Resource Du Jour

[Betty W01]

Since there is no board just for resources, I'm starting a thread on here for resources I find that I can't resist pointing out to others. If you also have some, feel free to post the link and a brief description of what can be found there.

Please be sure to use "RDJ:" and the correct name of the site as your subject line, to make later re-finding of a good source easier; also, posts that don't contain sources and don't start with "RDJ" can then be skipped, if so desired, by impatient readers. If you forget, it's OK; I'll go in and edit the subject line for ya!

I'm also copying this to several other forums where it may be useful; any mod who doesn't want it there, feel free to either vaporize it or ask me to. Enjoy!


Today's site:
OneLook Dictionary Search
www.onelook.com/about.shtml (http://www.onelook.com/about.shtml)

They describe themselves: Think of this web site as a search engine for words and phrases: If you have a word for which you'd like a definition or translation, we'll quickly shuttle you to the web-based dictionaries that define or translate that word. If you don't know how to spell the word, we'll help you do that too. No word is too obscure: More than 5 million words in more than 900 online dictionaries are indexed by the OneLook® search engine.

[Betty W01]

www.bartleby.com/reference/ (http://www.bartleby.com/reference/)

Their description: Bartleby.com combines the best of both contemporary and classic reference works into the most comprehensive public reference library ever published on the web.

Includes Shakespeare, the Harvard Classics (all 70 volumes!), Gray's Anatomy, the King James Bible, the sayings of Confucius, and loads of other stuff. You could spend days here...

[Betty W01]

our very own Absolute Write, where you can learn all kinds of important information! There are

book reviews:
www.absolutewrite.com/novels/book_reviews.htm (http://www.absolutewrite.com/novels/book_reviews.htm)
including some by yours truly, like this one:
www.absolutewrite.com/novels/guide_to_publishing.htm (http://www.absolutewrite.com/novels/guide_to_publishing.htm)

articles of interest:www.absolutewrite.com/freelance_writing/articles2.htm (http://www.absolutewrite.com/freelance_writing/articles2.htm)

market listings:www.absolutewrite.com/Markets.htm (http://www.absolutewrite.com/Markets.htm)

and all kinds of other stuff. If you've never spent any time just clicking around in there, go do it. Go on... what are you waiting for?
http://deephousepage.com/smilies/chase.gif

[Betty W01]

The Write News' Editorial Dead Zone gives you the news in the publishing industry (and it looks like most of it is bad.) Don't read it if you're easily depressed, but if you need to get a feel for the future of the industry, you can get it here. Then go to their home page for other good stuff.

www.writenews.com/deadzone/ (http://www.writenews.com/deadzone/)

Have a productive and satisfying week, y'all!

[Betty W01]

You name it, this site probably has a list of names pertaining to it.

Examples:
Polish names
Spanish surnames
Cajun names
Names of legendary Amazons
Greek Mythology names
Celtic names -
it even has name generators you can play with.


www.lowchensaustralia.com/Names.htm (http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/Names.htm)

[Betty W01]

Smiley hunting is a popular sport on these boards nowadays, inspired, of course, by royalty. (Me.)

If you'd like to take it up as a hobby, here's a good smiley preserve. (Take a net...)

bestsmileys.com/ (http://bestsmileys.com/)

Home of:

http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/beer1.gif

http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/dontknow.gif

and

http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/spam4.gif

among others.

For other smiley links, see
Smiley Central
www.smileycentral.com/ (http://www.smileycentral.com/)

Startkabel.nl
emoticons.startkabel.nl/ (http://emoticons.startkabel.nl/)
[German. I think. I'm pretty sure. Not English. I'm sure about that!]

Use each site's links to find more. Tie a rope to your ankle, so you don't get lost; smileys are all over the world! Pack a lunch. Take a canteen. Be very, very quiet. You're smiley-hunting!!

:Jump:

[Betty W01]

Bob Osgood, publisher of Your Business Newsletter, sends out a great computer tip each day, which is then archived here:

www.adv-marketing.com/business/tod.htm (http://www.adv-marketing.com/business/tod.htm)

They are short, deal with one idea at a time, and are written in a very user-friendly format. Even techophiles may be able to pick up a new trick or two here.

:Hammer: [not recommended]

See? You've learned something new already...

by the way, for those of you who notice such arcane details, you will have noticed that this and the above tip were both posted today, on the 15th, with nothing from yesterday.

Well, I was busy. I had a headache. The sun was in my eyes. The dog ate my computer...

actually, it was my youngest kid's 18th birthday. Happy birthday, sweetie! :PartySmil

[Betty W01]

www.robertniles.com/data/ (http://www.robertniles.com/data/)

Where to find accurate information on everything under sun - crime, government, family, environment, you name it - for the working reporter (or the writer who needs a few facts to back up an article or add versimilitude to a story.)

Includes such goodies as a conversion chart, a slew of calculators, maps, zip codes for US & Canada, the CIA World Fact Book (yes, that CIA) even the entire KJV Bible.

Working reporters need to be able to look up facts in a flash (which is the name of a great book, by the way) and this is one of the places they find them. Now, so can you!

[WordSoup]

www.refdesk.com (http://www.refdesk.com)

Daily Poetry Link
Old Farmer's Almanac
Writer's Almanac
Astronomy
Homework help
Music History
Newpapers
Daily Motivator
Check your e-mail

Dictionary/Thesaurus Search

Too many links to list...

[Betty W01]

www.essortment.com/in/Hobbies.Writing/#Personal (http://www.essortment.com/in/Hobbies.Writing/#Personal)

Despite the somewhat condescending title of the site, Hobbies:Writing has a lot of good stuff, from journaling to tech writing to poetry to inspiration and overcoming writer's block.

(If you're really serious about overcoming writer's block, read Jenna's book by the same name. I guarantee that by the end of it, you'll still be giggling and your block will have taken itself off for greener - and less amused - pastures.)

[gia052505]

I really love all the smileys, but everytime i've tried adding a smiley site, my computer starts blinking wildly. Just looking at all the smileys, ironically, is making me frown.

My favorite resource books are the ones from Writers Digest. Also, I like The Name Book by Gramercy Books, maybe because it was $1 at Barnes & Noble, but also because it has so much info: classifications of minerals, horse breeds, flowers, herbs; phobias, names of currencies, imagineray places, hurricanes, superheroes; even beer styles, wine, and satanic hieracrchy ( i did not know there was so much red tape)... anyway, lists of everything!

I am a listaholic. I write things down on my list of things to do that I've already down, just so I can cross them off.

Thanks for all the great information on this site everyone!

[Betty W01]

I'm behind a day on my list here... sorry. Family crisis du jour instead...

pageonelit.com/ (http://pageonelit.com/)

Writing contest, author interviews (ranging from Elmore Leonard and Janet Evanovich to Nora Roberts and John Grisham), news from the literary world, quotes about writing, a list of web pages for various writers (Ray Bradbury's has a great paragraph in which he refuses to do the work for students who are supposed to be doing a paper on one of his books), and a long resource list of links for about every kind of writing there is.

[Betty W01]

www.theslot.com/ (http://www.theslot.com/)

Don't miss Bill Walsh (author of Lapsing into a Comma and The Elephants of Style, self-described as "opinionated guides for editors and writers" - and might I add, funny as heck too!) as he rants about common mistakes found in newspapers, in the best-named column yet, Carets and Sticks. And other rants about writing, in Sharp Points. (Example: I'm a member of the media But I'm not a medium.)

My kind of guy - cranky, amusing, and educational, all at the same time!

[Betty W01]

www.write4kids.com/ebooks.html (http://www.write4kids.com/ebooks.html)

The official web site for Children's Book Insider: the Newsletter for Children's Writers. Offers free e-books, loads of helpful articles, a message board, and quite a few interesting links to other children's writer's sites and resources.

[Betty W01]

Writers Write www.writerswrite.com/ (http://www.writerswrite.com/) is filled with interesting stuff, including links to lots more stuff. My favorite is the Writer's Guidelines Directory*, which has a searchable database of markets, broken down by category, alphabetical order, and paying/non-paying markets. It's not exhaustive (AW is not listed in the Writing category!) but you may be able to find some new markets to write for or categories to write about if you spend some time clicking through their links.

*www.writerswrite.com/guidelines/browse.htm (http://www.writerswrite.com/guidelines/browse.htm)

[Betty W01]

www.glossarist.com/ (http://www.glossarist.com/)

A searchable directory of glossaries and topical dictionaries.
Writing about a ballerina and need to know what a certain move is called? Want to know what words the Navajo code talkers used during WWII and what they stood for? Need the specific name for a certain kind of cloud? There's a dictionary or glossary here that can help. Not only educational, but just plain fun!

[RichMar]

You gotta slow down, girl. You're making me feel like a kid on his first trip to a carnival.

Oh, btw, that's good.

Hmmm, no, I mean it.

[Betty W01]

Rich, it's Resource Du Jour, so you gotta try and keep up here! Hope everyone is enjoying checking all these resource sites out as much as I'm enjoying hunting them down - much more useful than smiley-hunting, if not as much fun.

[Betty W01]

This thread is again behind a day - been battling flu. Ugh.

Today's link may seem a bit of a waste; after all, if you're reading this, you already *know* how to use the Internet. But if you, like me, are trying to teach it to someone else (in my case, my 75 yo mom), this site is perfect. It is a step-by-step tutorial with screen shots that show exactly what each step looks like. The person using it can go at their own speed, can backtrack as necessary, and can review whenever desired.

www.aarp.org/learninternet/basic_browsing/lesson2.html (http://www.aarp.org/learninternet/basic_browsing/lesson2.html)

[Betty W01]

Interested in writing your memoirs or helping someone else write theirs? This site has a lot to offer you: interview questions, story prompts, nostalgia sites, photo and memorabilia preservation instructions, sample memoirs, geneology links, and more. I write a lot of essays and I have found this site to be a treasure trove of ideas and prompts.

Also check out the Assoc. of Personal Historians' links at
www.personalhistorians.org/links/special_links.html (http://www.personalhistorians.org/links/special_links.html) for a few other good places to check out.

[Betty W01]

OK, today's site is really not writing-related, but since we all spend so much time on the Internet... how would you like to make a difference in the world, just by clicking on a link? You can, at The Hunger Site. They offer ways to give your support - at no cost to you - to programs that feed the hungry, care for children, provide mammograms to low-income women, promote literacy, save the rain forests, and rescue animals, and all it takes is a minute of your time. Check it out.

www.thehungersite.com (http://www.thehungersite.com/)

[Betty W01]

Encyclopedia.com (http://www.encyclopedia.com/)

Encyclopedia.com, the Internet's premiere free encyclopedia, provides users with more than 57,000 frequently updated articles from the Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Each article is enhanced with links to newspaper and magazine articles as well as pictures and maps - all provided by eLibrary.

[Betty W01]

Well, took me a while to find my way back in here... I didn't realize that they'd change the address!

We're behind a few days on the du jour part, so... here's the first one. Ever needed a timer or a stopwatch to time a speech or other read-aloud bit? Go to www.jsr.communitech.net/stopwatch2.htm (http://www.jsr.communitech.net/stopwatch2.htm). Works great.

[Betty W01]

www.emelior.com/shopcart/AVsample.html (http://www.emelior.com/shopcart/AVsample.html)

Check out the sample list of action verbs, then sign up for the whole list. Show, don't tell!

[Betty W01]

www.regencylibrary.com/Links.htm (http://www.regencylibrary.com/Links.htm)

Do you write fiction set during the time of the Prince Regent of England, otherwise known as the Regency period? Or, like me, do you just like to read about it? Well, this site will take you to more links than you know what to do with. Fashion, food, etiquette, dance instructions... it's all here, somewhere.

[Betty W01]

www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/free.html (http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/free.html)

Although this is a commercial site (and no, I don't know her...), the above link is to a list of interesting (and free-to-read) articles covering tips, tricks, and tools for free publicity.

[Betty W01]

www.elitelit.com/pages/inspiration.html (http://www.elitelit.com/pages/inspiration.html)

Need some inspiration for your next story? A new direction or character for the one you're hung up in now? Just want to flex your writerly muscles on a prompt assigned at random? Go to the Story Starter, click on Elite.com's story starter, and you're off!

[Betty W01]

Tired of trying to come up with new names for your fantasy series? Need a different name for the next round of your favorite role-playing game? Go to rinkworks.com/namegen/ (http://rinkworks.com/namegen/) and spend a few minutes. You'll end up with enough names for a whole new novel!

[Betty W01]

www.healthwriting.com/links.htm (http://www.healthwriting.com/links.htm)

Kathy Summers has put together a nice set of links that will be a big help to anyone who does (or would like to do) health writing, including a long list of writer's guidelines and magazine web sites, another one of medical searches, and an amazing one of writer's resources (including a list of libraries - click on the "writing sites" link and then scroll down to "libraries"). Even if you don't do health writing, you might want to spend a few minutes seeing what this site has to offer.

[Betty W01]

members.aol.com/SBakerMan2/piles.html (http://members.aol.com/SBakerMan2/piles.html)

Having trouble getting organized? Here's a good article about taking control of some of it.

See also Maria Garcia's Get Organized Now web site, with loads of tips and tricks for getting on top of your desk mess. (Careful, don't fall off...)

www.getorganizednow.com/index.html (http://www.getorganizednow.com/index.html)

[Updated 6-05: Sadly, Garcia's site has become pretty much a commercial for her books instead of a great source for organizing ideas. However, you can still get a monthly checklist, weekly e-mail, regularly-changed recipes, reader's tips, and quick tips, forums, and a few other odds and ends that are worthwhile.]

[Betty W01]

www.televisionwithoutpity.com/ (http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/)

Need a new way to waste time while you're on the Internet procrastinating? Too bad, I'm going to give you one anyway. Practice your self-control. Go on, I dare you!

OK, if you have none, go to Television Without Pity and read how they've disssed your favorite show. Join in dissing that one you hate (you know the one I mean...). Laugh until you snort Coke out of your nose. (I hope you covered your keyboard with a plastic bag first. No? Ouch... maybe next time...)

[Betty W01]

www.biblestudytools.net/ (http://www.biblestudytools.net/)

If you write for Christian publications or want to do some research on your own, this site has everything you will need: commentaries, dictionaries, interlinear and parallel Bibles, concordances, lexicons, maps, and so on.

[Betty W01]

Looking for a place to get your book reviewed, or a market for reviews you're already written? Jim Cox, of Midwest Book Review, has a list of interesting links at www.midwestbookreview.com/links/othr_rev.htm (http://www.midwestbookreview.com/links/othr_rev.htm)

(If you want to see some sample reviews, there are lots on here. And you can check out my column, Betty's Bookshelf, at this site. Click on Reviewer's Bookshelf, March 2004 and April 2004 - none posted for May, and I don't know why... maybe they didn't arrive.) :bang

[update on column screw-up: or it could be that somehow I missed the information that the 25th is the deadline for the next month.... <sigh>. Well, go check out June's, when it's up.]

[Betty W01]

www.baen.com/library/defaultTitles.htm (http://www.baen.com/library/defaultTitles.htm)

You know how they always say "read what you want to write"? Well, if sci fi & fnatasy are your things, go to Baen's Free Library link, where you can download absolutely free a number of their titles by well-known authors such as Mercedes Lackey, Larry Niven, Andre Norton, and Rosemary Edghill. OK, reading them on-screen may give you a headache, but the price is right. Why are they doing this, you ask? Read their reasoning here: www.baen.com/library/ (http://www.baen.com/library/)


Not only will this site offer you a lot of good reading, it will give you a lot to think about re free downloading of books, music, and so on.

[Betty W01]

Tired of the back pain you end with after a long day at the computer? Afraid that tingling in your hands may be carpel tunnel syndrome? Learn more about how to take care of your body, so your writing career doesn't suffer.

www.sfwa.org/ergonomics/links.htm (http://www.sfwa.org/ergonomics/links.htm)

[Betty W01]

Gareth Long's Encyclopedia of Monsters,
Mythical Creatures and Fabulous Beasts

webhome.idirect.com/~donlong/monsters/monsters.htm (http://webhome.idirect.com/~donlong/monsters/monsters.htm)

If you write (or read) fantasy, fables, folk lore, or horror, this site will explain a lot of common terms and may give you a lot of new ideas to play with.

[Betty W01]

computer.howstuffworks.com/ (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/)

How Stuff Works can explain all kinds of things to you that you didn't understand before, including computer stuff like cookies, electronic stuff like digital cameras, and home stuff like lock picking. A writer needs to understand something to be able to write convincingly about it and this site will help.

[Betty W01]

Need to know how to do something, like how to make dreadlocks, how to french braid hair, how to set cookie preferences on your computer, or how to play poker baseball? It's all here, and more... the eHow site has over 15,000 "how to" solutions, some for things you may not have expected to find. How to choose a foreign film worth seeing? Wow. Is that even possible??

You have to register, but it's quick and worth the effort.

www.ehow.com/http://www.ehow.com/ (http://www.ehow.com/http://www.ehow.com/)

[Betty W01]

www.usps.com/buy/welcome.htm (http://www.usps.com/buy/welcome.htm)

Avoid standing in line and buy your US stamps on-line.

[Betty W01]

The hick-to-hip translation guide. OK, it's hard to explain this one; go see it for yourself. Very entertaining!! For example: do you know what "Kiss Me Neck" is slang for, in Jamaica? Or what time it is in Honolulu when they say, 'Pau Hana Time"?

www.slanguage.com/ (http://www.slanguage.com/)

[Betty W01]

www.wordspy.com/ (http://www.wordspy.com/)

Welcome to Word Spy! This Web site is devoted to lexpionage, the sleuthing of new words and phrases. These aren't "stunt words" or "sniglets," but new terms that have appeared multiple times in newspapers, magazines, books, Web sites, and other recorded sources.

Here aresome examples: thumb board, retail leakage, trail angel, geekerati.

[Betty W01]

www.aghines.com/ (http://www.aghines.com/)

This picture book author/illustrator has a lot of good material on her web site, but I especially like the article that is entitled:

Seventeen Minds Trying to Catch Up With One -
A Checklist to Help Us Critique Our Own Manuscripts
Compiled by Jane Yolen's Centrum '81 Students
Edited by Anna Grossnickle Hines
SCBWI Bulletin 1981

Don't get me wrong, either; I mean this is a good article for ALL of us to read, no matter what we write.

Here's the path to get there -
Articles and Talks
then the above title.

She says to feel free to print out a copy for your own use. I say, print it out and tape the danged thing next to your monitor and memorize it!

After you've done that, be sure to check out the other articles. They're all pretty interesting.

[Betty W01]

Today's site is frivolous, in honor of my friend Vikki's birthday. Send someone you care about an e-card today.

Happy Birthday, girlfriend! I miss you... :PartySmil

www.regards.com/ (http://www.regards.com/)

[Betty W01]

Interested in finding out more about how computer/video games are developed? Maybe even do some writing about the subject? Check out Game Developer Magazine.


www.gdmag.com/homepage.htm (http://www.gdmag.com/homepage.htm)

[Betty W01]

If you write about health-related issues or would like to, here's another helpful site. They offer calculators (target heart rate, healthy weight and so on), a list of "ask the _______" FAQs, information on fitness and nutrition, safety tips, and sections on all sorts of diseases, health issues, and lifestyle topics.

healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/default.html (http://healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/default.html)

[Betty W01]

fmwriters.com/community/downloads.html#Mugging (http://fmwriters.com/community/downloads.html#Mugging)

Sci Fi author Holly Lisle has a lot to say about writing. Find out how to create a series character you can live with, among other things, by downloading her e-book and reading it cover to cover - errr, screen to screen. Good stuff!

[Betty W01]

www.anywho.com/ (http://www.anywho.com/)

Need to find the address or phone number of an expert mentioned in an article you just read, so you can contact her yourself for fresh quotes? Found a phone number in the bottom of your purse and have NO CLUE who it belongs to? Trying to track down your ex (assuming he hasn't changed his name and his number isn't unlisted...)? Want to call an out-of-state business and do it on their dime, toll-free?

This site has it all: phone directories for white and yellow pages and toll-free numbers, reverse look-up (for that unknown number), area code list, maps... it's probably here somewhere.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_8_3.gif

[Betty W01]

urbanlegends.miningco.com/ (http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/)

So, about that kid who has cancer and is collecting cards for a world's record; and that expensive chocolate chip cookie recipe that Neiman-Marcus overcharges for; and those organ harvesters who want to kidnap you and steal your kidney...:Wha:

If you get an e-mail that "everyone needs to know about", it's probably a hoax and it's probably explained in Mining Co.'s Urban Legends web site. And if you need yet another place in which to procrastinate, there's loads of funny stuff here. My newest hoax favorite? Cicadas for Cash... Nope, if you want to know more about this gem, go look it up! :roll:

[Betty W01]

If you're serious about being a writer, you need to have business cards. I mean, what happens when you run into the perfect agent on the subway and he begs you to send him your book and asks for your card? What, are you going to scribble your contact information on the back of a laundry receipt? (You weren't, were you?) If you're not convinced, read Dr. Lynella Grant's book, The Business Card Book*, to find out why you need business cards and what they should include.

*My review of it is here:
www.absolutewrite.com/novels/business_card.htm (http://www.absolutewrite.com/novels/business_card.htm)


Then go to Vistaprint.com and order yourself some. Their prices can't be beat for your first foray into becoming a card owner and it's easy to do. There's even an offer for an order of 250 cards free; you only pay S/H. (The ones I use are the pink ones with mutli-colored bubbles down the side...) They also offer stationary, postcards, brochures, and address labels to match.

www.vistaprint.com/ (http://www.vistaprint.com/)

[Betty W01]

Author Randall Ingermanson has a Ph.D. in physics and is a self-proclaimed computer geek. He has several books in print: five novels (Premonition, Retribution, Transgression, Oxygen, and The Fifth Man) and one non-fiction book (Who Wrote the Bible Code? A Physicist Probes the Current Controversy)

Christianbook.com has an interesting article by him about book proposals, and they also are offering free downloads of two of his successful book proposals for interested wanna-be authors to examine. Wanna see what kind of proposal sold a publisher on Oxygen (a sci fi book) or Who Wrote the Bible Code? (a non-fiction book)? Now you can...

www.christianbook.com/html/cms/general/proposals.html/127161522?event=1001SBF (http://www.christianbook.com/html/cms/general/proposals.html/127161522?event=1001SBF)

[Betty W01]

I don't think you can find a better bunch of people than the regulars who hang out here on the AW boards. However, if you're looking for a like-minded community and sci fi/fantasy is your thing, check out the boards on sci fi author Holly Lisle's web site.

fmwriters.com/community/ (http://fmwriters.com/community/)

Not only are message boards offered, but you can take (and give) classes, hold conferences, chat, and even become part of a virtual nation with plans to take over the world.

...OK, we have a virtual nation, too - more of a 'hood, really - but we're not too organized and we keep getting side-tracked by silly prompt writing sessions, virtual drinking parties, "can you top this" joke sessions, and smiley-hunting competitions (in which I believe I am currently ahead...). Still, we're having fun and most of us are actually getting stuff written, too! Amazing, isn't it??

[Betty W01]

www.gobcl.com/ (http://www.gobcl.com/)

Got a file you need converted to pdf or html? Go to the above link and take care of it. I tried having one of each done, and they worked out great!

[Betty W01]

If you love Post-It™ Notes even half as much as I do, you'll love this electronic version. You can paper your screen with them and they won't fall off in a breeze. You can post deadlines, markets you don't want to forget, notes to remind you to pick up kitty litter, you name it. And when it's time to toss one, they make the funniest popping sound! Take a look -

www.3m.com/market/office/postit/com_prod/psnotes/download_lite.html (http://www.3m.com/market/office/postit/com_prod/psnotes/download_lite.html)

[Betty W01]

An AW board member* passed this link on to me and it was too good to keep to myself. If you want help with your writing, this is the place to start. And if English is not your first language (or you work with ESL students), a portion of this site that you may find helpful is devoted to writing for an American audience. (No offense meant to Aussies and Brits and other English speakers who read this - Purdue is an American institution, after all...)

owl.english.purdue.edu/ (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/)

*thanks, toto

[Betty W01]

Need to talk to someone about something privately and the chat room private area keeps popping in and out, making you afraid you'll post something private somewhere public? Want to talk in real time to a friend or family member halfway around the world, without spending a fortune on phone bills? Trying to co-author something and need to talk over a plot twist? Download Yahoo Messenger, let your friends know you're on it now, and let the good times roll!

http://deephousepage.com/smilies/user.gifmessenger.yahoo.com/ (http://messenger.yahoo.com/)

[Betty W01]

If you're tired of missing calls because you are on-line, and you can't afford a second line, you may want to investigate Call Wave, the Internet answering machine. I used it for a while before we got Call Catcher, and it worked well. Call Wave is a good way to juggle being on-line and being available to your family and friends at the same time.

www.callwave.com/landing/CORP_Main.asp (http://www.callwave.com/landing/CORP_Main.asp)

[Betty W01]

for Civil War Reenactors. If your WIP is set during the Civil War, be sure to go spend some time looking through this site for authentic material on clothing, eyewear, cosmetics, money etc. for CW civilians. It includes pictures of many items and if you're into actually being part of a reenactment, it even has patterns and tips for cheap outfitting.

Their home page is at www.shasta.com/suesgoodco/newcivilians/index.htm (http://www.shasta.com/suesgoodco/newcivilians/index.htm)

The link page is really useful, as well:www.shasta.com/suesgoodco/newcivilians/resources/links.htm (http://www.shasta.com/suesgoodco/newcivilians/resources/links.htm)

[Betty W01]

Are you tired of losing your research notes on your hard drive? Disgusted because you can't figure out where you last sent a certain story? Behind the eight ball because the query you sent was finally accepted - and you can't remember what you pitched, it was so long ago? Guylaine Spencer has an easy, fast way to keep track of your writing if you do a lot of articles or stories. See what you think...

www.absolutewrite.com/freelance_writing/organize_computer.htm (http://www.absolutewrite.com/freelance_writing/organize_computer.htm)

[Betty W01]

If Excel confuses you as much as it does me, :Headbang: you'll be thrilled to find a tutorial you can go through at your own speed. Find Tutorials has several, as well as tutorials for other programs. Here's where:

tutorials.findtutorials.com/index/category/103 (http://tutorials.findtutorials.com/index/category/103)

[Betty W01]

www.write4kids.com/ebooks.html (http://www.write4kids.com/ebooks.html)

If you want to (or already do) write for kids, this site is an absolute need-to-go-there place for you. It has tons of good articles and even offers free downloadable e-books on the the topic. Enjoy!!

[Betty W01]

www.onelook.com/ (http://www.onelook.com/)

Need the exact definition for "decrepit"? Want to use a single word to refer to someone who is old and feeble, but you can't think of the right word? (Hint: check the first sentence...) One Look offers:

a dictionary with a wild card search function - type in a word led or followed by an asterisk and get words in which your word is a part - teen* would produce teen, teenaged, teenager... (can you tell my kids are on my mind today? The two youngest both graduated from HS yesterday, the son after dropping out two yrs. ago!)

a reverse dictionary - enter a phrase or question and get a list of words and phrases that the site's logarithm thinks may work - not as useful, but still in process - as of now, this function comes up with some pretty far-out terms, many of which will make make you scratch your head and wonder exactly what the programmer was on when he designed it....

the "Word of the Day", for you wordies out there. (Hey, if people who like and use food in their professional lives can be called "foodies"...)

[poppyhullings]

Just wanted to thank you for posting these, Betty. I've found several of them quite useful. :)

[Betty W01]

glad to be of help, Poppy!

[Betty W01]

I'm taking a weeklong break from RDJ, to spend on my writing. I'll be back...

[Betty W01]

Well, the break turned into a bit more like several weeks, but I'm back. Watch this spot for the next post...

[Joanclr]

Yay! :jump Thanks Betty, these are cool!

[Betty W01]

I should have posted this on Memorial Day, but...


HomeOfHeroes.com has loads of information about US Medal of Honor winners, as well as more than 20,000 pages of US History for you to view.

I am using the page of medals that are awarded to and won by US Marines as the starting place, in honor of my daughter Lisa, whose dream was to become a USMC helicopter pilot. You can click on the "Return to display" picture to go back to the beginning and find medals from other branches. There's a lot of information about the military here, for those of you who are writing military thrillers, history stories, or current events.

www.homeofheroes.com/medals/by_branch/1_ribbons_usmc.html (http://www.homeofheroes.com/medals/by_branch/1_ribbons_usmc.html)

[Betty W01]

Gaie Sebold is a funny Londoner with an interesting way of expressing humorous thoughts. If you write humor (or just need a laugh), check her column out from time to time. I love her stuff! (Those of you who are faithful readers of all things AW probably already know about her. Sorry.)

www.absolutewrite.com/fun/errata.htm (http://www.absolutewrite.com/fun/errata.htm)

[Betty W01]

www.copyright.gov/ (http://www.copyright.gov/)

Complete information on what a copyright is, how to file one, and what to do if someone violates your copyright.

[Betty W01]

Want to use a US historic place in your WIP and need to see photos of it or learn about its history? Want to know when it’s open to the public? Would a map be helpful?

Check out the US National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places, at
www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/ (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/)

Among places & info available: Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; Underground Railroad sites; Civil Rights Movement locations; Aviation; Charleston, SC; Lewis & Clark
Expedition... lots more. Each site link includes in its menu a “Learn More” link, which will take you to other resources, bibliographies, lesson plans, and many other interesting
bits of information.

[Betty W01]

If you’re into writing flash fiction, here’s a great resource for you - Flash Fiction Flash: The Newsletter for Flash Literature Writers, a monthly newsletter edited by Pamelyn Casto. She’s an expert in the field and has written a lot about it as well as sponsoring workshops. Her newsletter contains market and contest info, and links to interesting articles. To start subscribing, send a completely blank email to
FlashFictionFlash-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com (FlashFictionFlash-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

[Betty W01]

Wrecks and obstructions, historical, navigational, and current maps and charts... if you have a question about the US coastal waters, you can probably get it answered here.

www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ (http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/)

[Betty W01]

It's the 4th of July in the US, the day we celebrate our country's freedom from Great Britain. However, most of us are still quite fond of our former mum and her chums and are often amused by their waggish sense of humor. In honor of that, check out the funny stuff on this website archived at Merton College, Oxford. Those of you who like ACSII art will especially like the Amobae page. My favorite section was the “Language and Its Abuse” page and “The Laws of Physics for Cartoons”.

paul.merton.ox.ac.uk/language/ (http://paul.merton.ox.ac.uk/language/)
http://paul.merton.ox.ac.uk/filmtv/cartoon-physics.html

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_14_1.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/ind.gif

[Betty W01]

Sitting on your butt for hours is an occupational hazard for most writers. This can mean weight gain and a butt too wide to fit in your office chair, if you're not careful.

How many calories are in the beverage you like to keep on your desk? Or the snacks you have stashed in your office drawers?

Go here and find out: www.caloriesperhour.com/ (http://www.caloriesperhour.com/)

All you have to lose is a few minutes (and maybe some weight).

Bon Appetit!

[Betty W01]

A common piece of advice for writers is to read the work of other writers, especially those who write the way you wish you could. In my case, one writer whose style I'd love to emulate is Peggy Noonan. Noonan, a former presidential speech-writer, is one of the most articulate, interesting columnists in print today and even when you don't agree with what she says, you have to admire how she says it. Not to mention, admire how successsful she's been! She just came out with a book, too, and I can't wait to read it.

If you want to read some of her stuff, the archives are here:

www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/archive/ (http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/archive/)

[Betty W01]

Do you like to write from writing prompts? This site has 165 blind numbered you can choose from. The next time you get stuck for an idea to get you going, choose a prompt at random and write about it. Don't cheat! Even if you're sure you can't think of a thing, at least try. That's part of the fun of using prompts in the first place!

creativewritingprompts.com/# (http://creativewritingprompts.com/#)

[Betty W01]

Fantasybits

www.geocities.com/jasujo/Topics.html (http://www.geocities.com/jasujo/Topics.html)

Did you go check out yesterday’s site and find only dross instead of gold? Are you a frustrated fantasy writer who needs magical words and ideas to spark your muse? This site should be perfect for you, then, a list of 285 fantasy prompts. Use one or two. Combine several. Work your way through the list. Have fun!

http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/fairy.gif

[Betty W01]

If there's one thing I hate, it's getting stuck waiting somewhere without a good book (or even a lousy book I can mock on) to read. Now, thanks to the kind folks at Memoware and my handy Handspring Visor (which acts as my auxiliary memory and goes everywhere with me), I won't have to worry about it again.

www.memoware.com/wireless/ (http://www.memoware.com/wireless/)

If you also use a PDA [personal digital assistant] with a Palm OS, this site offers 1,000’s of PDA documents for free download, such as complete movie scripts for well-known movies (like O Brother Where Art Thou, Raising Arizona, and It’s a Wonderful Life); US historical documents; loads of material by unknowns; poetry; several bartender’s guides; and the US Army Survival Manual.

My favorite items so far have been a file that contained several of my favorite Robert Frost poems (which I’d like to memorize) and a book that I've been meaning to read for years, The Confessions of St. Augustine. Now, I will have it with me, for the next time I end up waiting somewhere.

I also downloaded two books by Holly Lisle, two books of the Bible, and the entire Red Fairy Tale Book, by Andrew Lang, from a free book site I ran across that I'll probably share about later on. My PDA is chock full of good stuff to read now!

[Betty W01]

people.cornell.edu/pages/elz1/clocktower/ (http://people.cornell.edu/pages/elz1/clocktower/)

Here is a site with a few laughs to make your weekend more fun. Enjoy!!

[alinasandor]

Betty, I love you!!! This post is great!:heart
I thought I might add my own link, too.
If anyone out there would like to have their book reviewed, Keep It Coming.net is offering free services. Here is a quote from the website:
"If you are a new or up-and-coming author, getting the word out that you've written a good story can be a challenge. So you'll be happy to know that KIC is providing a FREE review service for your non-KIC story, poetry, novel, etc. Click here to see a list of the works we've reviewed.
Most of our reviewers are published KIC authors, and you can click on their name in the list below to find out more about them. And while we can't promise that your piece will get a favorable review, we can promise that it will be an HONEST review, along with a critique that may help you improve your piece."
Here is the link: KIC Reviews (http://www.keepitcoming.net/critics.html)
Oh, and your's truly is the romance genre reviewer. I'm so excited to read all the great stories!!!:jump

[Betty W01]

www.yudkin.com/ (http://www.yudkin.com/)

When I need a kick in the pants to get me inspired to write again, one book I reread is Marcia Yudkin’s Writing Articles About the World Around You. Since she’s been such an inspiration to me through the pages of that book, when I ran across her web site, Creative Marketing Solutions, I had to check it out. Wow!

Her site itself is a clever marketing tool, with teasers from dozens of books, reports, and services she offers for sale. However, there are a lot of free, read-it-right-there articles, too, full of valuable info. For example: Quizzes are very popular in both magazines and web sites, but have you ever wondered how you design and write one? Marcia has an interesting article on just that topic, at www.yudkin.com/quizwhiz.htm (http://www.yudkin.com/quizwhiz.htm)

Spend some time here and find out what else you can do to add umph to your marketing. And while you’re there, be sure to look at the books she has for sale. You won’t be sorry.

[Betty W01]

globalsecurity.org/ (http://globalsecurity.org/)

Whether you are writing about current events or plotting a military techno-thriller, if you have questions about the US military, our homeland security, our space program, or other areas of curent concern, you may be able to find your answers here.

This site contains Guides and Directories of programs, agencies, contractors and facilities; Primary Documentation, including news briefing transcripts, excerpts of Congressional floor debates, hearings, legislation and reports, as well as relevant reports produced by entities; News archives; and Analysis.

[Betty W01]

Need a few laughs? Here ya go...

just the various versions of chess will make me snicker the rest of the week. :roll:

www.halfbakery.com/ (http://www.halfbakery.com/)

[Betty W01]

www.grammarbook.com/ (http://www.grammarbook.com/)

Online spelling, grammar, and punctuation exercises and tests.
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

If you post often enough on these boards, you are liable to be corrected at least once on your spelling, grammar, or punctuation (if not all three of them), so be prepared. Those of you who think that sort of detail is unimportant should read the following letters I found at
http://paul.merton.ox.ac.uk/language/punctuation.html and see how much difference the punctuation makes.

The Importance Of Correct Punctuation:

Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy - will you let me be yours?

Gloria


Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?

Yours,

Gloria

[Betty W01]

www.right-writing.com/guide.html (http://www.right-writing.com/guide.html)

This article, The Beginner’s Guide to Freelance Writing (by our own Jenna Glatzer), includes just about everything a newbie needs to know about getting into freelance writing. It may even have a nugget or two for more experienced writers. You'll never know unless you go check.

[Betty W01]

www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/ (http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/)

If you’ve ever spent more than a minute or two on AW's Bewares & Background Check board, you’ve probably heard of this site already. P&E, founded and still edited by David L. Kuzminski (a regular poster on B&BC), bills itself quite accurately as “A guide to publishers and writing services for serious writers!” If you have questions about anything connected to writing or publishing, you can probably get them answered here.

Pay particular attention to any warnings DK hands out. He hears from all sorts of writers about the scam artists and shady dealers that are prowling around looking for new suckers to rip off, and you owe it to yourself to do your homework before you sign anything or sell anything to anyone.

Again: DO YOUR HOMEWORK!! You owe it to yourself and your work.

And if you still get ripped off, contact DK and tell him what happened. He’ll make sure other writers are warned.

http://fool.exler.ru/sm/val.gif

[maestrowork]

This is really cool:

www.visualthesaurus.com (http://www.visualthesaurus.com)


[It is cool, indeed, Ray! Thanks for sharing!]

[Betty W01]

Writer Beware!

www.sfwa.org/beware/overview.html (http://www.sfwa.org/beware/overview.html)

Another good site to go to do homework (see P&E above!) before you take the plunge into writing and selling your work is Writer Beware, a service offered by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America’s Committee on Writing Scams. WB, created and run by A.C. Crispin and Victoria Strauss (also a frequent visitors to the AW boards), says this about itself: “In the pages that make up Writer Beware, you'll find discussions of a variety of literary schemes and deceptions, information on how to recognize them, advice on how to avoid them, and links to useful online resources.”

They also offer a free research service for writers who want to know about a particular publisher, agent, editor, or other writing-related issue, assist law agencies in bringing down scammers and thieves, and maintain and update regularly an extensive database of information about peopel and companies writers need to be aware of. And if it’s too late and you’ve already gotten involved with someone you should have been aware of, contact WB and tell them all about it, so other writers can be warned.

Again: DO YOUR HOMEWORK!! You owe it to yourself and your work.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_6_3.gif

[Betty W01]

www.right-writing.com/published-safest.html (http://www.right-writing.com/published-safest.html)

Are you ready to look for an agent, but aren't sure how to get started or where to look? AW regular Victoria Strauss's article, The Safest Way to Search for an Agent, contains answers to your most pressing questions. Thanks, Victoria!!

[Betty W01]

www.writermag.com (http://www.writermag.com)

Do you subscribe to The Writer? I do; it’s full of useful information, markets, and ads for products that writers may want to know about. But even though I subscribe to it, I still go to their web site from time to time, to see what extras they’re offering this month: more info on a particular subject that is in this month’s print addition, archived articles on similar topics, announcements... it’s all here, and it’s all free. Just go to their web site and click on “Online extra”. Registering (free) will give you access to even more material.

[Betty W01]

palmm.fcla.edu/juv/ (http://palmm.fcla.edu/juv/)


Their web site says, “Literature for Children is comprised of volumes from the Departments of Special Collections at several of the State University System of Florida libraries. It is a growing collection of digitized titles published, predominantly in the United States and Great Britain, from the 17th through the 20th centuries.” If you’d like to read books that were written for children long ago and see how things have changed, or need to quote an old title or author in your WIP, this is the place to go. Warning: if you have a dial-up service, the pdf files they use load v-e-r-y slowly.

[Betty W01]

www.peevish.co.uk/slang/ (http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/)

If you get lost when reading some of the contemporary stuff coming out of England, or your WIP is based in London, this link will be a great help to you. And once you’ve cruised it, you’ll not only be entertained, you’ll also be able to answer the following questions:

If someone from Great Britain called you “mingy” or said you were cack-handed, should you be insulted?

If she told you not to be so sarky, what does she want you to change?

And what has she been doing if she says she’s been having a chin-wag with someone?

Before you actually use this stuff in your writing, though, do be sure to double-check it with someone who actually lives in England. Slang changes quickly and you don’t want to come off as a div.

Stray thought: I read somewhere that you can tell what is important to a culture by the number of words they have for a particular thing or act. Eskimos supposedly have dozens of words for snow, for example. If that is true, those of you who think of England as being dull might want to rethink that position, based on the number of slang words on this site that have to do with sex. Whew! :o

[Betty W01]

:money Kendall Hanson, author of Writing for Trade Magazines - How to Boost Your Income by $200 to $500 per Week, offers his knowledge and expertise at his web site, The Trade Writer's Resource Center. It includes a constantly growing list of trade magazines broken down by industry, as well as lots of other helpful information, including a link to an interview with Hanson that answers a lot of the questions newbies to the trade magazines may have.


tradewriter.freeservers.com (http://tradewriter.freeservers.com)

[Betty W01]

www.internet-resources.co...commentary (http://www.internet-resources.com/writers/wrlinks-nonfiction.htm#commentary)

This link was pointed out to me by our own AKA Eraser (thanks, Frank!) and there's too much there for me to list. You need to just go there and spend some time checking it out. It's amazing, with what looks like something for every kind of writing there is. It was one of the Writer's Digest 101 Web Sites in 2003, and although the site says it was last updated in 2002, there's still a lot of good stuff there.

[ElonnaT]

This is a site that helps you think about how to develop your fantasy world. As a beginning writer, I really enjoyed using it and it helped me focus on the "vision". It was set up for both RPG masters as well as those writing stories, but it just helps you to visualize your world. Hope some find it useful, I did.

http://www.astrofantasy.com/fantasy_world/fantasy_world.htm


You can use "dice" if that is your thing, or just pick ideas based on what you think will work for you. There is also a random number generator at the following link if you want to have fun with it and just see what comes up by.

http://www.random.org/nform.html

[Betty W01]

Thanks, Elonna! Good additions! I edited your subject line, so that it said what your resource was. That wya, people can zip through the thread and look for resources that sound interesting, without having to read each post (and anything that has Re: in the subject line is a comment and can be skipped, if desired).

Come again!

[Betty W01]

This web site, run by editor C. Hope Clark, is a valuable resource in itself, but even better is the e-mail newsletter she sends out regularly that tells you about available grants, contests, and jobs for writers. Clark has a goal of aiding writers develop their dreams instead of worrying about paying the bills, and she does a great job. I've gotten several great tips through her newsletter. See details at http://www.fundsforwriters.com/total.htm

[Betty W01]

us.imdb.com/Sections/Quotes/ (http://us.imdb.com/Sections/Quotes/)

Can't remember the exact wording of your favorite movie quote? Try the Internet Movie Database. Quotes, cast lists, the year your favorite movie came out - if you need to know something movie-related, look here first!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/5/5_8_5.gif

[Betty W01]

Need to know what a "blue moon" is and how rare it is to see one? Trying to locate a periodic table? Want to know what happened in history on today's date? Information Please is an online almanac that will tell you all sorts of interesting information, some of it actually useful.

www.infoplease.com/ (http://www.infoplease.com/)

[Betty W01]

Although Google is actually a search engine, if you type in terms you want to search for - “Christian magazines” , “writer’s guidelines” or “editorial calendar”, for example (or a combination of the terms), you’ll find lots of good stuff - lots of new market ideas, theme lists, editorial calendars... use your imagination!
http://www.google.com (http:///)

[Taccic]

...a truly remarkable source of writer's resources, Betty. I've lifted several links from these pages, but there was no link with the 'Information Please' listing. If you could add that in, at your convenience, I'd be most grateful.

In the spirit of things, this is a pretty slick little device to help a writer run down various markets for any given piece of speculative fiction. I don't believe it offers much on the non-fiction side o' things, though.

http://engine.freeshell.org/ (Engen's)

[Betty W01]

That's a handy little site you shared there!

The Moderator formerly known as

[Betty W01]

Need more writing prompts? Here’s the link to Writer’s Digest’s list for 2004. Enjoy!

www.writersdigest.com/writingprompts.asp (http://www.writersdigest.com/writingprompts.asp)

[Taccic]

...for providing the InfoPlease link. I know I coulda googled it, but I'm lazy. :{>

[Betty W01]

www.suite101.com/ (http://www.suite101.com/) Suite 101 bills itself as "an online publishing community of writers, readers, and educators who have come together to share their passion."

There are many categories of interest, including a reading and literature category and a writing and publishing category that both look interesting, and they also accept new editors from time to time, which could be a way into print for some of you.

[alinasandor]

Here is a great free download that has given me hours of help in my writing: www.gurunet.com/what_down...lkl0aqieb0 (http://www.gurunet.com/what_download.jsp;jsessionid=52tlkl0aqieb0)
If you don't know the meaning, spelling, or history of a word, just hold down alt then click on the word and gurunet looks it up for you! :Clap: The word can be in any document or on the net. :Jump:

[Betty W01]

Thanks, Alisandor!

[Betty W01]

I don’t write or record music, but some of you do, and those of you who don’t, probably write and market your writing. So, all of us have a few things we can pick up from Bob Baker, best selling author and indie music expert. I subscribed to his free weekly e-newsletter, The Buzz Factor, for a while and it always had one or two interesting thoughts or nuggets of marketing info that I could apply to my writing.

Check out some of his advice at

Getsigned.com
www.getsigned.com/bob67.html (http://www.getsigned.com/bob67.html) billed as the #1 resource for A&R, record deals, getting gigs, getting promoted, and getting signed. Then, go check out what he has to offer at

The Buzz Factor
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/index.html (http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/index.html)
Promote Your Creativity
www.bob-baker.com/qt/index.html (http://www.bob-baker.com/qt/index.html)
Branding Yourself Online
www.bob-baker.com/prbyo/index.html (http://www.bob-baker.com/prbyo/index.html)

Rock on! http://deephousepage.com/smilies/music341.gif

[Betty W01]

www.britishpathe.com/index.html (http://www.britishpathe.com/index.html) http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/5/5_8_9.gif

British Pathe was the company responsible for the newsreels that used to be shown in movie theaters. (Remember those? You might be old...) They advertise 3500 hours of video and 12 million stills (they’re a British site, so I’m not sure how many zeros that means, but it’s a lot of photos, at any rate), so if you’re looking for something special from the 20th century, I’ll bet they have it.

And just for fun, preview a few reels by using the Lucky Dip button and seeing what comes up. (Yes, I know that sounds like they’re describing your Uncle Fred, but...) You can even download preview files for free. A limited number of reels have been put on DVD, but they are only available if you live in
the UK. UK schools can download everything free of charge for use in educational settings.

[Betty W01]

If you enjoy history or write about it much, you’ll love The History Channel. You can watch video clips taken from the National Archives, hear famous speeches, and learn all about events that made history. It’s slow if you have a dial-up :bang but worth the wait.

http://www.historychannel.com/[/url]

And for those of you looking for British history and current events, the BBC has tons of wonderful historical information. I checked out Jane Austen and wow, it had everything from her biography and a sketch of her by her sister to related links covering everything from a virtual tour of a Georgian room to articles about her contemporaries and the royals of the day. My heart’s desire is to go to England one day for an extended visit, but until I can manage that, I’ll be going back to this site again and again, to daydream.

[url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/"]www.bbc.co.uk/ (http://www.historychannel.com/)

[Betty W01]

"Writing on the Run™ Tip of the Week" offers one quick, practical, inspiring, and creative idea each week to help professional and aspiring writers make time and space for writing. To subscribe to this free e-mailed letter or to enter a 100-word idea in the Writing on the Run Contest (with cash prizes and no entry fee) go to
www.writingontherun.com (http://www.writingontherun.com)

Other goodies include: 101 Writing Tips & Ideas for Writing on the Run, Pet Personality Quiz for Writers, message board (not many messages yet), and chat.

[Betty W01]

WriteToInspire! Resources and Tips for Inspirational & Christian Writers
www.writetoinspire.com (http://www.writetoinspire.com/)

Whether you are an inspirational/Christian writer or not, this site offers a lot of good stuff: loads of good articles, interesting links, and job leads updated every Tuesday.

Check it out!

[Update: Glenn White went to be with the Lord on 11-7-04, but his website is still up and there's a lot of good stuff there.]

[Betty W01]

SpecialIssues.com (http://SpecialIssues.com)

Find industrial and trade magazines with Specialissues.com’s online database of editorial calendars, special issues, and content.

Bonus for AW Resource Du Jour readers::jump
[the following was excerpted from several e-mails from editor Trip Wyckoff to RDJ editor Betty Winslow]:

Membership is indeed open to freelance writers. I haven't set up a fee schedule for individuals, [but I think] access would be $25 a month for a one year contract or $35 per use for ad-hoc usage.... My focus is really for librarians and info professionals (of which I'm a proud member!) and I haven't really explored the writer's market. Here's a password for you and your readers through the end of August:

username: Weekly Trial A
password: tunnel04
(space and case sensitive)

Enjoy!
Regards
Trip

Let me know what you think and I'll pass your comments on to Trip.

[Betty W01]

www.smartwriters.com/index.2ts?page=writingresources#WRITE_MESSAGE (http://www.smartwriters.com/index.2ts?page=writingresources#WRITE_MESSAGE)

SmartWriters.com - for everyone who writes, reads, or teaches literature for kids.

Includes several useful databases, such as an author database into which you can submit your contact information (for people looking for school visits, interviews, and so on), magazine markets, and a publishers’ list (currently being redesigned), as well as information for kid writers, teachers, and parents, some terrific articles, and a book review section that will save my bacon when I’m in a crunch for a good book to recommend. Great site!!

[Betty W01]

Need to know about alcoholic drinks of the Middle Ages? Want a game that was played by kids back then? Writing about a Middle Age wedding and have no idea what flowers would have been like? It’s all here (and more). Somewhere.

http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/arts_and_sciences.html

[lastr]

With the focus on the Olympics and the writing possibilities in mind, here are a few quick links to information on the history of the Games:

Perspective from India (http://www.hindu.com/2004/07/27/stories/2004072705691800.htm)
The Naked Truth - from the UK (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2004/07/24/baoly24.xml&sSheet=/arts/2004/07/24/ixartright.html)
Tufts Exhibit (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/)
Abstract on whether the original Olympic athletes were actually pros (http://www.he.net/~archaeol/9607/abstracts/olympics.html)
Archeaology Guide to ancient Olympic Games (http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/olympics/index.html)

[lastr]

Virtual Archaeology (http://www.ukans.edu/~hoopes/virtual.htm)
How to visit when the place is no longer there

Links to online resources
compiled by

John W. Hoopes
Dept. of Anthropology
University of Kansas
-------------

Some of the places to explore are:

The Mercury Project - The first installation to combine robotics and Web access to simulate an archaeological investigation.

Sipapu: Chetro Ketl Great Kiva - One of the first Quicktime VR projects in archaeology on the Web. Impressive 3D reconstruction of a sacred kiva of the Anasazi people from the Southwestern U.S. Includes audio files and 3D images of ancient pottery.

Virtual Archaeology :: Image Interactive - Site created by computer graphics wizard Colin Johnson. Includes an example of a computer-generated visitor center with a 'Virtual Tour' of Dudley Castle in England.

Yaxuna Archaeology - Presentation of research at the site of Yaxuna, a Maya town in the northern Yucatan Peninsula. Has lots of Quicktime VR images from the project that allow you to feel as if you were visiting the site and having a look around.

Cerén - Spectacular presentation of "America's Pompeii", an ancient Maya village in El Salvador that was buried beneath volcanic tephra. Payson Sheets' team has done an amazing job of helping one to imagine what Cerén was really like.

Paloma World - Sophisticated introduction to the archaeology of La Paloma, an ancient fishing village on the central coast of Peru. There are QTVR views of how the village would have looked at 3500 BC and a simulated arcaheological excavation of a mortuary chamber.

Altar Q and Copan - QTVR image of a life-size cast of Altar Q, a monument with hieroglyphic inscriptions from the ancient Maya site of Copan, at Harvard University's Peabody Museum.. Displayed using Apple QuickTime VR, it provides 360° of views from angles beside and slightly above the monument. Accompanied by a text that explains the monument's inscriptions and significance.

Copan Museum - Nicholas Hellmuth's page with VR images of the Copan Museum in Honduras, panoramic views of the site, and QTVR views of Maya artifacts. Hellmuth has other pages with QTVR images from the Museo Popol Vuh in Guatemala City and additional links from his Maya Archaeology homepage.

Virtual Palenque - Thomas Gudjeran and Scott Quarterman's virtual tour of a Classic Maya site in Chiapas. Features QTVR movies and an attractive design.

The Spirit of Ancient Peru - Online presentation of an exhibit at the deYoung Museum in San Francisco. Includes 10 virtual reality panoramas of Machu Picchu, an Inca site in the Andes, as well as six manipulable virtual reality views of ancient Peruvian artifacts. The site is spectacular. On a large monitor, these sweeping views are truly breathtaking.

Exploring Chavín de Huantar - Stanford University archaeologist John Rick has assembled a beautiful collection of images and virtual reality panoramas of Chavín de Huantar, a principal center of one of Peru's most ancient civilizations. Images include views of the site's magnificent setting as well as the Old Temple and the New Temple. A CD-ROM with detailed, digital documentation of the site is in the works.

Preceramic Society in the Central Andean Highlands - Another site developed by John Rick to present his research on hunting and gathering societies. It includes panoramic VR views of the Preceramic sites of Pachamachay and Panaulauca.

Oriental Institute Virtual Museum - QTVR views of the archaeological galleries of the Oriental Institute in Chicago, one of the world's greatest museums of ancient civilizations. Lets you simulate a visit and have a look around!

Virtual Stonehenge (http://www.stonehenge-avebury.net/Photos/gtour/Qtvrstnhng.html) - VRML model of Stonehenge, a Neolithic site in England that has been associated with astronomical observations. This is very effective animated model, developed by Intel and English Heritage, allows you to look at Stonehenge at different times in its history and even simulate a sunrise over the Heelstone. For an alternative link to this model through Intel, with Shockwave previews, click here.

Dr. Le Plongeon's 3D Photography - Some examples of how antique stereoscopic photographs can be presented on the Web. Be sure to have your red/blue 3D glasses handy!

[lastr]

A history of golf from 1497 on (http://www.golfeurope.com/almanac/history/history1.htm)

This is a fascinating read that touches on the history of not just golf but some of the famous people that played it. I found it useful for adding some spice to a story I was working on that deals with two men on a golf course discussing a problem they were both having at home.

[Selenia692]

I just want to personally thank everyone on this thread for such useful ressources, and to add one of my own. I don't believe it was posted here yet, if it was please forgive me:

www.foolscap-quill.com/wr...g2004.html (http://www.foolscap-quill.com/writersptg/wptg2004.html)

The Writer's Pocket Tax Guide

[lastr]

That is a good one, I will read and take notes from it.

[Betty W01]

Thank to Carol and Selenia for adding resources so the board stayed up-to-date. I've been pretty involved in Real Life, so haven't been able to be on here much the last few days.

I'll be back in action soon, I promise...

[lastr]

The meaning of flowers (http://www.usabride.com/wedplan/a_flowers_meaning.html) is a great link. Did you know that giving certain flowers and herbs means something? Not just that red roses mean love, but pages and pages of meanings to add that dash of spice to giving.

Just to whet your appetite, here are a few:
AZALEA Moderation, temperance, your blush has won me
BACHELOR'S BUTTON Devotion, hope, love
BALM Social intercourse, sympathy
BALSAM Impatience
BARBERRY Sharpness of temper
BASIL Hatred
BAY-LEAF I change but in death
BABY'S BREATH Pure of heart

[lastr]

The International Business Etiquette Internet Sourcebook (http://atn-riae.agr.ca/region/3752_e.htm) "Each culture has its own idiosyncrasies when it comes to social business relations. If you are writing a book and want to mention a different culture, you want to ensure that you have at least a basic familiarity with the customs and practices of the region. This Internet Sourcebook and the web sites listed provide guidelines for etiquette in both general and business situations."

Why don't you point the sole of your foot at someone?
Why is a knife a bad gift in some countries?
How do you present your business card to someone on the Pacific Rim?
What food is called the stinkiest food in the world?

Find out all these and more from the above list.

[Selenia692]

This site is a friend of mine's, and has a few free resources that can help when you need to make contact over the phone, whether it be for interview requests, or seeking out copywriting work.

www.footinthedoor.com/col...sstore.htm (http://www.footinthedoor.com/coldcallingforcowardsstore.htm)

[lastr]

Notes and illustrations on Regency clothing styles (http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/ppbrokil.html) For those writing about the early 1800's fashion pictures and descriptions always come in handy. This site has some wonderful illustrations that depict the difference between a dancing dress and a walking dress. I never knew that the long trains we see on TV shows were never part of a ballgown if the young lady planned on dancing.

[lastr]

A BRIEF HISTORY OF COOKING AND DINING (http://www.erasofelegance.com/entertaining2.html) Offers authentic recipes, table manners, and items eaten for cooking, dining, and table etiquette information through the ages. I found the short history of afternoon tea interesting, thought from all the Romance novels that it started before it actually did.

Great research site for anyone creating a novel based in past days in Europe or the Americas.

[lastr]

Dallas Symphony Orchestra (http://www.dsokids.com/2001/instrumentchart.htm) has a great chart that details the different instruments and the families they belong in. For instance, did you know the double bass is the only stringed instrument that has rounded shoulders? How about the glockenspiel (also called orchestra bells) which resembles a small xylophone, but it is made of steel bars? The name glockenspiel comes from the German language and means "to play the bells." Great resource for pictures, descriptions, and links to the sound each instrument makes. Anyone writing about scenes set in a theater, symphony hall, etc. can find a lot of background filler information on this site.

[lastr]

Timeline of soft drink history (http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa091699.htm) Have a storyline where the characters are drinking a soft drink and wonder when cans first came out, when the first low-cal drink was on the market, how early did they start using vending machines, etc.?

Everything you wanted to know is on this page and associated links - for the pause that refreshes *grin*

[lastr]

Stanford paper on the impact of being on the New York Times Best Seller list (http://www.stanford.edu/~asorense/papers/bestsellers.pdf)

This paper uses detailed weekly data on sales of hardcover fiction books to evaluate the impact of the New York Times bestseller list on sales. The charts showing sales by genre and what being on the list means are fascinating. Some of the wording is rather technical but the ideas do come across clearly.

[lastr]

History of publishing through the ages (http://apm.brookes.ac.uk/publishing/contexts/main/mainmenu.htm) A little bit of everything - for example did you know that during the Elizabethan Age censorship was a fact of life?

[lastr]

The Psycology of Color (http://www.infoplease.com/spot/colors1.html) Colors set moods, and provide a hint of things to come. We're all familar with the "It was a dark and stormy night" scenario - part of why it works is the emotion behind black.

"Black is the color of authority and power. It is popular in fashion because it makes people appear thinner. It is also stylish and timeless. Black also implies submission. Priests wear black to signify submission to God. Some fashion experts say a woman wearing black implies submission to men. Black outfits can also be overpowering, or make the wearer seem aloof or evil. Villains, such as Dracula, often wear black."

Besides giving great ideas about colors to frame scenes in, I now know why blue food sounds awful *grin*. Read the site, there are some great tidbits here.

[Betty W01]

Tired of wading through pages of hits that don’t help? Many web guides are organized according to the whims of untrained people. Good luck finding what you're looking for! Instead, try Librarians' Index to the Internet, organized by people who know what they’re doing - librarians!

http://lii.org (http://lii.org/)


Librarians Rule!!

[lastr]

Similar Minds (http://similarminds.com/) not only has lots of links to free personality tests, it is a great place to try out a character's reactions. Need to create a submissive hero, an assertive or aggressive person? Try out how they would react, would they be a loner etc. I took some of the protaganists from a well-loved novel and answered as I thought they would - came up with profiles that matched their responses to stimuli in the book perfectly.

[lastr]

Weather Phenomena (http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Earth_Sciences/Meteorology/Weather_Phenomena/) Writing about a scene that takes place in a storm, rain, hail, etc.? Want to add a snow roller to a story? These links give great information and pictures to help flesh out your narrative with.

[lastr]

The Mariner's Museum (http://www.mariner.org/age/index.html) Welcome to The Mariners' Museum Age of Exploration On-line Curriculum Guide. The materials that follow address maritime discovery from ancient times to Captain Cook's 1768 voyage to the South Pacific.

The curriculum weaves together visual images, video, and text, as well as materials that can be downloaded or printed for transparencies, presentations, or reports.

The Guide materials are based on The Mariners' Museum Age of Exploration Gallery, in which intriguing artifacts, videos, and other material trace how technological inventions and growing knowledge of the Earth and skies made possible the voyages of exploration and discovery that changed the course of history.

Although the language is appropriate for any age, the depth of information on ancient methods of sailing is wonderful for people gathering information for historical books. It can be explored by Timeline or by Menu.

[lastr]

The Great Storm of 1900 (http://www.1900storm.com/) With current focus on storms and hurricanes this site provides a fascinating look at the worst storm ever to hit the continental US. More than 6,000 men, women and children lost their lives during the Great Storm. The survivors literally raised the island bucket by bucket afterward. Stories, pictures, and details are on the link above.

Anyone needing research on what people are capable of during times of unbelievable adversity can find the answers in this story.

[lastr]

Attorney Hoffman's help pages (http://www.ivanhoffman.com/helpful.html) has been set up by an attorney who specializes in rights and copyright law, agent agreements, etc. He has provided articles on subjects such as those below and more. His disclaimer states: "This web site and these articles are not legal advice and are not intended as legal advice. This web site and these articles are intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information."

A few of his articles:
The Book Publisher's Legal Check List
The Permission Form
Are Your Invoices Legally Sufficient?
Giving Up Your Rights
The Ten Key Negotiating Points in an Author-Publisher Agreement
The Cover Artist/Illustrator Contract
The Book Editor Contract
Reversionary Rights in Book Contracts
The Peculiarities of Computer Book Contracts
"Next Book" Provisions in Publishing Contracts
A Legal Nightmare: The Unwritten License
Marketing Provisions in Book Contracts
Co-Author Issues in Book Contracts
Failure To Publish Provisions in Book Contracts

[lastr]

Writing about animals (http://p197.ezboard.com/fabsolutewritefrm53) has just opened. There are links to resources for story submissions, ideas, and discussions about life with furred companions. Come join us and share in the fun.

[Jyndral]

www.zoope.com/ (http://www.zoope.com/)

This is another name list site. I like it real well because it gives you origins of the names and meanings.

----

BTW....

This is a great thread! I bookmarked a lot of sites from it last night.

:thumbs

~Jen

[lastr]

Top ten tools for writing humor (http://www.publishingcentral.com/articles/20040219-87-15cb.html) Ever want to write a funny book or a humor column? Or add spice to your newsletter editor or web page so that people read beyond the typical drivel that sends otherwise eager-to-spend customers into a boredom-induced coma? Humor columnist David Leonhardt offers his top ten favorite tools for writing humor with some wonderful examples of the use of each tip.

[lastr]

UNESCO's Cultural Landscapes (http://whc.unesco.org/exhibits/cultland/landscape.htm)

There exist a great variety of Landscapes that are representative of the different regions of the world. Combined works of nature and humankind, they express a long and intimate relationship between peoples and their natural environment.

Links to mutiple regions and illustrates the relationship with nature in each area.

[lastr]

vocabulary.com (http://www.vocabulary.com/) is more then just a free online learning site divided by age groups and activities. It contains fun puzzles, lists of words, and context divided up by grade levels and reading levels. Want to learn what words are being used for different ages so that your young adult book has the correct vocabulary? Want to just have fun with words? Puzzles and semantic quizzes your cup of tea? This is the site for you.

[lastr]

The 1930's were much more then just the Great Depression and mass migration of the Dust Bowl, they had wonderful music, songs, movies, and science. Take a look at this site and its' associated links for answers to questions about the time. Kingwood College Library (http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decade30.html)

[lastr]

Fun with Iambic Pentameter (http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~mwh95001/iambic.html) Not only goes into the whys and wherefores but the howtos - a great page on sonnets, rhyme schemes, and other facets of classic poetry.

[lastr]

Snopes (http://www.snopes.com/) is the place for researching Urban Legends. It's a great place for research on whether facts are real or a legend. Nothing worse then quoting a known fact only to find out that it is only hearsay. Plus the site is fun, where else can you read about exploding toasters and pop rocks.

[lastr]

The American West Website (http://www.americanwest.com/index2.htm) A nice mixture of history, geography, fascinating stories, and lots of facts for the historical fiction researcher.

" Featuring: Westward Expansion, Western Trails, America's Freedom Documents, Cowboys, Indians, Native Americans, Pioneers, Trappers, Scouts, Gunslingers (the whole dang blang shootin' match is heah, bucko!), Outlaws, Gunbattles, Ghost Towns, Gold & Silver Mining, Saloons, Dodge City, Tombstone, O.K. Corral, Virginia City, Doc Holliday, Kit Carson, Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickock, Davy Crocket, Daniel Boone, Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Buffalo Bill, Sitting Bull, Roy Rogers, Western Theme Parks, Museums and Exhibitions, the Prairie, Buffalo, Horses, Rodeos, Stage Coaches, Frontier Railroads, River Steam Boats, and anything of interest or of significance west of the Mississippi River. We carry a lot of links to other major high quality western-type web sites."

[lastr]

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) is a free-content encyclopedia in many languages. In the English edition, started in January 2001, there are more then on 347,900 articles.

Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles:
...that Barbara Billingsley was so typecast as June Cleaver on the sitcom Leave It to Beaver that she could not get acting jobs for nearly twenty years?
...that Hoot was novelist Carl Hiaasen's first book geared toward young adults?
...that the crustaceans known as giant isopods, which live in the depths of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, can grow up to 45 centimetres long?
...that the British film It Happened Here is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the film with the longest ever production schedule (8 years)?

WARNING: Since this site allows anyone to edit entries at ahy time and for any reason, whether or not they are qualified, entries should be taken with a grain of salt and ALWAYS double-checked against a more reputable site. You have been warned.

[lastr]

[/url]
The [url="http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/shaanxi/xian/terra_cotta_army/"]Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses (http://www.travelchinaguide.com/images/photogallery/002500/terra%20cotta%20warriors%) are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum, Lintong County, Shaanxi province. It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China. Visit the site virtually and read some of the history - it cries out for stories to be written, dreams to be dreamt.

One of the fascinating facts about the life size warriors is that each is different, modeled after the real army they are young, old, mongolian, southern, and northern. The true face of China from 200 B.C.

See picture here:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/images/photogallery/002500/terra%20cotta%20warriors%

[lastr]

Nebraska Studies (http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/stories/0501_0108.html) has a tremendous amount of information about life on the frontier - including how to build a sod house. I was surprised to see the picture below - a two story sod house that stood for 100 years and was lived in for over 60 years.

http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/media/0501_010803.jpg

[Samueel]

Well, don't know if these were mentioned already, but I'll put down a few of my favorites, just in case. Check 'em ALL out. They are worth your while!!!

www.howstuffworks.com (http://www.howstuffworks.com/)
www.wwforums.com (http://www.wwforums.com/)
www.wired.com (http://www.wired.com/)
www.technovelgy.com (http://www.technovelgy.com/)
www.gizmodo.com (http://www.gizmodo.com/)
www.engadget.com (http://www.engadget.com/)
www.insultmonger.com (http://www.insultmonger.com/)
www.seventhsanctum.com (http://www.seventhsanctum.com/)

And, btw, I've bookmarked a ton of the sites you'll have suggested, a lot are quite good.

Of course, my list isn't at all exhaustive, I have WAAAAAAAAAY more. But still, these are a few of my top favorites.

Samuel.

[lastr]

Western Eating Utensils (http://www.cuisinenet.com/glossary/utensils.html)

Henry Petroski, in The Evolution of Useful Things, makes the argument that it is not so much that necessity is the "mother of invention" as that invention takes place in response to dissatisfaction at the shortcomings of an already existing way of doing things.

The eating utensils we use and the ways we use them are the result of centuries of experimentation.

[lastr]

I've bookmarked a ton of the sites you'll have suggested, a lot are quite good.

Thank you for the suggestions Samuel and for finding this area that Betty set up useful. Welcome to the Absolute Write Board as well.

Carol

[lastr]

World Wide Words (http://www.worldwidewords.org/index.htm)
Those who share my enthusiasm for words would benefit from logging on to worldwidewords.org—a free weekly newsletter on words, origins and meanings that is both scholarly and entertaining, erudite and easy-going. It is written by Michael Quinion, an author and lexicographer, and the pages are blessedly free of pop-ups, pulldowns or advertisements of any description. This to me is one of the wonders of the internet, that experts should offer their wares free of charge and for the love of wisdom. [Clive Davies, in the Yorkshire Post, 31 January 2004]

[Tish Davidson]

Wikipedia is a free, contributor generated encyclopedia, and I've found errors in it in areas where I have detailed or expert knowledge. It has a lot of interesting stuff, but I wound't use anything from there as authoritative without finding confirmation elsewhere.

[lastr]

rec-puzzles.org/ (http://rec-puzzles.org/) This is the index of the rec.puzzles archive, taken from archive-request@questrel.com. You can browse through the puzzles, and click on the Solution link to see the solution of the puzzle. A little of everything for when you just need a break.

[stormie267]

I was trying to think of some humorous names for my writing, and happened upon this web site:

hometown.aol.com/detles1/...index.html (http://hometown.aol.com/detles1/myhomepage/index.html)

They're names of real people.

(By the way, it might take a minute for the page to load.)

[lastr]

How to rite (http://www.writershome.com/humor/how-to-rite.htm)

WRITING TIPS

Like the virgin prairie for the explorer, metaphors are pregnant with possibility, but don't mix them.

It behooves the writer to avoid archaic expressions.

One should not shift from the third person to the second person when you write.

I once read that splitting modifiers was wrong in the library.

It is generally recommended that the use of the passive be minimized.

Write assertively, I think.

A sentence containing a parenthetical phrase (must be a complete sentence) without that phrase.

Avoid the use of vulgarisms that might piss off the reader.

Avoid rephrasing, which is, in other words, paraphrasing or rewording of a statement, sort of like repeating it.

I've told you a million times not to exaggerate.

Ambiguity is more or less undesirable.

Hyperbole is the worst mistake you can possibly make.

You will die horribly if you are overdramatic!

Boise, Idaho's 7327 English teachers agree that all statistics should be verified.

Don't verbify nouns.

I have traveled all over the world, known many important people, received many degrees, and have learned that it is in bad taste to use yourself as an expert example even though I am one.

djust the margins before print
opy of the completed docume

When choosing among two, make the best choice. Between three or more, pick the better one.

Avoid overuse of rhetorical questions. Know what I mean?

I could care less about expressions that mean the opposite of what they say.

Vary sentence length. Conformity is boring.

Be sure to use the correct word accept in certain cases.

Don't use no double negatives.

Avoid clichés like the plague.

Each pronoun should match their subject.

Never use a preposition to end a sentence with.

Try to not split infinitives.

Don't be repetitively redundant or repetitious.

[lastr]

Symbolism of the pineapple (http://www.levins.com/pineapple.html)

THE PINEAPPLE has served as both a food and a symbol throughout the human history of the Americas. Originally unique to the Western Hemisphere, the fruit was a culinary favorite of the fierce Carib Indians who lived on islands in the sea that still bears their name.


Indian Migration and Commerce
The presence of pineapples on Caribbean islands was not a natural event, but rather the result of centuries of indian migration and commerce. Accomplished dugout canoe navigators, the maritime tribes explored, raided and traded across a vast expanse of tropical oceans, seas and river systems. The herbaceous plant they called "anana," or "excellent fruit," originally evolved in the inland areas of what is now Brazil and Paraguay and was widely transplanted and cultivated. Highly regarded for its intense sweetness, the "excellent fruit" was a staple of indian feasts and rites related to tribal affirmation. It was also used to produce Indian wine.

It goes on to talk about the uses in art and furniture decoration - fascinating look at the lost art of food display

[lastr]

Sryth: The age of Igtheon (http://www.sryth.com) A virtual world populated by good and bad - free to explore and enjoy. Role playing with a twist.

Warning: A great way to off load some energy but very addictive.

[Tish Davidson]

dmarie Time Capsule

A nifty little site where you put in a date and it not only gives you the headlines (international) top songs and television shows (US), but also the price of different commodities (bread, gasoline, etc.) Very helpful to writers who are working on stories set in the near past.
And it is humbling how many of the top books from the 1940s and 1950s no one is reading now.

www.dmarie.com/timecap/ (http://www.dmarie.com/timecap/)

[lastr]

Great Moments in Apple History (http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/maia/history.html)

The Beginning—From the very beginning the ancients were truly enamoured with fruit. Apart from milk and honey, fruit is nature's only pleasure laden natural food. From the beginning apples have been associated with love, beauty, luck, health, comfort, pleasure, wisdom, temptation, sensuality, sexuality, virility and fertility. Stories and traditions about man's origins connect him to a garden of paradise filled with fruit trees. The stories are essentially the same whether it be the Semitic Adam, the Teutonic Iduna, the Greek Hesperides, or the Celtic Avalon, man's idea of paradise centers on an abundance of cultivated fruit, its sensual irresistibility and the consequential calamity of its seduction. ....

[Jyndral]

I haven't seen this one here and I think it looks pretty interesting. I just found it yesterday so I haven't taken a thorough look around yet.

publaw.com/index.html (http://publaw.com/index.html)

~Jen

[lastr]

Utah History to Go (http://historytogo.utah.gov/histmatters.html)

Links to many interesting articles that range from Liquor ads to the monster at Bear Lake. Anyone looking for local color from a 100 years back will find this site very useful, and a lot of fun.

[pdr]

I apologise if this has appeared before but I've found it so useful and a visual feast!

A folio feast online
Leonardo’s notebooks with sketches by the great genius and notes in 'mirror writing' … the Lindisfarne Gospels, a priceless treasure of Northumbrian art … the Luttrell Psalter, with its fascinating glimpses of medieval life ... Discover these and much more with the British Library's award-winning system, Turning the Pages.

First you’ll need to download Macromedia Shockwave version 8.5 (free of charge), if you haven’t already got it. Then you can enjoy the Sforza Hours, a Renaissance masterpiece by Birago and Horenbout, or the Golden Haggadah, a lavishly illustrated 14th century Hebrew manuscript. Or perhaps you’d like to sample the Sherborne Missal, a magnificent 15th century service book, or Anatomy by Vesalius, a landmark medical work of the 16th century, dip into Blackwell’s Herbal, George III's personal copy of a beautiful botanical text, or even enjoy the Sultan Baybar’s Qur’an, a masterpiece of Arabic calligraphy, or the Diamond Sutra, a Chinese Buddhist scroll printed in 868 and the world's oldest, dated, printed book.

All these delights await you, and more. The British Library is working on producing alternative, accessible versions of each of the Turning the Pages volumes, and promise they’ll be online soon. Go now to www.bl.uk/collections/tre...tion6.html (http://www.bl.uk/collections/treasures/digitisation6.html) and nourish soul, mind and heart with this lavish feast of folios outspread before you.

[lastr]

thank you pdr - it is indeed a great resource!

[lastr]

As flu scares mount in the US due to a lack of vaccine - it is interesting to look back at the flu pandemic of 1918 where over 20 million people world wide lost their lives to flu. A great resource for this information is Stanford University (http://www.stanford.edu/group/virus/uda/)

An estimated 675,000 Americans died of influenza during the pandemic, ten times as many as in world war 1. My grandmother lost two sisters to the flu, and it is said there was not a family untouched by it. A full 50% of the world population had it in the eight months it traveled the globe.

PBS report on the flu (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dm18fl.html)

[Betty W01]

Hi, ya'll. As you can see, the whole "do jour" thing has become a thing of the past, due to a need to make actual cash with my writing. (If anyone out there would like to pay me to write a resource column for them, feel free to contact me... :D )

Meanwhile, I will start again, only this time it will be Resource of the Week, done (I hope) each Monday. The rest of you are free to post other resources whenever you want, of course. I have really enjoyed doing this, but finding new resources and investigating them was beginning to take too much of my paying writing time.

(And a big THANKS!! to Carol for pitching in and keeping the column going while I was AWOL. You're the best!!)

[pdr]

I've been doing some research on the early types of boats. There is a really good site at www.port.nmm.ac.uk What is so useful is that this site is indeed like a port where the National Maritime Museum of Britain has collected a large group of websites and details their information along with its own so that it is like using a very large and helpful library.
Best place I've found for quality information on ships, sailors, wrecks, pirates, just about anything connected to the sea!

[pdr]

For those writers who need to research for their fantasy or historical works I've found the BBC history 'pages' on their web site to be really helpful. In the archaeological section there are clear simple practical instructions for making fire, building a chariot, spinning or baking bread, building Iron age homes. There are written explanations and then interactive games. Apart from learning a great deal it's fun so if you have children it's a good site to explore together. www.bbc.co.uk

[pdr]

I've been doing research. Found some wonderful books at the British Museum www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk (http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk) And of course the website is areal learning experience!

[Betty W01]

Linda Stradley's web site What's Cooking America has a lot of interesting stuff in it. For example, if your WIP includes cookies, check this page out!!

whatscookingamerica.net/History/CookieHistory.htm (http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/CookieHistory.htm)

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_4_22.gif

[Betty W01]

Does your WIP include American quilts, quilting bees, and so on? This is a good place to learn more about them. Be sure to check all the links.

www.pbs.org/americaquilts/america/ (http://www.pbs.org/americaquilts/america/)

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_19.gifhttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_5_8.gif

[Betty W01]

Ways to use these links:
Look up your birthday or someone else's.

Find out what happened years ago on a date several months in the future and dream up an article based on the information. Editors love seasonal stuff, especially if it's something a little different and it's pitched far enough in advance!

Come up with anniversary article ideas.

Have fun!

Today In History Archive (Library of Congress) (http://newwindow)

dMarie Time Capsule (http://newwindow)

History Channel (http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/tdih.html)

This Day In History (http://www.calendarhome.com/clink/history.html)

This Day In Music (http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/)

Today In Science History (http://www.todayinsci.com/)

Those Were the Days, Today In History (http://www.440.com/twtd/today.html)

Today In Military History (http://www.strategypage.com/militaryhistory.asp)

The History Place: This Month In History (http://www.historyplace.com/specials/calendar/index.html)

Today In Medieval History (http://historymedren.about.com/library/date/blfinddate.htm)

[Betty W01]

www.literaturepage.com/ (http://www.literaturepage.com/)

Looking for Bacon's Essays? Can't remember the words to Poe's The Raven? Always meant to read something by Jane Austen? Look no further. Tons of free reading. No having to go out in the cold to go to the store or the library. Good thing, too. It's -10 here.

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage26/3.gif

[Betty W01]

If your WIP features a trip to or from the UK or the New World, you can probably find out here what ship to put your characters on. Loads of information off actual ship manifests, plus a long list of interesting maritime-related links of all sorts.

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage45/10.gifMighty Seas (http://www.mightyseas.co.uk/index.html)

[as of today, this thread will be pinned to the top of NSL, for ease of access]

[Betty W01]

If you’re looking for an educational way to burn up some time, here’s the site for you. Antiques Roadshow stories are always interesting: how diamonds are graded, collecting crate labels, how to figure out who made “anonymous” furniture pieces. Cruise the site and learn while you burn.


Antiques Roadshow Stories (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/series/follow_stories.html#arms)

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_5_3.gifhttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_5_33.gifhttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_5_41.gif

[Betty W01]

Does your WIP require a traditional English dish or two? Find out how to make Bubble & Squeak, Toad-in-a-Hole, and Blood Pudding, besides others, at

http://www.pbs.org/kqed/demonbarber/recipes/index.html

And can someone tell me why so many traditional English and Scottish dishes sound like there's a bet riding on them? :Jaw:

[Betty W01]

Just in time for Presidents' Day on Monday: http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14_3_1.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZS)

Interested in one of the US presidents? Here are some sites that have loads of information (including media and more links) about them, their spouses, their running mates, their backgrounds and histories, and their biographical information.
http://www.ap.grolier.com

http://www.americanpresident.org

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents

[Betty W01]

For all you drama queens out there... http://fool.exler.ru/sm/obm.gif http://fool.exler.ru/sm/pom.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage33/18.gif http://smiles.ru/coll/pain/girl.gif

http://www.ecb.org/surf/

This site, intended mainly for teachers, is full of interesting links to drama sites, set designs, literary criticism, play lists, and more.


http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/5/5_8_5.gif

[Betty W01]

Interesting.com

http://www.interesting.com/

A portal to links on history, sports, collecting, and other interests.

Interesting links include WWII, baseball, Irish and English history, and Christmas past.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_4_103.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZS) http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_8_11.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZS) http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/18/18_7_12v.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZS) http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/6/6_14_7.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZS) http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_2_92v.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZS)

[Betty W01]

The history of blood-letting, how blood is produced, how a transfusion is performed, the effects of war on blood-collecting and storage - all this and more, at

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/redgold/basics/index.html

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage43/10.gif<--------------- I don't like the sight of blood much...

[Betty W01]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kaboom/ http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_112.gif

Have you ever wondered how fireworks are made? I know I have. And in the process of finding out, here’s an interesting tidbit I found - firework makers have to wear cotton undies. Find out why (and more) by clicking on "Anatomy of a Firework" and working your way through the various labels.

Does someone in your WIP need to make a building implode? Click on "Demoliton Woman" for an interview with 26 year old demolition expert Stacey Loizeaux and a fascinating look at demolition work from the inside.

These links are part of the PBS TV show NOVA. You can find other really cool science-related programs and information, including movies you can view on-screen, by going to the home page and browsing.

[PattiTheWicked]

and other neat forensic doodads.

One of my favorite sites -- not just for writing, but because it's pretty darn interesting.

The Writers Forensics Medical Lab - Death By Hanging (http://www.dplylemd.com/Questions/archive/dnasecretions.htm)

[Betty W01]

http://www.history.org/search/index.cfm

Colonial Williamsburg

Includes recipes, virtual field trips, information about colonial clothing, fife and drums, and gardens. Neat site... check it out, even if your WIP isn’t set in colonial times!

Other links to information about and virtual field trips to colonial-era homes and plantations can be found here: http://www.nksd.net/schools/fces/rowland/Colonial.htm

Meant for classroom use, but full of lots of good information, pictures, and URLs of official web sites.

[Tish Davidson]

US Naval Observatory

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html

You can obtain the times of sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, transits of the Sun and Moon, and the beginning and end of civil twilight, along with information on the Moon's phase by specifying the date and location anywhere in the world in one of the two forms provided and clicking on the "Get data" button at the end of the form.

[Betty W01]

If any of you are interested in taking an online course in writing for
anthologies, all you need to do is go to http://www.writershelper.org/ and request it.

It's a free four week course, taught by Christian author Dena Dyer (see http://www.denadyer.com/) and I'm taking it myself; even if I am already in eight anthologies. After all, you can always learn more about your craft!

Writer’s Helper, the site on which the course is offered, has a lot of other good stuff for writers, too. Spend some time looking it over.

[Betty W01]

http://www.culinarycafe.com/Spices_Herbs/index.html

From allspice to vanilla, if you need to know where a spice or herb comes from, a little bit of its history, and how it’s used in food, this is the place to go.

[Betty W01]

If, like me, you use Outlook Express, do a lot of your business through e-mails, and don’t want to print them all out, this software program will interest you. David Guess has come up with an easy-to-use backup utility for Outlook Express files and it’s free!

http://www.oehelp.com

[J. Y. Moore]

This web site, run by editor C. Hope Clark, is a valuable resource in itself, but even better is the e-mail newsletter she sends out regularly that tells you about available grants, contests, and jobs for writers. Clark has a goal of aiding writers develop their dreams instead of worrying about paying the bills, and she does a great job. I've gotten several great tips through her newsletter. See details at
&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp <a href="http://www.chopeclark.com/fundsforwriters.htm" target="_new">www.chopeclark.com/fundsforwriters.htm</a>&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

Hi Betty!

First off: Great Thread! Lots of wonderful, appreciated resources!

I'm just getting started with the thread but ran across this and couldn't find anything else about it on a search. The site seems to be under construction without any actual information available.

Keep up the good work!

J. Y. (Jean) Moore

[Betty W01]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll go edit the link after I finish this. It's now http://www.fundsforwriters.com/total.htm and if you click on newsletters, it will take you to information on all of Hope's newsletters.

[Betty W01]

http://www.ccel.org/ (http://www.ccel.org/)

Can’t afford to buy all the Christian classics you want to read? Go to this link and read them on-line for free. (You could probably even print them out, if you could afford the time, paper, and ink!)
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_120.gifhttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_120.gifhttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_120.gif

[J. Y. Moore]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll go edit the link after I finish this. It's now http://www.fundsforwriters.com/total.htm and if you click on newsletters, it will take you to information on all of Hope's newsletters.
Thanks, Betty! I went ahead and signed up for the free newsletter; however, I did e-mail her to ask about her privacy policy. I see none on the site and can't afford any more spam! If you like, I'll add a note here about it when I receive a reply.

J. Y. (Jean) Moore

[Betty W01]

Sure JY, thanks! I know, I get enough spam, too, although I'm pretty sure none of it is due to Hope. <grin> I take so many newsletters, e-zines, and mailing lists that it's inevitable at least one of them will end up causing junk mail, I guess.

[J. Y. Moore]

Well, if I had waited for the first newsletter... It states that "Our subscriber list is NOT made available to others." She might do well to publish a privacy policy on the site. She might get more subscribers that way.

J. Y. (Jean) Moore

[PattiTheWicked]

OK, I know the question of "how do you name your characters" has come up a lot on some of these boards. I found this neat site, which is a bit more comprehensive and accurate than some of the "baby name" pages.

My daughter wanted me to name a character Ethan and I had to make sure it would fit in with the time and country in question, so I checked here: Behind the Name - the Etymology and History of First Names (http://www.behindthename.com/)

[PattiTheWicked]

I love historical fiction, and I've recently been playing around with a series of historical novels for young adults. Found this page and thought it was pretty cool. A lot of the links are to author pages, but there are some really good resources in there as well -- including a neat article on there about the problems of writing within this genre. Teresa's Historical Fiction Page (http://www3.sympatico.ca/eckford/Hf.htm)

[scarlet]

Hi All,

What a fabulous thread, and thanks for all the fantastic resources I'm amassing. Only fair therefore to return the favour:

http://www.jbwb.co.uk/

This is prolific writer/editor/critiquer, Jacquie Bennett's site. Don't be put off because it is UK based, there is a ton of information here. Also includes a whole heap of market info and writer's guidelines.

Thanks again.

[Tish Davidson]

http://biome.ac.uk/

This is a gateway site that leads to many interesting and quirky free sites.It has straight human medical and veterinary info sites, but it also has sections on social history of medicine, medicine in ancient Greece, medieval times, Islamic medicine, herbal medicine, midwifery, as well as agriculture/farming/crops/livestock. There is also a nursing section. You can search for sites by keyword or browse by title. All sites are evaluated for worth/accuracy before being listed. Many are university sites. The medical history section would be a good resource for anyone who was writing historical fiction. For example, there is a site run by Duke University that has advertisements for cosmetics, dental equipment, soaps, etc from the 1920s to the 1960s. The historical sites can be accessed directly here:
http://medhist.ac.uk/browse/mesh/D020495.html

[Betty W01]

Ever been in the middle of writing something and needed a particular Bible verse, but by the time you got out your Bible and hunted for it and then got out your concordance and hunted some more, you'd lost the thread of your WIP and had to start over?

Never fear - Empress to the rescue! Go to Crosswalk, at http://www.biblestudytools.net/ , and use their on-line Bible study tools. You can search by keyword, read a verse in context, read the whole chapter a verse is in, and cut and paste it into your notes. You can look a verse up in multiple Bible translations or in a lexicon or commentary, find every verse that contains "bread" or "lamb" or whatever word you need to find, read about the history of the Jews and the Church, send your pastor a thank you e-card for the great sermon last Sunday - this site has it all!

http://deephousepage.com/smilies/leseratte.gif

[Betty W01]

http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/

Once upon a time, in a portion of cyberspace close to the heart of man, there existed a wonderful web site called Sur La Lune Fairy Tales. In it, fairy tale fans could find annotated fairy tales, links to fairy tale author sites, bibliographies of adaptations, and lists of books, movies, plays, and music inspired by favorite fairy tales. Writers looking for a springboard for a fantasy could spend hours in this place, looking for ideas, and fairy tale lovers could spend days, even weeks, returning again and again to the spellbinding tales in this magical virtual kingdom.

So go visit. What're you waiting for?

:Fairydust

[PattiTheWicked]

Need to figure out what Lord and Lady Whatchamacallit will be serving at the big Michaelmas Dinner of 1527? Why, look! It's a great big compendium of medieval recipes -- and they're even adaptable to modern-day kitchens!

Gode Cookery (http://www.godecookery.com/godeboke/godeboke.htm)

I highly recommend the beer-poached salmon with herbs :)

[Betty W01]

I've been swamped this summer, but I started classes today and will have 1-2 hours a week of waiting between classes that I can use to get caught up. I hope. Stay tuned....

[__VeNoM__]

Jeez, all useful.

Cheers.

[Betty W01]

Real life has a way to suck you into it, doesn't it? But I'm busting out into cyberspace again, so look out!

Betty

[Betty W01]

Make A Snow Flake [wait, shouldn't that be "snowflake"? that's their spelling, not mine...]

http://snowflakes.lookandfeel.com/ (http://snowflakes.lookandfeel.com/)


OK, this isn't a practical site, but it's snowing here - AGAIN - after 6" day before yesterday, and I have snowflakes on the brain. (It's danged cold, too!) However, if you download your designs and find a practical use for them, let us know. Meanwhile, here's a way to make non-cold (it is too a word - now...) snowflakes without leaving little bits of paper everywhere, like DD#2 did the year she learned to make these in kindergarten. Let it snow!!

http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/snowglo1.gif

[Betty W01]

I went to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe this past Friday. C.S. Lewis' series is one of my favorites and I loved the movie - the bits that were added didn't spoil the flow or the flavor, it had great casting, good music, and an amazing CGI Aslan... if you haven't gone to see it, go. Right now. What are you watiing for?

Meanwhile, for those of you who like to see how books translate on the big screen, check out the list from Mid-Continent Public Library, "Based on the Book". I was amazed to see how many books had been made into movies in 2005 alone. Somehow, I'd been under the impression that all the film industry could do anymore was make sequels. Bad ones.

http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/readers/movies/year.cfm?id=2005 (http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/readers/movies/year.cfm?id=2005)


http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/verkleidung/costumed-smiley-019.gif http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage29/20.gif

[Betty W01]

Can’t remember the third verse of Joy to the World? Can’t remember any of the words to Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant? Looking for some carols for rabid Green Bay fans? (No, seriously...)

This is the place! Douglas D. Anderson put this site together (possibly the most complete collection of Christmas songs on the Internet) so that folks can celebrate Chsitmas all year long. The site also includes historical bits about trees, cards, Santa Claus, and angels, as well as a whole page of links to e-mail card sites. (Now you have no excuse not to send out cards this year!)
Merry Christmas, y’all! http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage35/1.gif

http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/index.htm

[Betty W01]

Thanks, Patti. I hope to get back to posting on this list after the semester ends. Meanwhile, anything useful is welcome.

[Glenda]

Betty, thank you for all the sites on research. I found a lot I can use when writing my historical romance without googling all the time.

[Betty W01]

Glad to help!

[outsidethebox]

It's hard trying to track down back issues of magazines I all of a sudden have a story idea for, not to mention it costs money. I can't always find magazines at my local book or grocery store, etc. Last night I was trying to find if there were any online postings of essays for a women's publication because I'm interested in submitting one--and I found it! But instead of just coming across one or two of these essays, I found a website where I can gain free access to read entire back issues of tons of articles. Score!

Check out accessmylibrary.com (http://www.accessmylibrary.com) This is a land mine for freelancers!

[Annie O]

That's fantastic - thank you for sharing!

[dyljos]

StoryWar! www.storywar.com (http://www.storywar.com) - where writers can submit stories and watch as they climb up (or fall down) an ongoing league table.

read/rate/review stories too! Simple, easy to use layout, no ads.

[rtilryarms]

read/rate/review stories too! Simple, easy to use layout, no ads.

no ads?

What? Except for at this site?

[James D. Macdonald]

Rather than send your story to StoryWars, slip it in an envelope and send it to a genuine market. I wouldn't waste my time with what's essentially a display site.

[Ziljon]

Here's a neat anagram finder site:

http://wordsmith.org/anagram/

[karlhindle]

www.keybasher.com (http://www.keybasher.com)

I publish a daily freelance writing jobs list Monday to Friday - it's free to use (I fund it by Adsense ads if they get clicked on) - mixed bag available and I'm open to suggestions if you are looking fr specific work categories too - drop me an email.

Good luck!

Karl aka Keybasher