The Evil Editor and Other Useful Web Sites

I happened upon one web site useful to writers the other day, which made me think about putting together a list of some that can offer helpful tips and backstage glimpses that can help you better understand publishing and how to navigate the business:

• Evil Editor: Why you don't get published is a hoot. Yes, you can laugh at unfortunates, if you are so inclined, but this is also a useful site. Aside from the mocking for amusement, the owners claims to be a publishing industry pro, and the reactions are telling, offering good clues on what not to write in a query. The brave can also submit their own queries and book openings for critique.


• Pub Rants is less snarky (a position that Miss Snark took with her when she stopped new blog entries) and is by a literary agent in Denver. She still rants - politely - and in some of her material there is useful information, such as this entry about mentioning a book by an agent's client in your query letter.


• Lyons Literary has a blog explaining terms, some book publishing contract basics, and some of the dos and don'ts that make agents either more or less disposed to considering you and your work.


• If you are concerned about possible scams - a reasonable attitude for writers - you might check Writer Beware Blogs! by A.C. Crispin and Victoria Strauss, who hunt down scams and their perpetrators.


• If you like to hear the story behind books, Backstory has them. By e-publishing pioneer M.J. Rose and Jessica Keener, fiction editor at Agni Magazine, it seems like light lifting - authors send in the back stories to their books. But who cares? It's an interesting concept.


• Shrinking Violet Promotions is worth a stop just because the name is so apt for the concept. However, if you consider yourself an introvert (or not), you might find some useful information about promotion here.