One of the best writer's resource web sites, Absolute Write was shut down the other day.

Apparently Barbara Bauer made a phone call to AW's web host. Bauer claimed that having AW's scamhunters post her email address at AW was illegal under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and that doing so had caused Bauer to get spam, which meant that AW was a spammer, and that this would get the web host put on every blacklist in the world.

It was an extremely cheap shot at censorship, and has earned Bauer a load of bad publicity. She has been blacklisted by many sites in hopes that new writers will beware of enlisting services from her at a very steep price.

See the list of the 20 Worst Agents, and beware of any agent who offers to promote your writing for an upfront fee. This is an unethical practice. Agents charge their fees for representation after a writer's work has sold.

Bad Barbara Bauer... very bad.

Posted May 26, 2006; 1:55pm EST

Moira Allen's site Writing World is one of the most helpful writer's reference sites on the web.  She offers a regular newsletter, and several hundred (maybe more?) articles for writers, Author's Bookshelf, Contests, helpful links, several guest authors, and more.  If you're looking for advice on publishing, syndication, or writing in general, this is the website to visit.

Posted May 17, 2006; 3:55pm EST

Wow, the year is almost half over.  I can't believe how fast the days go by.  Soon, my kids will be in preschool and daycare, and I will have more time to write.  I will also be going back to school to further my education. 

I know many writers, who at this time of year, always seem to have trouble staying on track.  Something interferes with their writing.  They either have burn out, or lose their creative momentum.

To avoid writer's burn out, exercise. I just started walking every few days and it's made a world of difference in how I think and feel.  The fresh air and sun do wonders for the thought process.  While I walk, if I'm not with someone, I think about story plots, map out stories in my head, or characters.  When I get home, I jot down my thoughts.

Posted May 9, 2006; 3:40pm EST