Valued Resources
For Readers and For Writers
Every resource entry describes a site, service or organization that I value as either a reader or a writer – and sometimes both.
For writers, some of these resources help the process of getting words on the page, others help with marketing, still others inform the business side of this profession that is foreign territory to most writers. For readers, there are review sites and literacy advocacy sources near and dear to my heart.
It’s not an exhaustive list, but my hope is that an entry someone finds interesting will lead them to explore from there. For example, a visit to Writer Beware could lead one to other very good sites about publishing contracts, predatory scams, bogus award systems, etc.
Feel free to comment, suggest others, and upvote your favorites! – Karin
Wouldn't you rather be learning the native cuisine for your novel's setting or the intricacies of your character's career than learning about the fair use doctrine and public domain?- Writer Beware "shines a bright light into the dark corners of the shadow-world of scams, schemes, and pitfalls that threaten authors."
- After 7 months of stay-at-home, and watching the failures of things I took for granted, I’ve had to conquer my own disbelief that any of this could happen here.
- Poets & Writers is a site that treats writing like both an art form and a profession. Have a look at their "Tools for Writers."
- Writing with Color gives writers the tools and confidence to create and describe ethnically and racially diverse characters.
- Library cards are easy to get, free, and may be available to you even if you don't live there. There are many library resources, like digital historic photos, that don't even require a library card. Plus Batgirl. Read more about Batgirl.
- I no longer recommend RWA as a resource. Please see the full post for details on how RWA censured and suspended a woman of color for calling out racism. And then they made it worse.
- This addictive random title generator based on Goodreads will suggest a list of ten lesfic books every time you click it. Now enhanced with sub-genres to choose from! Did I mention it's addictive?
- The terminology of good fiction, excellent modern examples and a wealth of practical advice useful to writers of all experience levels. Invaluable!
- The Lesbrary lesbrarians post about the books they find intriguing in the broad spectrum of lesbian and bisexual stories. There's also a link round up and a blog roll to expand your resources.
- LLF supports the fundamental preservation of LGBTQ culture and lives through stories that are written, published and read.
- Writing, like any profession, has a skill set. Yet it's hard to find safe, welcoming spaces to learn these essential skills. Read more about the GCLS Writing Academy.
- The Round Table publishes reviews and bibliographies of "Over the Rainbow" books across the entire reading spectrum. Why is June GLBT Book Month? The answer is here.
- You have the freedom to read. Exercise that freedom and ask your local library to add books you want to read to their catalogs. It starts with getting that library card, right?
- Revised and expanded - Karin Kallmaker's advice on how to prepare and survive reading from your book the first time. Ad free site.
- It's not just you and me. Even famous, wildly successful, ground-breaking writers doubt they had an impact. #ImposterSyndrome #WriterSelfCare
- Enjoying local people art their heart out is one of my favorite self-cares for the solitary writer lifestyle. It's also a great balance to the times we're living through.
- Smart Bitches, Trashy Books... Just what it sounds like. Read more about this unabashed pro-romance site.
- The Lesbian Reading Room reviews short and long fiction for and about lesbians, with attention to works produced in the United Kingdom. That's right, lots of books with that elegant "u", a personal favourite of mine. Read more about it.
- I've always had trouble sleeping, but for many of my friends, running short on sleep night after night is a first. And there's little advice about sleep loss during a prolonged crisis. Ad free site.
- Find out more about the organization that produces my favorite event of the year!
- Karin Kallmaker's tips on moderating and/or being on a panel. And why it's important to make love to the bush! Ad free site.
- Karin's thoughts on Scrivener, software that helps writers organize, plan and produce.
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