My Picks
- SheWrites: An invaluable resource for women writers, SheWrites.com offers all kinds of services and support. It’s free to join; membership is currently 10,000 strong … and growing. I’m a SheWrites “Preferred Provider” — part of their team of editors, writing coaches, and book proposal advisors. You can find out more about my work for SheWrites here.
- Writer’s Digest: Get tips and advice to help you improve your writing and get published. Confer with other writers on the forum, enter contests, or find out about upcoming writers’ conferences.
- Publishers Marketplace: Find out which agents represent your favorite authors, and get information on the agents you’re interested in. You can subscribe to their email newsletter for free: Publishers Lunch.
- WritersNet: Join a community of writers, editors, agents, and more to exchange ideas and make connections.
- WritersServices: Find an index of U.S. literary agents, as well as articles on everything from avoiding writer’s cramp to how to podcast your work, and get connected with services to prepare your book for publication.
- The Center for Fiction: Formerly the Mercantile Library, founded in 1820 in NYC, The Center for Fiction brings together established authors and publishing professionals who care about the future of fiction and is fast becoming the best information source and social networking site on the internet for anyone who loves fiction.
- WritersMarket: Search a comprehensive list of places to sell what you write.
- Poets & Writers: Get helpful hints specifically designed for creative writers, and confer with other writers in one of several forums.
- Backspace: A thorough collection of links to other resources, plus savvy advice for writers. A good source for researching agents.
- WriterUnboxed: A hearty serving of writing advice from authors, literary agents, and screenwriters. It’s a new fave.
- Writing Careers: The Business Behind Becoming an Author: Great for young writers. Thank you, Anna, for the tip!
Finding a Literary Agent
- Agent Query: The largest, most up-to-date searchable database of literary agents on the web — a treasure trove of reputable, established agents seeking writers. And it’s free.
- Nathan Bransford Nathan is a literary agent with Curtis Brown Ltd. He offers specific and practical advice to writers looking to get published. His site also has a forum for writers to share their thoughts and tips.
- Rachelle Gardner: Rachelle provides insight into her life as a literary agent, from both a personal and practical standpoint. Particularly informative are the posts in which she breaks down her thought process while reading a query letter.
- Noah Lukeman: Noah’s site is “Ask a Literary Agent,” and each post answers a question about finding, working with, or even becoming a literary agent.
- Jessica Sinsheimer: Jessica writes about her experiences as a literary agent, as well as her thoughts on publishing, certain books, and occasionally life in general.
Other Useful Sites