There are some great resources for writers. The following websites and associations are my favorites:
www.scbwi.com - Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. An absolute must for any children’s author.
www.womenwhowrite.org – Women Who Write, a great association for New Jersey based writers.
www.absolutewrite.com – Lots of helpful information on writing, agents, editors, etc.
www.underdown.org - Information about Writing, Illustrating, and Publishing Children’s Books: The Purple Crayon
www.writingclasses.com – Gotham Writer’s Workshop. They hold classes both in NYC and ONLINE. This is key – you don’t need to be here to take advantage of what they have to offer.
www.mediabistro.com – Media Bistro is an online resource for media professionals. They offer writing courses for all types of mediums across the country and online. What’s great about their offerings is that it includes items other than “just” writing. For example, they include writing a proposal, starting a website, blogging, editing, getting over writer’s block, etc. As you know, writing the book is not the only step to getting published. These other offerings can fill in.
http://murphywriting.com. Peter Murphy holds a series of writing seminars and retreats here in the New Jersey area and “across the pond”. I am told by several writers who attended one of his retreats, he changed their lives.
The following are some great books on writing:
- On Writing, A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
- Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition (a must have)
- How To Write & Sell Your First Novel by Oscar Collier with Frances Spatz Leighton
- The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler
