Writing is a constant evolution that requires research and outside inspiration. This list is a work-in-progress so please feel free to contact us with additions!

Contests

Members, please let us know if you enter any of the contests posted here so we can lend our support!

Glimmer Train’s May Short Story Award for New Writers closes May 31. They are looking for original, unpublished stories by writers whose fiction has not been presented in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000. Maximum word count: 12,000. (Any shorter lengths are welcome.) First-place wins $1,200 and publication in Issue 80 of Glimmer Train Stories. Second- and third-place winners win $500/$300 (or, if chosen for publication, $700). If you would like to, you can sign up for Glimmer Train bulletins here and rummage through their archives here.

Micro Fiction

Thaumatrope is a twitter fiction magazine for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror fiction under 140 characters, link

Microfiction (really challenging), link

Micro Fiction mini site, link

Videos on the Process

Get Published TV, link

Writing Prompts

The Writer’s Book of Matches: 1,001 Prompts to Ignite Your Fiction (Writers Digest) on Amazon

The Pocket Muse on Amazon

The Pocket Muse Endless Inspiration: New Ideas for Writing (No. 2) on Amazon

Pocket Muse 2: Endless Inspiration for Writers on Amazon

Idea Catcher: An Inspiring Journal for Writers (Story Press) on Amazon

Idea Catcher for Kids on Amazon

A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words: Image-Driven Story Prompts and Exercises for Writers on Amazon

The Write-Brain Workbook: 366 Exercises to Liberate Your Writing on Amazon

This one is one of our personal favorites.

The Writer’s Toolbox: Creative Games and Exercises for Inspiring the ‘Write’ Side of Your Brain on Amazon

Writing the Breakout Novel, book and workbook

Writing Guidelines

The Write Great Fiction series:

Dialogue on Amazon

Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints on Amazon

Description & Setting: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Believable World of People, Places, and Events on Amazon

Plot & Structure: (Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish) on Amazon

Revision And Self-Editing on Amazon

The entire Write Great Fiction series on CD: Write Great Fiction series (CD)

The Psychology of Writing, Writing as Therapy

The Writer’s Portable Therapist: 25 Sessions to a Creativity Cure on Amazon

Thinking Write: The Secret to Freeing Your Creative Mind on Amazon

Character Naming Resources

The Hidden Truth of Your Name: A Complete Guide to First Names and What They Say About the Real You on Amazon

Authors on the Writing Process

Stephen King, On Writing

Interesting Articles

Shitty First Drafts, Mark Forrester

Associations

American Booksellers Association, link

IndieBound, link

Various Blogs

Seven Impossible Things, link – a blog about books

Fun Stuff Involving Words

Wordle, link
Warning: Addictive!

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