Literature and Writing

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Guide to Classic Mystery and Detection
A truly amazing site, with reading lists and essays on great mysteries, designed and written by Michael E. Grost. Topics include Pulp Fiction (including in-depth looks at such icons as Hammett, Daly, Chandler, Nebel, Constiner, Davis, Gardner, and John K. Butler) and Contemporary Mystery Fiction (notably the Contemporary Private Eyes and Thrillers section). Michael is also responsible for the equally impressive Classic Comics Site. Recommended.

Reviewing the Evidence
Rising from the ashes following the collapse of about.com is this great volunteer review site I've only recently discovered, run by Barbara Franchi, covering tons of mysteries and thrillers in all categories. Barbara intends to post "the full range of reviews from rave to phooey. For more info, check out the site and e-mail us." Volunteers to do some of the maintenance on the site are needed.

I Love a Mystery
A newsletter and site reviewing mystery fiction in all genres, including private eye, historical, cozies, legal and medical thrillers, and police procedurals. Regular reviewers range from the great Andi Shechter, our own Diana Killian and Sophie Jensen to the likes of Harriet Klausner.

The Brothers Judd: Private Eye Reviews
Who are these guys? This is a small but hoperfully growing collection of reviews by two real fans, well worth checking out.

Dime Novels and Penny Dreadfuls
Here's an extraordinary site for cultural studies scholars and just curious fans who just want to see where the pulps sprang from. It spotlights the Stanford University Library's Dime Novel and Story Paper Collection, and offers thousands of cataloged graphic images of illustrated covers from the dime novels and story papers that were immensely popular in America from the mid-nineteenth century to its close. The images may be searched or browsed; search options include an exhaustive listing of "salient features," and allow examination and serious study of graphic representations of gender, class, race, work, and manners of the time. The site also includes complete texts and catalog information for all of the issues imaged.

The Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture
An interesting site which runs reviews etc and articles of HB related matters.

The Mercantile Library Archives of Detective Fiction
Now a division of the Mercantile Library, The Archives of Detective Fiction, which boasts "the largest collection of mystery, detective and crime fiction in the U.S.," was established in 1996 to promote the study and appreciation of mystery, detective, and crime fiction by establishing a comprehensive digital archive of its history and texts. It also allows "all 20th century titles to circulate to members, who can receive books by mail." The catch? It's not cheap--it used to be $150 for the annual fee. And though both its publications and its collections are supposedly available to members around the world, the director feels it is too risky to mail books of the country. But they do have a lot of stuff. You just send them a list of what you want to read and the person in charge (named Watson, actually) sends them to you on a schedule you set (2 books a week, etc.). (Thanks, Sharon.)

Mystery Short Fiction: 1990-2006
Although the stated goal of this invaluable site by William G. Contento is "to list all mystery short fiction published in English since 1990," it's a bit of a misnomer, since it also includes material dating back to 1980. That's because it started as an index of Alfred Hitchcock, Ellery Queen, Mike Shayne and other mystery mags published since 1980, continuing the work begun by Michael L. Cook in his Monthly Murders (1982). Also indexed are issues of mystery magazines not listed there or other indexes. The current edition adds a supplement to Index to Crime and ystery Anthologies (G.K. Hall 1991) and an index to mystery single-author collections. Can't find out where that missing Pronzini tale is? It might be here! This index, combined with Index to Crime and Mystery Anthologies (G.K. Hall 1990) and an index to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, is now available on CD-ROM as Mystery Short Fiction Miscellany: An Index from Locus Press, the same folks who brought you the CD-ROM version of Allan Hubin's equally invaluable Crime Fiction III.

Writing


Fiction Factor
They bill themselves as "the online magazine for writers," and they're not pulling your leg. A great e-zine for tips on everything you can think of: plotting, dealing with agents and editors, getting published, finding the right publisher for your work, promoting your writing and much more. They evern review other writing web sites and markets.

The Lester Dent Pulp Paper Master Fiction Plot
Rara-Avis' head bird Bill Denton can't even remember where he found this, but I'm grateful he shared it with us. It's a guide on how to write a pulp short story that sells, by one of the greatest pulpsters of all time!

Wicked Company
The perfect forum for discussing crime and mystery writing.   Share tips, info, experiences with your partners in crime--or just discuss your favorite crime or mystery books.   Like the dame says "You don't even have to be a published author to join.   ALL mystery/crime authors welcome (POD, short story, electronic, self-published) as well as readers, reviewers, editors, and people who turned left after Greenland." 

The Shortmystery Discission Group
The Short Mystery Fiction Society (SMFS) is a web site and an electronic mail list group of writers, readers, fans, editors and publishers of mystery and crime fiction from all around the globe. They seek to actively recognize writers and readers who promote and support the creative artform of short mysteries in the press, in other mystery organizations, and through the Derringer Awards which honor excellence in the field of short mystery fiction.

The Screenplayers
A group of screenwriters who utilitze the web to market their scripts. Sable Jaks, creator of web radio eye Phil Byrnes, is a member, and points out that several of the scripts are in the mystery vein.

The Mysterious Pen
The Mysterious Pen is a series of videotape documentary interviews that showcase mystery writers. Each video volume is an hour long interview with producer, Bill Creed, on such topics as craft of writing; how they started writing, where they get their ideas, and how much time it takes to write. They also discuss their characters: where they come from and how much the characters reflect their creators. Interviews with Lawrence Block, Parnell Hall and Jeremiah Healy are already available, and interviews with Joan Hess, William Tapply, Stephen Dobyns, George Chesbro and others are in the works. "Nicely photographed, recorded and edited," according to Ed Gorman, Mystery Scene. "Intelligent interviews that get to the heart of the writing process."

The Mystery Writers Forum
The forum seems to have vanished into the cyber-ether, but the links for myster writers, covering everything from writing to forensic techniques and poisons remain a great resource.

Mystery Writers of America
Information on members and book signing schedules. These are the guys that dish out the Edgars.

The American Crime Writers League
Formed in the late 1980s by a group of writers who wanted a private forum for exchanging ideas, complaining about almost everything, and trying to understand this decidedly wacky business, the ACWL's site is your chance to find out what some of the major names in mystery fiction have in the bookstores today -- and maybe pic up a few pointers along the way.

The Internet Writing Journal
The Internet Writing Journal is a free, online magazine published monthly by Writers Write, Inc., which includes reviews, interviews and advice for writers.

Writing Services

Frank M. Ahearn: How to Disappear
For over twenty years considered "one of the leading skip tracers in the world," Frank offers screenwriters and novelists help with their manuscripts and information on how to disappear. Or even real people, apparently. The blurb continues: "be it the rich businessman who wants to leave it all behind or the woman being stalked. Mr. Ahearn has helped dozens achieve their goals. His business takes him from Belize to Bombay. Hearing him tell stories is like sitting with a master of espionage reminiscing of days gone bye. His business is serious, peoples lives depend on his results and efficiency."

Writing English
Do you have an important business letter, report, term paper, curriculum vitae, cover letter, or other written presentation to prepare? Writing English provides a glossary of grammatical terms and tips for cover letters, business letters, resume writing and other writing, in addition to offering a proofreading and copyediting services.

See also



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