UNBOUND
unbound.com
If you're a writer looking for a publisher and have been down all traditional routes without success (remember this means nothing about the worth of your manuscript), then you might like to shoot the very nice folk at Unbound an email. They believe the people who love books – readers and writers – deserve a say in what does and doesn’t get published. Their site finds and funds book projects. Creators pitch their ideas and if enough readers support it, the book gets the go-ahead. The site takes crowdfunding to the next level and guides you through the design, edit and printing process. All manner of established and new writers (including Raymond Briggs and Stuart Ashen) have found success at this incredible publishing portal that knocks the traditional publishing model on its head and gives it a very good shake.
FREELANCE WRITERS DEN
freelancewritersden.com
The brainchild of professional writer, journalist and all round wordsmith Carol Tice, this blog is choc full of hints on how to monetize each and every word. The Freelance Writers Den is a learning and support community that has been around since 2011. Its aim is to help and motivate as many freelance writers to grown their writing income. It has over 1,200 members. If you're a writer who's also got a sideline in blogging/journalism/copywriting, then this is your destination domain. Look out for the Den training workshops.
THE RENEGADE WRITER
www.therenegadewriter.com
Ten years after starting the Renegade Writer blog and website, veteran journalists Diana Burrell and Linda Formichelli revamped the whole thing. It is now Renegade Writer Press, where they publish books for writers in five different genres. That’ll be self-help, food, erotica, reneguides and writing. The site brings you helpful books, e-course materials and a guided meditation for writers. Since 2003, they’ve given thousands of freelancers the low-down on freelance writing.
UNGLUE IT
unglue.it
Always wanted to give a book to the world? Well there may be another way to do it apart from the traditional (publish your own) model. Unglue It calls itself a bookstore for books that want to be free. At Unglue It, you can find ways to support and sustain Creative Commons ebooks. Through the site, you can buy books that want to be free, but need funding to get there. Make it legal for a digital book to be used, distributed, archived and preserved by libraries. Help the world become more literary with a huge selection of texts at your disposal.
LUCY ROBINSON
lucy-robinson.co.uk
Blogging can lead to a big deal and Lucy Robinson is an example of this which is why she’s included in this page. Lucy started her blog on the Marie Claire website in 2009 chronicling her doomed attempts at internet dating. She has recently published her fourth novel The Day We Disappeared. Lucy is an inspirational, funny, determined writer who cannot help but perk up others when they are going through some dark moments of self-doubt.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
www.publishersweekly.com
If you want to get a good old insight into the ins and outs of the publishing world, then Publishers Weekly is where to do it. More familiarly known as ‘the bible of the book world', the weekly news magazine will tell you all you need to know about the business side of publishing. If you're taking writing as seriously as you think, a quick gander on a lunch break is no bad thing.
FICTION WRITERS REVIEW
fictionwritersreview.com
This genius site is perhaps the most pertinent. Writing is a lonely vocation but this member of the literary blogosphere brings writers together. It is a nonprofit online literary journal written by and geared specifically towards emerging writers. Its community of writers are dedicated to reviewing, recommending and discussing quality fiction from writers widely revered and emerging authors. It gives due attention to new titles and also revisits the old classics. It mentions uplifting tales of success from those who have trod the path before you.
UPWORK
www.upwork.com/cat/writing
When starting out as a freelancer, people often look to sites like Upwork where you can bid for work. Companies such as Pinterest, Unilver and Panasonic work with Upwork. The site allows you to build up a portfolio and freelance experience while getting paid for it. It’s a great way to enter into online journalism. They have jobs for blog and article writers, web content writers, technical writers, creative writers and copywriters. The site has over 25,000 writers and editors on board. Worth a look.
Don't consider yourself a pro at writing just yet? Head over to our page on best sites for budding writers to get going.
Updated January 2017