social media & resources for writers

As promised to the students at OKCU's low-residency MFA creative writing program, I am sharing a few links related to social media and online networking. This post has been updated since the previous list with a few new updates--so, it's happily shared with any and all who might find these resources useful.

Happy surfing….

Social Networking & Community Sites

• Facebook
• Facebook’s Networked Blogs
• Twitter
• Red Room
• PW.org Speakeasy
• AWP discussion forums
• Book Marketing Network
• Freelance Writers Network
• CrimeSpace
• Think Poemata
• Read Write Poem
• Poets and Writers Registry
• Shewrites.com
• BlogHer
• Harlequin
• Shelfari
• GoodReads
• Google Plus
• Huffington Post article on the new Google+

Web & Blog Hosting

• GoDaddy
• 000WebHost
• BraveNet
• wordpress
• blogger
• livejournal
• yola

Reasonably Priced Website Design Software

• Web Easy 8
• CoffeeCup Visual Site Designer
• Website Tonight by GoDaddy
• Microsoft Expressions

Authors on Amazon
Amazon.com: Author Central
(if you currently have books for sale on amazon, take advantage of this free program!)

Marketing Tips

• The Practicing Writer
• Buzz Balls and Hype
• There Are No Rules (Jane Friedman)
• Writer’s Market

Writing Magazines with Online Resources

• The Writer
• Poets & Writers
• Writer’s Digest: 101 Best Websites for Writers: Agent Blogs

Agent/Editor Research

• Directory of Book Trade People on Twitter
• Agent Query
• Association of Authors’ Representatives
• Open Directory: Writing Resources
• Publishers Marketplace
• BookEnds LLC
• Agent Rachelle Gardner
• Nathan Bransford (former agent at Curtis Brown)

Book Trailers Video
For those of you looking to expand your promotions with multi-media, I thought I’d suggest a few links to demonstrate some of the really cool things writers are doing lately, in an effort to market their work. I hope you enjoy these examples:

• Cindy Gerard’s Book Trailer
• Audio of Molly Peacock’s Shimmering Verge
• A literary review on YouTube: Shape of a Box

There are so many more great resources for writers to take advantage of online, but hopefully this small sampling inspires you to research, network, and connect with others passionate about the pen!

Feel free to comment and share some of your favorite online resources for connecting writers to the greater community.