Writing Resources

Here are some online resources I use to help with research and word usage as I write.  Some like dictionary.com (which also has a great thesaurus), I use almost everyday. I will continue to update this page when  I find other sites that I find helpful. Please feel free to leave a comment with any sites you use.

Dictionary/Thesaurus
Merriam-Webster.com
Dictionary.com

Encyclopedia/Fact Checker
Infoplease.com
Wikipedia.com
Refdesk.com
Snopes.com

Libraries
The Internet Public Library
The Library of Congress

Grammar/Punctuation Information
English Grammar Revolution
Basic Punctuation Rules

Writing Motivation
Dr. Wicked Write or Die This website supplies an easy to use program that forces you to write without the inner editor. It forces you to keep typing, because if you stop it erases your words! A great way to learn to free write.

Free Listing For Book Publishers (information from Jane Friedman)
Be aware that most New York publishers do not accept unagented submissions, so sometimes “searching for a publisher” really means “finding an agent” (see next list).

• Duotrope.com. For fiction and poetry only. About 3,500 listings total, which includes many types of publications.
• QueryTracker.net. About 130 listings.
• Preditors & Editors. Hundreds of listings; been going since 1997. Waves a red flag on publishers to avoid. However, unclear how often the information is updated.
• Ralan.com. About 100 listings, focused on SF/F.
• AgentQuery.com. Bare-bones list (no submission guidelines), but offers embedded links to publishers’ sites. Useful to preview the landscape.
• WriterMag.com. If you subscribe to The Writer magazine, you get 3,000 online market listings for free. Vetted list.
• Poets & Writers. Hundreds of listings, serving primarily the more literary side of the writing community.

Free Listing of Agents (information from Jane Friedman)

• AgentQuery.com. About 900 listings.
• QueryTracker.net. More than 1,200 listings.
• Preditors & Editors. Hundreds of listings; been going since 1997. Waves a red flag on agents to avoid. However, unclear how often the information is updated.
• AAR Online. This is the official membership organization for literary agents. Not all agents are member of AAR.

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