Links
Helpful, Idiosyncratic, Ever-Increasing Connections
KATE’S SPECIAL LINKS
Bakka-Phoenix Books: Home of Canada’s oldest continuously-operated Science Fiction and Fantasy Bookstore (which just happens to be owned by Kate’s son Ben!)
Clearview Digital Marketing: The incredibly talented team that created Kate’s website
The Sunburst Awards for Canadian Speculative Fiction: Kate is the 2011 chair of the judging committee (91 entries!) Check this link for the Adult & YA shortlists (1/06/11) and winners (1/08/11).
SHINY STUFF FOR WRITERS & STORYTELLERS
StoryToolz: resources (cool tools) for writers.
Cliché Cleaner: track down clichés and repeated phrases, etc. in your own writing
Paperback Writer: index of freeware & online tools for writers
Space Jock: cool software
Dropbox: Free software & online storage for collaboration & backup
THE ART & CRAFT OF WRITING STORIES
Holly Lisle’s Novel Writing School: Courses, clinics & resources for writers. Five star rated!
Advanced Fiction Writing: Author and teacher Randy Ingermanson; also links to Snowflake Pro writers’ software
Story Mastery (formerly Screenplay Mastery): Michael Hauge’s site on writing screenplays and stories.
edittorrent: An entertaining and educational blog about writing and storytelling craft and marketing by Alicia Rasley and Theresa Stephens.
Margie Lawson: Writing, storytelling and care-of-the-writer online courses.
LSH Editorial Services: Home of Lisa Stone Hardt, intrepid editorial coach
WRITERS’ ORGANIZATIONS
Romance Writers of America: national organization’s home; find local and online chapters, info and stats about the bestselling genre (membership in National RWA is mandatory for membership in any of its chapters; accepts unpublished writers for membership)
Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter of RWA
Kiss of Death (Mystery & Suspense) RWA Chapter
Toronto Romance Writers: Kate’s home chapter
Published Authors Special Interest Chapter: all-published chapter of RWA
The Authors Guild: an advocacy association for professional writers
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
Sisters in Crime: the main organization, with links to local chapters (membership in national SinC is mandatory for membership in local chapters)
Novelists, Inc. (Ninc): The all-genre professional authors’ association
THE BUSINESS OF WRITING & PUBLISHING, INCLUDING AGENTS & PUBLISHERS
Association of Authors Representatives: Self-governing body of agents
Agent Query: searchable info on agents and agencies, some of whom are not AAR members.
Another Realm: editors and agents to watch out for:
Babbles from Scott Eagan: wit and publishing wisdom from Scott Eagan of Greyhaus Literary Agency.
Janet Reid, Agent: blog of Agent Janet Reid of Fine Print Agency. The woman is wise and brilliant and compassionate. And funny.
The Query Shark: (aka Agent Janet Reid) who vets volunteers’ query letters and EXPLAINS things!
Cindi Meyers Market News: Market News & commentary.
Buzz, Balls & Hype: M. J. Rose shares wisdom on marketing and publishing
“A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing”: J. Konrath, successful digitally-pubbed genre author.
Penguin, Putnam, Berkeley, Jove
Writers’ Net: All sorts of links to all sorts of info useful to writers.
Author Link: about writers, writing, editors, literary agents
Book Idea: web services magazine for publishers & writers
Indie Bound: supporting independent bookstores (Yay!)
GENRE FICTION
“Save the contemporary romance novel!”
Eye of the Storm: blog of paranormal author Storm Grant
SFF Net: “The Premier Site for Genre Writing”
Bella Online: A “salon” for intelligent discussions.
Det Novel: lots of good stuff about detective novels from William Marling, Ph.D. Professor of English, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
SF Novelists: An “invitation only” group of science fiction & fantasy authors who freely share their wit and wisdom
J. K. Rowling: Official Site; lots of fun and interesting stuff
Patricia C. Wrede’s Worldbuilder Questions
Mythopoets: World Building for RPG players (great resource for storytellers, too!)
Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror
Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Writers’ Co-operative
Save the Cat!: wit and wisdom about storytelling and screenplay writing from the late Blake Snyder and the cats he left behind
(RELATIVELY) MUNDANE REFERENCES FOR STORYTELLERS
The Graveyard Shift: all sorts of info about all sorts of stuff.
Crime Scene: all sorts of info and details about crime and crime-solving.
Cops ’n’ Writers: mystery writers resource to police procedures & police culture
Snopes: urban legends!
Library Thing: Catalog your books online
Etymology Online: history and usage of words
Library Spot: Libraries, newspapers, encyclopedias, maps, etc.
Historical Dictionary of American Slang
Northwestern University Writers Resources
Journalist Express: News and research portal for reporters (and other storytellers)
Rutgers University Writers Resources for Writers & Writing Instructors
University of Michigan Internet Public Library
StoryBook: Open Source Novel Writing Software
Lulu Title Scorer: create effective titles!
University of Pennsylvania Resources for Writers and Writing Instructors
Robert McKee: Story
American Library Association Booklist
My Heritage: Ancestry search and family tree software (because all those fictitious relatives can be hard to keep track of!)
TV Tropes: every storytelling gimmick that’s ever been used ever!
The Straight Dope: “Fighting Ignorance Since 1973”
ARCANE REFERENCES FOR STORYTELLERS
Yahoo! Culture, Mythology & Folklore: a useful portal
Folktexts: a library of folktales, folklore, fairy tales & mythology
Monstropedia: an encyclopedia of all things monstrous
Elfwood: science fiction & fantasy art, fan art & stories
Myths & Legends: a portal to sites about mythologies; some links may be broken.
Shee-Eire: an online guide to Irish pagan culture and mythology, especially the Sidhe.
Behind the Name: about ancient Celtic names
The Fantasy Novelist’s Exam: tongue-in-cheek checklist of everything that’s been done, and done and done some more (and why new fantasy novelists might want to avoid them)
Tour Egypt: Egyptian mythology resource
HEALTH (MENTAL & PHYSICAL) FOR WRITERS & STORYTELLERS
Med Line Plus: health info from the National Library of Medicine
Myers Briggs MBTI personality types
Similar Minds: a collection of personality tests
LAW & GOVERNMENTS
Law Guru: free legal advice, Q & A and research
NOLO: free dictionary of law terms and legal definitions
Fed Stats: “One-stop shopping for federal statistics”
U.S. Federal Government Agencies
GARDENING
Fine Gardening Magazine’s Plant Guide
National Gardening Association
Dave’s Garden: all sorts of useful gardening info
Garden Tracker: Gardening Journal, inventory & labeling software
CRITTERS
Bundas Cattery: breeder of Kate’s Baby Boomer
Charis Gold: breeder of Darwin (Charis Ursa Major)
US Government’s Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse & Burros
American Morgan Horse Association
JUST FOR FUN
Boing Boing: author Cory Doctorow and friends
Last FM: music downloads and preference tracking
Duri: the best nail growing stuff ever!