Invest in Your Writing: Resources

I am so tired of hearing about the doom and gloom of our economy. I have no control over what is going on with the banking or auto industry, but I do have control over my life. And this year I am making a commitment to myself and my writing. I am going to do what it takes to get my book published, to get an article in a major writing magazine and to get a short story published. It is going to take some time and even money, make this happen, but I am committed to it.

As I said in my last post, you need to move beyond just wanting to be a writer and decide to be a writer.

Here are some resources that will help you on this path.

2009 Writer's Market
This should be a staple in any writers library. This will give you market information about publishers, agents and magazines. There are also more specific one's like 2009 Guide To Literary Agents, 2009 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market and 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.

Writer's Market Companion
This book is full of how to articles, information about marketing, how to write a query letter, information about finding an agent--basically everything you need to know about the publishing world.

Flip Dictionary
A great book to help you find that perfect word. It is different from a regular dictionary. You can look up words, but then it also groups words by categories. So there is a grouping for cheeses or all the different words for blue or biology words. Great resource for fiction and nonfiction writers.

Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer
This is the best book I have found out there that covers all aspects of writing for magazines.

Writing Magazines
There are a few writing magazines that I highly recommend. Writer's Digest (1-year), The Writer, Poets & Writers Magazine and Writers Journal. Check out their websites to find the one that works for you.

Writers on Writing
Many accomplished writers have written books about they became successful. Here are some of my favorites. David Morrell: Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing: A Novelist Looks at His Craft, Janet Evanovich:How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, Stephen King:On Writing

Inspiration
Here are some books that help keep us on the right path.

• Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
• The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
• Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul
• Joy Writing
  
  

For Fun
Here are some books to inspire your creative muse.

• Joy Writing
• The Write-Brain Workbook: 366 Exercises to Liberate Your Writing,
  
• Unjournaling: Daily Writing Exercises that Are NOT Personal, NOT Introspective, NOT Boring!

Share some of your favorite resources.

Happy Writing!
~Kerrie

Read the first post in this series Invest In Your Writing: Make a Decision