Down the Tubes Links: Writer Resources




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Jump to Specific Topics:
• Copyright • Crime Writing • Names • Dialogue

Jump to Country by Country-specific resources:
• Australia • Canada • Europe • Japan • United Kingdom • United States

See also:
• Down the Tubes Comic Writing Guide
• Comics Resources (Artists, writers, publishers and more)

GENERAL RESOURCES
• Absolute Write
Link: www.absolutewrite.com
If you're interested in freelance writing, screenwriting, playwriting, writing novels, nonfiction, comic book writing, greeting cards, poetry, songwriting, or-- well, you get the idea-- this could be the right place. Site includes an interview with comics writer Don McGregor
In June 2006, Dave Langford reported via Ansible that this site, a popular forum for swapping information on writing, publishing and associated scams, was taken down by its ISP (JC-Hosting) at one hour's notice on the night of 23 May. The alleged cause was a complaint from Barbara Bauer, who features in the SFWA/Writer Beware list of the 20 worst agents, and has a habit of threatening to sue those who mention this undeniable fact. (She has even tried to get Teresa Nielsen Hayden fired from Tor Books on this account.)
"It was an unfortunate coincidence that JC-Hosting's owner, Stephanie Cordray, very soon launched her own web forum for information on writing, etc, etc," David reports. "Why AbsoluteWrite wasn't allowed time to retrieve its message database, and why JC-Hosting kept issuing contradictory stories and bizarre excuses for not handing over gigabytes of intellectual property belonging to others (released at last in June), is still unclear."

• Advice for Evil Overlords
This hilarious item also offers some pertinent points about cliches for SF and action-adventure writers!

• AuthorBase
Search engine for writers

• The Author's Den
Probably the world's largest community of authors and readers. AuthorsDen's mission is to bring together the world's Authors and Readers making the discovery and purchase of content useful, direct and personal.

• The Chicago Manual of Style FAQ
Wondering where to break a URL at the end of line, whether the ban on splitting infinitives still stands, or how many spaces to put after a period? Fin out here. While certainly not a comprehensive guide and not organized in a particularly helpful way, The Chicago Manual of Style FAQ does answer some of the questions that commonly vex writers and editors.

• ContentWire
Online contents resources and news

• Copy Editing for Magazines
A course syllabus in magazine copy editing and other information about the profession of copy editing that will be useful to copy editors, writers, and others who work with words.

• Daily Howler
Mistakes in the media exposed to the world!

• EditLinx
Copy Editing Resources on the Internet

• EditorandPublisher.com

• Ethnologue.com
A place where you can conveniently find many resources to help you with your research of the world's languages. Ethnologue.com is owned by SIL International, a service organization that works with people who speak the world’s lesser-known languages.

• FastPDF
Converts a Word document into a PDF file. As of 20/2/02, in beta testing so service is free. There is a limit on how large the uploaded file can be and you will currently need to be using a relatively standard font.
Also, try this site which explains e-book formats and PDFs: Go
The Adobe web site offers up to five files converted into pdf for free as a trial.
Try this site for other PDF conversion options: Go

• FeatureWell
Webmaster David Wallis has a very progressive view of how content authors should be rewarded, and he's got a pretty good service going for both the authors and the editors.

• The Freelance Journalism Page
You don't have to be crazy to be a freelance journalist, but you try convincing your friends and family, let alone your shrink, according to this useful resource site... Unfortunately, many of the general resource links are dead, or were when we looked!

• The Ifra Trend Report
A weekly executive summary of global trends, strategies and innovations influencing the future of news, newsrooms and news publishing. It is an initiative of Ifra, the world's leading association for media publishing, providing expertise in publishing strategies and technologies to more than 2,200 members in 70 countries. The ITR is underwritten by Digital Technology International and Adobe Systems Inc.

• Inscriptions
Inscriptions began publishing on the Internet in e-mail and Web format in 1998. Each issue features writing and publishing-related articles, job opportunities, writing contests, paying markets, book reviews and humor. It was named one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers, and one of the Top 50 Online Markets by Writer's Digest. To subscribe, click here

• MediaChannel
The first Webportal dedicated to international media issues, and the premiere Internet source for analysis and information about the media. Driven by content from a network of more than 800 international media organizations and contributors.

• Mediocom.Net
Mediocom is a global content provider offering web content management solutions that attract new visitors to your website. Mediocom reinforces current customer loyalty through up to the minute news articles, stock photography, digital images, and industry specific current events to keep them coming back.

• Mission Possible: Get Published With Goals, Guidance and Persistence

• Only Oink
Recently revamped, Only Oink features information on Publishers, Authors, Reviewers, Illustrators, Poetry Author and includes a Writers Resource Listing which includes many different categories: copyright information, get paid, too much, newsletters, and more

• How to Choose, Use, and Lose an Agent

• How to write Public Service announcements

• PublishingIndustry.net
Global Network of Publishing-Industry

• putitinink.com
Compiled by Cindy Thomas, a freelance writer, wife and mom, and editor of several online ezines, this site is simply packed with useful articles about writing.

• The SF Hub
Link: www.sfhub.ac.uk
Launched April 2005, this is the first subject portal for science fiction scholars. Created by The University of Liverpool Library with the support of the Arts and Humanities Research Board, the SF Hub aims to facilitate research into science fiction and its related literary genres.
The SF Hub is based on the wealth of research resources in the Science Fiction Collections of The University of Liverpool's Special Collections and Archives, including the renowned Science Fiction Foundation Collection. Its advanced search tools will enable you to find the resources you need amongst the extensive collections of books, journals, fiction magazines, fanzines, journal articles and archives at Liverpool University.

• Starting Pints for Journalists
Sorry, that should be points... or should it?

• What to Pay Writers
Recommendation on word-rates for commissioning folk.

• Work for Writers Yahoo Group
A newsletter-based group with a lively discussion list and job offers.

• The Writer's Digest
Writer's Digest online features daily writing and publishing updates, tons of writer's guidelines, our ranking of the hottest places to get published, writing workshops, writing conferences, writing contests, and much more.

• Writer's Dream Tools
Larry Belling’s collection of tools to enhance writers’ and students’ creativity, spark ideas and fight writer’s block. They include Historical Events by Day and Decade, Collection of Lists, Clichés and Catch Phrases, Slang Thesaurus, Humorous Quotations, and classic Internet humor. The historical databases and web humour sections are free. Lists, Clichés, Slang and Quotes are offered on a reasonable annual subscription for individuals and corporate.

• Writers Market.com
What you would find in the Writer's Market book but tends to be more up to date.

• The Write Success
A free bi-weekly newsletter for writers who want to launch and/or maintain successful full-time freelance careers.

See also:
• Down the Tubes Comic Writing Guide
• Comics Resources (Artists, writers, publishers and more)

• Ten Myths About Copyright
This useful document outlines the various excuses people come up with for ripping your work off. With copying now as easy as touching a button, protecting your work is hard to do.

• The Berne Convention
Copyright Act covering the countires of the EEC, including Great Britain

• US Copyright Law

• All About Murder
Authors, editors, police officers, lawyers, forensic experts, nurses, doctors, publishers, scientists, and more assmeble to discuss the backbone of many a crime story.

Generally, it's not considered a good idea to throw too many "dialects" into your writing, but that doesn't mean it isn't useful to know how people speak. This section covers sites offering speech resources, and may even provide some interesting "oral history".

Collect Britain
Link: www.collectbritain.co.uk/collections/dialects
Thanks to KenRadio for this one. In England alone, an intrepid traveller may overhear hundreds of dialects and accents. What's more extraordinary is how these brogues and drawls have evolved throughout the 20th century. Thanks to the British Library's Sound Archive, you can eavesdrop on English people from across the country without packing your bags. For instance, meet Dick Gilbert. In 1958, when he was 79 years old, he spoke about his experience as a young farm hand. The Sound Archive offers the lexis, phonology, and grammar break-down of Dick's commentary. But more importantly, it allows you to marvel at his voice. With recordings ranging from the 1950s to 1999, the site offers a wealth of samples. Some are downright incomprehensible, some are thoroughly entertaining, but all are fascinating. So listen up; England is speaking to you.

• Slang City
If you're ever find yourself confused by the language you hear on the street, in movies, and in pop songs, you may enjoy the colourful examples used on this site. The site includes a "Random Insult Generator" and there's even a page which enables you to roll your mouse over a body to learn "bad" words for parts of it. Rock 'n roll is elucidated, and the authors of the site thoughtfully highlight the slang, as well as French and nonsense words, in "Lady Marmalade." Note that this site isn't for the very easily offended!

• Street and Teen Language
Amazingly, the White House features a comprehensive list of alternative names for the myriad illegal drugs available "on the street" - useful for colouring those shady gang scenes in a crime movie or comic, perhaps: www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms. The Parents Anti-Drug site (also American) features a comprehensive list of shorthand terms used by teenagers online or when using text (http://theantidrug.com/E-Monitoring/internet-lingo.asp?id=speakboy)

• Speech Accent Archive
According to several online resources, there are approximately 6,800 known languages spoken in the 191 countries of the world. This site examines the accents of non-native English speakers who represent some of those languages -- 248 so far. Each speaker reads a paragraph -- a strange little story about a woman named Stella and her trip to the store -- that contains practically all of the sounds of English. From Afrikaans to Zulu, the native speakers come from all four corners of the world, and their accents give a glimpse of different languages around the planet. Where else can you enjoy this unique opportunity to hear hundreds of accents at one time? (Found by KenRadio)

• United Kingdom English for the American Novice
Silly mid on explained. Possibly.

NAMES
• Think Baby Names
Link: www.thinkbabynames.com
This is a great "search engine"-oriented site -- you can search for the meaning to a name, and find out how popular it is. Includes baby names reference on the origin, meaning, and history of names for boys and girls, and includes statistic charts of name trends.

• 10,000 Names
Link: www.20000-names.com
If you're struggling to name a character, this site which has thousands of names organized by type and definition.

• Character Names for Specific Ages
See also the US Social Security Administration's page, "Popular Baby Names"

See also:
• Down the Tubes Comic Writing Guide
• Comics Resources (Artists, writers, publishers and more)

Australia
• The Australian Copyright Council

Canadian Organisations

• Book Promoters of Canada
BPAC was formed to raise the public and industry profile of book promotion, and to reward and encourage BPAC members and potential members through various awards. If you're a Canadian journalist looking for book review copies, try the contact information on this site.

ADVICE ON ASKING FOR REVIEW COPIES FROM PUBLISHERS
1) Before a publicist will send you a review copy most require a written (faxed) request, identifying yourself and the media outlet you work for. A phone call is not ideal, as publishers get hundreds of requests for review copies. Contact by e-mail is also OK, but usually only if you've made contact with a publicist in some other way first.
2) Always advise the publicist on which title the review is for. If you can give them a short piece of information on what the magazine is about -- especially if it's a new title they may not have heard of -- do it.
3) If you are a freelancer, you will almost certainly be asked whether you are researching a story, or already
have an piece placed on this topic.
4) Crediting the book by title, or by author, and getting the publisher right, in what you produce is always appreciated!

• The Canadian Association of Journalists

European Organisations

• European Journalism Centre
Visit this website for information on training activities, EJC publications and useful tools for journalists.

Japan
• Tokyo International Book Fair 2002
April 18-21

UK Organisations

• Directory of UK Agents

• The Economist's Style Guide
Issued to all journalists on the magazine, this is a useful general guide on writing, points out common errors and clichés, and offers guidance on consistent use of punctuation, abbreviations and capital letters. A Hard copy version is also available to buy from the site.

• The Film and Video Institute: Get it Write!
The Film and Video Institute's info on script writing for film from a UK persepctive.
Added: 4/2/02

• Online Content UK
Online Content UK is the network for editorial professionals working in the UK internet content industry. It provides an email discussion list for members to talk about issues that concern us, and our industry, from a UK perspective.
The organisation also run industry events from casual pub drinks evenings to seminar events.
The news group is extremely thought-provoking, and well worth joining.

• Journalism Training Services

• Journalism for Journalists
Online news for online journalists offering job vacancies, a find-a-freelancer database and useful links.

• NewsPhotography.co.uk
If you need a photograph of a UK politician, try this online database of nearly 1,000 pictures taken at recent party political conferences. Registered users can be instantly emailed hi-res repro-quality images. Free to register but reproduction fees are payable at point of download.

• Printers UK Directory
If you're thinking of publishing a fanzine, here's a comprehensive list of UK litho printers who embrace the Internet and online business. Printing firms are ranked below in order of user popularity. In each case their service response and quality has been anonymously checked by the site's directory team.

• The Writers Copyright Association
If you've written a screenplay, book, play, game show, treatment or other intellectual work and you plan on showing it to any third party, it is advised that you copyright protect your work. This will help prove that you wrote it, and wrote it first.
You can be protected from as little as £4 per year.

• The Writers Guild UK
The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain is the trade union representing writers in TV, radio, theatre, books, poetry, film and video games.
In TV, film, radio and theatre, the Guild is the recognised body for negotiating minimum terms and practice agreements for writers.

US Organisations and Reference

• Abbreviations and Acronyms of the U.S. Government

• The American Society of Journalists and Authors
Their annual conference is in April: Info

• Book Expo America

• Common Errors in English

• Cops and Courst Discussion List

• Finding a Good Agent

• Los Angeles Independent Media Center

• Michael Moore
Outspoken radical journalist, hated by US conservatives but always with some challenging to say even if you don't agree with him. You may remember his first film Roger & Me, released 15 years ago, in which Moore tried to track down General Motors head honcho Roger Smith who closed their plant in Flint, which resulted in the virtual death of that town.
His latest book, Stupid White Men, was almost pulped by publisher HarperCollins but is now on sale via Amazon.com.
You can e-mail him direct.

• Most frequently challenged books: An American Library Association list for 2000

• National Society of Newspaper Columnists
US organisation. New members receive a free copy of a the NSNC booklet, The NSNC Guide to Syndication.

• National Writers Union (US)

• The NYU Guide to Foreign and International Legal Databases

• Print-on-Demand Publisher Database
Chart with information on publishers' fees, royalties, rights, etc.

• Review Copy Helper
If you're a US-based journalist seeking a press copy of a book (to review or as a resource for an article you're writing) this is reckoned to be an invaluable resource.

ADVICE ON ASKING FOR REVIEW COPIES FROM PUBLISHERS
1) Before a publicist will send you a review copy most require a written (faxed) request, identifying yourself and the media outlet you work for. A phone call is not ideal, as publishers get hundreds of requests for review copies. Contact by e-mail is also OK, but usually only if you've made contact with a publicist in some other way first.
2) Always advise the publicist on which title the review is for. If you can give them a short piece of information on what the magazine is about -- especially if it's a new title they may not have heard of -- do it.
3) If you are a freelancer, you will almost certainly be asked whether you are researching a story, or already
have an piece placed on this topic.
4) Crediting the book by title, or by author, and getting the publisher right, in what you produce is always appreciated!

• Small Town Press
Tips for journalists at small community newspapers.

• Resources for Women Writers
The National Association of Women Writers Resource page

• Writing World Job Page

• The Writers Guild US
Added 4/2/02