Useful Websites

PIO subscribers often trawl the web looking for useful websites or they stumble upon them accidentally. Either way I thought it might be helpful to list some of them here.

• At www.footnote.com you will find millions of images of original source documents, many of which have never been available online before.
  

• A FREE monthly writers ezine can be had from the Australian website of Cheryl Wright, www.writer2writer.com
  

• Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews. This site provides children's book reviews and other resources for kidlit lovers and authors. An excellent way to discover what's in the market, and a good place to get your books reviewed (even self-published ones). I also like the 'Publisher Spotlight' feature. http://www.lookingglassreview.com/

• Kid Magazine Writers eMagazine http://www.kidmagwriters.com
  

• Rights: What They Mean and Why They're Important http://www.writing-world.com/rights/rights.shtml
  

• Margot Finke is an expatriate Aussie living in the US. She has a website with loads of articles, links etc of interest to children’s writers. While some of it is US-focussed, there’s plenty there worth reading.

  http://mysite.verizon.net/mfinke/Writing%20Information.htm#CW
  

• Just found this article about writing stories in rhyme by American author Dori Chaconas. It’s at: http://www.dorichaconas.com/Icing%20the%20Cake%20page.htm

It’s the best article about writing in rhyme I think I’ve come across. She explains about story elements, rhyme and rhythm patterns in detail, but in a way which is easy to understand.
It has a lot to say to anyone who writes in rhyme – whether you are a beginner or more experienced. I know I’ll be rereading it often.

• Agent Query, voted as one of the best writers' sites by Writer's Digest 3 years running, has everything an author could possibly want to know about agents. There's an extremely handy search facility, which I've tried: all you need to do is check boxes listing aspects of your writing and a comprehensive list of agents who deal with your genre etc come up. This site is a must save: www.agentquery.com

• This site although American often has a good tip or idea to think about-

subscribing to the tip of the week is free. http://www.writingontherun.com/

• Need your manuscript critiqued by experts?

Eileen Robinson, former editor at Scholastic in the US, has started a new
critique service for aspiring children's authors. Other partners in the
venture include editors from Harcourt, Scholastic, innovativeKids, and more.

More info at: http://www.f1rstpages.com

• Harold Underdown has recently added some interesting information on 'The Acquisition Process' from an editor's viewpoint. http://www.underdown.org/acquisition-process.htm
  

• Sherryl Clark documents her time at a writers' conference in Tucson, AZ - visit her blog to read all about her experience... http://www.sherrylclark.blogspot.com/
  

• Make sure you check out Simmone Howell’s blog on www.insideadog.com.au. Simmone is the debut author of well received teenage fiction novel Notes from the Teenage Underground. Her blog is sassy and honest and fun to read. She’s the resident author for the month of May.
  

• Editorial Anonymous - a blog of a children's book editor...

http://editorialanonymous.blogspot.com

• Anyone looking for an Australian agent can go to:

http://austlitagentsassoc.com.au/finding.html

• Children's Writing Update e-zine published since September '04 is now available in a public archive. It's completely free and requires no registration or signing in of any kind.
  

You'll find a boatload of Laura Backes articles, cool tips, and neat web links.
The link is http://archives.zinester.com/84464/

• Aspiring young writers (and older ones) should check out www.lightningbug.com.au for inspiration, suggestions, exercises and all manner of helpful tips.
  

• The Writers Medical and Forensics Lab - http://www.dplylemd.com

This site is a place where fiction writers can learn, ask questions, and exchange ideas. If this is your first visit to The Lab rummage around and you’ll find some fun stuff. If you’ve visited before you’ll notice several changes. The most important is the creation of The Writers’ Forensic Community where writers and readers can ask questions, add comments, or simply scroll through the postings.

• Critique Circle http://www.critiquecircle.com is a free on-line critique service. Hundreds of members give and receive critiques on each other's writing. It's easy to join and easy to participate. Members receive credits for giving critiques which they spend when they submit work to be critiqued by others. You are entitled to receive many more critiques than you're required to give. The critiques range from advice on plot, characterisation, etc, to detailed copy editing, and tend to be of high standard. There's an international flavour (I've received critsfrom USA, England and Europe). Critique Circle works with a huge range of genres, including a specific section on writing for children and young adults.

• The Edge of the Forest is a monthly online journal devoted to children's literature.
  

• This is a UK organisation. Some interesting info. http://www.booktrust.org.uk/
  

• Take a look at the following URL: http://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/apps/kss

Libraries Australia lets you discover what's in Australian libraries. You can find it, borrow it, copy it or buy it. Published authors might, as a friend of mine did, find editions of their books that they didn't know existed!

• The Australian Writer’s Marketplace is online www.awmonline.com.au