www.askoxford.com
We love this site’s Word of the Day e-mail function. Without it, we wouldn’t know what a “sudatorium” is. (By the way, it’s a room, especially in ancient Roman times, used for hot-air or steam baths.)

babynameworld.com
Having trouble naming your characters? Find names of all origins in one handy place.

bartleby.com
“The preeminent Internet publisher of literature, reference and verse providing students, researchers and the intellectually curious with unlimited access to books and information on the Web, free of charge.” Couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

copyright.gov
Everything you need to know about copyright law is right here. We highly recommend the FAQ section.

facebook.com
If you aren’t a part of the world’s largest social networking site, you need to be. (See Page 40 to learn why.) Just don’t “poke” too many people.

flashlightworthybooks.com
This site shares topic-based lists of handpicked book recommendations. Its motto: “Recommending books so good, they’ll keep you up past your bedtime.”

grammarbook.com
In addition to a breakdown of basic grammar and punctuation rules, this site offers fun interactive quizzes with answer keys and explanations.

ipl.org/div/farq
The Internet Public Library’s Q&A section contains tons of great info, including a list of the 10 top-selling books of all time. Don’t see an answer to your question? It’s interactive: Just ask an IPL librarian.

sfwa.org/beware
No best-of-writing-websites list would be complete without Writer Beware, which is devoted to helping newbie writers and seasoned authors alike avoid getting scammed.

twitter.com
This free marketing tool allows you communicate with your family, friends, fans and potential fans in seconds with posts of 140 characters or less. (See Page 41 to learn more.)

wordcentral.com
All lovers of the English language can thank Merriam-Webster for this great time waster. There are games, daily buzzwords and trivia. Your kids will like it, too.

writing.shawguides.com
Looking for a conference near you? Search this extensive database by date, topic or region.


The 2009 Categories:
Agent Blogs
Writing Communities
Publishing Resources
Jobs and Markets
Creativity and Challenges
Genres/Niches
General Resources
Fun for Writers

Don’t see your favorite site? Send comments and nominations for next year’s list to writersdigest@fwmedia.com with “101 Websites” in the subject line (deadline is Jan. 1, 2010).

This article appeared in the May/June issue of Writer's Digest. Click here to order your copy in print. If you prefer a digital download of the issue, click here.