We've done your homework for you: here are some of the best, most useful websites out there for writers. When it comes to helping writers find a literary agent, chatting with other like-minded authors, or researching industry leads and alternative publishing paths, these are some of the first-class writing and publishing websites.
AGENT HUNTING
The Association of Authors’ Representatives
The AAR was formed in 1991 through the merger of the Society of Authors' Representatives (founded in 1928) and the Independent Literary Agents Association (founded in 1977). To qualify for membership in the AAR, an agent must meet professional standards specified in AAR's bylaws and agree to subscribe to its Canon of Ethics. However, AAR cannot regulate the commissions, fees, services, or other competitive business practices of its members.
Their website and searchable agent member database has recently been updated. Based on our current intelligence, it seems like AAR has stepped up to the plate and made an effort to keep their database regularly maintained and accurate. And although we consider every agent in our AQ database legitimate, not every agent in our AQ database is a member of AAR. In our opinion, AAR membership is not a black & white litmus test for good versus bad. It simply offers one source for verifying potential credibility.
Preditors and Editors
P & E’s website keeps an ongoing list of literary agents, reputable and non-reputable, for all writers to browse and compare notes. And although this website doesn’t maintain current addresses of agents or always list the most accurate information regarding which agent is affiliated with which agency (literary agents are peripatetic; they change agencies, start their own agencies, then close shop and move to bigger agencies more times in a year than J-Lo gets married), it does serve as a great source for ferreting out the scammers.
Bottom line: if you’re interested in an agent who you don’t find in our AQ database, we recommend that you cross-reference the agent’s name with Preditors and Editors’ list. If you find the agent’s name on P & E with a “Not Recommended” rating, then you’ll immediately know why she’s not in our AQ database. Read our Beware of Scammers page, and stay away from Ms. Questionable Agent—far, far away.
Publishers Marketplace
Publishers Marketplace is one of the most trusted industry-insider resources and offers a wealth of information for a month-to-month subscription fee of $20. This subscription includes search privileges to view their "recent sales" agent database. PM also offers Publishers Lunch, a free daily e-zine that recaps the book sales made to the major & indie publishers. For example, Publishers Lunch tells you that Mr. Agents sold the book Lovely Secrets by Sho-shana Friedricks, about a twenty-something girl with leukemia who refuses to tell her fiancé she’s dying, to Ms. Editor at Simon & Schuster. Keep in mind, however, that Publishers Lunch only reports the news that agents and editors feed them, and not every agent on the planet feels compelled to report their sales to Publishers Lunch. And by the way, our AQ database only lists a "snapshot" of an agent's sales history, especially highlighting the titles that can be reviewed on Amazon. We let Publishers Marketplace take care of databasing all the agents' deals for us.
Writer Beware
Similar to Predators & Editors, Writer Beware’s goal is to provide writers with current information about known scammers in the literary agent world. They often put out an A.P.B regarding specific names and organizations to avoid at all cost. They also thoroughly outline how to tell a reputable literary agent from a questionable one, and maintain a blog to educate writers about the detrimental scamming practices of fee-charging “rogue” agents who prey on the vulnerable, desperate sensibilities of wannabe authors. You can also email Writer Beware to ask specifically about an agent or publisher, and they'll check the agent or publisher against their extensive database. If Writer Beware shouts, "Stay away!" we recommend that you sprint in the other direction of that questionable agent or publisher.
GENERAL WRITING & PUBLISHING RESOURCES
Poets & Writers Magazine
Poets & Writers offers informative articles, publishing news, special features, and important deadlines for literary contests, conferences, residencies, awards, and grants. It’s the best online and in-print guidance magazine for aspiring writers—and they’re not paying us to say that. A subscription to this magazine will keep you informed and in-the-loop, and we also recommend checking out their Tools for Writers. It’s a treasure trove of links and mini-databases related to writing contests, indie presses, grants, residencies, writing organizations, literary agents, and more.
Writer's Digest
Writer's Digest offers both a website and monthly print magazine that provides topical "digestible" information of interest to mainstream writers. Their articles are generally geared towards the beginning to intermediate level writer, and often focus on the mechanics of good writing and selling one's self as a writer. If you're new to all of this, reading Writer's Digest is a great way to slowly immerse yourself into the world of publishing and its complex facets. If you're looking for an agent, we purusing their blog, Guide to Literary Agents. Writer's Digest also sponsors their annual 101 Best Web Sites for Writers. And you know it, baby, AQ made the 2010 short list. Sixth year in a row!
Writing World
This site offers solid nuts-and-bots advice to all writers of all genres. Fresh articles and columns are posted weekly, and there's simply a mind-boggling amount of how-to advice for the beginning writer, including A Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Writing Career and How to Write a Successful Query Letter as well as How to Find Markets for your writing, and Aspects of the Writing Life (like rejection and writer's block). And that's just for the newbies. And perhaps most helpful to emerging writers is their Rights & Contracts page, packed with information regarding publishing rights, copyrights, contracts & payment issues, piracy, plagiarism and scams.
GENERAL WRITING & PUBLISHING COMMUNITIES
Absolute Write
AbsoluteWrite has a huge, loyal fan base that is dominated by newbie writers and established authors who critique, gossip, and educate each other about the realities and pitfalls of the publishing industry. Their Beware and Background Check forum is moderated by several watchdogs who tirelessly work to educate newbie writers who fall prey to the most common of the agency and publishing scams. If you can get past the newbie scam paranoia that is prevalent on this board, you'll glean some valuable tips and writing opportunities from the more regular posters.
Forward Motion for Writers
Founded by novelist Holly Lisle, Forward Motion is community of often insanely dedicated writers who challenge each other to write better, to reach higher, to never give up on our dreams. One of this community's motto is: Write here--write now. They also offer free e-books and bi-monthly e-zine. Most of the good stuff is in the protected forums, so you'll have to login to gain access.
WritingForums.com
An established writing forum with a nice clean layout, some interesting posting topics, and several hundred members. Their Writer's Resource group is most useful to aspiring writers while their Research group is a good source of reading entertainment.
GENRE SPECIFIC RESOURCES & COMMUNITIES
All Romance Writers.com
All Romance Writers is a web site where readers and writers of romance can come together to discuss books, authors, and book characters and plots.
ChickLitWriters.com
The Chick Lit Writers group is a place where chick lit writers can mingle with other authors who understand you, your voice, and this unique sub-genre that doesn’t play by the traditional romance rules. Network and share leads with a global, online community of writers who share the same interest--writing and publishing chick lit.
Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind
A website run by esteemed blogger Sarah Weinman that used to focus mainly on publishing news related to the crime genre, but now, encompasses a kick-ass-insider-bird's-eye-view of the convoluted behemoth known as, "The Publishing Industry."
Historical Novel Society
The Historical Novel Society was founded in 1997 to promote all aspects of historical fiction. They offer membership, news of forthcoming releases, the quarterly Historical Novels Review Magazine and semi-annual Solander Magazine, and a community of authors, readers, agents and publishers.
Locus Online
Locus Online and Locus Magazine offers a consolidated resource for science fiction, fantasy and horror writers, including news, reviews, interviews with established authors and links to sf/f/h web and e-zines, message boards and forums, blogs, and contests.
Romance Divas
A super-cool supportive site with a current membership of several hundred romance writers. The discussions are always informative, fun, and insightful. There's a loyal team of "diva" forum moderators with names like "Foxy Diva Gina" and "sassystyle" and the site's founders Dive Jax (Diva Web Goddess) and Diva Kristen (Admin Diva Goddess) display their baby pictures as identification. It's hard not to be charmed (if not a bit seduced) by this site, even if you don't write romance.
Writerspace
Writerspace is the home for over 550 authors, primarily romance and mystery, of the best fiction on the market today. Writerspace communities are familiar places for readers to gather, talk to each other, learn about releases and communicate with authors. They offer links to established author's individual websites as well as bulletin boards designed to hook writers up with their favorite contemporary commercial authors. It's a great site for aspiring romance and mystery writers to communicate with each other as well as learn from the pros.
CHILDREN'S AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR RESOURCES & COMMUNITIES
Anastasia Suen, Children's Book Author, Consultant, Teacher
Ms. Suen, an author herself of over 100 books—board books, picture books, easy readers, and chapter books (including a book for adults about how to write children's books)—offers her expert knowledge through her website and her three informative blogs: Create/Relate, IPBNews, and Picture Book of the Day. If you want to write children's picture books, her website is a groundzero learning launchpad.
Book Divas
Book Divas is an online book club for YA and college readers. Its membership includes some hip, savvy, young posters who know how to use the internet to stay connected, research agents and the book industry, and level the playing field in the grown-up world of publishing.
The CBI ClubHouse
This is a comprehensive children's book website founded by publishing-insiders who dispense the low-down on the how-to's of children's book publishing.
The Children's Book Council
The Children's Book Council, Inc. is the nonprofit trade association of publishers and packagers of trade books and related materials for children and young adults. Although it only offers membership to publishers and not individuals, it does offer an extensive online list of published children's authors and illustrators.
Jackflap.com
JacketFlap has become the world's largest and most comprehensive resource for information on the children's book industry. Writers, illustrators, librarians, agents, editors, publicists, and publishers visit JacketFlap every day.
The Purple Crayon
A website run by children's book editor, Harold Underdown, and dedicated to children's writing, illustrating and book publishing.
Verla Kay's Website for Children's Writers & Illustrators
Verla Kay, a published children's book author, provides a helpful, supportive website for aspiring children's book writers and illustrators. Her site offers useful links galore and her forum is populated by curious writers who are research addicts when it comes to sniffing out the newest publishing leads. Verla Kay's site also offers live chats once a week, allowing writers and illustrators the opportunity to meet virtually and network about the biz.
INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES
Australian Writer's Marketplace
The Australian Writer’s Marketplace is the premier resource for Australian and New Zealand writers. Published authors call it their “industry bible”. Furthermore, Australian or New zealand writers searching for a literary agent might want to try closer to home via the Australian Literary Agents' Association.
Author Network
This is a great website for writers interested in exploring agents, competitions, festivals, and other literary opportunities in England and Europe. They have a healthy list of links to UK small presses and university presses, UK literary agents, and UK professional organizations and associations. They also offer monthly writing columns, interviews with established authors, and even individualized websites for writers seeking to promote their current article or book.
Critique Circle
If nothing else, it's nifty that this site is an import from Iceland. Register as a free CC member and you've suddenly got a whole network of new literary friends, waiting to critique your query or manuscript in their forums and story queues. For a premium membership of $24 a year, you can create your own private message forums and critique queues. You also gain full access to their ToolChest, offering snazzy web tools like "Submission Tracker," helping you track all your submissions to magazines, agents, and publishers, and "Name Generator," creating random English names from the U.S. Census Bureau data. Cool, huh? They even have a "Paragraph-a-Day" tool—for all you master procrastinators.
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