Resource Links
This page is divided into three sections all focused on resources for erotica authors, and authors in general.
- Online Author Resources: Websites that offer relevant info for writers
- General Writing Resources: Online dictionaries and grammar tips
- Copyright Issues: Valuable information on copyright concerns
Online Authors Resources
Savvy Authors – For a modest anual fee, membership offers many benefits, including: Author email loops & forums, special events, workshops, social marketing tools, networking, as well as a myriad of online tools and resources available for unlmited usage by all members (an easy to use Blog Tour Wizard, for example). Fun and informative.
WritersWeekly.com is one of the longest running sites on freelance writing, published continuously since 1997. Keep in mind that Writers Weekly is owned by Booklocker.com, Inc. so some articles may be slanted towards the owners. Of particular interest is Writer’s Weekly Warning Report featuring weekly reports about shoddy publishers, scams, and unfair contract terms.
Preditors & Editors: A guide to publishers and writing services for serious writers. Their sole purpose is to provide writers with information and contacts for the purpose of seeking publication of their work. There’s an enormous amount of important information on this site, including lists of agents, publishers and editors to avoid. Highly recommended!
Cindi Myers’ Market News is jam packed with tips, advice, and lots of current market news covering a variety of genres. Anyone can sign up by sending a blank email to: [email protected]
Erotica Revealed was established for the sole purpose of reviewing erotic literature of all stripes: straight, gay, lesbian, bi, trans, S/M, vanilla, B/D, fetish, smut, edgy, nasty, happy, raw, comfortable, loving, etc.
National Writers Union: The union for freelance writers working in U.S. markets. Offering include grievance resolution, industry campaigns, contract advice, health & dental plans, member education, job banks, networking, social events, and much more. Membership dues are based on your annual writing income.
EPIC the Electronically Published Internet Connection, is a professional organization for published and contracted e-book and print author. EPIC offers an extensive knowledge base that includes contract information, hints, guidance, and provides networking opportunities for exchange of information about promotion and market growth. Authors must qualify for membership, and pay annual dues.
General Writing Resources: Online dictionaries, thesauri, & grammar
WordWeb is a one-click thesaurus and dictionary for Windows that can look up words in almost any program. It works off-line, but can also look up words in web references such as the Wikipedia encyclopedia. There’s a free version and a Pro version. Highly recommended.
Urban Dictionary is an excellent slang dictionary constantly updated by users.
Your Dictionary is a free dictionary with definitions, thesaurus entries, spelling, pronunciation, and etymology results for your word. Includes links to language and research tools.
OneLook’s Reverse Dictionary lets you describe a concept resulting in a useful list of related terms with the best matches shown first.
The Free Dictionary is a comprehensive resource including dictionaries, encyclopedia and thesaurus. Includes fun facts, word games, articles and more.
Free Thesaurus for a no frills but very effect thesaurus/synonyms tool.
The Elements of Style — is the online reproduction of the classic reference book, The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. — a must have bookmark for all writers.
Guide to Grammar and Style includes a miscellany of grammatical rules and explanations, comments on style, and suggestions on usage Jack Lynch put together for his classes.
Guide to Grammar and Writing—is an easy to use comprehensive guide maintained by Professor of English Charles Darling for English courses at Capital Community College and for the general online public.
Alta Vista — This is probably one of the best language translation services on the Web, and it’s free.
The Dialectizer turn any text into dialect, including redneck, jive, pig Latin, cockney, Elmur Fudd and the Swedish Chef. Useful and lots of fun.
Copyright Issues
The ‘Fair Use’ Rule — An discussion of when use of copyrighted material is acceptable. Sooner or later, almost all writers quote or closely paraphrase what others have written. This article will help writers navigate Fair Use correctly. Bookmark the URL, you will refer to it often!
Getting the Facts Straight: Copyright Basics — An to understand basic tutorial on copyright basics from the Law & Fiction website. Important basic stuff writers need to know. Read it.
Writing-World — A group dedicated to authors with all sort of writing tips, useful information, references and resources for the writer.—Be sure to read Marge Gilk’s article on “Rights: What They Mean and Why They’re Important.
10 Big Myths about Copyright Explained — What are you allowed to do with someone else’s copyrighted work? 10 Big Myths FAQ attempts to answer common myths about copyright seen on the Net.
Copyright Confusion? This excellent article written by Neil Wilkinson (a practicing attorney, and adjunct profess of Intellectual Property Law at the KSU Michael Coles School of Business) is feature on the WritersWeekly.com website.
The United States Copyright Office — The site is dedicated to a plethora of copyright information, resources, how-tos, and advice.