com
This critique group focuses on honest feedback, even when it’s not so polite. Writers must be looking for this kind of candor—the site frequently has a waiting list to join.
Writer Gazette
URL: www.writergazette.com
View the articles to find tips on writing e-books, interviews, news releases and more. Then, visit the job listings and "The ‘Write’ Services" section, which includes finding an editor, book reviewer or Web designer.
Writer Online
URL: www.writeronline.us
This site covers everything from tech writing to poetry and offers courses (available through AbsoluteWrite.com).
Writer's Break
URL: www.writersbreak.com
WritersBreak.com offers advice for fiction and nonfiction writers and publishes interviews with today’s leading authors.
WritersWrite.com
URL: www.writerswrite.com
WritersWrite.com offers current authors’ writing with career advice articles and links to career resources.
WriteWords
URL: www.writewords.org.uk
This site features a searchable database of freelance jobs in the United Kingdom, but its "Articles" and "Writers’ News" sections are helpful for writers around the world.
Writing Fix
URL: www.writingfix.com
Teachers and students created writing games and prompts to stimulate writers of all ages at this site. Try the "Interactive Instant Plot" or write a story using its "3 Serendipitous Nouns." YW
Writing It Real
URL: www.writingitreal.com
The "real" in this site’s URL comes from its focus on writing from real-life experiences. You have free access to "Resources for Writers," but other services require a subscription.
Writing.com
URL: www.writing.com
This site offers forums, a newsletter, contest information, classifieds and more. The focus is on feedback, and it offers a free basic membership.
A Special Thanks . . .
A special note of gratitude to my friend and partner, Linda Barnett-Johnson, who hosts a writing forum called "My Writing Friend," which has enabled me and many others to develop our writing skills and to ultimately achieve publication of our work. Her tireless efforts and ongoing encouragement along with her ability to shine on against all odds are a constant inspiration to all who know her. Thanks, Linda!
Words wander aimlessly across the page until they get to the point.
----Denise Cassino
