What is WritersNet(sm)?
WritersNet(sm)
is a World Wide Web site in progress that helps build relationships between
writers, publishers, editors, and literary agents. WritersNet(sm) currently
consists of five sections:
- The
Internet Directory of Published Writers, a searchable directory
of hundreds of published writers on the Net. Each entry contains a listing
of published works, biographical statement, and contact information.
- The
Internet Directory of Unpublished Writers, a forum for unpublished
writers to interact, discuss issues, and hopefully find writing opportunities.
- The
Internet Directory of Literary Agents, a searchable directory of
literary agents on the Net. Each entry contains areas of specialization,
a description of the agency, and contact information.
- The
Internet Directory of Publishers, a searchable directory of publishers
on the Net. Each entry contains areas of specialization, contact information
and an area for publishers to advertise writing assignments.
-
The Internet Directory
of Editors, a searchable directory of editors on the Net. Each entry
contains areas of specialization, contact information, and an area for editors
to advertise writing assignments.
WritersNet is valuable
to writers, publishers, editors and literary agents. It gives writers, both
published and unpublished, a chance to get writing assignments from publishers
and editors looking for writers. It also provides an opportunity for writers
to be represented by literary agents looking for new talent to represent,
and the chance to form friendships and alliances with other writers.
There are no strings
attached - listing is completely free and non-obligational - the only condition
being, that if you are a literary agent and your agency requires fees, you
must explicitly state that in your description of services. Those that
knowingly omit such a statement, if applicable, are promptly removed from
the Directory.
Please Note:
WritersNet is a work in progress and we are constantly updating and improving
aspects of the site.
Writers of the
World, Unite! - The WritersNet Story
WritersNet(sm) was born
in 1994 after NetConcepts Director
Stephan Spencer saw
the cover of the November 1994 issue of Writer's Digest: "Get Writing Assignments
Online." Intrigued, he read the article. It was about
how writers can make connections with publishers and editors in online forums
on CompuServe and other online services. Stephan was skeptical -- how would
an editor or publisher find the time to chat real-time with writers of unknown
caliber on CompuServe?
A
better way, he figured, would be to have a database that would help the publisher
or editor qualify that writer quickly and easily before making the contact
through the Internet. So by the end of December 1994, WritersNet(sm) was online
and announced on various writing-related discussion groups.
He
hopes to make this Directory an important, comprehensive matchmaking resource
for writers, editors, publishers, and literary agents on the Internet, and
a cooperative effort among writers. Soon WritersNet(sm) will also offer listings
of writing assignments.
Everything
You Wanted to Know About Stephan But Were Afraid to Ask
Stephan
initially created the site because, as the husband of a writer, he can appreciate
the difficulties that come with a career in writing - the difficulty breaking
in to the field, the difficulty making money from writing, the difficulty
in making the connections. His hope is that WritersNet(sm) will help with
these issues by facilitating relationships between: writer and publisher,
writer and editor, writer and agent, and writer and writer. The Internet is
the best way he can think of to accomplish such a goal.
He
has a server already on the Internet so there is no additional cost for him
to have this Directory residing on the server. The real cost for Stephan is
in his time -- in upkeep and development of new features.
Stephan's background
encompasses science, technology and the arts. He set up the internationally
recognized WWW Server for
Virology , a teaching and research resource for the study of viruses while
he was in a graduate program in Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He now has a Master's degree and is pursuing a career in the area of Web Site
Design. Mostly he consults for companies
that wish to get on the Internet. He has presented papers at international
symposia such as the Second
International World Wide Web Conference.
Stephan's hope is that
the writing community will continue to grow through WritersNet, and encourages
all writers, publishers, editors and literary agents to list on the site.
The only way to get listed on WritersNet is by filling out the online entry
form available by selecting the "Add Entry" option from the WritersNet(sm)
Home Page.
Read more about Stephan
here.
Things You Just
Might Need to Know
- Please read carefully
the Guidelines for Inclusion in WritersNet(sm) before
filling out the form. Be sure to assign your entry a password (i.e. make
one up!) and write it down. This is extremely important: if you do not assign
a password to your entry, then you will not be able to make changes to it
online.
- After submitting the
completed online entry form, your entry will become immediately available
online. It will
be your responsibility to keep your entry up-to-date. This would
mean periodically checking the accuracy of the entry in WritersNet(sm) and
making appropriate changes using the online Edit Entry option. You are more
than welcome to include a URL in your biographical statement.
- It's quite easy to
edit or change your entry once you have submitted it. Just select the "Edit
Entry" option from the WritersNet(sm) Home Page. Then pick
your name from the list. A fill-in form page will then appear with all your
previous information in the blanks. Change what you need to, be sure to
type in your password (which you assigned yourself when you first added
your entry to WritersNet), then click on the Submit button.
- If you forgot your
password, email sspencer@writers.net
with your name and what you think the password was. If you didn't give a
password when you first submitted your entry, also email sspencer@writers.net
with your name and a good excuse why you didn't follow directions the first
time ;-)
- SM stands for Service
mark, just as TM stands for Trademark. A service mark is very
similar to a trademark, except that the mark refers to a service instead
of a product. So by placing an SM next to WritersNet, NetConcepts gives
notice that WritersNet is a legally protected service mark that belongs
to us.
- Listing in WritersNet(sm)
does not constitute endorsement of the writer or agent. We at NetConcepts
do not have the time or the resources to verify the validity of each entry
or review qualifications. However, if you discover an entry that you believe
is inaccurate, misrepresentative, or unprofessional, please let
us know.
- WritersNet(sm) (The
Internet Directory of Published Writers) has been mentioned in the April
1995 issue of Writer's Digest and a number of newsletters, including
Locus. If there are others that I've missed, please email
Stephan and let him know! Thanks!
We need YOU!
Currently, WritersNet
needs sponsorship and publicity. To us, sponsoring means making
a contribution -- a contribution to this site, and to the Internet community.
It connotes an interactive, mutually beneficial relationship. So money, although
important, is not the goal. It's partnering with a few select companies and/or
associations that share the vision of WritersNet(sm) and want to do what they
can to get the word out and make it the best it can be. Please contact
Stephan if your company or association is interested in sponsoring WritersNet(sm).
Contact me at sspencer@writers.net!
