Goodbye writebuzz.com.... Hello The Best of writebuzz.com!
writebuzz.com, a website for writers and readers, was the brainchild of Jools Coggon of Converse Ltd. The original interactive site was designed and developed to enable budding writers to publish sound-bites of their writing for feedback and review. The site acted as a showcase for those involved and also provided an exclusive resource for readers. There were over 8,000 publications on writebuzz.com including poetry, short stories, lyrics, features and more. The site featured writing competitions, on a regular basis.
writebuzz.com was enhanced over the years to also incorporate many additional features including a writer's forum, and Pen Pals, a facility which (as the name implies) enabled writers to get in touch with each other.
We also published two books - please visit our Publications section for details.
writebuzz.com is no longer an interactive site. The Best of writebuzz.com - this site - is a subset of the original version. We scaled the original version down when it went off-line at the end of June 2012. Publications have been selected to appear on this site based on their popularity, so it is very much both a tribute and an accolade to the achievement of the writers concerned.
Converse Ltd agreed to produce The Best of writebuzz.com in response to the feedback from many loyal members of the former site who were sorry to see the original site close. Converse Ltd has not charged any fees for this facility and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made a donation to help with the development and hosting costs.We would also like to thank Stuart Hull of quarkcreations.com for developing The Best of writebuzz.com at mate-rates! Very much appreciated!
This (current) version is not managed. We are therefore not providing a contact box nor an email address. If you do need to get in touch with us, you can do so by leaving a message on 0845 3700 154. There will be telephone call charge for this service.
You cannot run an operational website for over seven years without making friends and acquaintances. The production of writebuzz.com was made possible with the help of investors, family, and friends, all of who shared our vision and supported us throughout. One dear friend concerned was Andy McEwan, who tragically died in March 2012. We will of couse always miss him but the legacy of his shining light lives on.
writebuzz.com developed lots of valuable relationships and we were also fortunate enough to receive sponsorship for our many writing competitions from generous benefactors.
Other literary sites, and references, of interest to writers and/or readers are listed below.
General
www.writingoutloud.co.uk - offers motivation, guidance and strategies to keep you Writing Out Loud, with articles and writing courses, a newsletter and a personal, constructive critique service.
www.YouWriteOn.com - Arts Council funded.
Review exchange site with leading publishers feedback for highly rated writers, including from John Grisham publisher Random House, and Ian Rankin publisher Orion.
Digital magazine software
Pressmart magazine and newspaper publishing software is the complete digital publishing solution for newspaper and magazine publishers.
www.shortstoryradio.com
Short Story Radio broadcasts recordings of short stories by published and previously unpublished writers. They also have regular competitions, with the winners having their stories professionally recorded for the website.
http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies - information on a wide variety of writing topics including "How to Write a Theatrical Review", "How to Find Writing Jobs", "How to Self Publish", and "How to Write a Press Release". Writers can learn about topics ranging from finding a writing space, to dealing with writer's block, to how to promote your article or book.
Dee Rimbaud's Writers' Resources -The website of writer and artist, Dee Rimbaud, which features numerous free writers' resources, including The AA Independent Press Guide. There are also thousands of links to internet magazines, writers' websites and other useful resources.
Writing Resources - Library of articles about writing
R. A. Professional Proofreading - professional proofreading service. From a single sheet flyer to a 1000 page novel R.A. Professional Proofreading treat each job on an individual basis, providing their clients with a personal and friendly service.
Winning Slogans - How to win slogan competitions. Writing winning slogan tiebreakers.
Firstwriter.com - every writer's indispensable Internet resource. This site aims to provide writers with all the information they need as they progress in their writing career. http://www.firstwriter.com
The Poetry Library is the most comprehensive and accessible collection of poetry in Britain. http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk
Literary links and some original material by Tim Love, University of Cambridge, UK http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~tpl/lit.html
Poetry to inspire you: a guide to internet resources for the study and writing of poetry.
Inspirational poetry, poetry online, poetry-portal, internet guide
http://www.poetry-portal.com
The National Literacy Trust, founded in 1993, is an independent charity dedicated to building a literate nation. The importance of literacy has long been recognised: it underpins all educational achievement and is central to economic advance; it helps develop human potential and raises self-esteem.
www.literacytrust.org.uk
JBWB This site is packed with information on writers' markets and writing competitions, and contains links to all the writers' resources you'll need.
www.jbwb.co.uk
Edinburgh Writers Opportunities for writers in Edinburgh ranging from courses, groups and competitions
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/CEC/Libraries/writing/writing.html
A brand new 'readers' search engine' where you can read the first chapter of recommended books, set up regular e-mails about the books you like, share reviews and order titles at a discount!
www.birmingham.gov.uk/reading
Alliance of Literary Societies Literary Societies in the U.K., links, activities, contact
addresses, membership forms, authors, poets, conferences, literary events and useful sites.
Includes a gazetteer, with the counties and places that the writers visited.
http://www.allianceofliterarysocieties.org.uk
Agents
UK Features UK Features specialise in helping people who have a story to tell about their lives for publication but are unsure how to go about it. UK Features write their story, place it with a magazine or national newspaper and negotiate to ensure that they receive the best fee possible.
www.featureworld.co.uk Journalist and media agent specialising in selling real-life stories to newspapers and magazines.
www.famousfeatures.co.uk commission and sell true, real-life stories, photos and news articles.
www.publicityagent.co.uk act for individuals caught in a media frenzy and achieve top prices from newspapers for their exclusive stories.
www.cash4yourstory.co.uk offer a fast and free service aimed at turning your true life story into money in a sensitive and sympathetic manner.
Publishers
www.arimapublishing.co.uk - arima offers new and established writers a range of quality services to assist them to bring their books to the market, as well as global distribution channels that include Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
www.yourpod.co.uk
Print on demand publishing for amateur and semi-professional authors in the U.K. Your P.O.D. specialise in providing the author maximum input into the look of their book, publishing in the traditional format and size, and printing as little as one copy at a time. Your P.O.D. books are priced at traditional bookshop prices.
www.forwardpress.co.uk
http://www.proprintpublishers.co.uk
http://quartetbooks.wordpress.com
Quartet Books, a leading independent publisher with a fine tradition of pursuing an alternative to the mainstream
Writing competitions
http://www.fishpublishing.com Fish Publishing runs the Fish Short Story Prize, an international short story competition. They also run poetry, crime, and historical fiction competitions and provide a full editorial consultancy service designed to provide writers with one to one, on-going, constructive feedback on their work, whether it is a complete novel or just the beginnings.
Competitions Win competitions at Dot Comper - over 40,000 prize winning slogans.
How to Win Competitions The definitive competitions handbook no serious comper can afford to be without - how to write prize winning slogans.
Diverse writing competitions in the Creative Entry section. www.contesthound.com
Lists UK prize competitions requiring skill rather than luck, as favoured by the persistent winners. Includes short story, novel and poetry contests. www.prizemagic.co.uk
A gateway to a galaxy of star prizes, updated daily with your chance to win the best free competitions the web has to offer. www.theprizefinder.com
Writing workshops
http://www.writingoutloud.co.uk/writingnutsandbolts.html - A series of writing workshops in Spain - with a difference. Includes a trip to Malaga on the local bus to soak up some real Spanish culture, a 'writing on the beach' session, and various indoor workshops in an authentic Spanish village house.
Miscellaneous
Personalised Cartoons - At Kustom Kartoons, you can create custom personalised cartoons for mouse mats, key rings, fridge magnets etc. Add your very own inspired script to over 500 different cartoon scenarios. www.kustomkartoons.com
writebuzz competition sponsors - thank you!
www.royalpiper.co.uk
www.heason.net
www.garycaplan.co.uk
www.visiondirect.co.uk
www.scratchandnewton.co.uk
www.ciq.org.uk
www.biznews.org.uk
www.fischertechnikdirect.com
www.timecapsulegifts.co.uk
www.idealhome.tv
www.mirroruniq.co.uk
www.sunwiser.co.uk
www.abfablinks.com
www.exclusiveweddingstationery.com
www.rockinghorse.co.uk
www.check1st.com
www.scalefarm.com
www.realsimulation.co.uk
www.ladyshipclub.co.uk
www.partiesaroundtheworld.co.uk
www.chocolate-cafe.co.uk
www.SellMyStoryNow.co.uk
The Scribblers of Sheffield
and www.writebuzz.com too - of course!
Thanks also to http://www.webweaver.nu/ for their fun and funky website graphics.
