Writers often contact me to ask about resources. There are many options on the Internet, but which ones are reputable? Here are a few of my favorite sites.
1. Savvy Authors
Savvy Authors strives to provide the best tools, classes, and networking opportunities for authors in all stages of their writing careers, from aspiring novelists to multi-published authors.
2. Funds For Writers
Funds for Writers emphasizes finding money to make writing a realistic career. Other websites provide guidance on how to write, how to query or how to format manuscripts, but Funds for Writers gives you direction on the funding streams. They focus on markets, competitions, awards, grants, publishers, agents, and jobs for your writing abilities.
3. Christina Katz, The Writer's Workout Coach
Christina Katz is the author of three books from Writer’s Digest: The Writer’s Workout, Get Known Before the Book Deal, and Writer Mama. Through her site she teaches writers to prosper by building solid, saleable, life-long career skills via classes and training groups that work even in a rapidly evolving publishing marketplace.
4. Well-Fed Writer
Peter Bowerman is the author of several titles including The Well-Fed Writer. He offers one-on-one coaching, classes, seminars, newsletter and a blog providing information on how to succeed as a writer.
5. Carolyn Howard-Johnson-How To do It Frugally Series of Books"
Author of several books on promoting & marketing your book within a budget, Carolyn offers a newsletter, seminars, workshops and ebooks.
6. Publicity Hound
Publicity expert Joan Stewart shows you how to use free publicity to establish your credibility, enhance your reputation, position yourself as an expert and sell more products. Her site offers workshops, seminars, blog, and newsletter which can be used to promote your writing.
7. Para Publishing 
Wherever you are in the development of your book (thinking, planning, writing, producing or promoting stage), Para Publishing has the tools to make your venture faster, easier and more successful. Dan Poynter is the author of more than 76 books and provides consulting, seminars and a variety of reports writers will find useful.
This list is by no means comprehensive, but it's a start. What are some of your favorite sites?
There is a lot involved in establishing your business and getting that first customer, but it is only the beginning. You will need to build a solid client base for your writing business to succeed.
Consider hanging signs advertising your business on public bulletin boards with tear off phone number strips. Contact local newspapers to ask about writing a short column for readers where you can share tips on a specific topic in exchange for the publicity. For example, you may be able to write a column and instead of being paid by the newspaper, you are allowed to include your contact information and web site which acts as an advertisement for your business. 
Local radio stations may be interested in your tips for their listeners as well. If you are a sport fishing writer who can offer their listeners tips on great places to fish, pitch it to the station. You can record the tips and the station can air them with your name and contact information.
A web site provides an affordable means to reach your customers 24 hours a day. Domain names are affordable and several low cost hosting sites are now available online. 
Business cards and signs are a great way to let people know about your business. Hanging flyers at local colleges is a great way to attract professors looking for help writing their next article or book. Be sure to include all the benefits your service will provide and how it will make a positive difference in their lives. Keep your business cards handy so you can share them with people you meet who may have an interest in your services.
Networking is very important for any new business. Look into your local Chamber of Commerce or national writing organizations for additional people you can connect with or advertise through.
The Internet offers a multitude of ways to publicize, market, and promote your services as well as being a fantastic resource for learning more about the field of writing. Connecting with organizations and other writers through the Internet is a productive way to spend a few hours each day. Many discussion groups are available to writers through Yahoo.com. If you visit, just go to their Groups link then enter “writing,” “editing” or be even more specific and search for “moms who write comedy” or “science fiction screen play writers.” You will be amazed at what will turn up.
Brigitte is an accountant and the author of several business recordkeeping books including Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers available through Amazon.com. She is a freelance writer living in Vermont with her husband, three children, two cats and three dogs. You can visit her online at Datamaster Accounting Services, LLC and Bookkeeping for Writers .
As social media hubs like Twitter and Facebook become ever more present in our everyday lives, more and more criticism begins to surface about them.
There is no denying that social media has revolutionized the way in which our modern society lives and communicates. With much of our social existence created online, it is hard to deny that social media hasn't had some sort of positive influence on modern society. However, as it goes with anything that is highly praised, social media communication is also heavily criticized.
People often put down Facebook and Twitter for being an expression of incomplete thoughts and inadequate arguments. While this can most certainly be the case, there are several aspects of social media interaction that positively influence our ability to communicate via written word. The following two aspects of social and modern media communication can teach valuable lessons in professional and persuasive writing.
Be Concise
Modern media communication generated through Facebook, Twitter, and text messaging is often criticized for limiting discourse to 140 characters. While this argument is somewhat understandable, character limits can teach a worthwhile writing lesson. With a limited amount of space to express your thoughts, we are forced to create clear and concise sentences. Precision is key to any genre of writing.
Twitter and text messaging force users to compose clear, concise, and direct points. These general writing skills are invaluable within the professional writing world. Whether you are creating business memorandum, professional email, or technical document, every sentence must be clear and to the point. All too often, our writing becomes convoluted with drawn out sentences filled with unnecessary adjectives and complicated verbs.
Twitter and text messaging have forced us to limit our sentences and narrow our arguments. Clear concise writing creates clearer understanding and stronger discussion.
Know Your Audience
Another aspect of modern media that can translate well to strong business writing is reading and understanding your audience. A huge part of successful writing is understanding who you are writing for. Of course, reading your audience is also one of the most challenging aspects of writing to master.
In order to gain a clear perception of who you are writing to/for, you have to understand what your goal is, who you want to listen to you, what those listeners want to hear all things that are difficult to pinpoint.
Social media, however, makes it significantly easier to pinpoint your audience and cater to their interests. For example, when someone Tweets a message, they consider who will be viewing this message. Just as you would not necessarily Tweet the same thing to your boss or family that you would your friends or siblings, writers must also evaluate their audience carefully. Public discussion using writing word (such as on Facebook or Twitter) intrinsically involves evaluating your audience.
This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey, who regularly writes for best online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 at gmail dot com.
IRS changes the amount we can deduct for business mileage. New rate for July 1 - December 31, 2011.Learn more here.
Author of several books on promoting & marketing your book within a budget, Carolyn offers a newsletter, seminars, workshops and ebooks. 
