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Electronic Highways
A writer’s life on the Web
Spring is in the air and previously dormant creativity may suddenly capture your imagination. Harboring a deep-seated desire to see your name and ideas in print? Then here are some Web sites for writing and publishing strategies, as well as blogs and Internet groups for aspiring authors in your favorite genre. Let go of the winter blues and dive in!
A good place to start is Writers Resources, where writing tips, ideas, lists of writing sites and books, and information on writing and publishing in the up-and-coming eBook industry are housed in one spot. The featured articles hone in on such topics as writing dialogue and overcoming writer's block.
Writers Write is another good source of information. Find articles, links, author interviews and blogs on all types of fiction and nonfiction, from children’s literature and poetry to screenwriting and greeting cards.
For more writing strategies and suggestions, try The Internet Writing Journal. Aspiring writers can learn tips of the trade, as well as try their hand at their first publication—the journal accepts nonfiction pieces on all writing and publishing related topics. Also check out the IWJ Blog that includes current topics of interest for writers. A recent entry explores the popularity of personal memoirs among publishers and the reading public.
Another opportunity to publish your work is with Writers Digest. Select “Get Published” to find out about publishing opportunities within Writers Digest and beyond, as well as acquire tips on readying your masterpiece for publication. One fun feature on this site is the daily “Writing Prompt.” Find inspiration in the scenario of the day (A dying man staggers into your living room while you are watching “American Idol” and utters something that sounds like a phone number...) to get moving on a writing project. A charming blog features humorous, real-life anecdotes in the life of a would-be author.
If getting published in a particular genre has always been a dream, look for blogs and other online communities focused on your favorite. For fans of the romance novel, check out Aspiring Authors, a blog for the up-and-coming romance writer. Included are writing tips, support, links and monthly features on successful authors within the romance field. To hone your own romance writing skills, try the Harlequin Romance forums, where you will find writing challenges in which to participate and discussions on how to get published with this leader in the romance publishing industry.
Are mysteries your cup of tea? Try the Mystery Writers of America for links helpful to those looking to pen a crime fiction bestseller.
Once your writing is well underway, check out the forums at Absolute Write where you can solicit feedback on your work from other writers in your chosen genre.
If writing is your dream, take advantage of the opportunities and materials available on the Web—you may be bound for The New York Times best-seller list.
—Tiffany Walsh, Arts & Sciences Libraries