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HEALTH INSURANCE, SELF-EMPLOYMENT
Actors Fund of America
http://www.ahirc.org/
A database of insurers that cover self-employed and small-business individuals
Authors Guild
http://authorsguild.org/?p=161
If you meet their qualifications, you can subscribe to a health insurance plan they offer
Mystery Writers of America
http://mysterywriters.org/pages/members-only/index.htm
Health insurance is available through MWA for members meeting certain criteria
LEGAL ISSUES
Articles for Writers and Publishers
http://ivanhoffman.com/helpful.html
Articles on foreign rights, contracts, distribution, copyrights, fair use, protection of book titles, pen names, and more.
Authors Guild
http://www.authorsguild.org/?p=123
This Authors Guild site provides a legal search database of information on recent federal and state court decisions covering publishing, first amendment and a wide range of other intellectual property issues.
Authors Lawyer
http://www.authorslawyer.com/
Includes copyright information (books, public domain information, piracy and infringement, legal authority), and information on publishing and printing scams
The Business of Writing
http://sfwa.org/contracts/
Includes model contracts for different categories
Contracts: Top Ten Things to Negotiate
http://www.ninc.com/sample_articles/cntrt.asp
A good overview of things to look for in negotiating your book contract
Copyright Term and the Public Domain
http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/training/Hirtle_Public_Domain.htm
A table-at-a-glance of public domain categories
E-Legal
http://www.e-legal.com/
E-legal.com offers access to legal forms, legal products, legal services and legal advice, many of which are free.
Legal Docs
https://www.legaldocs.com/
This site allows you to prepare customized legal documents and legal forms directly online, many of which are free.
Literary Law Guide
http://www.literarylawguide.com/
Looking for the latest in copyright news? This site, by an intellectual property lawyer, has answers to legal questions of interest to writers.
National Writers Union
http://www.nwu.org/nwu/
A labor union that represents freelance writers in all genres, formats, and media. Members can have contract advisers help you negotiate better contracts, receive grievance assistance and participate in a health and dental plan.
Pen Names
http://www.ivanhoffman.com/pennames.html
Some legal issues to consider about pen names
Publishing Law Center
http://www.publaw.com/
This site is devoted to providing quality legal information for the publishing community (publishers, authors, editors, web masters, and freelancers), including trademarks, copyrights, contracts, and fair use.
Standard Book Contract
http://www.mediachannel.org/views/oped/bookcontract.shtml
Some caveats on what to avoid in contracts
Standard Contract for a Novel
http://www.mysterywriters.org/pages/resources/library/contract.htm
The Mystery Writers of America has a template, courtesy of the Society of Authors' Representatives, or what a standard contract looks like (dated as of 2000, however)
U.S. Copyright Office
http://www.copyright.gov/
Databases and information on topics like how to register a literary work and public domain issues
Wisconsin Bar
http://www.wisbar.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Wisconsin_Lawyer&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&contentid=68934
Writer Beware: Spotting the Publishing Scam and the bogus book contract.
Writer Beware
http://sfwa.org/Beware/
Warnings about literary fraud and other schemes, scams, and pitfalls that target writers
PUBLICITY/MARKETING
101 Book Marketing Sites
http://www.bookmarket.com/101bm.htm
Top sites of interest to book authors, publishers, and self-publishers, based on the sole judgment of publicist John Kremer
The ABCs of ARCs
http://www.scribesworld.com/writersniche/articles/arc_abcs.html
Lots of helpful information on ARCs -- what they are and what to do with them.
Author Buzz
http://www.authorbuzz.com/
Marketing service by MJ Rose for a fairly steep fee. If you have more money than you do time, this may be for you.
Book Signing Tips
http://www.celebratelove.com/booksigningtips.htm
This site from author Larry James has some tips he’s compiled on how to make book signings better, with lots of “Do’s” and “Don’ts.”
Breakthrough Promotions
http://www.breakthroughpromotions.com
This publicity company has represented several mystery authors in the past.
Buzz, Balls, and Hype
http://mjroseblog.typepad.com/buzz_balls_hype/
Author MJ Rose, who was also the creative director of a top NYC ad agency before becoming an author, maintains a blog with marketing advice.
Dan Poynter’s Para Publishing
http://www.parapublishing.com/sites/para/
This site has hundreds of pages of information and free documents plus books, reports, disks and tapes available for purchase.
Guide to Publicity Materials
http://www.mysterywriters.org/pages/resources/library/publicity.htm
This site, from the Mystery Writers of America, has some good advice on everything from writing your biographical information to newsletters, postcards, and bookmarks.
Host a Virtual Book Tour
http://thedabblingmum.com/writing/hostevent/blogtour.htm
Advice on how to use a virtual book tour to your advantage
How to Attract Links and Increase Web Traffic
http://www.copyblogger.com/increase-web-traffic/
Although not geared specifically for writers, this site has some tips that may be helpful for your web site strategy.
John Kremer’s Book Marketing Tip of the Week
http://www.bookmarket.com/tipsindex.htm
An archives of Kremer’s newsletter tips
Murder Must Advertise
http://www.murdermustadvertise.com/
A discussion group on Yahoo with tips and advice for mystery authors on how to market their books.
Promoting Your Writing
http://www.writing-world.com/promotion/index.shtml
Articles on General Promotion Tips, Booksigning Tips, Press Releases and Press Kits, Promoting Online and Public Speaking and Media Appearances.
Published.com
http://www.published.com/
Published.com has provided free book marketing for authors since 1999 for those authors who are independently-published (not with the big houses). They have lots of free articles online for anyone.
Reading Group Guides
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/authors/add_guide.asp
When your book is published, you can add your book to this database of information for reading groups.
The Shy Writer
http://www.theshywriter.com/
A web site from C. Hope Clark, who has written a book on the subject. Although mostly a site for her book, it also includes some tips and a link to a Yahoo discussion group.
Things to Do Before You Sell
http://www.sfarwa.com/promo_checklist.htm
This site is from the San Francisco Area Romance Writers of America, but it has information that is applicable to mystery authors, too. It has some basic suggestions on things to do before your book launch, from the time you sell the book to a publisher.
Your Book Promotion Countdown Checklist
http://www.fictionfactor.com/guests/countdown.html
Tips from the Fiction Factor folks on steps to take from 9-12 months before publication of your book, right on down to the launch.
The Web Savvy Writer Blog
http://www.websavvywriter.com/blog/
A blog by Patrice-Anne Rutledge is a bestselling author of 24 books, successful technology journalist, and online marketing/PR expert
What to Do and When, for Successful Book Publicity
http://www.upperaccess.com/publicity/brochure.html
Another site with a book launch countdown
THE PUBLISHING BUSINESS
Backspace
http://www.bksp.org/
The Backspace Community is dedicated to helping writers navigate the often confusing world of publishing. They have over 600 members from a dozen countries and a constantly revolving line-up of guest speakers including literary agents, editors, and authors in the online forums that you can participate in for a small annual fee. The site also includes free articles, columns, and news from industry insiders.
The Book Report
http://www.thebookreport.net/index.php
The Book Report is a weekly one-hour radio magazine which features the latest book releases, bestseller lists, and current events in the book world, highlights and reviews of books from all genres, interviews with writers, authors on tour, librarians, and readers, plus community-based stories with a book and reading focus. Requires you have the Quicktime player.
The Book Standard
http://www.thebookstandard.com/
Publishing news and free newsletters
Bookselling This Week
http://news.bookweb.org/
This is an adjunct web site for the American Booksellers Association, an organization of independent booksellers, and includes the latest news among independents.
BookWire
http://bookwire.com/
BookWire profiles new titles and authors, and the general scoop on the book industry, and includes book reviews, news on the latest releases, author video clips, and upcoming book events.
The Economics of Publishing
http://www.mysterywriters.org/pages/resources/library/economics.htm
This page, from the Mystery Writers of America, might be an eye-opener for some authors and potential authors. It takes a look at the costs involved to publish a typical book, and how the publisher often loses money on the deal.
Media Bistro
http://www.mediabistro.com/
A web site for media professionals, they offer a variety of pay-per-use services such as online classes and workshops, job databases and personal web pages, forums, and the AvantGuild feature also offers pitching an agent articles, discounts on various services, and the opportunity to buy health and dental insurance.
Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/index.html
Primarily a book review site and organization (with priority given to small press publishers, self-published authors, and academic presses) lots of articles with advice for writers and publishers, copyright resources, publicity and promotion information, and lots of links to other organizations of interest to writers and publishers.
Para Publishing
http://www.parapublishing.com/sites/para/
Dan Poynter’s site offers many free articles about the publishing business for both publishers and writers
Publishers Weekly
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
This is the online site for the print publication which takes a look at the publishing industry and latest news. The site includes newsletters, reviews, bookselling news, book news with deals, author interviews, events, and trends, bestseller lists, commentary, many of which are free.
Show Me the Money
http://www.brendahiatt.com/id2.html
Romance writer Brenda Hiatt compiled an unscientific survey of what publishers pay to authors, on average. It’s a good guideline for what mystery authors are paid, as well.
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