The Virtual Woman: A Woman's
Weekly Guide To Cyberspace
Web: A Clean Well Lit Place for Readers, Writers
Have you heard the one about the Web taking over the world of print industry? The way the story goes, the Web is to take over the universe and the print industry will limp along for a few more years, finally coughing up one last gallon of ink before dying a death on the doorstep of cyberspace. Dream on. Hard copy (or dead tree as my greenie friends like to call it) isn't going anywhere. Even the geekiest of geeks aren't interested in taking their laptop to the beach for a good read (think glare on the screen, suntan oil on the keyboard). Certainly we've all curled up with a good book in bed but try snuggling up to a hard disk late at night and I think you'll understand (even I draw the line there). Dead tree is here to stay. For a multitude of reasons. In fact the world of hard copy books is in for a boost as the web continues to assist readers and writers both. So if you fall into either or both camps check out this week's column!
Dear Virtual Woman:
My boyfriend and I are
avid readers and were hoping you could help us find some great new books to plow through.
Are there any good sites for this online?
- Laura W., Santa Fe, NM
Dear Laura:
The easiest is to go to Amazon.com's Recommendation Center which is generally clickable near the top of the homepage screen (http://www.amazon.com) Clearly, everyone knows Amazon as a huge bookseller but they've also done a good job with their recommendation center which has -- count 'em -- eight different ways of recommending a book you're sure to love. The recommendation button is right on the homepage. I like the Book Matcher. It's one of those artificial intelligence programs that recommends books based on your own tastes. It judges based on ratings you yourself give other books. Also, the Awards Section (clickable from the homepage) lists some of the best books of the century-always a good section to cruise through! For the 411 on current popular titles, check out bestsellers at BookWire.Com (http://www.bookwire.com). The bestseller link is at the bottom of the page. Whether it's mass market paperbacks, books on religion or children's books you can see what's currently hot. The site is also jammed packed with cool stuff like reviews, a literary marketplace and where cool authors are going to be appearing in print, on television (or online!)
Dear Virtual Woman:
I've been writing secretly
for some time now, when I have time away from my job, and I'd love to actually get some of
it published. I guess realistically I'm still a beginner. Are there any resources on the
Net for someone like me?
- Sarah S., Columbia, SC
Dear Sarah:
Check out Writer's Write Writer's Guidelines Directory (http://www.writerswrite.com/guidelines/). It's a database of electronic publication guidelines that lets you search three different ways: by keyword, whether the market is paying or not, and whether your manuscript is fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. The writer's guidelines spell it all out for you, telling you how long they want the piece to be and what topics they cover. There are URLs for each publication so you can pay a visit before sending your submission. And finally, many of them are non-paying markets, which are simply perfect for beginning writers who want exposure and practice.
The Inkspot's Writer's Classified Markets (http://www.inkspot.com/classifieds/mkt.html) is another good resource which lists both online and offline markets. These are paying and nonpaying, and many are unusual niche magazines or newsletters, covering subjects like soccer, breast cancer, and alternative parenting.
Dear Virtual Woman:
Where can I go online to learn more
about my favorite authors? I read mostly contemporary books, everything from cooking to
psychology and fiction.
- A Big Groupie, Erie, PA
Dear Groupie:
If you love to read about people who love to write, there are some prime spots for you. Corwin's AuthorWeb (http://www.dingir.org/WebOS/omf/dingir/authors/) lists over five hundred 20th century writers and links you to the best sites about them on the Web. You can pore through them alphabetically or use the search form. I saw everyone from Ray Bradbury to Bill Cosby to Joseph Conrad.
While there are interviews with famous inkslingers plastered all over the Web, only a few sites seem to consistently provide high quality articles. Ann Online (http://www.annonline.com/), with 500 shows and counting, is one of those few. She does interviews with cookbook and mystery authors, financial columnists, science writers, and novelists -- if it holds a pen, she interviews it. Another great site, CNN Interactive Interviews (http://www.cnn.com/books/dialogue/) targets big names like Dean Koontz, George Carlin, and Isabel Allende. These entertaining multimedia interviews come complete with sound files, movie clips, and other online resources.
Happy Surfing!
Find these links and more at WWWomen.Com (http://www.wwwomen.com) the web's largest search directory of topics for women online. Email the Virtual Woman with your Internet questions or send snailmail to: WWWomen.Com, Attn: Virtual Woman, 3701 Geary Blvd., #325, S.F., CA 94118. Copyright, 1998-99. WWWomen, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Contributing Editor: Robin Ward
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