THE WRITER'S RESEARCH ROLODEX

Writers, below are some fabulous websites that we think might benefit you and your writing projects.  Some are tools, others are for research, and some are great resources for other information.  We’re not being compensated in any way for sharing these links with you… we simply thought they might be of interest.  When you have time, we hope you’ll check them out!  WritersDigest.com - Probably one of the best all-around websites for writers, Writer’s Digest offers information on writing better and getting published. The site also includes community forums, blogs and huge lists of resources for writers.  Their sister site, WritersDigestShop.com is a fantastic place to buy all the resources you could ever need on craft – from books, to CD, to webinars.  They have a resource for ever type of writer in the world.  (And, if you click the button on our website, you’ll get a deal on shipping!)

Merriam-Webster.com - Merriam Webster is the perfect place to look up words and find information. The site offers a dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, podcasts, word games and a lot of other things that may be of interest to writers and word-lovers.

Publaw.com – The Publishing Law Center – This site also provides important legal information for writers. Topics include licenses, trademarks, copyright, intellectual property and contracts.

NaNoWriMo.org - National Novel Writing Month, known as NaNoWriMo, challenges writers to pen 50,000 word novels between November 1 and November 31 every year. The site provides articles, forums and all kinds of motivators to help them get the work done.

WritersFM.com - Writers FM is an online radio station created by writers, for writers — streaming LIVE 24/7.  It broadcasts author interviews, writing prompts, upbeat music and mini mysteries throughout the day. 

Behindthename.com – Behind the Surname is a website for learning about all aspects of the etymology and history of surnames. Its scope is broad: all surnames from all cultures and periods are eligible to be included in the main name database. 

Babynames.com - Need to name one of your characters? BabyNames.com lets you search for names by gender, origin and letter.

Etymonline.com - This is a map of the wheel-ruts of modern English. Etymologies are not definitions; they’re explanations of what our words meant and how they sounded 600 or 2,000 years ago.  The dates beside a word indicate the earliest year for which there is a surviving written record of that word (in English, unless otherwise indicated). This should be taken as approximate, especially before about 1700, since a word may have been used in conversation for hundreds of years before it turns up in a manuscript that has had the good fortune to survive the centuries.

Catholic-saints.info - List of Patron Saints and Patronage – The term ‘Saints’ is used in Christian religions to describe a person who is perceived of being an example of great holiness and virtue and considered capable of interceding with God on behalf of a person who prayed to them. A person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization. The Roman Catholic Church has an official process for creating saints.

Exploreforensics.co.uk - For many people, forensics is a fascinating but confusing field that is full of mystery and intrigue. Whether it’s learning more about how criminal evidence is collected and stored or finding out how the legal system uses this information, everyone should explore the world of forensics.

Seventhsanctum.com – A wonderfully user-friendly tool that helps you to create names (and more) for just about every genre you can think of…  Anime/Manga; Beings; Characters; Combat; Darkness/Evil; Equipment; Humor;     Magic; Media/Fandom; Names; Organizations; Setting; Skills/Abilities/Traits; Superheroes/Sentai; Technology; Writing.

Onlineconversion.com - Convert just about anything to anything else.  Over 5,000 units, and 50,000 conversions.

Howstuffworks.com – This is a fabulous research site for any writer who needs to verify that the process or effect or affect they are writing about is actually plausible.  They cover nearly every topic, Adventure; Auto; Culture; Entertainment; Home & Garden; Money; Science and Technology.

Duotrope.com – Duotrope is a $5/month subscription-based service for writers that offers an extensive, searchable database of current fiction, poetry, and non-fiction markets, a calendar of upcoming deadlines, submissions trackers, and useful statistics compiled from the millions of data points they’ve gathered on the publishers we list.  They cover anthologies, journals, contests and a host of other “call for author” opportunities. 

SFWA.org - Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America – The SFFWA, or SFWA for short-short, is one of the most effective and widely-recognized of all non-profit writers’ organizations. Members have access to all manner of resources and publications and can benefit from the protection offered by the SFWA.

PW.org – Poets and Writers is the largest non-profit organization that serves creative writers. Their website is full of resources, providing information on everything from job listings to writing contests.

---