Resources
A list of links to other places on the net that does not attempt to be complete, but tries to be a good beginning for your search in whatever you need as a writer. Most of these are personal favourites, others have a good reputation generally. Go see if there's something there for you.
Articles
Blogs and Authors' Websites
Writing Communities
Dictionaries
Images for Prompts
Libraries and Databases
Writing Practice and Goodies
Links to Prompts
Warning: Read Before You Publish
Articles
Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites of 2009The name says it all, one hundred and one great websites, in different categories, all on writing. From information to publication. You can submit for 2010, and also view the previous years.
Finding Silence, by Holly LisleI've never read any of her books, but I read all of her articles on writing, the writer's life, publication, and much more. Her short stories are also worth checking out. This particular article is about finding that place in your head that allows you to put words on paper.
That Our Reach Exceed Our Grasp, by Holly LisleA thought-provoking article on putting your spirit into your book when you're writing.
The One-Pass Revision, by Holly LisleI kept returning to this article on my first editing job. It gives a good, structural idea of how to go about a thorough revision. Also, it's really funny. Very important when you're dreading the first scratch-outs you're about to make.
What's in a Name, by Scott NicholsonBeing particular about the names of your characters isn't all that bad. The tone and the meaning, but especially the associations you have with a name are very important, Scott Nicholson explains.
Writerisms and Other Sins: A Writer's Shortcut to Stronger Writing, by C.J. CherryhThere's nothing like learning from someone else's mistakes. This article is a good guide to some of the most common missteps of authors.
Murder Your Darlings, by James Patrick KellyAfter the first draft is done, and you reread it, you will find gems inbetween the dirt. Unfortunately, some of the gems have to go in the interest of the book. An article on the sacrifices of editing, and why they should be made.
Meg Cabot's Peptalk for NanoWriMo 2008My favourite peptalk of this year, about holding on when it gets rough during the writing of a novel. Without her, there would be more prisoners in my Deep Dark Dungeons of Unfinished Pieces folder. I reread it whenever I fall out of love with my current project, and my hands ith to do just that little bit of work on that shiny new idea. As of October, you need to follow this link.
Neil Gaiman's Peptalk for NaNoWriMo 2007About the dark place he hits while writing, how he pulled through and an acerbic agent.
Blogs and Authors' Websites
Miss SnarkA New York literary agent who blogged on every mistake in the book and answered hundreds of aspiring authors' questions. She stopped when it became too much, but much of her wisdom is still there to read, in wonderfully sarcastic posts.
Evil EditorAn active editor who will educatively dissect every synopsis and beginnings sent to him, for the enlightenment of all, and for the amusement of all but the submitters.
Holly Lisle's websiteA writer's website with a lot of articles, workshops and general good stuff for anything from inspiration to editing. When I discovered it, I read all of it in one go. She also founded Forward Motion, now managed by Zette.
Nalini SinghThis romance writer's invested much in her blog, which has a lot of book reviews interviews, information on writing acitivties in this genre, and updates of what she's writing. A few pieces for writers can also be found here.
Paperback WriterAlso a good blog, links in the sidebar to a whole lot of interesting resources, and it looks like much info for professional writers.
InkygirlAside from a regularly updated comic about the writing life, she also posts on various things of interest to the writer, like new technology, interviews and topics she polls on. She also creates the comic Will Write For Chocolate.
100 Best Creative Writing BlogsFor much more blogs and better descriptions than I could ever gather. If you're looking for a blog, go here.
Writing Communities
Critter's CircleFor any science fiction, fantasy or horror writer looking for reviews. It's an online group that critiques each other's novels and pieces. If you join, you crit one piece per week, and get the same back, I believe. Widely recommended.
Wordsmith.orgThey have a word a day, the anagram times and more inspirational goodness that you can see, get in an RSS feed or subscribe to with your email. Interesting for word-lovers in general.
Schrijvenonline.nl(Dutch) Een grote website en organisatie voor schrijvers met wedstrijden, oefeningen, veel links, cursussen en goede informatie.
Creatiefschrijven.be(Dutch) Een soortgelijke website voor Belgie, met wedstrijden, informatie over schrijven en bijvoorbeeld ook een pagina over lokale schrijfgroepen.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of AmericaFor published writers and other professionals associated with writing science fiction and fantasy. Still has a lot of information accessible to the general public, including Writers Beware.
Writing.comAn extensive website on writing that includes contests, how to make a website as a writer and a place to do so, a shop and, interesting for everyone, fiction published on the website, including a seperate section on interactive novels.
Absolutewrite.comAnother good writing website with classes, a recommendable forum and a good batch of links.
Dictionaries
Thesaurus.comWhenever I need a word, and I almost have it, this handy website always helps me out.
The Cambridge DictionaryThe one I prefer to use to look up words, easy to use, good definitions and aimed towards British English.
Dictionary.comThe biggest online dictionary out there, probably, with links for a thesaurus and other word-reference sources. American English.
Van Dale(Dutch) Het woordenboek van Nederland staat ook online. Heerlijk om even wat op te zoeken.
Images for Prompts
DeviantArtA humonguous archive of very diverse art forms, mostly ones that translate to images, including digital art, photography and paintings.
FlickrA good site to upload your own photos, Flickr also has many images available under the Creative Commons license. I.e. you can use them for your own creative endeavours. Please credit the artists if you use it in public places, though.
Procorbis(Dutch) lett.: voor de raven. Een fotoarchief waarin je op woord kan zoeken. Erg mooie plaatjes.
Beeldbank van het nationaal archiefDeze website is vooral interessant voor zijn collectie oude kaarten, die altijd inspirerend werken, maar heeft ook collecties en thema's van andere platen.
Photo SearchStock photography that you can use for website illustrations, character pictures and for writing ideas.
Nasa ImagesThe most wonderful pictures of the universe, literally. Science fiction writers go here!
Libraries and Databases
Behind the NameMy favourite online name database. You can search by meaning, origin and gender. It's easy to navigate and informative. Ideal if you're stuck with a nameless character.
LibrivoxA website and community of volunteers that are turning all the openly available works of literature into audiobooks. Many great books are available both in spoken format and as Gutenberg texts.
Encyclopedia MythicaIf you want old stories from all over the world to inspire new ones. Big database on mythologies.
Folklore and MythTexts and links on everything from Abducted by Aliens to Yggdrasil.
ChroniqueIf you have knights in your book, go here. The navigation's a bit opaque.
Writing Practice and Goodies
yWriterA free program for writers to manage their chapters, scenes, story board, characters and much more. Check it out, it's got some cool stuff and there's no insidious spyware hidden in it.
CeltxMore free writing software, only this is for writing screenplays, stage plays and other scripts. Also worth the look.
Freerice.comAn excellent website to playfully improve your vocabulary. It tests your level and makes the exercises more difficult the longer you play. Another plus is that with every click of your mouse you donate a few rice grains to the poor. Not a bad way to practice your English, no?
Eats, Shoots and Leaves, the GameThe witty guide to punctuation also has a game. You can also sign a petition on this website if you love those dots.
Links to Prompts
Random Word on WordsmithA generator that makes a random word appear. Click until you hit inspiration.
Word GeneratorA little applet that spews out random new words that obey the conventions of English grammar. If you're searching for new words, for example for the new race you just created, this is a good place to get ideas.
Woord van de dag(Dutch) Elke dag een vers woord, met een artikel erbij, op de Van Dale site.
Dutch Word of the DayOn a weblog for learners of the Dutch language, a fresh Dutch word each day with an English definition and explanation.
Oxford's Word of the DayThe Oxford English Dictionary gives the timeline of a word, years it also appeared and what writers used it in a certain way. You get an etymology lesson along with the prompt. Very useful in giving you ideas of wordplays and allusions.
International Word of the DayEach day a fresh word, along with its translation in many languages.
Warning: Read Before You Publish
Writer BewareBefore you consider to publish, enter a contest, pay an editor, or go into any kind of deal concerning your fiction, check here for fakes and scammers. They also explains how to discern the good, the bad and the ugly in the publishing business. They also have blog on current vileness.
Preditors and editors is the website that has made it its job to expose the scum. Good stuff.