Where do you belong?

There are a zillion lists/forums/associations that we all belong to I'll bet --- I know that as writers we all want to get down to writing, so I try to keep my eye on what's really important, but there is no way to read it all and then actually get things done that I need to do. I've really appreciated checking in here when someone has started a thread that says..."Today such and such a magazine/forum/publishing company said..." and we have certainly had some lively discussions grow from those threads!
Of the information that you read (or surf to) regularly, are there some resources that really stand out and help you to grow as a writer or to become more knowledgeable about the industry in general? Journals, magazines, classes, activities, mentoring that has helped you to make a big shift--either in your thinking or your writing? If so, perhaps you could share them here. Since we are from all over the world I think there is the potential for bringing forward a list of rich resources to the members here.

Over the years many people have told me where I belong, yet try as I might I cannot think of a single thing to help answer your question. The only site I check regularly is Criminal Brief because it is written by others who write mystery short stories. It's a great site for anyone, however. Provides food for thought.

Pam,
I subscribe to two American Publications - The Writer and the Writers' Digest. Both are excellent for articles, details of conferences and market leads.

I also subcribe to Writers' Forum and Writing Magazine, two UK publications. As part of my membership of the Romance Writers of America, I receive a copy of their magazine. Again these are excellent for articles, industry leads, etc.

I belong ON TOP! With Godlike perks and the reach of empires.

The only reason this isn't currently the case is the conspiracy of small-minded evil cabals of idiots and malignant pissants who work against me and shall someday pay the price for it.

Lin, you seem a bit perturbed. Do I need to go into hiding?

Whoa Lin, I was thinking more along the lines of sites and books or journals that you receive (as in belong to their netwroks), but you know, whatever works for ya works here.

Thanks for your tips Jenny and Dick. Here are a couple that I check out once in a while too...mostly when the fingers are willing (to type) but the brain is not cooperating (by producing meaningful, gripping writing)...

http://www.writersdiggest.com
http://dailywritingtips.com

Anybody got anything else to add to the list?

:pirat:

Oh, I tend to think like lin . . .

On the other hand, I subscribed to Writer's Digest and The Writer for years. After a while, the articles tend to repeat themselves. But what made me throw WD down, stomp on it and rip it to shreds was an article about a newly published writer, a ditsy female who said she just sat down and typed for about six weeks, sent it out on a whim and the first agent she queried bit and a few weeks later they had an offer from a publisher.

I know we're supposed to be good sports and congratulate each other, but that one was too much.


But you're right, Pam, and if I see something of interest, I'll post. Good idea.

Quote :

Whoa Lin, I was thinking more along the lines of sites and books or journals that you receive

Oh



Never mind.


I was just kidding.

Ya me too Lin...my smilies were not working that day
My apologies for sounding gruff as that wasn't my intention at all.

Brenda I remember thinking that about a lot of magazines that they repeat every couple of years. Cosmo, Martha Stewart, Canadian Living, all of which I used to read quite regularly. Then I switched to more of the news magazines, and althgouh they change as the news does, sometimes that doesn't change much either...need a smilie where I am pulling my hair out today...hmm...

You didn't sound gruff, I was just having some fun.

I am NOT a delicate type who needs smilies to keep from committing suicide and being one more poster boy in the continual hysteria to regulate the internet.

Well, I belong to Author's Coalition at:
http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/

I stopped reading Writer's Digest years ago when I noticed that every single "Here's how somebody made it story" for a period of several years had a magical event in it.

The magazine (at the time) had a mission of helping people write salable material and then follow the usual course of queries and sending out MSS in order to get published.

Yet every success story ended up being about a person who got into print, not by following the magazine's advice, but through the intervention of somebody who knew somebody.

I sent them a letter to the editor listing all the articles that showed this kind of success and wondered why they never showed anyone getting published by following their advice. They didn't print the letter and I cancelled my subscription.

Malcolm

Love it, Malcolm.

Malcolm,
that is much like many of those "how to" books. Threre is so much theory involved that often simple common sense works better.

And the guy who wrote the book never sold any books other than the "how to sell books" one.

I agree completely about WD. They are NOT on the writer's side. They are on the side of the publishing/periodical industry and the cotttage industry of people who try to separate writers from their money.

Pam wrote:

...need a smilie where I am pulling my hair out today...hmm...

Ah Shelagh thanks--that's perfect!

Abe F. March wrote:

Malcolm,
that is much like many of those "how to" books. Threre is so much theory involved that often simple common sense works better.

Oh, you mean those books on how to make a lot of money ... by writing a book on how to make a lot of money?

I am sure I could make a lot of money if I wrote a book on how to make a lot of money.