Links for Writers in the United Kingdom
From news sites, to dictionaries and creative writing resources, you can find interesting links below.
Also visit our webzine for over 200 more free articles on writing: for journalism, creative writing, business writing, web journalism and writing competitions
Search Engines for Research
- For academic sources, try http://www.academicinfo.net/ and INFOMINE (http://lib-www.ucr.edu/)
- Google scholar: http://scholar.google.com/advanced_scholar_search.
- Exalead at http://www.exalead.com/
- Excellent advanced search features for the net
- Infomine Search Engine at http://infomine.ucr.edu/
- JNet’s Academic Search page at http://www.journalismnet.com/search/academic.htm/
- A powerful search engine to assist you with research http://en.mimi.hu/index.html/
- Search http://www.ask.com/
- A search engine for Internet research http://www.lukol.com/
- Search http://www.factbites.com/
- Search http://www.intelways.com/
- Search http://www.gigablast.com/
- Search http://www.live.com/
- Search Answers http://www.factbites.com/
- Search Academic Sources http://www.academicinfo.net/
- Search Google Scholar http://scholar.google.co.za/advanced_scholar_search?hl=en&lr=/
- Reference Desk: a fact checker.
- Library Spot: Ask a librarian information on any topic.
- How Stuff Works: a website that explains how things work.
Online Dictionaries
- Princeton’s Dictionary and Thesaurus http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn/
- One Look Dictionary – just type in your concept and the word you need appears within seconds http://onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml/
- Another excellent online dictionary and thesaurus http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
- Your Dictionary – YourDictionary.com offers 1800 dictionaries in more than 250 languages.
Sources of Information
- To start or join a newsgroup, go to http://www.groups.google.com/
- For international sources, try ProfNet, although you need to be a published journalist first to register (http://www.profnet.com/).
International Writing Markets and Writing Competitions
- The BBC’s website www.theshortstory.org.uk/magazines/index.php4 lists and gives links to hundreds of publications that publish short stories of every known genre
- Duostrope’s digest – listing 3100 current fiction markets
- Worldwidefreelance.com lists dozens of publications that are open to receiving articles from journalists.
- http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/
- http://www.freelancewriting.com/contests-announcements.php
- Writer’s Forum is a UK, monthly quality magazine for writers of all genre, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. They run frequent competitions. Further details are on their website www.writers-forum.com.
- www.flash500.com for flash fiction competitions
Writing Resource Sites
- Browse this archive for over 11 000 searchable quotations http://www.bartleby.com/100/
- Literary submission service http://www.writersrelief.com/
- Free Online Writing Workshops/Critique at http://www.internetwritingworkshop.org/admin.shtml
- View Poetry International Web at http://international.poetryinternationalweb.org/
- for poetry and news about poets from around the globe.
- Fascinating insights and facts about the lives of famous authors at: http://books.guardian.co.uk/authors/0,,94875,00.html/
- A Resource Centre for Journalists http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/
- Visit The Writers World pages for information of interest to writers http://www.optionsafrica.co.za/
- A resource from the University of Colorado if you are concerned about Plagiarism http://www.turnitin.com/static/home.html/
- Wikipedia – The Online Knowledge Library For when you need to know more about any subject under the sun http://www.wikipedia.org/
- Need to interview an International Expert? http://profnet3.prnewswire.com/enter/index.jsp/
- Need to find out about urban legends? http://www.snopes.com/
- Etymology site http://www.wordorigins.org/
- Dr Grammar’s Frequently Asked Questions http://www.drgrammar.org/faqs/
- Science Archives of Free Full Text Articles From Stanford University http://highwire.stanford.edu/lists/largest.dtl/
- Information and inspiration for writers http://www.writingshow.com/index.html
- Useful resource for writers http://www.writing-world.com/
- Writing resources news and discussion http://www.writers.net/
- Resources and information about books, writing and publishing http://www.writerswrite.com/
- Freelance writing ezine http://www.writersweekly.com/
- Writers on writing http://writersonwriting.blogspot.com/
- Writers Guild of America http://www.wga.org/
- Useful resource about writing for money http://www.writer2writer.com/
- Enhance your writing career http://www.writersdigest.com/GeneralMenu/
- Writing resources http://www.writergazette.com/
- Information, inspiration and resources for freelance writers http://writesuccess.com/
- Common writing problems http://www.write101.com/
- Resource for writers and poets http://www.winningwriters.com/
- Visual Thesaurus http://www.visualthesaurus.com/
- Daily publication of poetry http://www.versedaily.org/about.shtml
- The Writer’s Almanac http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/
- Women’s literary lives http://www.writersgroupblog.blogspot.com/
- Advice and inspiration for writers http://www.writermag.com/wrt/
- Virtual room for writers http://www.thescriptorium.net/
- Resource for romance writers http://www.passionatepen.com/
- The Authors Guild http://www.authorsguild.org/
- The Academy of American Poets http://www.poets.org/
- Susan Orlean, writer for The New York Times http://www.susanorlean.com/
- Adventures in reading, writing and the creative life http://www.urbanmusewriter.com/
- Tools for writers http://www.pw.org/
- Writing and Publishing news http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog/
- For new and emerging authors http://www.oncewritten.com/
- News on Journalism http://www.topix.com/news/journalism
- Freelance writing resources http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/
- Some useful info for Food Writers http://www.food-writing.com/
- Free writers’ resource listing http://www.duotrope.com/
- Creativity website http://www.creativityforlife.com/
- Resource for new books and authors http://www.bookwire.com/
- The American Journalism Review http://www.ajr.org/
- Comprehensive informational site for writers http://www.absolutewrite.com/about.html
- Worldwide freelance writer site http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/
- Community of readers and writers http://www.wordtrip.com/phpBB2/portal.php
- Forum for writers http://www.thewritingbridge.org/
- …..and another http://www.mywriterscircle.com/
- A source of advice, links, hints and tips http://writerswell.org/
- Always have something to write about at http://thepromptwriter.com/
- Online magazine specifically for writing mothers http://www.momwriterslitmag.com/
- More resources for writers http://www.firstwriter.com/
Fiction Writing Links
- The random story starter here http://www.thestorystarter.com/
- Timeline generator http://www.fantasist.net/timeline.shtml
- Instant plot generator http://write.aftermatheffect.com/
- Great online writing exercise http://www.oneword.com/
- The Snowflake Method for Novel creation http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php
- Ways to create an outline for your Novel http://www.sff.net/people/alicia/artout.htm
- Novel outline templates http://pbwstories.blogspot.com/2006_07_01_pbwstories_archive.html
- Holly Lisle’s character creator link http://shop.hollylisle.com/index.php?crn=208&rn=356&action=show_detail
- ….and create a culture while you’re at it! http://shop.hollylisle.com/index.php?crn=206&rn=372&action=show_detail
- Great resource for researching your novel http://www.nanowrimo.org/forum?topic_id=6246&forum=151
- Guide to critique http://fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue%205/butidon.htm
- The theory of critiquing http://fmwriters.com/Visionback/Vision22/workshop.htm
- How to write a synopsis http://fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue%205/synopsis.htm
- How to format a manuscript http://www.shunn.net/format/introduction.html
- Novel proposals, queries and synopsis http://pbackwriter.blogspot.com/2006/10/proposition-ten.html
- Some advice on how to find the right agent http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
- A huge list of poetry and fiction publications http://www.duotrope.com/
- A free self publishing service http://www.lulu.com/
- Creative Commons for licensing and copyright http://creativecommons.org/
- Online fiction ezine http://www.fictionfactor.com/
- Creative writing prompts http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/
- Creative writing corner http://www.blairhurley.com/
- Poetry specific site http://www.robertmcdowell.net/
- Fiction addiction website http://www.fictionaddiction.net/
Other recommended sites for writers
- AbsoluteWrite
- Duostrope’s digest – listing 3100 current fiction markets
- Fanstory.com
- FictionFactor.com – online fiction e-zine
- FirstWriter.com
- Freelance Writing Gigs
- Freelancer.co.nz
- Journalism.co.uk
- Lulu.com – a free self-publishing service
- MyWritersCircle.com
- NaNoRiMo
- Owl English
- Poynter.org
- Sparknotes Ultimate Style
- TheStoryStarter.com – the random story starter.
- Worldwidefreelance.com
- Writerswrite.net
- Writing.com
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