Opinion

Web Sites for Writers

Like the Internet itself, writing is full of adventure. Whether you are a techie, a poet, a fiction writer, or a journalist, the Internet is a great hotspot for ideas and resources.

There are hundreds and thousands of Web sites for writers—from small zines and tiny English department Web sites—to the big ones based on already successful writing magazines.

Some of these Web sites have everything a writer could possibly need and want, except coffee and cigarettes. My favorite Web sites for writers have job boards, articles on current events of interest to writers, and advice on writing and publishing.

The Write Resource is the cream of the crop. Located at www.writerswrite.com, it has sections on every type of writing imaginable—from tech writing to songwriting—and links for everything a writer might want. It has information on writing groups, conferences, contests, you name it. The Web site's design jumps off the page without overwhelming the reader, and is easily navigated. Writerswrite.com also has book excerpts, interviews with authors, and is especially helpful if you're interested in different types of writing. For example, I enjoy writing in different forms—poetry, essays, fiction, and nonfiction. Writers Write is a Web site that any writer can go to and find something of interest. You may even be inspired to try something new.

A less flashy, no-frills Web site. I rarely go directly to the online site, since I'm a subscriber and the entire content of the current issue is delivered to my mailbox. Billing itself as "the highest-circulation freelance writing ezine in the world!" Writersweekly.com sends its subscribers everything that's in the current issue of the Web site. This includes articles, job postings, and links to hot books on the market for writers and editors. The articles are always informative and amusing, but the most unique feature of the zine is the "Warnings" section. One can never be too careful in this digital age, and the Internet is one of the trickiest mediums. The "Warnings" section advises writers about publications that have fishy terms of agreement, publications that have left writers unpaid, and is generally a forum for freelance writers who've been screwed with. We all know by now that the National Library of Poetry turned out to be one of the biggest scams ever, but what about all the new Web sites that promise to pay on publication? WritersWeekly.com is worth getting just to read these real-life, worst-case scenario stories by other writers.

The Insider's Guide to the Writing Life, located at www.writersdigest.com, will remain my favorite writing-related Web site for a couple of reasons. Writer's Digest is just about the coolest magazine for writers out there. And the Web site's free. Some of the best parts of the site include the "Market of the Day," a section on a publication that is currently soliciting manuscripts. My favorite part of this Web site remains, without a doubt, the daily writing prompt. I became addicted to writing prompts when someone gave me a copy of one of Natalie Goldberg's taped workshops. The writing prompts from the Goldberg workshop were very simple—one of them was writing about "green." The audience was prompted to just think of the word "green" and start writing (I ended up writing about Ralph Nader and asparagus). The writing prompts given by Writer's Digest are more specific but no less inspiring, and they also can be delivered to your mailbox. Writersdigest.com has links to the "101 best sites for writers," and Writer's Digest annually ranks publications so you can find the one most suited for your manuscript.

Because these Web sites link to other resources for writers, a little-known e-publication is just a couple of clicks away. I've seen virtual coffee houses for writers and Web sites that (gasp) actually pay for poetry. These three Web sites are an excellent jumping point for all the other sites out there for writers.

Eve Lopez is a freelance writer living in Seattle.