Posts filed under ‘WRITER’S FORUM’
WRITER’S WEBSITE: WRITER BEWARE BLOG
WEBSITES FOR WRITERS
Every year WRITER’S DIGEST published 100 best websites for writers. I took the list published in 2025 and selected what I thought were some of the best for this year and not repeated from last year. Here is one of them.
Before I post the next website for writers, which I feel is extremely important, I want to mention two other websites, one which no longer exists and one which does.
The one which no longer exists was Editors & Predators. This was an excellent website to check on publishers and agents to see what their reputation looks like. The reason I mention it is that I check it every so often since it ceased posting but every time I check I get a message that they are coming back.
The other website that still does exist which is of great importance is Absolute Water Cooler. This is a site for authors by authors. If you are going to deal with a publisher or agent you can go to this site and see what experience other authors have had with them. I will post a more extensive discussion of this site in the future.
Writer Beware Blog
WriterBeware.org
Covers scams and suspicious businesses that prey on writers.
Supported by Science Fiction & Fantasy Association, the Writer Beware Blog and WriterBeware.com aides writers in recognition frauds. Also helps writers stay current on publishing news.
WRITER’S WEBSITE: AUTHORS GUILD
WEBSITES FOR WRITERS
Every year WRITER’S DIGEST published 100 best websites for writers. I took the list published in 2025 and selected what I thought were some of the best for this year and not repeated from last year. Here is one of them.
The Authors Guild
AuthorsGuild.org
Oldest and largest organization for published authors.
Supports free speech and advocates for fair contracts. Also protects against AI.
Has five membership levels of varying price points.
WRITER’S WEBSITE: EQUITY DIRECTORY
WEBSITES FOR WRITERS
Every year WRITER’S DIGEST published 100 best websites for writers. I took the list published in 2025 and selected what I thought were some of the best for this year and not repeated from last year. Here is one of them.
Equity Directory
EquityDirectory.org
Created by Literary Agents of Change and it’s free. Helps querying authors find BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) agents.
Gives information on agents participating in various communities such as the Association of American Literary Agents as to what queries they are seeking and offers connections to their websites.
THE BEST WRITER’S WEBSITE: DUOTROPE
WEBSITES FOR WRITERS
Every year WRITER’S DIGEST published 100 best websites for writers. I took the list published in 2025 and selected what I thought were some of the best for this year and not repeated from last year. Here is one of them.
Duotrope
Duotrope.com
If you follow my blog you have heard about Duotrope. I have used this website for years to find publishers. It is a powerful tool. Once free, it now costs $50 a year, but if you are a serious writer or artist or in need of an agent, this website is a must.
They list over 7,600 active agents and publishers. They also offer a submission tracker.
To find a publisher, agent or outlet for your work you fill out a form detailing what type of outlet you are looking for. Then you run a search and a list of places which could use your work is produced. With each site listed is a link to that site. This list is also constantly updated.
If you are serious about your craft this website is a must.
I might also add, from an article in Poets & Writers, there are 4000 literary journals in this country.
So many opportunities to get your work published.
WRITER”S WEBSITES: TV TROPES
WEBSITES FOR WRITERS
Every year WRITER’S DIGEST published 100 best websites for writers. I took the list published in 2025 and selected what I thought were some of the best for this year and not repeated from last year. Here is one of them.
TV Tropes
TVTropes.org
This website supplies more than just TV Tropes. You can research genres, media types, narration types to find sub-indexes of various tropes detailing potential problems with those tropes.
Also available are folders featuring film, TV, literature and music.
WEBSITES FOR WRITERS: LANGUAGE IS A VIRUS
WEBSITES FOR WRITERS
Every year WRITER’S DIGEST published 100 best websites for writers. I took the list published in 2025 and selected what I thought were some of the best for this year and not repeated from last year. Here is one of them.
Language Is a Virus
LanguageIsAVirus.com
This website states that it helps cure writer’s block. Also, it can release you from your current project for a while.
It helps to inspire creativity with interactive writing games, story writing, poem writing and various other writing topics including writing prompts. It also provides creative writing exercises. Helpful in generating characters and plot twists.
WEBSITES FOR WRITERS
WEBSITES FOR WRITERS
Every year WRITER’S DIGEST published 100 best websites for writers. I took the list published in 2025 and selected what I thought were some of the best for this year and not repeated from last year. Here is one of them.
Language Is a Virus
LanguageIsAVirus.com
This website states that it helps cure writer’s block. Also, it can release you from your current project for a while.
It helps to inspire creativity with interactive writing games, story writing, poem writing and various other writing topics including writing prompts. It also provides creative writing exercises. Helpful in generating characters and plot twists.
A SCAM, IT’S NOT MICROSOFT
A SCAM, IT’S NOT MICROSOFT
This post will be followed by another more lengthy post concerning scams I have experienced three times with my computer being locked with a screen saying Microsoft has found a security leak on my computer. There is usually a blue screen along with one or two others warning you not to turn off your computer. You are given a phone number to call. DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER.
Do turn off your computer. After turning my computer back on one time the screens and lock were gone, one time they weren’t, and I had to seek help to get my computer unlocked.
The first time I experienced this scam I did call the number listed. I will soon post what happens when you call the number
WHAT IS AN ‘INFO DUMP’?
WHAT IS AN ‘INFO DUMP’?
What is an ‘info dump’?
A ‘info dump’ is something writers try to avoid. In my opinion, an ‘info dump’ slows down the story and may result in boring the reader. Here is the condition which could result in an ‘info dump’ if the writer is not careful. It would be interesting if you now thought about some of the stories you have read and whether they contained an ‘info dump’ and if it affected your appreciation of the story. Say there’s a situation in a story which requires a detailed explanation to carry the story along. How the writer decides to explain these details could result in the story shifting from a story to a lecture and possibly bore the reader. What I usually do is first determine how much detail the reader needs to understand what is happening in the story. Then I deliver the knowledge usually with characters discussing the situation rather than writing a detailed explanation to inform the reader of what is involved in what is occurring in the story. Conversation between characters avoids an ‘info dump’. In my story, Martian Rebirth, I use the head of NASA conducting a press conference to include some prion information in the
CALL FOR WRITERS
CALL FOR WRITERS
The Paoli Writers Group, supported by the Paoli Public Library, is looking for new members. The group has been in existence for more than six years. Meetings are held on Zoom 12:30 – 2:30. Our next meeting is on Thursday February 6th, and from then on every second Thursday. It is a relaxed group where writers have an opportunity to present their work and receive constructive feedback. This is a link to the Paoli Public Library to obtain more information about the group.