Writer's Resource Central

[Tessar]

Spelling/Grammar
-Orangoo.com--spell checker
-Spellchecker.net
-Basic English Grammar rules

Thesaurus/Dictionary
-Reference
-Merriam-webster
-Wordsmyth
-Oxford Dictionary


Blogs/Information On Writing
-Limyaael's Rants--suggestions for building aspects of your writing, and on avoiding overdone plot ideas
-"Uncle Orson's Writing Class"--Misc. information and suggestions
-Fantasy Art Resource Project--Misc. articles on writing
-A teacher's advice on structuring writing


Submission Sites
-Nanowrimo, National Novel Writing Month. Awesome resource ('contest' takes place every November)
-Elfwood "Wyvern's Library


Suggested Books
-How To Write Science Fiction and Fantasy, by Orson Scott Card


Does anyone else think it would be helpful to have a post for resource material? I mean links to digital resources and suggestions for hardcopy reading. Things like links an online thesaurus, the 100 most over-used words, books on how to develop plot, etc.


I am inspired to ask this by the fact that I just finished reading Orson Scott Card's "How To Write Science Fiction and Fantasy" (which my sister gave me for my birthday) and I am totally boggled by what I learned about putting together a story. It was all elements that I had snatched at randomly, but I had never known how to sit down and specifically ask myself the 'questions' that need to be asked till now. I've already seen a dramatic improvement in my plot-planning and story ideas, and I wish I'd read this book years ago.

So I figure... what other awesome learning tools are out there that I (and others like me!) have been unknowingly blundering along without? I think we could build a valuable resource here for all of us to delve into .

[Earniel]

Hm, it definitely would be helpful. I have yet to come across articles or books that helped me with writing, but there should be some at least out there. But so, sadly enough, I have nothing to contribute at the moment.

[Tessar]

Word up. Due to enthusiastic, overwhelming response I think we should totally do it .

I'll edit the first post to be an index as we find stuff to add.

[Jonathan]

I like the idea Tessar.
If I may, I could humbly contribute with a thread I started the same day this Writer's Workshop forum opened: Teacher's Guidelines.
Put it in the first post or leave it be here

[Tessar]

Thanks Jonathan! Done.

[Aikanáro]

For anyonewho writes fantasy and wants to avoid overdone cliches and 'idiot plots,' among other things Limyaael's Rants might be worth reading.

[Tessar]

Great site! Thanks for the link .

[Jonathan]

Indeed! I'm amazed by how much in-depth Limyaael goes!

[Earniel]

Indeed, very interesting site. I started reading some of her rants and nearly lost track of time. (And now I'm wanting to write a story with some of the mentioned clichés and poking fun at them...)

[Tessar]

It's definitely a great resource . Maybe I should put it in bold.

[Tessar]

I thought I'd put up some online spelling checkers, and a basic English grammar site. I may put up another one on syntax and some other things, particularly if I can find a good one on abbreviations (i.e. its vs. it's, whose vs. who's, etc.).

[Earniel]

I have recently come across some blogs that may be of interest to writers. Most deal more with getting your writings published, rather than just written, but I'm sure that information will become useful to a lot of people eventually.

Help! I need a publisher is a blog with information about writing, publishing and related topics.

Nathan Bransford is a blog of a literary agent that deals with procedures in writing and publishing and other useful insights in the book world.

The Book Deal also mostly deals with publishing and news and trends from the book market.

Whatever Scalzi is the blog of John Scalzi, an author. A lot of posts deal with his thoughts and own books. But occassionally he has very informative posts about events in the book world, such as the latest Amazon e-book debacle.

Writer Beware! is a very useful blog detailing many of the pitfalls and scams that can catch both aspiring and veteran writers unaware.

(Also, I've stuck this thread at the top.)

[Earniel]

Some more useful links, mostly concerning the industry and getting published.

Absolute Write: very active forum where you can find tonnes of info on writing, as well as on agents, publishers, and things to watch out for.

Duotrope: if you want to publish a story, you can research the markets here.