Updated January 2013

I’ve probably read, reviewed, or at least seen every single advice book and website for writers. I could recommend dozens of resources, but I’ll just focus on the most helpful for new writers.

• Self-doubt and motivation (am I good enough? am I wasting my time?): Page After Page by Heather Sellers
• The kindest servant I know to other writers (poets, take special note), and one of my former colleagues: Robert Brewer
• Want to start a freelance writing career? Take a class with a stellar coach who helps you get results: Christina Katz
• Need to build your author platform? Dan Blank
• For memoirists and personal essayists: The Situation and The Story by Vivian Gornick
• Scriptwriting? Jeanne Bowerman & Scriptchat
• General industry advice—especially good for sussing out scams and not-quite-legitimate publishers and agents: Writer Beware
• Wondering how to get published? Read my 101 post.
• Wondering how to find publishers and agents? Here are free resources.
• Looking for freelance editorial help? Try these organizations: Consulting Editors Alliance and the Independent Editors Group.
• Want free feedback? Try one of these online writing & reading communities: Book Country, Wattpad, or Figment
• Still looking? Check my Free Writing Advice Archive.

I receive many e-mails from writers asking all kinds of questions—about contract rights, websites, blogging, pseudonyms, scams … you name it. Before you decide to contact me, try searching The Writer’s Knowledge Base for an answer. It’s curated by someone in the business you can trust.

Attention self-publishers or indie authors
The best education on how to self-publish (whether in print or online) can be found in these 3 places:

• Self-Publishing a Book: 25 Things You Need to Know by David Carnoy
• How to Self-Publish an E-Book by David Carnoy
• The Book Designer website & blog by Joel Friedlander

Keep up on trends
Writers tend to get frustrated and bitter in their attempts to publish—usually because they don’t understand how the publishing industry works, or they have expectations that will never be met. Read these blogs to better navigate your way to success and learn about the changes facing the industry:

• Shatzkin Files
• Digital Book World
• Tools of Change blog
• Writing on the Ether, a column I host by Porter Anderson