Advice, blogs, courses and resources for writers
Ranked #4,982 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #183,589 overall
The definitive helping hand for budding - and existing - writers everywhere!
This lens is all about giving something back. When I first started writing I was on my own. It was sheer determination and pigheadedness that got me into print for the first time more than twenty years ago. (Can it really be that long ago?!)
I went through the same process again when I first started trying to break into the online market. There is such a lot of information out there for writers - the only problem is knowing where to find it!
During the three years since I started writing for the internet, I've collated lots of links, blogs and resources for writers that I think most would be writers would find invaluable. Let's face it though, we all have different needs and wants when it comes to learning more about writing. So with that in mind I plan for this lens to be the definitive helping hand - packing in plenty of advice, blogs, courses and resources of all kinds for writers everywhere.
As such you can expect it to keep on growing every time I find something new! It's far from finished and I doubt it will ever be....
[image with thanks to nkzs at http://www.sxc.hu/profile/nkzs]
I went through the same process again when I first started trying to break into the online market. There is such a lot of information out there for writers - the only problem is knowing where to find it!
During the three years since I started writing for the internet, I've collated lots of links, blogs and resources for writers that I think most would be writers would find invaluable. Let's face it though, we all have different needs and wants when it comes to learning more about writing. So with that in mind I plan for this lens to be the definitive helping hand - packing in plenty of advice, blogs, courses and resources of all kinds for writers everywhere.
As such you can expect it to keep on growing every time I find something new! It's far from finished and I doubt it will ever be....
[image with thanks to nkzs at http://www.sxc.hu/profile/nkzs]
Let's get started!
Here's a small clue about what we'll be discovering first...
10 blogs about writing
Out of sheer modesty I haven't included mine here - you'll find a separate section for that a bit further down the page. But here are some of my favourites I often find myself referring back to.
- Angela Booth's Writing Blog
- This is a good read, with an easy to navigate style and plenty of advice for beginners as well as more experienced writers.
- The Urban Muse
- Regularly updated with a great mix of unusual articles, you should definitely give this one a try. Watch the clock though - you could get sucked in for ages. I did!
- The Renegade Writer
- This is a long serving writing blog that has lots of variety and advice for writers. There are e-courses and e-books on offer here as well.
- Kathryn Vercillo's writing blog
- I love Kathryn's blog. It's nice and easy going and doesn't take too much too seriously. Keep up the good work Kathryn!
- A Writer's Journey
- Exactly what it says on the tin...
Dip in and see what you think. Personally I love it. - Get Paid to Write Online
- "Straight talk about your writing career" says the website, and it lives up to its promise.
This has plenty of advice and good solid articles to read. - Inky Girl: Daily Diversions for Writers
- Part of the reason I love this blog is the cartoons. It's not the only reason though, as you'll see when you pay it a visit.
- About Freelance Writing
- Anne Wayman, the owner of this particular blog, has been freelance writing for over three decades. That's a good enough reason to read what she has to say on the subject, I think!
- Writing Tips Blog
- This is the work of Lisa Mason, and it's great. She has lots of enthusiasm for writing and it shows.
It's great just to read her opinions and experiences of writing, and you'll learn a lot on the way. - Quips and Tips for Successful Writers
- Quite simply a great looking blog that is deserving of a very long read.
1 outstanding book on writing: "On Writing" by Stephen King
I bought this book when it was first published and I keep finding myself going back to it. I'm a fan of Stephen King but you don't need to be to get a lot out of this terrific book.
On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft
Amazon Price: $7.74 (as of 05/28/2012)
List Price: $16.00
Used Price: $8.10
I've gone back to this book over and over again since I originally read it. I've read it right through a couple more times since then, but I have also taken the time to read just the odd few pages. Sometimes I just read the section where he describes finally getting his first novel, "Carrie", accepted by a publisher. It brought a tear to my eye!
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
4 of the best marketplaces to find writing work online
A writing marketplace allows buyers and sellers to come together. You can bid on work and hopefully be chosen by the buyer to complete the writing job for them. Some people love these sites while others prefer to find other ways of finding work. You don't know unless you try!
- Freelancer.com
- You can join for free or get a paid subscription. This site is good for beginners and there is plenty of work to go around. It has also improved and developed considerably over the last few months.
- Elance.com
- Once again you can join for free if you wish, or you can take up a paid subscription. It could be ideal to start with the former and work towards the latter once you are a bit more established on the site.
- Guru.com
- Another similar site to Elance and Freelancer. Some people find work at several of them while others stick with just the one. Try them all and see which ones work for you.
- Odesk.com
- Not everyone agrees with the way this site works, but I shall include it for the sake of completeness. Check it out and see whether you want to work on an hourly basis or a per piece/job rate.
5 of my favourite writing books on Amazon
Do you want to connect with other writers?
5 forums you can join that are focused on writing
(all kinds of writers welcome!)
Remember that forums don't always allow you to promote your own website, so check the rules for each forum before adding your writer's blog or website in your signature link. If they do allow it, it's a nice way to promote your writing!
- WritersBeat.com
- Among other things they have sections for fiction, non fiction and contests. It's worth a look and it seems to have a lot of traffic and contributors too.
- Writing Forums
- A great name for some, er, writing forums! Again they have lots of different sections you can try out. Everything from poetry to electronic media is covered here.
- WritingForums.org
- You can tell that lots of online writing forums have similar sounding names. This one is another well developed and constructed one with lots of useful sections. Plot creation, non fiction and even fan fiction sections are here to explore.
- Write Words forums
- There is a lot more here than you may at first think. Click on the drop down box at the top to go into your choice of the many forum sections. Be careful - you may never come out again! A good site with LOTS to offer.
- Writing.com forums
- If you only ever check out their forum and do nothing else, you'll be benefiting from a lot of knowledge. But take the time and visit the rest of the site too if you can. There are plenty of advantages to signing up for a free membership here.
5 great YouTube videos about writing
Most of these feature well known writers from various genres. Learn from those who have already achieved a lot!
curated content from YouTube
1 writing blog by me :)
I did say I would include it, and here it is - tucked away at the bottom of the lens through modesty. I hope you enjoy it.
4 leads to follow to see whether they're a good fit for your writing
Time for your feedback!
Are there any other groups of resources you'd like to see on this lens? I will be adding more that are related to writing as the lens grows, but in the meantime I'd be delighted to hear any ideas you might have. I'll try and get as many as I can included on the lens. Thanks for your feedback!
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Anne
Mar 16, 2012 @ 3:50 am | delete
- Hey, Great job gathering these resources!!
I would suggest you add www.peopleperhour.com to the list of marketplaces to find writing jobs!
Thanks again!
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Kate
Oct 8, 2010 @ 4:07 pm | delete
- Wow Allison, another great lens! Keep up the great advice!
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by Allison_Whitehead
Hey there, thanks for stopping by!
If you want to know a little bit about me, here are the main bits - I'm a writer, working mainly for online clients...
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