Educating authors is a significant part of our mission. Here you'll find valuable online resources relevant to the art and business of writing and publishing. This list is by no means comprehensive, however. If you have some favorite sites that our authors might find helpful, please email us with your suggestions.
Writing
Since 1919 The Authors Guild has worked on behalf of published writers, lobbying for author's rights in regard to free speech, copyright, and other issues related to writing for publication.
For a free tutorial on Formatting Your Manuscript in Microsoft Word courtesy of fiction editor Ray Rhamey, go to Editorrr.com.
There is a house in Seattle, Washington they call the Richard Hugo. Named for the late poet, Hugo House is home to literary happenings including book groups, writing workshops, youth writing projects and programs, zine publishing events, and readings.
The Northwest Independent Editors Guild offers an accurate description of the different types of editing as defined by the FEA: Developmental Editing, Substantive Editing, Copy Editing, and Proofreading.
Since 1953 The Paris Review, edited by George Plimpton, has published world-class fiction, poetry, and essays. Often recognizing and ushering in superb new talent, literary stars such as Jack Kerouac, Philip Roth, Mona Simpson, George Steiner, and V.S. Naipaul all made their publishing debuts in The Paris Review.
The largest nonprofit literary organization in the U.S., Poets & Writers Magazine is the primary source of information, support, and guidance for creative writers.
To answer most of your questions about copyright, the U.S. Copyright Office offers excellent online help.
Since 1969 Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts has been the exclusive provider of pro bono legal services, education and advocacy to the New York arts community.
Published bi-monthly, Working Writer is filled with articles on promotion, freelancing, publishing, agents, different genres, how-to, and how-not-to. WW offers tips and solid info from writers across the country, served up with a good dose of humor and a spirit of writing-camaraderie.
Every year, Writer's Digest sponsors a number of contests and awards for writers, in addition to publishing a wide range of books on the craft and the business of writing.
The Writers Guild represents writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable and new technologies industries.
Writer's Market is the definitive source for authors seeking publishers and agents interested in their work. Published annually by Writer's Digest Books, this invaluable directory of movers and shakers in publishing also features articles by industry insiders with pointers on getting published.
It takes time and patience to develop writing skill, and it also helps to connect with other writers. Through Writers Online Workshops you can do both from the comfort of your own home. It's not the same as sitting in a coffeehouse with well-read, hip-looking folks dispensing wit and wisdom — but it's close!
WritingClasses.com is an online division of the Gotham Writer's Workshop in New York City. This site allows you a sample glimpse of an online writing class.
Publishing
These days it's a good idea to register your book with the US Copyright Office as soon as your book is completed. This government website is extremely well-organized. Even if you're not quite ready to register your book just yet, here you'll find clear, detailed information about how to register all kinds of original works.
Art publications of great quality, peace, and meditative beauty are not often free. Heron Dance's beautiful e-newsletter Pause for Beauty is worth the moment you take to subscribe, and well worth the rare, poetic tranquility that accompanies its weekly arrival.
Anybook Software has received wildly favorable reviews in PC Magazine and others as a great business tool for one-book publishers and small publishers. Created for Windows.
To connect with an experienced book editor and publishing consultant who cares about your message, email CeciBooks or call 206.706.9565
Para Publishing is the site of Dan Poynter, author of The Self-publishing Manual. The site provides general information about self-publishing by this you-can-do-it-all-yourself guy who's also keen on skydiving and cats.
After well more than 100 years in print, Publishers Weekly is one of the industry's most important publications. A must-read for publishers and book marketers.
To have a Bar Code file created for your book (There are quite stringent printing criteria for barcodes), there are several places to go: Data Index, Fotel, and GGX Associates, among others, will all create accurate barcodes with your ISBN and book price.
The Bank of Canada website has a quick currency conversion tool that will help you convert your book price to the correct price in other countries.
Children's Books
The ALA (American Library Association) gives some of the most highly coveted awards, grants, and scholarships for achievements in children's literature, including the Newbery and Caldecott Medals.
Bowker, the Books-in-Print folks, provide an annotated list of children's publishers on Bookwire.
You'll find a comprehensive database of awards and prizes for children's literature at the Children's Book Council.
The Institute of Children's Literature offers college credits for courses in writing for children, featuring one-to-one personalized instruction by experienced children's authors and editors.
For writers looking to publish and/or illustrate children's books, The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (the largest children's writing organization in the world) offers a host of valuable networking opportunities in the USA—both locally, through area chapters, and nationally at the Annual SCBWI Conference.
Seraphic Press exemplifies an independent publisher with a niche market focus: novels for Jewish teens. The Hebrew Kid and the Apache Maiden is a work of historical fiction set in the Old West and adeptly written by Robert J. Avrech, an Emmy-winning screenwriter who created Seraphic Press in memory of his son, Ariel Chaim Avrech.
Designers, Illustrators, Photographers
For a superbly streamlined, professional website, with features ranging from simple and straightforward to state-of-the-art, contact Steve Wolk at Silicon Groove.
Barbara Gluck, internationally recognized photographer of the Vietnam War and creator of "Light Paintings" BarbaraGluck.com
For artistic professional design for your print, book, multimedia, exhibit, or web project, contact Bob Lanphear at Lanphear Design.
For distinctive graphic design with a fresh look and feel for your print or book design, contact Shannon McCafferty at shannonmccafferty@comcast.net.
For world-class intuitive design in a wide range of print, retail, and media applications, contact Lori Fulsaas at hihosilveraway@earthlink.net.
To experience the whimsical illustrations of Obadinah Heavner, acclaimed illustrator for Harcourt Brace, Nile Spice and others, visit Obadinah.com.
Paula Wong is an award-winning graphic design professional and co-founder of the LINK Program, an innovative art mentoring program for youth. See Paula Wong Design for hip elegance in web and print.
Great web design & production, email marketing, and search engine optimization is no accident. Contact the friendly, knowledgeable professionals at Varium Media.
Make sure your Internet presence is optimally effective. VistaPoint Consulting can help you give your customers a great online experience.
Book Marketing
Go to Alexa.com and type in your author website address to find out your Internet Traffic Rank and other stats on your site.
Announce your book or publishing-related event through BookFlash.com by sending out press releases to thousands of media outlets.
Compiled by John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, Book Marketing website is home to a smorgasbord of book marketing and publishing resources for authors.
Visit the site of Jeffrey Bowen, publishing PR specialist and author of the popular PubInsider newsletter.
Publishers Marketing Association (PMA) is a trade association of independent publishers serving book, audio, and video publishers in the United States and throughout the world.
Independent Publisher Online is a monthly online trade journal for independent authors and publishers, and certainly does their part to bring attention and recognition to those exemplary independently published books that are all too often overlooked. In addition to offering features, how-to articles and other helpful industry hints, these folks sponsor the Independent Publisher Awards (aka the IPPYs). See their New Title Listing Submission Guidelines to nominate your book for consideration as one of their Highlighted Titles (there's a Marketing Program opportunity available with this feature).
Here's a list of the most powerful bookselling websites. Your title should be available on all of them:
LITERARY AGENTS:
For $2.99 US, subscribe to FirstWriter's searchable database to find a literary agent or locate a writer's contest where you can enter your work.
INTERNET:
Tip: One marketing tools is right at your fingertips: Write free online articles that center on your book and post them on the webs in as many strategic locations as possible. No money in it, but the one-line summary you'll get to include at the end of your article, along with your website URL, is worth its weight in gold!
Start your own Yahoo newsgroup. Talking about your doings and sharing information online will help get your name in front of your target audiences. Sign every posting with your byline, including your website URL!
Authors: Check out the new About My Book section on www.publicLibraries.com where – at no charge - you may post a brief description of your book.
Of the many library sites out there, www.LibrarySpot.com may offer the most comprehensive and easy-to-use listing of library and reference sites on the Web.
Before you buy or rent email lists for your ezine or email marketing campaign, read these helpful hints from Yesmail. For email lists targeted to business readers, check out Business Email Lists.
Brian Jud's web-based Special Sales service (by subscription) is a reasonably priced method for attracting special non-bookstore (read: large quantities!) sales of your title! The service at BookMarketingWorks lets authors and publishers contact potential buyers using a database customized to their title and track special sales leads over the Internet. The service includes an instruction guide, 24/7 online service, email templates and "as much support as we can provide" to help independent publishers become "wildly successful."
Marketing by mail and email to booksellers, libraries, specialty retailers, and catalogs? John Kremer's BookMarket offers inexpensive mailing lists of all these groups. Not all include email addresses, so choose carefully based on your needs.
Go to Copyscape to find out if any of your web pages have been copied elsewhere on the Internet. Stop - or better yet, prevent - unauthorized use of your web content! For authors including sample pages of their chapters, heading off plagiarism can be especially important.
BOOK REVIEWS
BookZonePro has a searchable Book Reviewers Database to help you zero in on reviewers most likely to be interested in your title.
Foreword Magazine publishes reviews of the best in independently published books. Their website includes a Calendar of the major Book Fairs: Frankfurt, London, Book Expo America, ALA, and Bologna Children's Book Fair.
AUTHOR AUDIO CLIPS:
MP3Lit.com (owned by Salon.com) allows traditionally published authors to post audio files online, with editorial approval (email submission to submit@mp3lit.com). Unpublished or self-published authors may place files on MP3Lit's Loudmouth section (Who, moi?!).
LITERARY PUBLICITY:
Consider subscribing to AuthorsandExperts.com to be listed in their database perused by media folks who might want to interview you!
Check out the Literary Market Place Calendar of Book Trade & Promotional Events to find out where you can display your title and ancillary product offerings.
Founded by twelve publicists in 1975, the Northern California Book Publicity and Marketing Association (NCBPMA) is a consortium of book publishers, consultants, sales and marketing professionals, literary agents, authors, book publicity and media specialists and others with interest in the industry. NCBPMA holds a High Tea at Book Expo America each year which affords members a rare chance to mingle with national and local media as well as booksellers.
The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Green Book, published annually, lists public relations professionals by specialty. This is one way to locate literarily wise media specialists!
If you're absolutely passionate about having the full publicity picture, in a quite nearly global sense, O'Dwyer's Directory of Public Relations Firms is for you. This hefty volume features 600 pages bulging with over 2,900 PR Firms across the nation, 600 of which are in 88 different countries.
Public Speaking
Articles on book signings, media attraction, internet marketing, and other helps for authors & public speakers can be found on AuthorsandSpeakersNetwork.
Since 1973, National Speakers Association (NSA) has provided resources and education designed to advance the skills, integrity and value of its members and the speaking profession.
Our Author Websites
Beginnings Guides are colorful, easy-to-read, health education materials to guide and complement counseling during office and home visits for prenatal care, parent education and family support. Available in English and Spanish. Beautifully illustrated by Laurel Burch.
The Original Transpersonal Hypnotherapy/NLP© Site: Clinical Certification Trainings, Onsite and Distance Learning, CDs, Videos for Personal Mastery with the author of the acclaimed Finding True Magic: Transpersonal Hypnotherapy/NLP© by Jack Elias, CHT
Learn The Secret of Sovereignty: Leading Your Own Life at Work and Beyond with author DedeHenley
Explore the Four Stages of Political Evolution & the Principles of Conscious Public Leadership with the author of The Politics of Hope: Reviving the Dream of Democracy
Learn to embody abundance with Victoria Castle, author of The Trance of Scarcity: Hey! Stop Holding Your Breath and Start Living Your Life CastleEnterprising
See the Titanic story through the eyes of investigative astrologer Eileen Grimes, author of Titanic Astrology: The Grand Design of a Famous Shipwreck
Discover your past lives in a therapeutic context with Mary Lee Labay, author of numerous books on hypnotherapy, including Past Life Regression for Counselors
Let Robin and Michael Mastro, authors of Altars of Power and Grace and The Way of Vastu: Creating Prosperity through the Power of the Vedas show you how to align your home and office with the forces of nature. Learn about the 5,000-year-old Vedic science of Vastu Shastra. Visit Vastu Creations!
Christine Hierlmaier Nelson, author of Green Yellow Go! Nat Knows Bananas and Fizz Fizz Oh! Nat Knows Soda Pop, illustrated by Joy Hierlmaier, have created a Library Legacy Project you can adapt to raise funds for your local library. Visit Nat Knows
Networking
Authors Den connects authors and readers by making available books, stories, articles and poems by subject index.
Author link is an award-winning site where editors and agents buy and sell published and unpublished properties, and where serious writers can get exposure to publishing professionals. The site also offers news, searchable databases, and other helpful tools.
Ewomennetwork fosters a culture of women helping women in business with its substantial web directory, local and national networking events, and creatively negotiated member discounts.
Founded in 1979, Women's Business Exchange is a Seattle, WA business networking organization that sponsors a monthly breakfast featuring a diverse array of speakers.
Other Sites
Isagenix InternationalThis works! The cutting edge Health and Wellness System. Plus, the Isagenix™ Cleansing And Fat Burning System. Cleanse your body to create an environment for wellness so you can finally achieve your health objectives. Our system allows you a choice of programs to match your goals and lifestyle.
A spiritual approach to intuitive readings, plus other resources whispy.comBringing Spiritual People Together ~ Linking Spirits is a multi-faith community of spiritual people looking for marriage, e-pals, or friendship based on a spiritual/religious focus in life.~
Online Psychic ReadingUniversal Psychic Guild : A world wide organization devoted to making your life happier and more successful in all areas of Psychic readings, Clairvoyant readings, Tarot readings and many other areas of spirituality.
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