Contributed by Tish Davidson, Carol Hall and Nancy Curteman. Updated 1/4/20 by Scott Davidson
General Writing Resources
Books
AP Stylebook
www.apstylebook.com
The bible for newspaper and magazine writing.
The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed.
www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html
The style bible for literary writing.
A Complete Guide to Writing for Publication edited by Susan Titus Osborn (ACW)
Digital Ink by Bonnie Hearn Hill and Christopher Poe. A concise guide to writing fiction in the digital age.
Scene & Structure by Jack M. Bickham. Emphasis on scene-by-scene flow, logic, and readability.
Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write by Elizabeth Lyon. Step-by-step analysis of the elements of a nonfiction proposal.
Plot by Ansen Dibell. How to avoid middle sag, rabbit holes, and weak endings.
Writing Fiction by Garry Disher. A clear introduction to the craft of writing with separate chapters on writing the short story and writing a novel.
Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets to Freelance Success by Kelly James-Enger (Writer’s Digest)
Writer’s Market (Writer’s Digest) — for the general market
Conferences and Events
Mystery writer, writing teacher and writer for Writer’s Digest Jane Cleland offers free one hour seminars once a month. Find out more about the October 17 (10 am) seminar on Foreshadowing here. The November 14 seminar is “Four Things I Wish I’d Known at the Start of My Writing Career.” Find out more information here.
Litquake San Francisco
October 8–17, 2020 (additional events throughout the year. Check their website)
Online Resources
Master Critique Groups
C. S. Larkin offers a Master Critique Group, including an on-line class. There is a fee.
Writers’ Online Toolkit
https://online.maryville.edu/blog/the-writers-online-toolkit/
A list of software for writers, some free, some not.
Creative Genius 101
http://creativegenius101.blogspot.com
Lots of posts on breaking through writing barriers and improving writing.
Purdue University Online Writing Lab
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1
Links to information on mechanics, correct grammar, and usage.
Resource Guide to Writing Basics
https://www.wristbandexpress.com/content/hand-hobbies-a-resource-guide-to-writing-basics/
A very basic guide, from the writing as a hobby perspective
Winning Writers Resources
https://winningwriters.com/resources/working-writers-newsletter
Contains comprehensive links to resources ranging from books for writers to legal advice to writing for social change. A good place to start if looking for advice and resources.
World Cat
http://www.worldcat.org
Allows you to search through catalogs of many libraries worldwide and see which ones contain your books or your favorite authors’ books, DVDs, or music. (Alameda County Library System is not a part of this service.)
Writers Weekly
http://writersweekly.com
A free weekly newsletter with writing advice, q&a column, success stories. Slanted toward self-publishing.
Website Development
General Education
Contest Announcements, Publications Seeking Submissions,
Freelance Jobs
Blurb Writing Contest
Write and submit a back cover blurb of 100 words or fewer that sets the stage for a novel, establishes the characters, and raises the stakes in a way that makes readers want to find out more.
Find out more at TheQueryLetter.com
There is a $500 prize for best blurb with no entry fee. Submissions must be in by September 15.
Duotrope
https://duotrope.com
Fee-based site (they give a free trial) that has filterable lists of markets for fiction and nonfiction currently accepting submissions, submission tracker, and updated weekly newsletter (some access fee-based).
Freelance Writing Gigs
http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/category/writing-gigs
New Freelance writing jobs posted several times each week. Also contains a resource for writers section.
Winning Writers Newsletter
https://winningwriters.com/the-best-free-literary-contests/free-winning-writers-newsletter
Free contests—mostly poetry and some prose.
Industry News
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Locus The Magazine and Website of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Field https://www.locusmag.com (some access fee based) |
Publishers Weekly
http://www.publishersweekly.com
News about the publishing industry
Resources for Screenwriters
Books
The Screenwriter’s Bible, by David Trottier.
A great reference for formatting questions and beginning screenwriters.
Save the Cat, by Blake Snyder.
Story arc and screenplay structure used by many Hollywood screenwriters.
The Indie Producers Handbook: Creative Producing From A to Z, by Myrl A. Schreibman.
Good to figure out how a producer looks at a screenplay and how to make your story less expensive and therefore more appealing.
Anatomy of a Premise Line, by Jeff Lyons.
How to master premise and story development for writing success. Applicable to many forms of storytelling.
Online Resources
Guide to Screenwriting Contests
https://octaneseating.com/blog/the-guide-to-screenwriting-contests/
Simply Scripts:
http://www.simplyscripts.com/.
Download scripts to read and study.
IMDbPro:
https://pro-labs.imdb.com/.
A subscription service not to be confused with the free IMDb database. The Pro version gives you access to actors, producers, agents, managers, and others’ contact information so you can query them and also gives you your own webpage so others can find out more about you.
Writers Guild of America West Registry:
https://www.wgawregistry.org.
Protect your intellectual property by registering your screenplays, treatments, outlines, etc. with the Guild to show you are the creator of your story.
Guide to Finding/Reading Scripts Online
https://octaneseating.com/blog/guide-to-finding-and-reading-scripts-online/
Buried in the website of a theater seating catalog, is a guide for reading scripts, along with the scripts for some well known movies. Includes a short tutorial on scripts, and links to finding movie and theater scripts online. The site includes several scripts also.
Screenplay Contests
Withoutabox:
https://www.withoutabox.com/.
A database of script and film contests all around the world where you can upload and submit your screenplay to various contests.
Film Freeway:
https://filmfreeway.com.
The Canadian version of WithoutaBox. Sometimes the same contests are listed here as in WithoutaBox, but with different entry fees.
Nicholl Fellowship:
http://www.oscars.org/nicholl.
The most prestigious screenplay contest. Many winners go on to be produced. But competition is fierce.
Cinequest Film Festival:
http://www.cinequest.org/screenplay_submissions.
A San Francisco Bay Area Film Festival with a screenplay contest.
Resources for Christian Writers
Books
Christian Writer’s Market Guide by Jerry B. Jenkins
An Introduction to Christian Writing by Ethel Herr (ACW)
Online
Christian Creative Writers
http://www.christiancreativewriters.com
Christian Writers.com
https://christianwriters.com
Writers Conferences
The 2020 West Coast Christian Writers LIT Masterclass is February 28-29, 2020 at CrossWinds Church in Livermore, CA.
http://westcoastchristianwriters.com
April 3–7, 2020 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference
http://writers.mounthermon.org
General News and Information
Christian Writing Today
www.christianwritingtoday.com
Family Fiction www.familyfiction.com/news
Genre Specific Books
Mystery, Crime, Thriller
Police Procedure & Investigation by Lee Lofland.
Written specifically for writers by a former police detective, this book covers everything from police training to the death penalty.
Science fiction
How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card. A classic.
Notes to a Science Fiction Writer by Ben Bova. Tips on what sells.
Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy edited by Gardner Dozois et al. Essays by the editors of various science fiction magazines.
Genre Organizations
Most of these organizations have some information available to the public but require membership dues to have complete access to the resources on the site.
Children’s Books: Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
https://www.scbwi.org
San Francisco North and East Bay Chapter
http://sfnortheastbay.scbwi.org
San Francisco and South Bay Chapter
http://sfsouth.scbwi.org
Christian Writers:
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)
www.acfw.com/about/chapters
Redbud Writer’s Guild
www.redbudwritersguild.com
Inspire Christian Writers
www.inspirewriters.com (Bay Area)
Bay Area Writers Group (510) 565-0619
Creative Nonfiction: Creative Nonfiction Foundation
https://www.creativenonfiction.org
Memoir:
National Association of Memoir Writers
http://namw.org
Mystery:
Sisters in Crime
http://www.sistersincrime.org
Northern California Chapter
http://www.sincnorcal.org/wp
Nonfiction: American Association of Journalists and Authors
http://www.asja.org
Nonfiction Authors Association
http://nonfictionauthorsassociation.com
Poetry: Poetry Foundation
https://www.poetryfoundation.org
Poetry Society of America
http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa/?
Romance: Romance Writers of America
https://www.rwa.org
San Francisco Area Chapter
http://sfarwa.net
Silicon Valley Chapter
http://www.svrwa.com
Science Fiction & Fantasy:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
http://www.sfwa.org
Science Fiction Poetry: Science Fiction Poetry Association
http://www.sfpoetry.com
Useful Blog Posts on Writing From Nancy Curteman
Self-publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
https://nancycurteman.wordpress.com/2010/07/02/the-best-way-to-get-your-book-published
Querying a Fiction Book
https://nancycurteman.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/how-to-write-a-query-letter-for-a-mystery-novel
E-book vs. print book
What can I expect if I hire a developmental editor
https://nancycurteman.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/948
What are effective ways to publicize your book
https://nancycurteman.wordpress.com/2017/02/18/5-ways-to-launch-your-new-novel
