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
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.