Creative Writing Now

Creative Writing Now Website

This writing website was "created as a free service by writing teachers to provide a supportive and friendly place for authors and poets at all stages of their writing lives.

At this site you'll find:

• Writing prompts and story starters
• Free writing courses
• How to articles
• Free fiction and poetry contests
• Teacher resources

What fun! Stretch your writing muscles by trying something new.

Author Name Pronunciation Guide

Author Name Pronunciation Guide

Ever wondered how to pronounce an author's name? The Author Name Pronunciation Guide from TeachingBooks.New gives you small audio snippets of authors and illustrators pronouncing their own names and sharing short stories surrounding their names. 

Advanced Fiction Writing

Advanced Fiction Writing Website

I heard Randy Ingermanson, the Snowflake Guy or America’s Mad Professor of Fiction Writing, speak at a Willamette Writers meeting in Portland, Oregon this spring and was intrigued by his Snowflake Method for writing a novel. At his website I found a terrific article explaining the method in more detail and a whole lot more, including informational articles and software.

While you’re visiting his site, it’s well worth your time to sign up for his Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine. It’s packed full of useful information and you can find an archive of past issues located under the E-zine heading on his website. You’ll also find a link to his blog.

Lots of good information here.





Kid Magazine Writers

Kid Magazine Writers Website

Subtitled "the information center for children's magazine writers," Kid Magazine Writers website offers information about markets listed alphabetically. There is a section called "Dead Zone" where magazines that don't accept submissions or who have ceased publication are listed. The paying markets for fiction in children's magazines have dwindled over the years, but there are still a few out there. If you write nonfiction or want to find markets that are still accepting fiction stories, this is the website for you.

Institute of Children's Literature

Institute of Children's Literature (ICL)

You don't have to take a children's writing course from the Institute of Children's Literature in order to benefit from the massive amount of information on the Institute's website (although I did take the course many years ago and can highly recommend it.) You will find articles on every writing topic imaginable from getting ideas to marketing your polished picture book or young adult novel.

You can also sign up for their free weekly eNewsletter to receive information about live interviews scheduled with writers and editors, new articles and interview transcripts on writing, upcoming writing contests, and other news for writers.

ICL's Topical Index

The CBI Clubhouse

The CBI Clubhouse

I confess – I’m a Fightin’ Bookworm. We Bookworms hang out at The CBI Clubhouse. Yes, it costs money to join. I’ve actually subscribed to the CBI Newsletter for a number of years, so when Jon and Laura started the CBI Clubhouse, I became an automatic member. The newsletter and the Clubhouse website both offer lots of information and motivation for writing for children. In addition to articles on writing, the Clubhouse also offers videos and a message board. Highly recommended!

Flogging the Quill

Flogging the Quill

At Flogging the Quill you can take the Flogometer challenge by writing and submitting a first page (that is, the first 16 lines of text) that compels the author/editor, Ray Rhamey, to turn the page. There are lots of submissions for you to read, vote on whether you’d turn the page, see how others voted, and then examine Ray’s comments on the piece.

Story is Promise

Story is Promise

Here’s what Bill Johnson says on his Story is Promise website:

"This site offers writers of all levels and genres new ideas on the essential elements of storytelling:
creating dynamic characters...
identifying what's at stake in a story...
and ensuring that both the plot and story lines converge into an emotionally fulfilling resolution.

Reviews of popular novels, plays, and screenplays highlight those aspects of storytelling essential for fulfilling a writer's promise to the reader.

The essays on this web site are part of my exploration of what it is to both tell and enjoy a story. I welcome everyone who shares that journey.--Bill Johnson"

Story is a Promise also offers a page called Oregon Writers Speak with videos of writers sharing valuable information on their topics of expertise.

C. Hope Clark

Funds For Writers

C. Hope Clark is the hard-working individual behind Fundsfor Writers.com, where you’ll find the latest information about opportunities for authors. At Funds for Writers you’ll find sections on grants, contests, markets, and several newsletters to keep you updated. At her blog she shares detailed information about the features on the Funds for Writers site.

C. Hope Clark's Blog

Muse Online Writers conference

The 2010 Muse online Writers Conference

I attended my third Muse Online Writers Conference earlier this month. This is a FREE conference that lasts an entire week with forum workshops and chat sessions on all topics of writing. I've learned so much each year about characterization, dialogue, editing, short stories, personal essays, website construction, social networking, and MORE. Every detail is amazingly well organized by Lea Schizas. (And the best part is that it is all online, so you don't have to pay for transportation or lodging and can attend in your pajamas!)

Next year's conference will be held October 11 - 17, 2010. You need to register before August 1 and indicate INDIVIDUAL EMAIL so that you will get updates throughout the year about upcoming new workshops and pitch sessions Lia be hosting in 2010 before the 2010 Conference.
Do it right now so you don't miss anything.

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/2010MuseConferenceRegistration/

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America

At the SFWA – Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America website, all writers can find something at this site to assist them. In addition to the Writers Beware page which offers “Warnings About Literary Fraud and the Schemes, Scams, and Pitfalls That Target Writers,” the Information Center section also contains:

• Advice for New Writers – manuscript preparation, writing tips, market listings 
• Contracts and Copyrights – sample contracts, copyright, piracy info 
• The Craft of Writing – writing techniques, workshops and critique groups, Maintaining motivation, avoiding writers’ block 
• The Business of Writing – agent etiquette, royalty payments, copy-editing, career management, networking and self promotion, publishing technologies like podcasting, e-books, self-publishing.

Of course you can also find a lot of information about writing science fiction and fantasy, authors of science fiction and fantasy, and reading science fiction and fantasy!

Writing for Children & Teens by Cynthea Liu

Writing for Children & Teens by Cynthea Liu

Cynthea Liu writes about all areas of writing for children and also includes interviews with authors, submission information, and occasional ‘free-tiques” in which she critiques a full picture book or partial longer manuscript.

National Novel Writing Month (NANOWRIMO)

National Novel Writing Month (NANOWRIMO)

It's time to get ready for National Novel Writing Month or “Thirty days and nights of literary abandon,” according to the official website. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. I succeeded in this goal year before last. That novel is still set aside awaiting revision, but I had a lot of fun writing it.


You sign up at the website and visit daily to record the number of words you’ve written, check up on your friends’ progress, and read the message boards. There are regional events (like write-ins at local coffee shops where you don’t have to be lonely writing every day!) This one is certainly worth checking out.

The Purple Crayon

The Purple Crayon

Harold Underdown, children’s book editor and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books, has built an impressive site at The Purple Crayon devoted to information and articles about writing for children. Of special interest to anyone submitting manuscripts is the Who’s Moving Where? page which provides an up-to-date list of the latest moves of agents and editors. There are great articles to be found throughout the site from basic information to marketing your book.

The Writer's Garden

The Writer’s Garden

The Writer’s Garden offers an amazing variety of writing advice, but my favorite place is its listing of College Writing Centers and OWLs (Online Writing Labs). You’ll be amazed by the number of colleges in their listing. You can also find listings of general writing sites and help with writing research papers, help with composing, revising, usage, and style.

Writing Centers – Alphabetical Listing

Verla Kay

Verla Kay's Home Page

I'm proud to be a Blueboarder! That's the nickname of the registered members of the Verla Kay Message Boards. We're a large group of children's writers and illustrators brought together by Verla Kay, the writer of historical picture books. Verla generously built and maintains an information-packed website that hosts one of the busiest and most well-respected message boards on the Web.

Verla Kay Message Boards The BlueBoard

According to the About Me section of Verla's blog: "Her message board page has been getting an average of between nine hundred thousand and one million hits per month since January of 2007. It currently has over 2000 registered members. In the past few years, the 'Blueboard' has become almost an 'icon' for children’s writers and illustrators."