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MWA Tip Sheets | Publishers & Literary Agencies | Expert Texperts | Writing-Oriented Web Sites
Reference | Style Guides etc. | Writing for the Web | Maryland Stuff
These listings are for your information and use. This list is not exhaustive and there may be duplicates among the links below. MWA does not sponsor or endorse any of these organizations or providers.
If you know of any quality web resources that should be listed below, please contact [email protected]. If you are an MWA member and would like to add your writer service or product to the listings below, please login to the MWA member area and fill out this listing request form.
MWA Tip Sheets
Pitch Perfect Checklist (PDF)
Have a pitch coming up? Practice or not, here are some tips for before, during and after.
Industry Resource Websites
Jane Friedman
Helping authors and publishers make smarter business decisions. Jane posts about industry developments, writer resources, and offers advice on how to navigate the business of writing. She offers a number of subscription and free newsletters, as well as regular blog posts offering writing and business insights.
QueryTracker
Database for tracking queries, researching agents and publishers, and creating a more data-driven, organized and informed approach to querying.
Publisher's Marketplace
Extensive database on publishing deals, including author, editor, publisher, agent and agency.
New Pages
News, information, and guides to literary magazines, independent publishers, creative writing programs, alternative periodicals, indie bookstores, writing contests, and more.
Duotrope
Subscription-based service for writers and artists that offers an extensive, searchable database of current fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and visual art markets, a calendar of upcoming deadlines, a personal submission tracker, and statistics compiled from the millions of data points on listed publishers and agents.
The Submission Grinder:
A free submission tracker and market database for writers of fiction and poetry. The advanced search features allow you to find markets by genre, word count, story length, pay rates, whether a market charges submission fees, and more. Submission Grinder adds and updates markets regularly and welcomes suggestions from users.
Edelweiss+/
Edelweiss+, by Above the Treeline, is the book industry’s platform to sell, discover, and order new titles. Incudes publisher / imprint catalogs and digital review copies.
Manuscript Wish List
Manuscript Wish List® and #MSWL are designed to answer one crucial question in the submissions process: “What do editors and agents wish they had in their inbox?”
Writers Beware
A site sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association concerned not just with issues that affect professional authors, and with the problems and pitfalls that face aspiring writers.
Expert Texperts
Baltimore-based Eclectic PR has the keys to assisting authors with both one on one consultations as well as their book publicity campaigns. Each PR consultation will answer authors’ specific needs. Each PR campaign is tailored specifically to author’s book genre and the level of your experience. As well as campaigns, Eclectic's founder Cherrie Woods is a master PR educator via her author workshops. Contact [email protected].
Grammar Now
A free site dedicated to answering any grammar, composition, research, or formatting question you might have. Send a grammar question by filling out the form, and they will e-mail you a response. Staffed by the author of MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
Guide to Grammar and Style
Contains a miscellany of grammatical rules and explanations, comments on style, and suggestions on usage put together for classes at Rutgers University by Assistant Professor Jack Lynch.
A Guide to Writing for College by Veritas Prep
Contains resources to improve your college writing, from prewriting and revisions to preparing theses, dissertations, and research papers.
Ask An Expert Page
Links and links to web pages where anyone can ask these experts questions on a wide variety of topics such as health, computers, science, sports and more. This page is maintained by New Jersey Networking Infrastructure in Education project.
Book Indexing
Amy Hall
[email protected]
A professional book indexer, Amy would like to market her services to Maryland writers. She can provide indexing, editing, and proofreading services.
Proofreading and Editing
Barbara Morrison
Email: [email protected]
I have been editing and critiquing manuscripts of all kinds for over thirty years and can help you bring your writing project to fruition. I provide three levels of editing: a quick-look assessment, copy-editing, and content editing. I work with fiction, non-fiction, poetry, academic articles, technical reports, query letters, novel synopses, and nonfiction book proposals. See http://www.bmorrison.com/editing-services/ for details and customer endorsements.
Editing by Jennia
Jennia is passionate about everything related to the publishing industry and has written or edited for academic work, newspapers, university presses, and everything in between! She loves connecting with her authors and sees each project as a unique and exciting collaboration. In addition to editing, she is a book awards judge for IPNE and the creative nonfiction expert at NAIWE.
Lia Lewis
170 Mercer St., Apt. 1B, Somerville, NJ 08876
[email protected]
Includes: copyedit/proofread manuscripts, edit scanned in documents, create/correct indices for manuscripts, re-type manuscripts. Contact Lia for all of your proofreading needs.
Samantha Gussow
Email: [email protected]
A seasoned proofreader/editor with nearly a decade of experience. Able to edit for the basics (grammar, punctuation, and spelling) and also provide in-depth developmental edits of manuscripts (characterization, consistency, plot, setting), along with fact-checking. Will work with you to ensure the finished piece is the best it can be.
Dragonfly Freelance
Professional writing, editing, and proofreading services.
Wordfirst Nonfiction Book Coaching Services
As an Author Accelerator certified nonfiction book coach, Amy L. Bernstein specializes in transforming raw ideas into polished proposals and thinkers into authors. Offering structured guidance, encouragement, and accountability to keep your book project moving forward. Initial consultation always free.
http://wordfirstbookcoach.com
[email protected]
Writing-Oriented Web Sites
Writers' Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers, Updated every year. Search their website for the latest edition.
Book Launch Checklist: A marketing timeline for authors.Book Launch PDF Checklist
Reedsy.com: A trusted place to learn how to successfully publish your book.
The Ultimate Writers' Guide from Amsterdam Printing
Includes links to resources for essay writing, developing and ordering paragraphs, writing clear sentences, choosing and using words, acknowledging your sources, literary and rhetoric terms, and grammar basics.
Kidlit411
Information about writing and illustrating for children.
Jane Friedman
Jane writes a regular blog, offers subject-specific newsletters, and a maintains a compilation of other resources for writers.
Film Script Writing
Free advice on most aspects of film script writing, plus a free interactive writers' forum.
87 Writing Tips
Actionable tips with a focus on business writing
Daily Writing Tips
Publishes one new article daily, with topics ranging from grammar to punctuation, from spelling to usage and vocabulary
The Writer's Center
Homepage for the well-known organization located in Bethesda, MD. Includes information about their workshops, special events in the DC metropolitan area, publications and more.
TheNextBigWriter
An online writing workshop that provides writers with the feedback, motivation, and advice they need to achieve their writing goals.
Writing-World.com
Writing-World.com has been in existence for over ten years and offers more than 600 articles for writers of every level of expertise. The site offers an excellent "getting started" section for would-be freelancers, plus an extensive fiction section that covers mainstream and genre fiction tips. A free twice-monthly newsletter includes columns, news from the publishing industry, and no-fee contest information. Hosted by Moira Allen, author of Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer(Allworth Press).
Chronicles: A science fiction and fantasy community.
The Story Shack: The Story Shack is home to a wealth of random name generators, writing tools and illustrated stories.
Fantasy Name Generators: Just as the name describes, this website offers a plethora of different generators for your character and location writing needs!
NY Book Editors: A blog with more information for authors, editors, and those interested in staying informed about the ever changing world of writing.
Reference Web Sites
The links below will take you to web sites that provide links to online reference works such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, and related materials.
Synopsis Writing: How to write a synopsis of your novel.
Purdue Online Writing Lab: This is the website that houses Purdue Universities Online Writing Lab or OWL. This information can assist with many writing projects.
The Internet Archive: This site is home to the Wayback Machine! If you aren't familiar, you can search up any information on long gone websites that might still be around for you to peruse.
Classic Manuscript Format: A style guide on how to format a manuscript.
Word Hive: With a free basic account you can access a novel organizer.
Writer's Knowledge Base: A searchable database for writers with 77,000+ articles on writing.
SEO for Authors: Complete guide with steps, examples, and illustrations.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and Thesaurus
Merriam-Webster's online dictionary. Simply type in your word and click on "Search".
Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A website dedicated to improving your emotional word usage.
The Internet Public Library
The IPL offers writing help for college essays, book reports, and papers. Worth noting here is their Online Literary Criticism Collection
Refdesk.com's Grammar, Usage, and Style Page
Scroll down a little to find links upon links to web pages dealing with grammar and writing. This site also has many other sections of interest, too. When done with the Grammar, Usage, and Style Page, click on Home to start your tour.
TikTok for authors: A guide on using TikTok as an author to boost your presence and audience with social media.
RhymeZone.com: Find rhymes, synonyms, adjectives, and more!
WordHippo: Thesaurus and word tools for your creative needs.
The Internet Writing Journal: This article will guide you to some of the best crime resources and sites from which you can find crime resources on your own.
Guide to Grammar & Writing: A reference site dedicated to giving you information on different forms of writing.
Poets and Writers Magazine: A literary magazine for poets and writers alike. They provide information on paying writers' contests.
Find more options at blogger Jack Milgram's list of the Best Online Dictionaries.
Style Guides etc..
Major Comma Uses: A self-teaching unit from Towson University on the usage of commas for a refresher!
Classic Manuscript Format: A style guide on how to format a manuscript.
Anatomy of a SHORT synopsis: Some tips on that synopsis length.
Writing for the Web
Writing for the Web
by John Morkes and Jakob Nielsen, Sun Microsystems (1997). Although ancient in Internet years (1997), this paper is still valid and a must read for anyone intending to write copy for web pages.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Information to help you write web pages with disabled people in mind.
"Internet Resources on Citing: The Trademark of a Good Writer"
This site discusses the importance of source citation for authors, when citations are appropriate, and different styles in use. It also includes a collection of related links.
Maryland Stuff
Maryland Romance Writers
Maryland Romance Writers (MRW), chapter 10 of Romance Writers of America(R) promotes excellence in romantic fiction and advances the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy, dissemination of information, professional education, publications, and other appropriate activities, and to provide continuing support for writers within the romance publishing industry.
Baltimore Review
Charm City's premier literary journal seeks to collect the voices of the great writers of today, from Baltimore and beyond.
Delmarva Review
Published by the Eastern Shore Writers' Association, Delmarva Review is a literary review of short fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and short reviews from the Delmarva and Chesapeake Bay region. Also seeks illustrative artwork in the form of line drawings and black and white or color photography that can be considered for the cover.
Annual Bay to Ocean Writers Conference
BTO is sponsored by the Eastern Shore Writers' Association. The conference attracts writers and speakers from surrounding states and the District of Columbia to its base on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Please note that the springtime conference always sells out in advance.
Sailor
Maryland's statewide public information network. Includes access to state and county public libraries, a page on Maryland Information sources, and news publications from around the state.
Maryland State Archives
Includes an online version of the Maryland Manual, Reference and Research, Outreach and Education, and much more.
Maryland Electronic Capital
Links to all things Maryland including SAILOR, government, and getting things done in Maryland.
The above listings are for your information and use. This list is not exhaustive and there may be duplicates. MWA does not sponsor or endorse any of these organizations or providers.
If you know of any quality web resources that should be listed above, or if you would like your services, company or organization listed here, please contact [email protected], and include the website / business name, web address, and a brief description of the site or service.
