My Top 12 Fantastic Writer Resources

Great news! I’ve updated my annual list from 10 to 12 resources. So whether you’re an aspiring Christian writer who longs to be published—or a published writer who wants more opportunity—you’ll find something in the list to help you.

Skills and talent are important, but it’s also imperative to be educated in the publishing market. This includes knowing current acceptable grammar usage, how to write queries, and subject trends. As important is knowing where to submit your work, whether you’re seeking to build writing credits or for pay. If you don’t have the means to attend writers’ conferences, these resources are a great way to become more educated to help achieve your publishing goals. We all want to be published, right?

The following comprehensive list covers all of the above and then some.

Story Sensei - If you’re looking for a Christian writer with a heart for aspiring writers, acclaimed Christian writer Camy Tang would rank high in that group. Her website offers an extensive list of articles on every writing subject imaginable. She also offers an array of paid services including worksheets and coaching.

The Write Conversation - Are query letters confusing? Difficult? Make you want to pull your hair out or throw something against a wall? You’re not alone. Most published writers have been in your shoes. Here’s a great article (and writer’s website) written by Edie Melson, editor and writer with hundreds of articles and books to her credit. You’ll find many writing topics in her website’s archives.

Open Submissions - So you want to be published and don’t know where to look. How about a list of 200+ Christian magazines and book publishers with open submissions? This list should keep you busy for a while. 

Vonda Skelton - This website is filled with encouragement, writing opportunities, and writing support services such as critiques. Vonda’s heart for helping others shines through all aspects of her ministry.

Self-Editing For Fiction Writers: How To Edit Yourself Into Print - If you can only afford a few writing books, this should be at the top of your list. Many fundamental writing errors can be eliminated by utilizing the concepts outlined in this book.

Pelican Book Group Blog - There’s nothing better than advice directly from the staff of a publishing house. This blog is staff written and posts in-depth self-editing tips through their weekly “Tactical Tuesdays” posts. 

Characteristics Of A Hero - Most fiction storylines involve a hero and/or heroine. They should possess characteristics like bravery and courage but also quiet characteristics like humility and selflessness. They also need a flaw. It’s imperative that you nail these characteristics for your hero. Many can also be applied to the heroine. This is a good website to get you thinking about how to flesh out your characters.

Editorial Freelancers Association - Are you considering hiring an editor or ghostwriter to assist you in a project and don’t know where to look or how much you can expect to pay? Or maybe you’re considering getting into this line of work. This is a reputable website to aid your research.

American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) - I can't begin to list all the resources available by signing up for a membership. First year is $65, and it drops to $45 for subsequent years. Members have access to critique groups, networking, contests, conferences, and more. This is one resource I’ve utilized that has pushed me to a higher level in my writing career.

Writer's Digest - This magazine is the first writing resource I used, even before I had Internet! It is chock full of writing market information, current trends, and writing lessons for all genres. In addition, if you can’t afford $20 for a yearly magazine subscription, the website archives is overflowing with educational articles. Reading through them is like attending a free writers’ conference right in your own home.

2014 Writer's Market - Hot off the presses with the latest writing market information available! It’s worth the investment because you can utilize it several years by going to the website for each publisher listing and checking their updated writer’s guidelines. In addition to current writing markets are contest listings. Contests are a great way to get feedback and get your work noticed. The front section has sample book proposals and query letters, articles on how to pitch your work, and multiple other writing topics.

The Christian Writer's Market Guide 2013 - Like Writer’s Market above, you can utilize the information in this book for a few years by going to the websites for the individual listings to find current submission guidelines. (The 2014 version is set for February 1 publication.)

Okay, that should keep you busy for a while! If you've used one of these resources, how did it work for you? Do you have a favorite writing resource that’s not on this list? I’d love to hear about it.

Happy Writing!
Laura

(Disclaimer: I’m not guaranteeing success if you purchase any products listed above. Only you can decide what’s best for your career, including expending financial resources for services offered on any website.)

© Laura Hodges Poole

Top 10 Fantastic Writer Resources

Writing Resources

Welcome to Writers’ Corner. If you’re new to this weekly feature, please feel free to browse the archives for writing topics I’ve already covered. 

Regular followers know I promote research and education to be an effective writer. I’m not referring to college degrees. As a contemporary writer trying to break into Christian publishing, it’s imperative to be educated in the current market. This includes knowing current acceptable grammar usage, how to write queries, and subject trends. Over the past several months, I’ve shared various books and websites useful in developing writing skills, network, and platform. So you will recognize some of my Top 10 from other posts. I thought it might be helpful to have them all in one place. 

Disclaimer: I’m not guaranteeing your success if you purchase any products listed below. Only you can decide what’s best for your career, including expending financial resources for services offered on any website. 

Top 10

The Write Conversation Are query letters confusing? Difficult? Make you want to pull your hair out or throw something against a wall? You’re not alone. Most published writers have been in your shoes. Here’s a great article (and writer’s website) written by Edie Melson, editor and writer with hundreds of articles and books to her credit.  

Characteristics Of A Hero Most fiction storylines involve a hero and/or heroine. They should possess characteristics like bravery and courage but also quiet characteristics like humility and selflessness.

Open Submissions List of 200+ Christian magazines and book publishers with open submissions. 

Editorial Freelancers Association Are you considering hiring an editor or ghostwriter to assist you in a project? This is a great website to aid your research.

American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) I can't begin to list all the resources available by signing up for a membership. First year is $65, and it drops to $45 for subsequent years. Members have access to critique groups, networking, contests, conferences, a bi-monthly magazine, and more. This is one resource I’ve utilized that has paid huge dividends in my writing career. 

Story Sensei Acclaimed Christian writer Camy Tang’s website offers an extensive list of articles on every writing subject imaginable. She also offers an array of paid services including worksheets and coaching.

Self-Editing For Fiction Writers: How To Edit Yourself Into Print If you can only afford a couple of writing books, this should be at the top of your list. Many fundamental writing errors can be eliminated by utilizing the concepts outlined in this book.  

Writer's Digest This is the first writing resource I used, even before I had Internet! It is chocked-full of writing market information, current trends, and writing lessons for all genres. In addition, if you can’t afford $20 for a yearly magazine subscription, the website archives is filled with educational articles.

2013 Writer's Market Hot off the presses with the latest writing market information available! It’s worth the investment because you can utilize it several years by going to the website for each listing and checking their updated writer’s guidelines. In addition to current writing markets are contest listings. Contests are a great way to get feedback and get your work noticed.

The Christian Writer's Market Guide 2012 Like the regular Writer’s Market above, you can utilize this information for a few years by going to the websites for the individual listings to find current submission guidelines.

Do you have a favorite writing resource that’s not on this list? I’d love to hear about it.

God bless,

Laura

 © Laura Hodges Poole

So You Want To Be Published?

I’m working in a migraine fog this morning, so I’m a little late in getting this posted. Hope you’re all having a wonderful Thursday. The weather is simply gorgeous in South Carolina today.

If you’re a writer, you want to be published! No secret formula exists for publication, but certain things will improve and hasten your chances of seeing your name in print.

Topping the list is good writing. This means impeccable copy—your best work. Nothing else is acceptable. You can kiss your chances good-bye, if you don’t live by this market standard.

Your goals shouldn’t be set so high that only a book with your name on the cover adorning the shelves of Books a Million will satisfy. Start small. Even if you have an idea for a book, seek publication with magazine articles and short stories first.

An essential writing tool at this stage is Writer’s Market Guide or, for Christian writers, Christian Writer’s Market Guide. Both books are available in bookstores and online. Writer’s Market also publishes more targeted category guides for short stories and poems. These guides are published annually and can be obtained used for reasonable prices.

A magazine subscription to Writer’s Digest is a valuable resource. A subscription is reasonably priced, but if you don’t want to pay, their website has tons of articles archived to learn from.

Search for small magazines and online writing opportunities. If you’re a Christian writer, the Sunday School take home paper is an excellent break-in opportunity. These listings are in the guides above.

Don’t limit yourself to paying markets.

The objective is to get your name in print to build your credentials and improve your craft. We’ve discussed before that writing is more than talent. Even the most talented writer has to hone their skills. Smaller, non-paying markets are an excellent place to build your resume.

I can’t stress enough the value of attending writer’s conferences. For a new writer, the price may seem hard to justify to family members who try to reconcile the cost with your lack of income in the field. But it’s like attending college. The costs come first, the payoff later. Writer’s conferences jumpstart your writing career like nothing else. They often shorten the length of time to publication because of the opportunities to meet with agents, editors, and other writers who will form your network to get you there.

The bottom line is—there’s no secret or magic formula to getting published, except learning what you don’t know. Seems like a very basic concept, but when starting out, it’s the unknowns that work against you. The resources I’ve listed above will help.

Good, old-fashioned hard work and persevering in daily writing will get you published one day. Believe in yourself and the talent God blessed you with.

Please leave a comment, if you have a question you’d like answered or if you have a piece of advice to add to the above. I’d love to hear experiences about attending writer’s conferences, as well.