Resources

The following list includes resources for writers such as writing forums, free newsletters etc

Articles

• Writing-World has a consistent selection of new articles about writing, many vocational in their approach.

Author blogs A great way to find out what it takes to be a full time writer. Following is a selection of blogs we recommend:

• Eglantine's Cake
• Neil Gaiman
• Justine Larbalestier
• Scott Westerfeld
• Lili Wilkinson
• Meg Cabot

Blogs about writing

• Write to done

Character Names

• A searchable database of baby names and their meanings.
• A searchable dictionary of last names and their meanings.

Creativity

• JPB.com offers some great resources and reading material for increasing your creativity!
• CPS Techniques has a number of interesting exercises for the creative mind.

Crime Writing Resources

• A resource dedicated to 'The art and science of crime writing'
• Crime Writers Association of Australia
• A comprehensive crime writing magazine
• An article related to police body language. Great for character development.

Dictionary.com and Dictionary.hm - free online English dictionaries and reference guides.

Dictionary - Metaglossary - A dictionary that provides you with a 'whole web' search, providing answers from a multitude of sources.

Forums

• Critique Circle is a wonderful site for workshopping your material. It has a very active forum dedicated to writing craft.

Freelance Writing Organization A Free writing resource links database.

Grammar

• Daily Grammar! is great little resource for grammar tips if you need to brush up.
• Grammar Bytes I like this one, grammar with attitude! Also a very comprehensive reference.

Historical Fiction

• Reviews and resources.

How Stuff Works and Brain Pop are two good sites for finding out ... well ... how stuff works!

Librarian Chick - a great reference for all subjects.

Myster writer resources

• Research Tips

Publishing

• Stone Stoup - a magazine dedicated to publishing young adult writing
• Writersmarket.co.uk aims to help writers to find markets for their work by offering a constantly updated comprehensive online database of publishers, magazines, broadcast media and agents. Plus it has a growing collection of in-depth articles by industry professionals on all aspects of the writing
  and publishing process. No Catch, No Fee.

Search resources - A great list of searchable - middle years friendly - search engines.

The Digital Narrative - a new resource dedicated to writing narrative using digital media.

Wikipedia a free online encyclopaedia.

Writing Software (This is the software I personally use and have found useful. I DON'T recieve ANY commissions for recommending these products.)

• Avenir is a wonderful application for developing a large writing project. Part word processor, part file management. I strong recommend it, Avenir even has a cliche finder!
• NovaMind is perhaps the best Mind Mapping software available. I use and strongly recommend this application.

 

 

Find out how to search Google effectively!

Find a writing exercise to warm up first before you begin to write your story.