Getting it Seen; Getting it Out There

There are all sorts of writer support sites out their on the web. In her book The Internet: A Writer's Guide Jane Dorner provides an extensive list. Most of these sites cater for a particular genre of writing ( such as non-fiction feature writing, scriptwriting or Poetry). They also vary in their target audience ( some aim at absolute beginners, other's provide workshop opportunities for devloping writers whilst others aim at seasoned pros). The following links demonstate the wide variety of opportunities out there on the www.

• Freelance Success A US-based resource targeted at established, professional non-fiction writers.
• Pleasure Dome An Online learning community for writers
• Writer's Block A Canada-based site with lots of resources for writers
• Writer's Digest A US-based magazine site ( probably of most interst to beginners)
• Writernet A UK-based site aimed at writers working in the dramatic arts

There are also a number of excellent sites dedicated to literature in a particular region. See for example -

• Creative Arts East ( East Anglia Region)
• LiteratureNorthEast (North East England Region)
• Lit.net (West Midlands of England Region)
• New Writing North (North East England Region)

There are a number of e-zines that provide writers with an opportunity to get their work out in the public domain. Selecting the right e-zine (and editor) for your work is an important decision. The advice I give to poets looking to send their work out to a poetry magazine for publication is to pop down to the Poetry Library (South Bank Complex, London) and find a magazine that is appropriate for your work at that time. The advice for e-zines is pretty similar. Do your research - find a an e-zine that you respect, find an e-zine that is publishing work that is in the same genre and vein as yours and follow the submission notes provided by the editor.There are amazing lists of e-zines at John Labovitz's E-Zine-List and at Electric Pen (needless to say some of the links are broken - but much of the information is good). It covers fiction, non-fiction and poetry.I like e-zines that also have a non-electronic format. This means that they will have editors and staff who are familiar with good editorial practice. Personal favourites include:-

• Magma Poetry Online
• Poetry Review
• Rattapallax

Another great resource is the Poetry Library's New Poetry Magazines Archive. This is a great way to find a magazine for your work. Other lists include - Tim Love's Literary Magazines, The Poetry Kit List and New Hope International Review On-Line List.

There is also a specialist publisher for hypertext fiction.

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  Copyright © Gavin Stewart 2005