The word ‘student’ entered the English lexicon around 1350 and derives from the Latin ‘studere’ – to take pains. Yikes.

Learning is often painful, and becoming adept at any craft is hard work. We’re talking smelly sweat, lots of tears, but hopefully not so much blood. Finding your way through the labyrinth of professional writing can be daunting; fortunately, you’re not alone. Grab a thread from one of these folks and you’ll see the light of day while staying clear of the minotaur.

Agents and Publishing Professionals – They know their stuff and they’re sharing it for free! Read up.

Nathan Bransford blog.nathanbransford.com
Kristin Nelson pubrants.blogspot.com
Upstart Crow upstartcrowliterary.com/blog
Editorial Ass editorialass.blogspot.com
Editorial Anonymous editorialanonymous.blogspot.com
Guide to Literary Agents www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog
Jacket Flap www.jacketflap.com
Pimp My Novel pimpmynovel.blogspot.com

Writing Advice– Understanding the paths other writers have taken from dream, to idea, to draft, to manuscript, to published can be reassuring and helpful

Agent Query www.agentquery.com
Inkygirl www.inkygirl.com
Miss Snark’s First Victim misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com
Preditors and Editors www.anotherealm.com/prededitors
Query Shark queryshark.blogspot.com
Writer Beware www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware

Organizations – Workshops, seminars, conferences, oh my!

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) www.scbwi.org
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) www.sfwa.org
American Library Association www.ala.org
The Authors’ Guild www.authorsguild.org
San Francisco Writer’s Conference www.sfwriters.org/index.cfm
Iowa Summer Writing Festival www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/iswfest