Web Resources
All About Writing
- A+ Research and Writing
- Choosing a topic, focusing, preparation, and more tips. From ipl2.org.
- Better Writing
- Topics include: Grammar, Spelling (American and British), Punctuation, Practical Writing, Abbreviations, and more. From Oxford Dictionaries.
- Editing and Proofreading Strategies
- Tips from Colorado State University.
- The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr.
- Online edition of the classic writing guide complete with rules of composition and tips for improved writing. Provided by Bartleby.com.
- Guide to Grammar and Writing
- Find guides to grammar and writing with a useful index of definitions and rules.
- Norton/Write
- "Open to all readers of Norton composition books and to anyone who wants to be a better writer or researcher." Topics include: Exercises; Research & Documentation; Model Student Papers and For Instructors.
- Purdue Univeristy Online Writing Lab (OWL)
- Free writing help and teaching resources open 24/7.
- Understanding Writing Assignments
- "This resource describes some steps you can take to better understand the requirements of your writing assignments."
- UNC Writing Center's Channel
- The University of North Carolina's YouTube channel for writing strategies.
- Writing Articles
- Articles on improved and creative writing (fiction and nonfiction) from Writer's Digest.
- Writer's Digest Free Webinars
- Video tutorials. "Our free Writer's Digest webinars cover everything from finding a literary agent, marketing a memoir, writing a novel, to finding time to write, and more." From Writer's Digest. Some content at their website requires registration.
- The Writer's Handbook
- Find many instructional materials developed for the University of Wisconsin - Madison Writing Center.
- The Writing Center: Handouts and Demos
- This is a collection of print handouts and multimedia writing strategy demos that will help you succeed in any writing assignment. Includes topics as varied as thesis statements, procrastination, and gender sensitive language. Developed by the Writing Center at the the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Writing Help
- "This section gives guidelines on writing in everyday situations, from applying for a job to composing letters of complaint or making an insurance claim. There are plenty of sample documents to help you get it right every time, create a good impression, and increase the likelihood of achieving your desired outcome." From OxfordDictionaries.com.
- Writing Poetry
- Several websites with advice on writing poems.
Journalism & Journalists
- Handbook of Independent Journalism
- Table of Contents: What is News?; Getting the Story; Telling the Story; Editing the Story; Broadcast and Online; Specialized Journalism; Ethics and Law; and Journalism Resources. Written by Deborah Potter in 2006. From Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. .
- International Center for Journalists
- "The International Center for Journalists, a non-profit, professional organization, promotes quality journalism worldwide in the belief that independent, vigorous media are crucial in improving the human condition." Resources include: Journalism Tipsheets, Journalism 101 Toolkit", and more.
- Journalism and Journalistic Writing
- "These resources provide an overview of journalistic writing with explanations of the most important and most often used elements of journalism and the Associated Press style." From Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL).
- Pew Research Center: Journalism and Media
- Includes Interactives; Datasets; and Topics. "Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions."
- Society of Professional Journalists
- Please see their "Journalist Resources" section, which includes news and various information of interest to journalists (budding to professional). Topics include Freedom of Information, Ethics, Diversity, Freelancing, and more. See also their related Journalist's Toolbox website, which includes information pages for topics in the news, links to online tools, and more.
- Tip Sheets
- "We surface scholarship relevant to media practitioners, bloggers, educators, students and general readers.... Our searchable database contains top academic and governmental research that we have selected and synthesized. We strive to translate complex statistics into clear data points and reformulate the terminology of academic specialists into more accessible language, without sacrificing rigor or nuance. While we can’t provide access to the full text of every study, we try to provide at least a point of entry and highlight key points — and we encourage media members to contact the authors of the research directly...All content is free and open to the public for republishing under a Creative Commons license. To cite studies, we encourage you to cite the publishing institution. All other material such as reference articles and syllabi should be credited to Journalist’s Resource and the author." Three primary sections of the site are studies, tip sheets and syllabi. From Harvard Kennedy School, Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy.
- Tools for Better Accountability Journalism
- "Creating charts, videos and interactives to enhance fact-checking and accountability reporting doesn't need to involve a huge staff and expensive equipment. Here are some free or inexpensive tools and software that can help you create fact- and data-dominated presentations." From American Press Institute (API).
- Top 10 (Mostly Free) Digital Tools for Journalists
- "[W]e've listed a few of our top journalistic tools that consistently make our working lives easier, more productive, as well as helping us craft more engaging and compelling content. All for little or no cost." From WNIP.com.
Writer's Magazines Online
- Poets and Writers
- "Poets & Writers, Inc., is the primary source of information, support, and guidance for creative writers. Founded in 1970, it is the nation's largest nonprofit literary organization serving poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers." Includes articles, news, grants and awards, conferences and residencies, classifieds, a blog, and more.
- The Writer
- "Each month The Writer is full of features you can use to improve your writing, including before-and-after examples of improved writing, more literary markets than ever before, practical solutions for writing problems, selected literary magazine profiles, tips from famous authors and hands-on advice" Includes: news, select articles, news, contests, conferences, markets for writers, links to writing groups and writing resources, and more.
- Writer's Digest
- Select articles, news, competitions, conferences, events, community forum, blog, free newsletter, and more.
- Written By
- "The Magazine of the Writers Guild of America, West." Includes select articles about writers and writing from current and past issues.
Writers' & Poetry Markets - Calls for Manuscript Submissions
- Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP): Directory of Publishers
- An alphabetical directory of literary journals, magazines, and other publications. Click a publication's title to visit its website and to determine manuscript submission guidelines.
- NewPages.com
- "News, information and guides to independent bookstores, independent publishers, literary magazines, alternative periodicals, independent record labels, alternative newsweeklies and more." Also includes Literary Magazine Reviews and Writers Resources (blogs, calls for submissions, contests), and more.
- Poets & Writers: Calls for Manuscripts
- Call for manuscripts (anthologies of poems, books, chapbooks, literary/poetry contests, etc..
- Poets & Writers: Literary Magazines Database
- "Connect your poems, stories, essays, and reviews to the right audiences by researching over eight hundred literary magazines in our database. Here, you'll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information - everything you need to direct your work to the publications most amenable to your vision." From Poets & Writers.
- WritersWeekly: Writer's Markets
- Calls for manuscript submissions from various publishers. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, short stories, novels, and more. Includes information of interest to freelance writers.
Writing Awards
- Children's & Teen Choice Book Awards Finalists and Winners
- "The Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards is the only national book awards program where the winners are selected by kids and teens of all ages." From the Children's Book Council.
- Horror Writers of America - Bram Stoker Awards
- Golden Kite Award
- "Instituted in 1973, the Golden Kite Awards are the only children’s literary award judged by a jury of peers. More than 1,000 books are entered each year. The Golden Kite Awards recognize excellence in children’s literatures in five categories: Young Reader and Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Nonfiction, Picture Book Text, and Picture Book Illustration." Scroll to the bottom of the page for a list of past winners and honorees. From the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
- The Hugo Awards
- Links to the Hugo Award winners and finalists from 1939 to the present. From the World Science Fiction Society.
- International Thriller Writers - The Thiller Awards
- Mystery Writers of America - The Edgars
- Romance Writers of America - RITA Awards
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America - Nebula Awards
- See also Past Nebula Awards.
- Science Fiction Awards Database: Awards Directory
- Sid Fleischman Award Winners
- Given by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators to "honor humorous work, so often overlooked in children’s literature by other award committees."
- Western Writers of America - The Saddleman Award and The Owen Wister Award
- Writers Guild Awards
Writers' Organizations
- Academy of American Poets
- "The Academy is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry."
- American Medical Writers Association (AMWA)
- Founded 1940. "The association's mission is to promote excellence in medical communication. Through an extensive educational program, various publications, and unparalleled opportunities for networking, AMWA encourages and enables medical communicators to extend their professional expertise."
- American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)
- Founded 1948. "ASJA is the only professional association focused on independent nonfiction writers."
- Association of Authors' Representatives
- Founded 1991 ("through the merger of the Society of Authors' Representatives, founded in 1928, and the Independent Literary Agents Association, founded in 1977"). "The Association of Authors' Representatives is a not-for-profit membership organization. We are active in all areas of the publishing, theater, motion picture and television industries and related fields."
- Author's Guild
- Founded 1912. "The Authors Guild has been the nation's leading advocate for writers' interests in effective copyright protection, fair contracts and free expression since it was founded as the Authors League of America in 1912. It provides legal assistance and a broad range of web services to its members."
- The Children's Book Council (CBC)
- Founded 1944-1945 (from Association of Children's Book Editors). "The Children's Book Council is the national nonprofit trade association for children's trade book publishers."
- Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)
- Founded 1970. "This Association (Editorial Freelancers Association, Inc.), hereinafter referred to as EFA, has been formed to provide the means of developing and implementing programs of benefit to professional editorial freelancers and the publishing industry, and to support and advance the interests of both."
- The Education Writers Association (EWA)
- Founded 1947. "The Education Writers Association is dedicated to improving the quality and quantity of education coverage to create a better-informed society."
- Horror Writers Association (HWA)
- Founded 1986-1987. "The HWA exists to promote and protect the careers of professional horror writers and those seeking to enter their ranks, while at the same time using its best endeavors to raise the profile of the horror genre in the publishing industry and among readers in general."
- International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA)
- Founded 1981. "A global network of journalists who cover the hospitality and lifestyle fields, and the people who promote them."
- The International Science Writers Association (ISWA)
- Founded 1967. "The International Science Writers Association (ISWA), an organization of individual membership, was formed in 1967 in response to the increasingly international scope of science popularization and technical communications."
- International Thriller Writers (ITW)
- Founded 2004. "The International Thriller Writers is an honorary society of authors, both fiction and nonfiction, who write books broadly classified as 'thrillers.' ITW's mission is 'To bestow recognition and promote the thriller genre at an innovative and superior level for and through our Active members; to provide opportunities for mentoring, education and collegiality among thriller authors and industry professionals; and to grant awards for excellence in the thriller genre.'"
- International Women's Writing Guild (IWWG)
- "The IWWG, founded in 1976, is a network for the personal and professional empowerment of women through writing and open to all regardless of portfolio."
- Mystery Writers of America (MWA)
- Founded 1945. "MWA is the premier organization for mystery and crime writers, professionals allied to the crime writing field, aspiring crime writers, and folks who just love to read crime fiction." Each Spring, Mystery Writers of America present the Edgar? Awards, widely acknowledged to be the most prestigious awards in the genre." The Edgars.com is a database of all nominees and winners.
- National Writers Union (NWU)
- Founded 1981. "The National Writers Union UAW Local 1981 is the only labor union that represents freelance writers."
- Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA)
- Founded 1927. "The mission of Outdoor Writers Association of America is to improve the professional skills of our members, set the highest ethical and communications standards, encourage public enjoyment and conservation of natural resources, and be mentors for the next generation of professional outdoor communicators."
- PEN American Center
- Founded 1921. "PEN American Center is the U.S. branch of the world's oldest international literary and human rights organization. International PEN was founded in 1921 in direct response to the ethnic and national divisions that contributed to the First World War. PEN American Center was founded in 1922 and is the largest of the 144 PEN centers in 101 countries that together compose International PEN."
- Romance Writers of America
- "Romance Writers of America (RWA) was chartered in 1981 to serve as a nonprofit trade association for romance writers. The mission of Romance Writers of America is to advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy.
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
- Founded 1965. "SFWA is a professional organization for authors of science fiction, fantasy and related genres."
- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
- "Founded in 1971 by a group of Los Angeles-based children's writers, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is a non-profit , 501 (c)3 organization which is one of the largest existing organizations for writers and illustrators."
- Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
- Founded 1909. "The Society of Professional Journalists is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty. To ensure that the concept of self-government outlined by the U.S. Constitution remains a reality into future centuries, the American people must be well informed in order to make decisions regarding their lives, and their local and national communities. It is the role of journalists to provide this information in an accurate, comprehensive, timely and understandable manner."
- Western Writers of America - The Saddleman Award (1961-1990) and The Owen Wister Award (1991 to Present)
- The Owen Wister Award is now given for "outstanding contributions to the American West." It was originally called the Saddleman and was given to the best western writer. The Saddleman honorees can be found by scrolling down the page.
- Writing Resources
- "Provides learners with a vast amount of self-paced learning material to help develop different areas of academic writing." Topics include Academic Writing, Research Writing, Critical Reading & Writing, Grammar, Punctuation, Writing Exercises and ESL/ELL Resources. From SUNY Empire State College.
