If you're a writer you know what a pain in the ass it is when you have writer's block, the scene you're workin on just isnt scannin right or you cant find that one bit of crucial information you need to make the story sound realistic. This page contains links to sites I have made use of for just these reasons. If you know of a great site that qualifies for inclusion under any of the headings email me with the link here:
Romance Central: This
is my favourite writers workshop on the net right now. It's crammed full of help
and advice on such subjects as dialogue, love scenes, creating internal
monologue, motivation and believable characters.
The Quill Society:
This site offers a resource library and an activity page with exercises to help
ease writers block.
Otherworlds.net:
A writers workshop for authors in the sci-fi/fantasy genre. It operates via a
mailing list and you must be over 18 to join.
Erotica-Readers:
this is a gorgeous site for writers and readers of
erotic fiction. It's very tastefully done which is what I like the most about it
and includes general writing guides as well as guides on how to write erotica.
Encarta
World English Dictionary: Exactly
what it says it is.
Britannica.com:
The on-line version of the Encylopedia Brittanica.
The
Phrase Finder: Is there a phrase or saying
on the tip of your tongue and you cant quite remember what it is? Type in a
relevant word and the database will return all known phrases and sayings that
include what you searched for.
Roget's
Thesaurus: As well as being what it says it
is this site also offers grammar and style worksheets for writers.
Babynames.com:
This is where I go when I need a name for a
character. You can search by name or by meaning or just browse the A-Z listings.
Sciencenet:
Run by a bunch of Mad Profs in Britain, you can
browse their database of past questions and if you cant find the answer to what
you lookin for email them your query and they'll send you a response.
Crimes
and Clues: This site includes sections on
Pathology, Criminal Profiling, Crime Scene Investigation, Fingerprint Techniques
and taking Witness Statements.
The
Museum of Tolerance: Run by the Simon
Wiesenthal Centre, this site is concerned with the treatment of Jews in World
War Two. It's very comprehensive but you may find some of the pictures
upsetting.
The
History Net: This site includes seperate
sections for World History, American History, The American Civil War, The
History of Aviation and The History of Weaponary.
The
Japanese Sword: Everything you need to know
about the history and methods of Japanese sword making.
Encyclopedia
Mythica: Myths and Legends from just about
every ancient culture you can think of.
Everything
you need to know about Vampires: I love
this site. It includes a history of the vampire myth from ancient Jewish texts
up to modern day films and books as well as sections such as What to do if You
Get Bitten and How to Spot A Vampire.
Lycanthrope:
A very sexy looking site that includes a section on the history of the werewolf.
Classic
Firearms International: Having browsed some
pretty dodgy lookin gun sites I found this one to be the most informative on a
range of guns including rifles, shotguns and pistols.
The
Dictionary of Street Drug Slang: Works like
the Phrase Finder. Enter a word and the database will return all known slang
related to what you searched for. The site is run by a Medical School and
includes slang terms encountered in the course of treating drug users.
Tattoos.com:
Browse their photo galleries for cool lookin tats to give your characters or go
to their articles database if you want to research the history of the tattoo.