Resources and Advice for Writers

This is a collection of links to some of the sites I’ve found most useful in my writing over the years. You’ll find helpful articles, advice and inspiration to help you write and publish your work. I’ve also included some links to essential advice for anyone thinking of entering writing competitions, plus some competition listing sites… Bookmark this page! Craft Articles & Advice The Creative Penn – Resources to help you write, publish and market your book Make A Living Writing – Tons of advice and useful info for freelance writers Novel Writing Help – Comprehensive site that covers how to write a novel Scribophile Writing Academy – Excellent articles on all aspects of writing The Worried Writer – Support, advice, and resources. Great podcast. Writers & Artists – Tons of advice from the publishers of the Yearbook for writers Writer’s Digest – Resources, advice, blogs, writing prompts, and more Writing Forward – Creative writing tips and ideas Writers Online – Resources, advice, and community from Writing Magazine UK Write to Done – Loads of articles, tips and motivation for writers Competition Advice: Articles 4 Tips for Building Your Screenwriting Competition Submission Strategy – great advice and genuinely useful strategy by KT Parker on Bang 2 Write 7 Things To Do Before You Submit Your Screenplay – excellent advice from Screencraft. Applies equally to novels. Online Writing Contests: Three Questions to Ask Yourself – great advice from Adventures in YA Publishing Scam Busting – links to articles on dodgy competitions from Winning Writers Writer Beware: Contests & Awards – essential advice from the SFWA including links to more advice on dodgy contests Writing Contests: Facts & Fakes – and how to tell the difference. By Victoria Stauss Great Writing Blogs Nathan Bransford – Great blog for writers covering all the essentials Fiction Notes – Writing advice and blog from author Darcy Pattison Helping Writers Become Authors – Great blog and writing advice from author KM Weiland Hugh Howey – Great blog plus advice from the bestselling writer who started out self-publishing Jane Friedman – Advice and resources for writers Kristen Lamb’s Blog – Blog on writing and social media with tons of advice Let’s Get Digital – Blog on self-publishing from writer David Gaughran Live Write Thrive – Great blog and inspiration for writers from author CS Lakin Lorelle on WordPress – Tips and handy technical hints for WordPress users A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing – Blog on self-publishing from author Joe Konrath Scribophile Blog – Blog from the Writing Academy – loads of tips and advice Terribleminds – Great blog from writer Chuck Wendig Useful Writing Tools Cliché Finder – Input your text and it reveals the clichés Language is a Virus – cure writer’s block with prompts, exercises and games Word Counter – Find words you use too many times using this handy counter Write or Die – Productivity tool that helps you write. Set to kamikaze and watch it delete words if you stop writing Useful Writer’s Services ALLi  – The Alliance of Independent Authors: association for authors who self-publish. Visit the ALLi blog for advice on how to self-publish and sell your book The Book Designer – Practical advice to help self-publishers build better books Canva – Free graphic design software to create book covers and more Freelance Fees Guide – essential guidance and advice on contracts from London Freelance, the National Union of Journalists. Reedsy – find professional editors, book designers, and marketers to help publish your book What Every Writer Needs to Know – advice on contracts and rights from the Writers Guild of America Writer Beware – Exposing fraud and dodgy dealings in the publishing industry. Visit the Writer Beware blog for more advice and warnings Writers Guild Resources – WGGB guidelines booklets, codes of practice and useful links Competition Listings Book & Novel Writing Competitions – list compiled by Christopher Fielden Creative Writing Ink – links to lots of writing competitions Gotham Writers – contests from the Gotham Writers Workshop InkTip – search for screenwriting competitions in the InkTip Directory ISA Contests – search for current screenplay contests worldwide from the International Screenwriters Association NAWE Young Writers’ Hub – competitions and submissions from the National Association of Writers in Education Poets & Writers – search for contests, grants and awards from this trusted resource Publishers Archive – young adult book awards and writing competitions Writers & Artists – various competitions from the publisher of the W&A Yearbook The Writer’s Guide – comprehensive list of writing competitions More On This Site Mind Training for Writers – learn how to control your thoughts Novel Writing Competition List Screenwriting Competition List A Writer’s Guide to the Creative Process How to Be Creative in a Mad World How to Write – covering dialogue, description, POV, and more! Books for Writers More Writer’s Resources Writing Prompts to get you writing Browse Writing Archive Have I missed any good ones? Add your recommendations in the comments below…