L i n k s  &  R e s o u r c e s

A broad overview for writers seeking the informative,
the instructive, & the inspirational:

THE INFORMATIVE


publishers marketplace
This is an industry website, but if you want to find news about agents (who represents who), publishers (who publishes what), and authors, this is a site you want to at least give a trial run.

media bistro
Sign up for a class, learn exactly what publishers look for in a book proposal, figure out your target readership, and oh so much more. This site has more content than you can ever hope to get through, and it's an amazing resource.

Small Publishers Association of North America (SPAN).
I love small publishers, no matter how far I keep moving away from them in my professional life. This site is a helpful resource for marketing your work, complete with lots of industry resources.

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, by Anne Lamott
An old favorite and highly recommended book about starting small.
"Just take it bird by bird."

THE INSTRUCTIVE

Feel the Fear ... and Do It Anyway, by Susan Jeffers
Jeffers offers a clear-cut plan to help you overcome your fears and embrace your strength and conviction. A great book for creative types.

How to Write Attention-Grabbing Query & Cover Letters, by John Wood
A great resource to see what a good query and cover letter should look like.

How to Write a Book Proposal, by Michael Larsen
Written by a well-known Bay Area agent who's got a lot of insider knowledge and tips for doing it right.

The Fast-track Course on How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal,
by Stephen Blake Mettee
Written by a small press publisher who's also seen his share of proposals, too.

THE INSPIRATIONAL

SoulCollage®
Learn more about the process of SoulCollage on their website. It's an involved process that can be used for inspiration, but also to get in touch with your psyche and to better understand your own internal processes.

David Whyte books
All of David Whyte's books of prose and poetry are amazing. He's been an inspiration and a mentor, and I highly recommend his work.

The Artists Way
The book alone has sold over 2 million copies, but Julia Cameron's work goes beyond her books. She's turned hundreds of writers on to "Morning Pages," the practice of writing just a little bit every morning.