writer resources
Writing Skills and Tools
Business Resources
Cool Stuff
Writing Skills and Tools
Compilations of Resources
Critters Workshop Library
A collection of links on how to critique, market information, and other writing resources.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
The motherlode. Tons of articles written by authors working in the trade, people like Poul Anderson, Elizabeth Moon, Debra Doyle, and others. If you’re looking for something, this should be your first stop.
General Writing Skills
Deep Genre
A shared blog by authors Constance Ash, Carol Berg, Barbara Denz, David Louis Edelman, Kate Elliott, Katherine Kerr, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Sherwood Smith, and Lois Tilton. If that’s not enough to get you to check it out, you don’t read enough. There are posts on all aspects of writing genre, from picking grammatical nits to choosing a point of view. The authors will also do 13-line critiques, but do note that the critiques are for short stories only.
How to Say Nothing in Five Hundred Words
For the essayists out there. A classic essay that brought back painful memories of high school/freshman composition.
Workshops
Clarion West
An intensive six-week workshop (over the summer) for science fiction and fantasy authors held in Seattle, Washington. The instructors (2008) include Paul Park, Mary Rosenblum, Cory Doctorow, Connie Willis, Sheree R. Thomas, and Chuck Palahniuk.
Critters Writers Workshop
An online workshop where participants critique each other’s work. Reviews are required in order to submit your own worl. Free.
Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
An online workshop where participants critique each other’s work. Reviews are required in order to submit your own worl. The cost is $49/year.
Viable Paradise
A one-week residential workshop for science-fiction and fantasy authors set in Martha’s Vineyard. The instructors (2008) include Elizabeth Bear, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Steven Gould, Debra Doyle, James D. Macdonald, Laura J. Mixon, and John Scalzi.
Worldbuilding
Creating an Earthlike Planet
Can help you determine the structure of your solar system. Also talks about flora, fauna, weather systems, language creation, and more. Don’t let the math scare you off.
Fantasy Worldbuilding
By author Patricia C. Wrede, a very, very thorough set of questions.
Touch the Puppets
A post by Catherynne M. Valente on the importance of making fantasy creatures real.
Worldbuilding: Constructing a SF Universe
A nice general introduction. The questions at the end are also useful.
Business Resources
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
The organization has had a rough time of it lately, but I’d argue that they’re still quite relevant. Not to mention all the lovely resources on their site.
Markets
Duotrope’s Digest
A free resource for finding markets in which to get published. Includes poetry, short fiction, and novels.
Ralan’s Webstravaganza
A free resource for finding markets in which to get published. Lots of genre opportunities.
StoryPilot’s Science Fiction & Fantasy Market Search Engine
A free resource for finding markets in which to get published. It’s got a nifty search engine.
News and Information
Kirkus Book Reviews
Access to the reviews requires subscription, but they have a free eNewsletter.
Publishers Marketplace
For tracking deals, sales, news, reviews, and agents in the publishing industry. Access to their premium services is $20/month.
Cool Stuff
Behind the Name
Ever been curious about the etymology of names? This site is for you. They even have a Random Name Generator.
Classic Short Stories
A place to read a small selection of classic short stories that have crossed into the realm of public domain. Balzac, Dickens, Poe, Twain, and more.
The Fix
The Fix reviews science fiction, fantasy, and horror magazines and e-zines.
The Interstitial Arts Foundation
A cool place for people interested in art made in the “interstices between genres and categories”, that “flourishes in the borderlands between different disciplines, mediums, and cultures”. If you don’t like category labels, then this is for you.
Rose Fox Reads
Rose Fox reviews Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror for Publisher’s Weekly. Rose Fox is a good place to go if you’re interested in more information about reviews or just want to get some dope on the industry.
The Zokutou Word Meter”
A cool little word meter for your blog when you want to show how far along you are on a project.
Terry Finley on 19 Jul 2008 at 1:13 pm #
Great list.
thanks
Samer on 19 Jul 2008 at 6:43 pm #
Thanks. It’s still a first pass though. I need to add a few more workshops, a section on character, and more links on the business side of things. The last is especially important. You can’t just write and ignore practicalities–that’s a sure recipe for getting forked.