Quite a few author websites post writing tips, how-to-write articles by the author. My website doesn’t and the reason is because I do not feel qualified to advise others on a process that I find mysterious and even mind-boggling at times. Nor do I believe that selling a book automatically gives a person teaching skills. But I know that many readers also dream of writing, so I hope the following links will encourage such readers in the pursuit of their own writing goals.
Everything can be found here – from assistance in finding the right agent for your work to wonderful articles and advice on a myriad of other writing-associated topics.
I hope this information helps and inspires you.
Because so many people ask “How did you get your agent?” … The answer is that I did so the same way most published authors found an agent:
1) Joining an appropriate writing organization (this is where you learn which agents represent what you write)
2) Querying appropriate agents in the hope that one will appreciate your submission. (query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters)
3) Attending industry conferences where it is possible to secure an agent appointment and pitch your project.
That’s it. There isn’t a magic formula for getting an agent. The above three steps are how it is done.
Please note that deadlines make it impossible for me to respond personally to how-to-write and/or how-to-get-an-agent queries. For legal reasons, I also do not read unpublished material.
The Info Links:
The website of RWA (Romance Writers of America). This is one of the writing organizations I belong to (the only such organization open to unpublished writers) If you click on “Resource Links” which you’ll see on the homepage, it will take you to a number of great articles on writing.
Another tip is to explore the “Author Links” and “Member Links” because many authors and also not-yet-published RWA members have great writing tips and articles and other links on their personal websites.
Here is the URL:
This is a similar organization but this one is specifically for writers of science fiction. They, too, should have excellent resource information for you to explore if this genre interests you:
One of the best resources around:
This one has a bit of everything.
http://www.eclectics.com/writing/writing.html
This is an author website — her articles / advice are pretty basic, but may be of great interest as a starting point for the new writer.
http://www.lizfielding.com/tips.html
This one has a plethora of interesting resource links:
http://www.passionatepen.com/links.htm
Agent links:
The BIG agent ‘union’ here and filled with agent listings and great info:
All around agent info:
More general agent info:
http://www.booktalk.com/agents1.asp
Agent listings and general info (includes some UK agents):
http://www.invirtuo.cc/prededitors/pealj.htm
General but good advice:
http://www.writing.org/html/a_agents.htm
Just remember, the best writing advice is to just sit down and do it.
Writers write.
No book ever landed on a bookshop bookshelf that was not first written to completion, polished and polished some more, and then sent out until it landed on the right agent’s or editor’s desk.
Develop a very thick skin. (this is a highly competitive and tough industry)
And if this is your dream ~ do not give up. We’ll never know how many wonderful books we will never be able to read because someone somewhere gave up too soon.
Good luck to you!
All my best wishes