Resources for Writers

Resources For Writers

resources for writers and bloggers text with papers spread around chairs and a counter

#1. THE PRACTICING WRITER

Erika Dreifus, author of Quiet Americans (fiction) and a professional freelance writer and book reviewer, keeps up the incredible blog The Practicing Writer. What makes Erika’s blog unique is that she only focuses on paying opportunities. Updated several times a week, Erika makes sure that her readers know about submission opportunities she’s heard about and contests that require no fees. She’s a friend to any writer who insists on being paid for work. (No “payment in exposure” opportunities will be found on Erika’s blog.) Erika also keeps up a separate blog called My Machberet to inform writers with Jewish content about paying and some non-paying opportunities. (It’s a smaller pool for Jewish content in BOTH categories as is!) Finally, Erika’s monthly newsletter is FULL of submission deadlines and other great information for writers.

 

#2. WRITER UNBOXED

Writerunboxed.com was the first writing site I ever read (about eight years ago), and I’ve stayed a fan ever since. The site is updated daily from one of the many writers on staff with either a craft lesson or a discussion of the business of writing. I appreciate the site because the main focus is on the art of writing and not just about finding an agent, etc. You can, however, still find some of those helpful business tidbits. The Writer Unboxed team is having their first writing conference in November. I can’t attend, but if they do it again it’s for sure one I would seriously consider. I also had a Twitter tips column with Writer Unboxed a few years ago. It was so much fun, and they were so good to me.

#3. THE WRITE LIFE

Good craft and practical articles about the writing life. I especially liked this recent one, “19 Websites and Magazines That Want to Publish Your Personal Essays.”

#4. THE HERSTORIES PROJECT

Jessica and Stephanie of The HerStories Project are quickly becoming experts in publishing anthologies and providing great online classes for writers and bloggers. They always have new classes or anthology submissions in the works. Check out the site to see what’s happening currently.

#5. DUOTROPE, NEWPAGES, AND SUBMITTABLE

If you like to keep track of interesting submission opportunities, it’s a good idea to follow Duotrope, Newpages, and Submittable either on Facebook or Twitter.

#6. ANNE R. ALLEN’S BLOG

Anne and her blog partner, Ruth Harris, provide a craft or “business of writing” lesson every Sunday. Each post ends with submission opportunities as well.

#7. MY TWITTER AND BLOGGING TIPS

Hey, it’s my blog. Obviously I have to draw your attention to my series of Twitter and blogging tips where I talk about why I follow people on Twitter (and why I don’t), why certain kinds of thank yous on Twitter feel disingenuous and over the top, and my general thoughts on Twitter etiquette, using Twitter lists, and much more. I have a few posts with blogging tips, too.   

#8. READ WIDELY AND PAY ATTENTION TO BIOS

The most important way to get work into new venues is to read the sites and literary magazines that catch your eye. There’s no way around this. If you’re blindly submitting to random sites and journals, you’re much less likely to be able to show the editors that you understand their publication. I also tend to read the bios of the writers if I like an essay or story. Here’s a list of places I’ve had fiction published, which might introduce you to some new literary journals. And here’s the list for nonfiction.

I HOPE THIS POST INTRODUCES YOU TO A RESOURCE YOU HAVEN’T SEEN BEFORE! I truly believe that the writing world works best if people share. An atmosphere of competition is unnecessary. There is more than enough space out there for all of our words.

Have a great week, writers! Photo credit is MINE. I took that picture when I was organizing all of my essays and stories into binders. It was a really time consuming but fulfilling project [Tweet “There’s enough space out there for all of our words. Sharing 10 of my fav writing resources.”]


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Nina Badzin hosts the podcast Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. She's been writing about friendship since 2014, co-leads the writing groups at ModernWell in Minneapolis, and reviews 30+ books a year on her website.

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59 Responses

  1. Thank you for these great resources, Nina. I know a few, but I will check out the others. Also wanted to tell you that I have started my own binder project. I’m four months in, and it’s been cool to see my own growth as a writer. I almost want to delete most of those old posts, but I’m resisting!
    Dana recently posted..My biggest pet peevesMy Profile

    1. Yes! Resist! It’s important to have those. I struggled with whether or not to put in posts like this one or other lists. In the end I kept them, and created a separate tab for them since they’re not essays. Still, it might be fun one day to see what I was into (thinking of the Friday Finds for the most part).

  2. Nina, Thanks so much for sharing these. I have been loving Susan Maccarelli’s “Beyond Your Blog” podcast.. I am sure your other recommendations are just as good. I will definitely be referring back to this list!
    Pam recently posted..Our Epic Road TripMy Profile

  3. Wow, great list of resources, Nina! I’m already a fan of Anne Allen’s site, Writer Unboxed and yours, of course. 🙂

    A few suggestions on your list are new to me. I’ll definitely be checking out Erika Dreifus’s site.

    Thanks for doing the legwork. Looking forward to reading more of your work soon.
    Jackie Cangro recently posted..The One With the Fate Worse Than DeathMy Profile

  4. WOW, Nina, this article is an incredible source of info! Thank you for such a comprehensive list, including the link to your Twitter tutorial which is truly invaluable, especially to a total Twitter novice like myself 🙂
    -Dana
    Dana recently posted..Welcome to…My Profile

    1. Thanks so much, Dana! I’m glad you found it helpful and I so appreciate the compliments on the Twitter posts. If you ever have specific questions feel free to contact me! Are you Twitter friends? If not tweet to me and we will be!

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Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

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Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

Get The Newsletter

I send an email once or twice a month with the latest friendship letters, podcast episodes, book reviews, recipes, and more.

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