Writers Resources To Help You
Craft Your Novel

When you're learning how to write a novel, you may reach for writers resources that can help you get good fast. I know I've reached for plenty, though the majority of mine since college days have been books on the topics related to writing fiction.

So, what sorts of aid can you find out there?

Just about anything you can imagine.


Programs and Scholarships and Guides, Oh My!

While in college (a long time ago), I took several fiction writing classes. I'd originally intended to complete a creative writing program for my degree, but being young and indecisive, I ended up with a mixed three-subject degree instead (part of which included fiction classes).

After college, since I was earning so little, I stuck to occasional purchases of fiction writing books. For several years, those were my only writers resources. Then I got a subscription to a writer magazine (which I've recommended on other pages - Writers Digest). I've had a continuing subscription ever since.

Plenty of writing books are written as creative writing guides for specific parts of fiction writing. Creating characters, for example, or building a better plot. If you need fiction writing help in a particular area, I suggest you start with a book about that aspect of learning to write a novel.


More For Your Money

If you happen to be just starting out in the fiction world (or are you in a fictional world?), you may want to look into fiction writing scholarships . While there are pros and cons to learning to write this way, it's certainly worth looking into.

Another avenue for writers resources is fiction writing software . I have never tried any novel writing software out (though I may experiment with a few at some point), but the reviews are good for at least some of them.

Another great resource, if you've never purchased a copy, is Writers Market. While it goes out of date a little each year, getting a new copy each year can be worth the sale of your next novel. Between the listings of markets and the fiction writing resources, it pays for itself. There's also now an online version you can subscribe to.


Building a Network

One of the best things you can do for yourself, since writing is so solitary, is to get out of the house and join the writing community. Clubs, blogs, forums... there are plenty of ways to connect to other authors, editors and publishers. And getting known in such groups can open doors you never thought would open.

To find fiction writing links to online forums and blogs, just do a search with the genre you wish to write in. Or just "google" general fiction, if you prefer. Scads of sites are out there talking about books, sharing excerpts and critiquing each other's work. Just be cautious which ones you join. Listen in awhile before deciding on a forum or blog you want to subscribe to, so you don't get burned.

Whatever writers resources you choose to use, take the time to study them, and you'll soon be writing and selling like a pro.

For more great advice and fiction mentoring, check out Fiction Writers Mentor . Author Tracy Culleton provides more angles on how to write a novel. (Clicking the link will open a new page.)