Questions

You’ve done it. You’ve gone and written the next Great American Novel. Shockingly, some dolt at a publishing house has actually recognized your brilliance. This is it. The big time! There’s only one problem…nobody is buying your novel.

Write it and they will come. Okay, that’s a take off of a certain baseball movie cliché, but it is just as true for writing. The most misunderstood thing new writers don’t understand about novels is writing them is only the first step. You might write the piece de resistance for the decade, but it doesn’t matter if nobody knows about it.

Will you get rich writing? Well, you will if you are the next Stephen King. Most writers obviously don’t make it that far. Yes, you can make a living writing, but you are sadly mistaken if you believe the glamorous image of a writer’s life that is often portrayed in movies and such. I’ll give you an example.

I read a marvelous travel book written by a young lady who had traveled to Costa Rica. She ended up falling in love with a man in prison there and ultimately living with him after he left prison. It was a solid novel and a good read. When I completed it, I slapped it up in the used section on Amazon. Guess who purchased the book from me? Yes, the author. It was cheaper for her to buy her own novel from me used on Amazon than from her own publisher! Welcome to the business of writing.

Writing your novel is obviously a huge step in the revenue generating process. That being said, the modern publishing industry is a cutthroat one. You must be a good writer, but you also must learn to market your material. Most publishers are not going to make a massive effort. It is you who must do this. It is you who has to get out and work the book signings. It is you who needs to show the world one way or another that you’ve written a masterpiece. More than a few great authors have died penniless because they could not master this simple idea.

Writing a novel takes ability, passion and technique. Just keep in mind the job is not done when you finish the writing process.


- Thomas Ajava

Light novels are the Japanese equivalent of a young adult aimed book. My question pertains to how many pages it normal is and whether it is in 1st or 3rd person.
Light novels are the Japanese equivalent of a young adult aimed book. My question pertains to how many pages is it normally and whether it is in 1st or 3rd person. — Also, what’s the shortest?
- dtsxavid

Since only the most successful writers can earn a living only from writing novels and short stories, most writers need also to work in additional jobs. What kind of work can a creative writing Ph.D find?
- PoliSciFi

The Internet has truly revolutionized the careers of writers worldwide. Now you can work for publishers, corporations and a whole range of other clients on a truly global scale. Whether you are in the heart of a big city, or in a remote mountain village, all you need is an Internet connection to run your writing business.

The opportunity is fantastic, and so is the writer’s life that you could enjoy. But where can you find the jobs you need to establish a full-time writing career?

One way to start is through working the Internet job boards. Here also included and listed separately are resources for business and technical writers, editors, journalists, and translators.

Writers’ Resources–General

Absolute Write - freelance writing, screenwriting, playwriting, writing novels, nonfiction, comic book writing, greeting cards, poetry, songwriting. One stop shop

Emily’s Writing for the Web Emily A. Vander Veer gives professional writers the tools needed to promote, publish, and sell work to the largest and fastest-growing market in the world: the Web.

e-Writer’s Place For writing inspirations, motivations and prescriptions.

Freelance Writers is a searchable database of writers from all around the world.

Freelance Writing This is the ultimate job board for freelance writers.

Freelance Writing Organization - Int’l This site hosts one of the largest free writing resource links databases in the world! It offers education, daily news, a writer’s store, creativity advice and forums, to name a few of the resources. Over 2,000 free writing resources in 40+ categories of writing

FundsForWriters - A plethora of sources where freelance writers can find paying jobs

Momwriters A community of professional and new writers … who face the unique challenges of writing with children underfoot.

National Writers Union ‘The only U.S. trade union for freelance and contract writers.’ We offer contract advice, grievance resolution, health & dental plans, member education, Job Hotline, and networking. See also: Writers Union Job Hotline

Published! Articles and resources…from Marcia Yudkin, author of eleven books and hundreds of magazine articles, syndicated columnist, public radio commentator, writing coach

Published - The Directory of Independent Writers & Artists. searchable directory of independent Writers & Artists

SharpWriter Grammar. Complete writing resources. Lot of good stuff here but not geared expressly for freelancers

Suite101 This is an online community for writers. Not only is this a great site for work-at-home resources. You can apply to become an editor for them and get paid for your work.

Sun oasis Jobs for Writers, Editors, and Copywriters Employment opportunities for writers, journalists, new-media types on-line off-line in reporting feature writing reviewing editing free-lancing editorial content providing etc. … Recently submitted job offers: Copywriter, Freelance. Monarch Design, a design and advertising agency,

The Burry Man Writers Center freelance job links, resources for fiction and nonfiction writers, working professionals and beginners

with particular support for writing about Scotland

The New Writer - the monthly magazine with the best in fact, fiction and poetry. aimed at all writers: the short story writer, the novelist, the poet, and feature writer, anyone with a serious intent to develop their writing to meet the expectations of today’s editors.

The Writers Home A Web Site For Writers, Editors And Lovers Of The Written Word.

TrAce Online Writing Community trace connects writers and readers around the world … with the focus on creativity, collaboration and training. New media writing, web development

Worldwide Freelance Writer How to sell your writing overseas. Find out where to sell your freelance work. Detailed guidelines for paying writing markets all over the world.

WriteCraft Writers Resource Center Companion to the WriteCraft Critique Group - where writers learn the trade.

writejobs Job Title. Company. Location. Proofreader/editor. Bioedit Ltd. Freelance. Digital Photography Writers…

Writers Unbound Writing resources, Internet resources related to writing, writers, publishing, epublishing, authors and more. Articles and resources related to creative writing.

Writer’s Software SuperCenter Writer’s Software SuperCenter has software for writing books, articles, novels, and screenplays, including Writer’s Blocks software, StyleWriter editing software, StoryCraft, and more!

Writing World - Moira Allen provides writing tips, markets, news, contests and more.

The Writer’s Gazette Writing resource site for writers on freelance and publishing, including articles, job board, contests. Nice, comprehensive list of writers’ job boards.

Business and Technical

Copywriter world Freelance writers bid for writing projects such as resume writing, documents in APA style or MLA style writing, poems, sonnets, research papers, business plans, your biography, free e-books, your business proposal, essays, marketing plans, web content, ghost writing, ad copy, catalogs… virtually any form of writing.

Freelance Online - a professional online service for freelancers in the publishing and advertising fields. Free for employers; freelancers pay $15.00/year for membership.

Freelance Success Freelance Success is a community of professional, nonfiction writers who subscribe to a newsletter that guides them toward well-paying markets and editors. There is not a job board located on this site.

Techwriters Employs technical writers on and off site. The pay is excellent, but you must have a lot of experience with the topics

writingassist.com Provides local freelance technical writers for projects such as manuals, policies, software documentation, and work flow integration.

Children’s Literature

Institute of Children’s Literature offered the premiere writing course, books, and a newsletter to adults interested in learning how to write and be published for children and teens.

Editing

Manuscript Editing Fiction and Non-fiction; Serving writers, literary agents, and publishers since 1976.

Fiction

Fiction Factor - The Online Magazine for Fiction Writers. NEW!

International markets

Australian Writer’s Marketplace The essential resource for getting published in Australia and New Zealand.

Author Network - resources for writers including links, articles, monthly columns and ePublishing services.

Canadian Writer’s Journal Canada’s Independent Writer’s Magazine.

Freelance Spain - the online Spanish resource for editors and journalists.

FreelanceJournalist.co.uk Helping journalists build a presence on the web. The web directory for UK freelance journalists.

Freelancers.co.uk offers you the complete guide to freelancing for publishers as a copyeditor or proofreader.

New Zealand Writers Website Writing Resources for New Zealand writers

writelinkpro.co.uk WritelinkPRO is the content provider for top UK monthly newsletter and website. We pay on acceptance for writing articles, fiction, poetry, reviews. We offer free e-book workshops, free e-book on travel writing, exclusive Members Area.

Journalism

International Federation of Journalists - The world’s largest organization of journalists, representing around 450,000 members in more than 100 countries.

News Jobs Network Journalisms resources and News jobs in US, Canada and Utah.

UK Links 4 Journalists the most useful sites on the web. This is the journalist’s section.

Translation

ProZ: Freelance translators, translation services, agencies, jobs and directory…

Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia Fostering creative writing and the profession of writing in Nova Scotia.

Writerfind New Zealand Linking New Zealand writers with local and global markets.

Playwriters

writernetwork. We provide dramatic writers with the tools they need to build better careers and redefine the


- Danish

I have a mac book pro and I know that there are programs available to help you write and manage screen plays (different sections for character bios, outlines, ways to jump from chapter to chapter), but I was wondering if there was one specifically for writing novels. After 12 chapters I’ve had to start saving each chapter separately and already they are getting screwed up.
- Isabella

Apart “write novels” which is the obvious answer to that question. Usually novel writing comes as a second career, after you’ve established yourself in another field such as teaching… which is another thing I don’t want to do.

No stupid answers telling me Creative Writing is not a proper degree. Trust me, it’s not as easy as you think. I have essays to write too.
- Julie G

I have always loved writing short or long and at the start of 2007, I came up with a good idea for a novel to write. I have since, written about 27 pages and stopped for quiet a while but since now, have gotten back on track in the writing. does anybody have any tips on writing novels and how to stop from going into boring mode?
- Addison T

I’ve answered questions and looked at loads of people’s profiles, read the questions and comments, and lots of people seem to be writing books. I was just wondering how many people on here are actually writing full-length novels?
- Ashleighh

I can’t finish writing a novel because I’m writing 7 novels at the same time.

I’m in chaos.
- GothNinja