LibGuides: Writing Popular Fiction: Fiction Writing and Publishing Resources

Magazines and Trade Publications

The Writer is also available for individual subscription in print and/or digital formats: https://www.writermag.com/

Books

These items were recommended by faculty members. Most of them are not available in Reeves Library. You may find them at other local libraries, purchase them for your own use, or request them using Interlibrary Loan.

Write Great Fiction Series:

Characters, Emotion and Viewpoint : techniques and exercises for crafting dynamic characters and effective viewpoints by Nancy Kress
ISBN: 1582973164
Publication Date: 2005-03-15
Description and Setting : techniques and exercises for crafting a believable world of people, places, and events by Ron Rozelle
ISBN: 158297327X
Publication Date: 2005-03-15
Dialogue: techniques and exercises for crafting effective dialogue by Gloria Kempton
ISBN: 1582972893
Publication Date: 2004-10-26
Plot and Structure : techniques and exercises for crafting a plot that grips readers from start to finish by James Scott Bell
ISBN: 158297294X
Publication Date: 2004-10-06
Revision and Self-Editing for Publication : techniques for transforming your first draft into a novel that sells by James Scott Bell
ISBN: 1599637065
Publication Date: 2012-12-31

Other Recommended Books:

Many Genres, One Craft by Michael A. Arnzen; Heidi Ruby Miller
Call Number: 808.3 M29
ISBN: 0938467085
Publication Date: 2011-05-01
Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction by Jeff Vandermeer; John Coulthart (Illustrator); Jeremy Zerfoss (Illustrator)
ISBN: 1419704427
Publication Date: 2013-10-15
The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction
Intent to Sell by Jeffrey Marks
Call Number: 808.3 M34
ISBN: 1886199167
Publication Date: 2002-09-01

Professional Organizations for Genre Writers

Authors Guild
The Authors Guild has been the published writer's advocate for effective copyright, fair contracts, and free expression since 1912.
Association of Writers and Writing Programs
AWP provides community, opportunities, ideas, news, and advocacy for writers and teachers of writing.
Historical Novel Society
Horror Writers Association
Mystery Writers of America
MWA is the premier organization for mystery and crime writers, professionals allied to the crime writing field, aspiring crime writers, and folks who just love to read crime fiction.
Novelists, Inc.
The only writers organization devoted exclusively to the needs of multi-published novelists.
Romance Writers of America
SFWA
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Sisters in Crime Inc.
Sisters in Crime (SinC) is an international organization founded in 1986 to promote the professional development and advancement of women writing crime fiction.
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
The international professional organization for writers and illustrators of children's literature since 1971.
Women's Fiction Writers Association
"An inclusive organization of writers creating layered stories in which the plot is driven by the main character’s emotional journey."

Web Resources

Creative Penn
This site is aimed at people who are interested in writing, publishing of all different kinds and internet marketing/promotion for their books (in print/ebook or audio format).
CrimeReads
Culture website featuring essays, interviews, reading lists, and other content related to crime fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and true crime writing.
Goodreads
This social media platform for readers and book recommendations has a free Author Program where writers can connect with readers and fans.
gorelets.com - Michael A. Arnzen
Corrupting readers since Sept. 2002, The Goreletter is Michael Arnzen‘s e-mail newsletter for fans of his weird writing…and all aficionados of the aberrant, readers of the repulsive, and browsers of the bizarre.
Inkitt
Submit your book. We’ll promote your book to thousands of readers for free. If our readers love your novel, we’ll offer you a publishing deal.
Internet Speculative Fiction Database
The ISFDB is a community effort to catalog works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
LibraryThing
A community of 1,400,000 book lovers.
Los Angeles Review of Books
Site featuring "lively, intelligent long-form writing on recent publications in every genre, ranging from fiction to politics."
Poets & Writers
The nation's largest nonprofit organization serving creative writers.
Romance Divas | Award Winning Writer's Website and Discussion Forum
Thrilling Detective Web Site
14 years of private eye action.
Women & Diversity in Publishing
This site, created by a Seton Hill undergraduate student as part of an Honors Capstone project, includes a research paper, historical information, and related web resources.
Writers for Writers
The Writers for Writers have created an online database of all the resources we collect regarding our craft and the art and business of publishing.
Writing-World.com
Writing Better Action Scenes
Yale Grammatical Diversity Project
Our work aims to bring together information concerning micro-syntactic variation in varieties of English spoken in North America with the ultimate goal of fostering research in this area.

Apps

Bubbl.us
Bubbl.us is a concept-mapping tool; you may prefer this visual way of organizing and connecting themes in the literature (you can concept-map on paper or in other mind-mapping tools, as well).
Hemingway
An app you can use online to check your writing’s readability.
iBooks Author
Now anyone can create stunning iBooks textbooks, cookbooks, history books, picture books, and more for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Start with one of the Apple-designed templates that feature a wide variety of page layouts. Add your own text and images with drag-and-drop ease.
SelfControl
A free and open-source application for Mac OS X that lets you block your own access to distracting websites.
Write or Die
Allows users to set word count goals for themselves, with various punishments administered if the word counts aren’t met.