Steve Laube, Literary Agent

Charis Connection - An extraordinary group of the top Christian novelists. Each post on different topics related to the writing life. Excellent material.

Faith in Fiction - by Dave Long, editor at Bethany House Publishers. Every fiction writer must read this blog!

Forensics & Faith - by Brandilyn Collins. Insightful and always a pleasure to read.

From Where I Sit - by Mike Hyatt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Nelson Publishers

The Writing Life - by W. Terry Whalin, industry veteran. A real student of the market.

Your Writers Group - by Mick Silva, editor at Waterbrook. Always provocative and engaging.

Top of page

Be Aware of the Bestsellers

BookSense Bestseller List - Compiled from the top general market independent bookstores

Christian Bestsellers List

New York Times Bestsellers List - May need free registration

Publisher's Weekly Bestsellers List

Top of page

Sites of Interest for the Writer

Act One Program - Christian Writing for Hollywood. A tremendous program.

American Christian Fiction Writers Association
A wonderful group of fiction writers. Important to join and be a part of this community. A very nicely designed site.

BookWire, one of the most comprehensive online portals into the book industry. Their mission is to provide librarians, publishers, booksellers, authors, and general book enthusiasts with the resources they need. Owned by Bowker, the compilers of Books in Print.

Children's Writing Resource Center
Writer4kids.com. A superb resource. An absolute must for the children's writer.

Christian Fiction Writers Advice - Free articles from some of the best writers in Christian fiction today

Edenstar Books - The source for Christian-themed science-fiction and fantasy books and games.

Fiction Writer's Resource Page
"The best advice you'll ever hear: Keep writing. And believe in yourself. But as you already know, that doesn't tell you how to write, so I've assembled a list of web articles and books that'll do just that, help you understand the craft of fiction." Site maintained by Todd James Pierce.

Mystery Lover's Paradise - A wealth of information for Mystery writers.

Resources for Writers from A to Z from Yahoo!

Right-Writing
This a great site from W. Terry Whalin, a great teacher of writers. Learn from his experience and honesty about the publishing and writing process. See his blog mentioned above.

Robin's Nest
Nice group of linked resources on the web. Nicely categorized. Good articles for journalists.

Spirit-Led Writer - An online magazine and a wonderful site chock full of encouragement and honest advice. Make sure you visit often.

W here the Map Ends
A site created by Jeff Gerke that focuses on the speculative (science fiction and fantasy) genre within Christian fiction. He has compiled a comprehensive list of titles and authors and conducts some insightful interviews. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.

Writer's Digest
Each month Writer's Digest helps thousands of writers hone their skills and find the best-paying markets for their work. You'll find page after page of solid advice for writing stories, articles, poems, screenplays... suspense novels, too. You absolutely must subscribe. You owe it to yourself.

Writer's Almanac
The Writer's Almanac®, is a daily program of poetry and history hosted by Garrison Keillor. You can find poems and text related to each day's almanac

Writer's View - Absolutely the best online Christian writers group available anywhere. Firmly moderated by T. Suzanne Eller and Lisa Crayton it features over a dozen panelists from every walk of the writing life, from agents to media specialists to editors to freelance writers. There is a membership criteria, but the process guarantees a professional place for the exchange of ideas.

Top of page

Selling What You Write

American Christian Writers - led by Reg Forder, they provide nearly 30 writer's conferences around the country each year and have an annual Writer's Cruise in the Caribbean. Conferences are a great way to meet editors and network with fellow writers. Check their web site for a conference near you. They also publish the monthly Christian Communicator magazine and the Advanced Christian Writer newsletter.

The Christian Writers Guild is one of the fastest growing training grounds for new writers. Now owned by the bestselling author Jerry Jenkins it has made quite an impact with its mentoring programs.

CLASS Services - Christian Leaders, Authors & Speakers Services

Since 1981 CLASS has grown into a complete service agency for both the established and aspiring Christian speaker, author and publisher. CLASS is more than just a speakers bureau, more than just a training seminar and more than just a book and tape catalog. They are the only organization of its kind. Focusing on the Christian community, CLASS finds the raw talent, trains it, develops it, educates it and nurtures it, and when it is ready, launches it through our speakers service and publishing assistance.

They can really help the aspiring author learn how to present their material to their audience. They also have a great publicity service that can help you get your book on radio and TV.

The Christian Communicator Critique Service
The Christian Communicator Critique Service is a great way to have your manuscript looked at by industry professionals. Their prices are fair and their work is very good. Many manuscripts sent through this service are now published by major publishing companies. Managed by Susan Osborn this service is highly recommended.

Christian Writers Fellowship International - a multi-service ministry for Christians in publishing. For almost 25 years they have encouraged and equipped writers to minister to readers through writing of the highest biblical and professional standards. Publishes the Cross & Quill newsletter.

Sally Stuart's Christian Writer's Market Guide
Sally's book is THE best resource for information about book and periodical publishers available. Included in the most recent issue are over 680 Periodical Markets - 86 New; over 280 Book Markets - 33 New; 110 Greeting Card/specialty markets; 121 Topical/Subject Listings for Periodicals; 109 Topical/Subject Listings for Books; Ethnic Book & Periodical Markets; Award-winning Publications Identified; 28 Christian Literary Agents; and Groups, Conferences, Editorial Services Nationwide.


	Christian Manuscript Submissions is an online manuscript submission service of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For $98 (for six months) you can get your proposal reviewed by over thirty Christian publishers. Many of them will only take unsolicited manuscripts via this service or from agents.

Write His Answer
Marlene Bagnull has a wonderful ministry to encourage and equip Christian writers. This site is full of Bible studies, writing and marketing tips, and information on the Greater Philadelphia and Colorado Christian Writers Conference that Marlene directs.

Writer's Edge Manuscript Service
This is a manuscript screening service for Christian publishers. Writers submit an abbreviated description of their book proposal plus sample chapters, The Writer's Edge evaluates it, and, if it looks promising, the publishers get a report about its availability. The writer pays for the evaluation--$95. If they are not able to recommend your book to the publishers, they will attempt to offer some counsel, including a short analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the book for this market.

Writer's Guild of America
Numerous resources for the writer. Helpful advice on numerous topics from the world's best writers.

Writer's Information Network (WIN)
WIN was organized in 1983 in Seattle, Washington to: Provide a much needed link between writers and editors/publishers of the religious publishing industry. Further professional development in writing and marketing skills of Christian writers. Provide a meeting ground of encouragement and fellowship for persons engaged in writing and speaking.
They have a great newsletter (WIN-Informer) to which you should consider subscribing. Editor Elaine Colvin has a journalist nose for the latest news and trends in the industry, much of which is only available in this quarterly newsletter.

Top of page

Bookstores and Associations

American Bookseller Association (ABA)
A resource for the general marketplace and the bookstores. Look to it for industry news and trends.

Visit and support your local Christian bookstores! Click the button to find one near you.

Christian Book Distributors
The best prices on Christian books available anywhere. The #1 Christian direct mail catalog company in the world. (But always double check your prices against what you can find at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Books-a-Million.)

	The Christian Booksellers Association. They sponsor the annual International Christian Retailing Show (ICRS) in July and the CBA Advance convention in January. Check the site for more information. You can also sign up for their regular free e-mail newsletter.

Christian Retailing is key magazine for helping you understand the retail environment. Sign up for their free e-mail newsletter.

	Names and addresses of the members of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Nearly every major Christian Publisher is a member of this association.

The Parable Stores Web Site
The Parable Stores are a group of over 300 independent Christian retailers who have banded together to combine their buying power. One on the key "gate-keepers" in the industry. If Parable gets behind a book it can land on the bestsellers list.

Top of page

Christian Resources

Bible Gateway
The best way to search for that elusive Bible verse. Search any verse in the NIV, ESV, The Message, NASB, NRSV, KJV, Young's Literal, Worldwide English or Darby translations. It is as good as having Bible software loaded on your computer. (Below you can even search foreign language translations as well!)

Bible Study Tools from Crosswalk.com
Amazing! Free! All sorts of Bible study tools available on the web. Dictionaries, commentaries, topical bibles, you name it and it is free for you to use. For example: type the word "justification" into the space below, you will then be taken to the Bible Study Tools site and have access to dozens of great reference tools and translations based on that word. An tremendous tool for you! (Its only disadvantage is the lack of the NIV translation, use the Bible Gateway for that.)

Christian Answers Network
A tremendous apologetics resource. Find answers to all sorts of theological questions.

Christian White and Yellow Pages (www.711.net)
Find that long lost friend or research a Christian business.

Christian Literature on the Internet
Find that public domain material on the web. Search for new writers and fresh ideas.

CrossWalk.com - Another great site that groups all the best Christian related material into one huge search engine. The largest Christian search engine on the Internet.

The Jesus Film - Watch the Jesus Film from Campus Crusade on your computer! You will need RealVideo software which is free on their site as well. Available in 50 different languages.

Probe Ministries- A great site with wonderful apologetic resources. Their mission statement reads: "Probe's mission is to present the Gospel to communities, nationally and internationally, by providing life-long opportunities to integrate faith and learning through balanced, biblically based scholarship, training people to love God by renewing their minds and equipping the Church to engage the world for Christ."

World Wide Study Bible - What an extraordinary resource! Every chapter in the Bible cross indexed with the Classic Christian literature from history. A lifetime of research and resources right at your fingertips. It is completely free.

Top of page

Contract and Copyright Resources

Contracts

Contracts Watch newsletter from the the American Society of Journalists and Authors
Publishing Law Forum I highly recommend you visit this site and subscribe to their free newsletter.
Buy the book, Kirsch's Handbook of Publishing Law : For Author's, Publishers, Editors and Agents, by Jonathan Kirsch, Silman-James Press.

Copyrights

ASCAP - American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (music related)
Christian Copyright Licensing International - For music lyric permissions
Copyright Clearance Center - Register your for work for use by others or to obtain permission
The Copyright Web Site - The best copyright resource on the internet
How to Cite Material Obtained from the Internet - Exhaustive resource from Columbia University.
Rights for use of photographs. Corbis.com is a great resource for this.
U.S. Copyright Office
When Works Enter the Public Domain
Buy the book, The Copyright Handbook: How to Protect and Use Written Works 9th Edition
by Stephen Fishman, Nolo Press, $39.95 (save 29% by clicking the above link to Amazon).
Buy the book, The Copyright Permission and Libel Handbook : A Step-By-Step Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers (Wiley Books for Writers) by by Lloyd J. Jassin and Steve C. Schecter, John Wiley & Sons Publishing.
Buy the book, Kirsch's Handbook of Publishing Law : For Author's, Publishers, Editors and Agents, by Jonathan Kirsch, Silman-James Press.

Top of page

Grammar and Writing Technique

Grammar Now! - This is a free site dedicated to answering specific grammar, composition, research or formatting questions. Send a question by filling out the form below, and you will receive an e-mail response. If your composition question is simple, you may get an answer the same day, or within 24 hours. If it is a more complicated composition, formatting or research question, it may take longer. If the need is urgent, say so in the first line.

Guide to Grammar and Writing - A fabulous resource site. Well organized, but takes a little getting used to.

Grammar and Style Guide Show Don't Tell Self Editing

Interactive Spelling Test Understanding First Person How to Critique Fiction

Interactive Grammar Test Gender-Fair Usage Guidelines How to Revise a Novel

Word Game of the Day How to Approach an Editor Career Plan for Fiction

Word of the Day Use of singular "their" It's vs. Its

Word Wizard Punctuation Capitalization

Richard Lederer's Verbivore Revising Prose The Business of Writing

Copy Editor's Vocabulary Plurals of Greek-Latin derived nouns How to Quit the Day Job

Top of page

Reference Books

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations

British-American Dictionary - ever wonder about the British usage of an American phrase?

The Slot: a web site for copy editors
This web site evolved into the great book Lapsing into a Comma by Bill Walsh. However there are still some fascinating articles and insights into writing at this site. Highly recommended for the discussion it generates.

Elements of Style, by William Strunk, Jr.

Movie Clichés - A hilarious collection of assumptions about society that movies have inserted into our thinking. For instance: "Pastries are always in plain pink boxes. When we see a plain pink box, we expected to know that the box contains donuts or cake or some related item."

One Look
Look in 165 Dictionaries at the same time! Believe it or not.

Roget's Thesaurus online

Rhyming Dictionary: The Rhyme Zone

Top of page

Research

Using the Internet for Research
An extensive resource designed for incoming college students to St. Louis University.

How to Cite Your Internet Research - Found what you need? Now how do you write the bibliographic information for your footnote? Here is your answers for all types of Internet research including how to cite an e-mail from a friend.

Internet Search Engines

CineMedia - still growing, with over 5,000 sites devoted to actors as well as links to over 700 magazines and journals, 800 film and video festivals, and 400 TV networks and channels.
Dogpile Search Engine - This mega-search facility simultaneously looks at Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Ask.com - all at the same time. And it's really fast!
Google.com - This "SafeSearch" version below automatically screens out offensive and pornographic materials.

Internet Movie Database - Everything you ever wanted to know about the movies.

Top of page

Research Tools

The Acronym Finder is a searchable database of more than 109,800 common abbreviations and acronyms about computers, technology, telecommunications, and the military, including Department of Defense, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Coast Guard acronyms and abbreviations.

Anywho.com- Find anyone who has a listed phone number. It will even give directions to their house! Yikes!

A-Z Music Lyrics - This index contains links to all sorts of music lyrics. An amazing site. This is how you discover the words behind today's hit music.

Convert Measurements - Convert yards into metric; Fahrenheit into Celsius; etc.

Currency Calculator - Convert money into the correct amount in another country.

Ecclesiastical Calendar - Need to know the date of Easter for a future or past year? Need to know the timing of the Church Holy Days? This is the resource for you. Discover the Holy Days for any year after 325 A.D.

Famous Birthdays - Find out who was born when. Great for trivia sidebars.

Federal Statistics
More than 70 agencies in the United States Federal Government produce statistics of interest to the public. The Federal Interagency Council on Statistical Policy maintains this site to provide easy access to the full range of statistics and information produced by these agencies for public use.

How Far is It? - Determine the distance between any two locations

Internet Hoaxes - The latest of those irritating hoaxes that get spread around the Internet via e-mail. Please read this page and do not be duped by the jokesters. Also visit Computer Virus Hoaxes and Myths.

Project Gutenberg - The original and exhaustive site of public domain books that have been converted to digital form for you to search and read on the Internet. The list of available texts is extraordinary. Look for your favorites.

Quotation Center - 13,000 quotations searchable by key-word, topic, or author. Amazing.

Research-It! - currency converter, a language translator, dictionary, thesaurus, zip code retrieval, biography searcher, bible search, quotation search and package tracking plus a lot of other stuff you might need now and then.

Statistics Every Writer Should Know - Intriguing discussion of statistics and their meaning. Important if you are to become accurate in your research.

Today in History

Trademark Search - Make sure you aren't breaking any laws concerning the use of a particular name that might be trademarked!

Translate to Other Languages
English to French, Spanish, German, Italian or Portuguese. Great for adding a little flair to your character!

White House Documents
Current releases, hot topics, and the latest Federal statistics.

YourDictionary.com
A fabulous compendium of on-line dictionaries and thesauri of every imaginable description, including foreign language, acronyms, biographical, multilingual, and the ever-popular Pimbly's Dictionary of Heraldry. If you can't find it here, it's probably not a word.

Top of page