High-tech literary coaches: get past that writer's block with a little help from your cyberfriends.Second in a three-part series on Web sites and technology for writers Still sitting at the computer staring at a blank page in Microsoft Word A full-featured word processing program for Windows and the Macintosh from Microsoft. Included in the Microsoft application suite, it is a sophisticated program with rudimentary desktop publishing capabilities that has become the most widely used word processing application on the market. ? Need a jump start? These helpful Web sites could assist and inspire you to create the next great American novel This article is about The Great American Novel (as a concept). For other uses, see Great American Novel (disambiguation). The "Great American Novel" is the concept of a novel that most perfectly represents the spirit of life in the United States at the time of its . * Instruction and Resources www.fictionaddiction.net If fiction writing is yore niche, you'll find this Web site useful and enjoyable. At FictionAddiction.Net, articles on writing technique including, "Breaking Out of Writer's Block writer's block Psychiatry An occupational neurosis of authors, in whom creative juices are temporarily or permanently inspissated ." Another article, "Emotional Rollercoaster," discusses methods for writing about anger, love and revenge, for example. To tap into your creativity, the site offers writing exercises, as well as a daily writing prompt, located in the Writer's Toolbox. With each prompt, you are instructed to write the first words
First Words is a Canadian hip hop group, consisting of Halifax beatmaker Jorun, DJ STV and emcees Sean One & Above. that come to mind. Scanning the writing-prompt archives, I found thought provokers like, "You are posting an ad on a computer dating service. Describe yourself." Among its many other features, FictionAddiction.Net allows you to post short stories and read book reviews. It tells how to write query letters to publishers and even provides contact information for authors. * www.writing.com This site offers both free memberships and reasonably priced memberships to assist you with your writing. Registering for a free membership allows you to create an online writing portfolio and to use creative writing tools such as their Ideanary (locate by using the Search tool), a thesaurus in which words are linked against meanings instead of predetermined pre·de·ter·mine v. pre·de·ter·mined, pre·de·ter·min·ing, pre·de·ter·mines v.tr. 1. To determine, decide, or establish in advance: synonyms; or Edit Points (EPs) for your posted work given by readers. Basic, Upgraded and Premium Memberships offer added features such as the ability to upload images. * Writing Center Homepages www.ivillage.com/books/writer/ lesson/articles iVillage.com, developed for today's woman, includes a Writing Center among its many useful features. Aspiring writers are guided in a three-step process: Step One: monthly writing exercises. Step Two: post your work on Writing Class message boards. Step Three: join free weekly online writing classes. iVillage.com even includes a section they say will help you jump-start your writing in 15 minutes. Complete their free registration, and you're on your way. * www.literarymarketplace.com A directory of American and Canadian book publishing book publishing. The term publishing means, in the broadest sense, making something publicly known. Usually it refers to the issuing of printed materials, such as books, magazines, periodicals, and the like. , the Literary Market Place (LMP LMP left mentoposterior (position of fetus); last menstrual period. LMP abbr. last menstrual period LMP Last menstrual period, see there ) has been, for more than 50 years, a valuable resource for everyone from seasoned publishing professionals to novice writers seeking to make headway Verb 1. make headway - obtain advantages, such as points, etc.; "The home team was gaining ground"; "After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference" in the business. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the site, free users and subscribers have full access to small presses. In the Publishers and Agents categories, free user access is limited to company names and addresses; only subscribers have access to full profiles. There is also information on literary agencies. Just egister (no charge) before you begin. * Union for All Media www.nwu.org The National Writers Union (NWU) is the only labor union labor union: see union, labor. that represents freelance writers in all formats, genres and media. According to the site, "Whether you're a journalist, a book author or a technical or business write--whether you write poetry or miscellaneous copy--the NWU is already working to improve your professional life" (In Part 1, BOOKBYTES listed www.wga.org, The Writer's Guild of America site, which is active on behalf of television and film writers.) * Eyes on the Prizes Eyes on the Prize is a 14-hour documentary series about the American Civil Rights Movement that aired in two parts. Part one, six hours long, originally aired on PBS in early 1987 as Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years (1954-1965). The Internet is chock-full of writing contests; here are three sites to get you started: www.writingcontests.net; www.wordsmitten. com (click on 1010 Fiction) www.fanstory.com (click on Contest) * Writing Software--for Free The StoryMind Writing Store, http://storymind.com/free-software/, offers free writing software downloads. Here are a few: * StoryWeaver 3.0, Free Version: 200 Story Cards lake you step-by-step from concept to completed manuscript. (Windows Only) * Dramatica Pro 4.0, Story Development Software for Novelists and Screenwriters: with this free software you get all the features in the paid version, except for printing and saving. (Windows and Macintosh) |
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