Writers Groups/Web sites
Your own Web site: You can create a free Web site to showcase your work by following the advice of my friend Mary: "you can just search on "google page creator" and it will bring it up for you... just click on it... you have to create a login... once you do that, and it does whatever it does, it gives assigns you an e-mail
(which I ignore) and allows you to create up to 4 webpages under the acronym "pagename.googlepage.com" The first page name is named after the login ID you set up (to match your password name), but once logged into the page creator, you can assign up to 4 main pages...
Writer's groups and networking:
Searches:
http://www.dogpile.com/
search news: www.worldpress.com
Search and receive alerts www.google.com/alerts
Blogs:
www.blogger.com
www.blog.com
www.livejournal.com
Social Network sites:
www.facebook.com
www.MySpace.com
www.LinkedIn.com
www.Wink.com searches the above.
www.PeekYou.com is similar to Wink
Search the deep Web:
www.Pipl.com
People search sites:
www.zabasearch.com
www.Infospace.com
Local Writing Groups:
Check you local library and bookstore. They often host writer's groups. Try googling for writer's groups in your area. If there are no writers' groups in your area, start one. I have learned more from other writers than anything else. Visit your local library and bookstore. You will want to see their latest version of the Writers Market--a fat book that tells you how to write a query letter as well as listing publishers and agents.Your library may not store it on their regular bookshelf--ask the reference desk. There are also plenty of other books on how to write and promote your work to the appropriate publisher. The real problem, however, is that major publishers rarely look at unsolicited book manuscripts anymore. You must go through an agent. There are also books on how to secure the right kind of agent for your work (see the Literary Market Place at your library). The internet is also full of free advice on how to secure a publisher, find a writers’group, enter writing contests, etc. Learn how to use your search engine--just type in the kind of publishers (like Christian or picture book publishers) you are looking for, and you'll find their Web sites.
Good Information:
www.writersdigest.com
Syracuse University Press gives great advice on how to ready a manuscript before sending it off to a publisher:
http://sumweb.syr.edu/su_press/manSG.htm
Gregg Wilhem, once an editor of mine, gave me a concise definition of an effective query leter:
"A one page proposal -- what's the book about, who is the audience, and who are you (expertise, writing credits, knowledge of the situation, networks or associations).
A good article about how to get your query letter noticed:
http://www.underdown.org/slush.htm
Literary agents
http://www.querytracker.net (it helps you search for an agent then keep track of what you sent them)
http://agentquery.com (has great links like listing large and small publishers)
For a list of agents, check out: http://www.aar-online.org/
Sally Stuart's annual publication, The Christian Writers’ Market Guide (Harold Shaw) provides a list of literary agents who work with Christian publishers.
Publishers:
Children's Publishers: http://www.cbcbooks.org/about/cbc_members_printable.html
Local history or genealogy, then check out: http://www.heritagebooks.com/publishing.htm
If you write books relating to disabilities, then consider the publishers on this website:
http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/bibliog/bib5txt.htm#publishers
http://www.disabilityculture.org/course/books.htm.
http://www.rnceus.com/fam3/sidebar.htm
An excellant resource for writers and published authors:
http://www.writing-world.com/links/promotion.shtml
http://writingcorner.com/resources/magazines.htm
If you write non-fiction, you will have an easier time securing a publisher—especially if it’s a how-to book or a local history book. If you still can’t get a publisher, then self-publish. There are also books on how to do that (like Dan Poynter's THE SELF-PUBLISHING MANUAL, or Tom & Marilyn Ross's THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING). If you are successful in marketing your self-published book, a traditional publisher may become interested in you—because you already have an audience, a fan base.
Another way to go is to seek out special interest groups with funds for publishing. They are always looking for work that promotes their cause.
Writer's Magazines and E-Zines
For the top 101 websites for writers, visit:
http://www.writersdigest.com/101sites/categorysearch.asp?year_101=2004
Self-publishers:
www.lulu.com
http://www.PublishYourOwnEbooks.com
BookSurge, part of the Amazon group of companies Acquired by Amazon.com in April 2005, BookSurge is a brand of On-Demand Publishing LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc. Learn more. ... www.booksurge.com
Information for writers
If you sell your book to customers within your own state, you must collect and pay sales tax. If you live in New York, to register to collect sales tax visit: http://www.tax.state.ny.us/nyshome/stidx.htm Another site to visit when starting up a business in New York is: www.nys-OPAL.com
To sell your books with www.amazon.com, visit: http://www.amazon.com/advantage
Your books must be registered with Books In Print® to be considered for store placement with Barnes & Noble. Please click here Barnes & Noble Acceptance Criteria.
Use the BowkerLink Publisher Access System
BowkerLink is a FREE online access system that provides you with an automated tool to add titles to Books In Print® as well as update any records that are already listed. Please use BowkerLink to submit forthcoming title information to Books In Print® 180 days before publication and inform us of updates as soon as they occur. Listings are free.
1. GO TO: www.bowkerlink.com. Click on "FOR Books In Print and Publishers Authority Database".
Printers:
I have been told the following printer is good for those who choose to publish their work themselves:
http://www.tristatelitho.com/
http://www.booksbybookends.com/
Press Release Tips
http://www.publicityhound.com/
http://www.publicityinsider.com/release.asp
http://www.publicityhound.com/Ebook--TheBestof2007TipsofWeek.pdf
If you have any websites that you feel will help other writers, please email them to me at saundersbooks@aol.com
