More Links for Writers
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Agents
Assoc'n of Authors' Representatives – Org'n of independent literary agents (for checking agent reputability)
Dean Wesley Smith on agents – One of Dean's "Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing" articles (highly recommended)
Preditors and Editors – Good source for recommendations and warnings regardings agents
Writer's Beware on Agents – section of SFWA's Writer's Beware site on literary agents
Awards
Aurora Awards – Annual fan-voted awards for best Canadian SF&F
Bram Stoker Award – HWA awards for horror writing
Hugo Awards – International awards voted on by WorldCon members
John W. Campbell Award – International award for best new SF&F writer
SF Awards database – Links to various SF&F awards
Nebula Awards – International awards voted on by SFWA members
Sunburst Award – Juried award for best Canadian SF&F novel
UPC Science Fiction Award – European science fiction award
Blogs by Writers (my faves)
The Business Rusch Publishing Series – Kris Rusch's series on the changing world of publishing
A Freelancer's Survival Guide – Kris Rusch's series on being a freelance writer
The Passive Voice – blog by a lawyer and writer with lots of contract and biz info
Bookstores
BakkaPhoenix – Canada's oldest SF&F bookstore and a Toronto institution
Silver Snail Comics – Toronto (and online) comic store
Contracts and Rights
Wise Up on Copyright – an excellent primer on copyright from the ALCS (note: some of the material is UK-specific)
How to read a book contract – excellent series by The Passive Guy, a lawyer and writer
Must-have clauses for eBooks – great article by author Mike Stackpole
Deal breakers in contracts –a Kris Rusch blog (and check out the other links in the blog as well)
List of IP lawyers –recommended Intellectual Property lawyers for book contracts, from author Laura Resnick
Conventions
WorldCon – World SF organization and convention site
World Fantasy – Annual World Fantasy Convention (late October)
World Horror – Annual World Horror convention (usually March-April)
Ad Astra – Annual Toronto SF&F convention (February-March)
SFContario – Annual Toronto SF&F convention (November)
Archipelacon – The Nordic SF&F convention (June-July)
Locus list – Locus Magazine's list of conventions
List of SF Conventions – From Wikipedia
List of Horror Conventions – From Wikipedia
Copyright Licensing
ALCS – Author's Licensing and Collection Society (UK)
AccessCopyright – Canadian copyright licensing organization
Cdn Intellectual Property – Federal site with lots of copyright info
Copyright myths – Brad Templeton explains 10 myths about copyright
Creativity and Craft
Character questionnaire – of the hundreds of these things out there, this one is actually useful
Creativity tips – From writers such as Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut, Ernest Hemingway,...
Films and Options
Film option rates and info – blog post by award-winning Canadian SF writer Robert J.Sawyer
Formatting Manuscripts, Scripts, Synopses et al
Manuscript checklist – From award-winning SF writer Robert J.Sawyer
Graphic novel script formats – Graphic novel script format
Synopsis Format – How to format a novel synopsis
Free Stuff
ccMixter Music – free music available under a Creative Commons license
Morgue File – free photos for personal or commercial purposes without need to attribute original creator
Public domain image sources – Wikipedia list of sources (NB: not all are public domain)
iStockPhoto.com – Okay, not free, but reasonable (and royalty-free)
EveryStockPhoto.com – Search engine for free photos from many sources which are license-specific.
Google Image Ripper – Excellent intuitive search engine for photos on the web. Up to you to track down license info.
Image converter – free online utility for converting images from one format to another (e.g., PDF to jpeg)
Epub to mobi converter – free online utility that converts from epub to mobi (Kindle) ebook format
Grant Organizations
Ontario Arts Council – Grants and support for Ontario creative artists
Canada Council – Grants and support info for Canadian creative artists
Market Lists
Ralan's Webstravaganza – Ralan Conley's Speculative Fiction Market List (still the best source–and it's free)
Foreign Market List – My own list of non-English speculative fiction markets around the world
Duotrope's Digest – Searchable database of fiction markets
Story Pilot – Searchable database of fiction markets
Plotting, Outlining, and Synopses
Synopses and Outlines – Tips from award-winning SF&F writer, Jay Lake
Lester Dent's Plot Formula – the 1930's pulp master's (in)famous plot formula
Synopses in 9 easy steps – Hélène Boudreau on writing outlines and synopses
Postage Information
Canada Post – Postal rates and info for Canada
US Postal Service – Postal rates and info for the US
Professional Writing Organizations - Genre
SFWA – Science Fiction Writers of America (professional writers org'n)
SF Canada – Canadian professional SF&F writers organization
HWA – Horror Writers Association
BFS – British Fantasy Society
Professional Writing Organizations - Other
NWU – National Writers Union (US)
Promoting Your Writing - General
ChiZine promotion tips – ChiZine Publications blog on promotion tips for writers
7 Ways to Build Your Author Brand Online – article by Michael Hyatt
How to Blog – CBC's Merlin Mann series on how to blog
Promoting Your Writing - Book Launches
“Tips for a Successful Book Launch” – by Chris High Author Multi-media Promotion Service (CHAMPS)
“The Ultimate Book Launch Party” – by Clary Lopez
Promoting Your Writing - Book Readings
“Tools of the Trade: Readings” – by Charles Stross
“Ten Tips to Running a Good Reading” – by Danny Groner
Promoting Your Writing - Book Signings
“How To Do a Book Signing” – by eHow
“How to Have a Successful Book Signing” – by MaryJanice Davidson
“Book Signing 101” – by Elizabeth Harrin
“Virtual Book Signings” – by GeekCulture
“How to Do a Drive By Book Signing” – by Lisa Schroeder
Promoting Your Writing - Interviews
“On Being Interviewed as an Author” – by Robert J. Sawyer
“10 Tips on How to Be Interviewed” – by Darren Rouse
Promoting Your Writing - Networking
“How to Network at a Convention” – by Diana Rowland
“How to Network for Introverts” – by Business Pundit
“How to Network” – by wikiHow
Promoting Your Writing - Press Releases
Press kit sample – Award-winning SF author Robert J. Sawyer's press kit page
Press releases – how to format, write and get a press release published
Publishers and Imprints
Publisher's Marketplace – Track deals, sales, reviews, agents, editors, industry news (subscription).
Publishing – Other
After the Sale – Tor author Jane Lindskold explains what happens after a novel is sold
Publishing Terms – one agent's helpful list of some common publishing terms.
Research for Writers
Behind the Name – great site for researching first names for your characters
All About Forensics – A free and comprehensive guide to forensic science
CSI blog – National Museum of Crime & Punishments blog
The Lab: the Writers' Forensic Community – ask an expert your forensic crime questions
Forensics Experts – useful list of experts from D.P. Lyle's site (The Lab –see above)
Resources for Writing
Grammar Girl – Mignon Fogarty's wonderful "friendly guide to the world of grammar, punctuation, usage, and fun developments in the English language."
Student Editing & Proofreading Guide – 3000-word article with tips and online resource links
Wise Old Sayings – searchable and browsable database of quotes on various topics
Review Sources
HWA Book Reviewer List – Compiled by HWA. Not restricted to horror reviewers but access restricted to HWA members
SF&F Sites
Ansible – David Langford's long-running (1979), award-winning news (and rumour) site
Arjay – Rich Sutcliffe's Canadian SF page
SF Site – Large SF site with reviews and related links
SFF.net – Online community for SF related discussion
SF Round Table – Online community for SF related discussion
Tangent Online – Online short fiction review site
Web Sites for Writers
The Ultimate Writer's Website – If you like my site, here's how you can get your own version
Workshops
Oregon Writers Network workshops – A variety of workshops focusing on both the craft and business of writing, given by Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith, with a variety of big-name editor instructors as well. Highly recommended.
If you find this page of links of use, please donate to help me keep the page updated and a free feature of my site! Any amount is appreciated! Thanks!
