Resources for Teen Writers

interested in science fiction, fantasy, and horror

Writing Advice

Books
    The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Science Fiction by Cory Doctorow and Karl Schroeder (2000)
    How to Write SF and F by Orson Scott Card (1990)
    On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King (2000)
    Aliens and Alien Societies by Stanley Schmidt (1996 Writer's Digest Books)

 
On-line Advice
    What is a Short Story  by Marian Zimmer Bradley
    Advice to New Writers  by Marian Zimmer Bradley
    Pitsfalls of SF and F by Vonda McIntrye
    Interviews with author Orson Scott Card
    Selling to the Big Three  by Bud Sparhawk
   
Wil's Official Speculative Fiction Career Planning Guide  by Wil McCarthy
    Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions  by Patricia C. Wrede
    Some Things You Can Do Right Now To Launch Your Writing Career  by Jeffrey Yamaguchi
    List  of books on writing science fiction and fantasy

 
Manuscripts
    Definitions: length of short story, novella, etc.  for the Nebula Awards
    Manuscript Preparation  by Vonda McIntyre
    Proper Manuscript Format  by William Shunn
    Manuscript Preparation  by John Gregory Betancourt
    US Copyright Office
    Legal Information Institute  copyright information
    US Postal Service
    Why haven't I heard back? Check response times at Black Hole  Response times at sff.net  and  Rumor Mill - Rejection/Acceptance Log
    What Have You Done With My Manuscript?  by Elisabeth Waters
    Why Did My Story  Get Rejected  by Marion Zimmer Bradley
    Death, Taxes, and the Writer  by Elisabeth Waters

 
Agents & Contracts
    Agents  by Dan Perez
    Excuse Me, How Much Did It Cost You?  an anti-scam handout by A.C. Crispin
    Safest Way to Search for an Agent  by Victoria Strauss
    How to Negotiate a Book Contract: A Guide for Authors, Agents, and Lawyers  by Mark L. Levine (1999)
    Preditors and Editors  a guide to publishers and writing services for serious writers
    Short Story Contracts  by Dan Perez
    Writer Beware

 
Other Stuff

Recommended Science Fiction for Use as a Classroom Tool

SciFi in the Classroom

Reading for the Future  a volunteer organization that encourages literacy through the reading of Speculative Fiction


  
 
  

This site is hosted by writer David Barr Kirtley. David is the co-host of the Geek’s Guide

to the Galaxy podcast and teaches each summer at the Alpha teen sf writers workshop.