The Internet is an incredible resource for writers—if carefully used. Serious, thorough research is essential if a writer is looking for information online. We have checked these sites out, and can recommend them without reservation. But we are always open to others, and encourage readers to send us links. If they meet our standards, we would be delighted to include them. 

Backspace: The Writer’s Place
By far, the best forum for writers of all types. The cost is a mere $30 per year (and they offer a free five-day trial), and for that you get to join more than 700 other members in  dozen countries including nearly a dozen New York Times bestselling authors and winners of multiple prestigious literary awards. But there are also amazing discussion forums, an online guest speaker program, how-to articles, an annual writers’ conference and other events.

Backspace Writers’ Conference
Unquestionably the best of all writers’ conferences, this two-day annual conference at New York’s famous Algonquin Hotel has leaped to the top with its emphasis on quality, not quantity. No more than 150 novelists can attend, and there are no formal pitch sessions. Instead, you’ll have the opportunity to mingle with some of the best writers and agents in the industry in a comfortable, non-aggressive atmosphere.

Behler Blog
Run by Lynn Price of Behler Publications, this blog is smart, snarky and utterly delicious. It’s also excellent reading for writers who are looking for editorial feedback that comes without a sword through their personal hearts. She tells it like it is for those who are serious about their writing—and their sense of humor.

Evil Editor
“Why you don’t get published” is the subtitle of this entertaining if ruthless blog. Yup, it’s another genuine but unidentified literary gatekeeper blog. Who he is and where he works is a secret, but his gruffness is surely a front for his soft heart. You won’t see the latter in his posts, but it’s there. Why else would he devote a fair amount of his free time helping writers with query letters, book beginnings and questions?

Freelance Writing Jobs
This blog, developed and written by Deborah Ng, is a fantastic source of writing and editing jobs that are not exploitative, that is, offer decent money. She receives a lot of feedback, and anyone who is writing on a freelance basis or wishes to should bookmark this and check it every day. Truly a wonderful site.  

Janet Reid and Query Shark
Ms. Reid hosts two blogs. The first is as passionate as the crime fiction she loves, an invigorating  combination of writers’ advice, personal rants, amusing observations, wild fantasy trips and just about anything else that catches her interest. Query Shark is a specialized blog where she critiques (and re-critiques) queries sent to her for comment. You’d better have a thick skin for this one; she doesn’t mince words, but her advice is invaluable.

Miss Snark
Sadly, MS decided after two years to return to earning a living as an agent. Her blog is closed as of May 20, 2007, but its archives will remain. If you are not familiar with her, she’s the original blogging agent—a New York city literary agent who used the pseudonym, Miss Snark. With her hilarious persona and her claims to “vent her wrath on the hapless world of writers” while “crushing them to sand beneath the T. Rexual heels of stiletto snark,” she rapidly became the most popular of all blogging agents. She was unbelievably generous with her expertise, and all of her advice and wisdom remains available. Be sure to check her links to other trustworthy blogging agents and editors. I am pleased to say BiblioBuffet was honored with one of her rare links to “Cool People," and we are going to miss her very much.

Poetry Society of America
Google poetry and you’re likely to get a scam. The reason is that poetry is a hard sell to publishers—the small market for it means very few handle it—and those who would take advantage of poets seeking publication is huge. But this site is not only legitimate; it’s a fantastic resource that offers “readings, seminars and competitions intended to challenge and inspire.” If you are a poet or interested in poetry, you should have this site bookmarked.

Poets & Writers
This is probably the best print publication for writers. Their online site offers a forum, links to grants, funding for readings and an e-newsletter for contest deadline reminders.

Preditors & Editors™
Since 1997, this watchdog site has acted as a clearinghouse for writers. It provides information, recommendations, warnings and contacts for those “seeking publication of their work.” Founder Dave Kuzminski is a published writer of both non-fiction and fiction, as well as a fearless fighter for truth and right. It is regularly updated, and there is no charge for this. (Disclosure: BiblioBuffet has received a Recommended rating from P&E, but that’s not why the site on this list.)

Pub Rants
The home of Colorado-based literary agent Kristin Nelson who gives the same clearheaded advice as Miss Snark but without the snarkiness. She’s a very nice—and successful—agent who indulges, as she says, “in polite rants about queries, writers, and the publishing industry.” She also links to quite a number of other trustworthy blogging agents and editors.

UCLA Extension Writers’ Program   
UCLA’s extension program is one of the best in the nation, and probably the jewel in this crown is its Writers’ Program, which offers more than 550 courses annually plus certificate programs, Master Classes, Writers’ Studio, script and manuscript consultations, and a screenplay competition. More than 250 superb instructors specialize in the fields of screenwriting, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting and poetry. Classes include online, daytime, evenings, weekends, master courses for writers with near-professional work, and an annual intensive four-day writers’ studio. There are even scholarship opportunities. If you are looking for a writing class, you simply cannot do better than this.