WritersNet(sm) helps writers find publishers, editors, and literary agents. We bring all the elements of the publishing world together in one place on the Web. How do we do it? We provide them with a place on the Web to meet and talk.

Search our directories for writers or agents or meet people from the publishing word through our discussion forums now.

WritersNet has been mentioned in Writer's Digest and a number of newsletters, including Locus. (If there are others that have been missed, please Contact Us and let us know. Thanks!)

If you have a question for us, feel free to click here. This section is for frequently asked questions (FAQs) from our members - make sure you check this list first to see if what you're looking for is already here!

The email address for this writer/agent/publisher is incorrect. Can you give me correct contact information?
The email address I am registered under is redundant. Can you change it for me?
I've lost my password. Can you tell me what it is?
Can you tell me if this agent is reputable?
What do you think of my poem/story/synopsis?
Does WritersNet have any jobs available?
I can't log in to WritersNet. What's wrong?
What's new at WritersNet?

The email address for this writer/agent/publisher is incorrect. Can you give me correct contact information?

If you come across a WritersNet user that has an erroneous (or non-existent) email address, let us know straight away. While there is little we can do to connect the two of you (we hold no more information that what is displayed on the site) it helps to know if there are errors in our listings. This way, we can clear the site of misleading listings and make it more functional for everyone.

So, if you need correct contact information, please don't ask us to provide it - we can't. However, asking around in the forums (www.writers.net/forum) and searching the Internet for information (www.google.com) can work wonders.

The email address I am registered under is redundant. Can you change it for me?

Changing your registered email address is very simple. Just log in under your usual email and password, and click 'Edit Your Personal Profile'. In the following form you will see a space for your email address. Simply replace the existing address with your new one - and you're done!

Make sure you remember that your registered email address is also your log in. This means that if you change your registered email, the email you use to log in changes also. Your password will remain the same unless you change it individually.

I've lost my password. Can you tell me what it is?

If you remember the email address you use to log in, simply go to the log in page (http://www.writers.net/login.php) and enter it there. Then you can click on the 'Forgotten Your Password?' link and we will email you your password.

If you have forgotten which email address you use to log in, drop us a line here. We'll do our best to help you. Helpful information you can send us includes:

• the name you registered under
• the address of your WritersNet profile
• your WritersNet ID number (don't worry if you don't know this)
  

Any related information helps us to help you a lot faster.

Can you tell me if this agent is reputable?

There are many ways to find out if an agent is thought to be reputable or not. We suggest you use as many of them as you can - you can't do too much background research on someone you're trusting to handle your precious work.

Preditors and Editors (http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/) is a resource a lot of our members recommend. They provide a great bulletin board (http://www.writershood.com/board/bin/aforum.isa?zaq=1N01) where you can read about good agents, bad agents, and everyone in between.

Another good place to ask around is the WritersNet forums (http://www.writers.net/forum). The 'agents' thread is used especially for this purpose. Try posting a question to see if any of our other members know of the agent you're interested in. You may be surprised at what you find out.

It's also worthwhile searching the Internet (http://www.google.com) or finding other writers that this agent has represented. The more you can find out about them, the better it is for you - and it could save you a lot of trouble in the long run!

What do you think of my poem/story/synopsis?

Please don't send your work directly to us at WritersNet - we have neither the time nor the expertise to review manuscripts. If you want a general opinion, you could try posting it in the forums (http://www.writers.net/forum). Otherwise, we suggest you hunt out an agent, or maybe even another writer who would be willing to go over it for you. Make sure you're ready, willing and able to take criticism!

Does WritersNet have any jobs available?

Unfortunately, no. Despite what it may look like, WritersNet is actually quite a small operation, with only two or three people working on it at a time. While there's plenty of development work to be done, we have plenty of people on hand to do it, too.

I can't log in to WritersNet. What's wrong?

Firstly, make sure you have your log in and password right. If you think you might have forgotten your password, get that emailed to you and check you are using the correct one - it's easy to get passwords confused when you belong to a lot of sites!

If you're sure that you're using the right information, it's entirely possible that there is an error at our end. Occasionally we encounter bugs that cause people's login information to fail. If you think this might be the case (eg. if you get a 'Sorry, your email address or password was invalid. Please try again.' message) then drop us a line here and we'll look into it for you.

On the other hand, if you get a typical browser error (eg. if you get a 'Page cannot be displayed' message) then it's more likely that the site is just busy. At times the site can get overloaded which puts pressure on the servers and causes the site to fail to load. This isn't anything to do with your login information or your computer - it's just an unfortunate problem. Simply wait a few minutes and try again.

What's New At WritersNet?

WritersNet has begun a redevelopment process. If you've been here before, you will notice that we've changed a few things recently. Our new look and feel is designed to accommodate the new features and content we will be adding.

Since going live in the Internet's prehistory (1994), WritersNet has relied on community members to provide the bulk of the content that makes our site a valuable resource for writers. That meant maintaining your own WritersNet profile. The new look WritersNet needs your help even more:

• We have added News from the Writing World and Writing Online features to offer an insight into the writing life.
  • Help us out. Tell us about interesting writing related stories you come across on your cyber travels and those cool sites you use to help with the writing process. Tell us the latest writing news or suggest a writing resource to feature.
    
    
• We are building a list of Internet resources for writers. Tell us about your favorite writing sites and we will add them to our growing list.

We're still working on our Publishers' and Editors' directories
These directories are not yet fully functional but will be in the near future. Publishers and editors should visit this page and add their entry to help us build a valuable resource for writers on the Web.

The WritersNet Writing Assignments Directory is coming soon
WritersNet(sm) will soon be adding a directory of writing assignments. Writers will be able to search and browse for writing assignments that suit their skills and areas of expertise posted by editors on the hunt for new writing talent.

Where Do I Find Literary Agents/Writers/Editors/Publishers to Answer my questions?

WritersNet(sm) currently consists of four sections, visit the appropriate section to access discussion forums with publishing professionals and writers:

• The Internet Directory of Writers, a searchable directory of hundreds of writers on the Net. Each entry contains a listing of published works, biographical statement, and contact information.
• The Internet Directory of Literary Agents, a searchable directory of literary agents on the Net. Each entry contains areas of specialization, a description of the agency, and contact information.
• The Internet Directory of Publishers, which will be developed into a searchable directory of publishers on the Net. Each entry will contain areas of specialization, contact information and an area for publishers to advertise writing assignments.
• The Internet Directory of Editors, which will be developed into a searchable directory of editors on the Net. Each entry contains areas of specialization, contact information, and an area for editors to advertise writing assignments.

More sections will be added as our redevelopment process continues.

Who is WritersNet For?

WritersNet is valuable to writers, publishers, editors and literary agents. It gives writers, both published and unpublished, a chance to get writing assignments from publishers and editors looking for writers. It also provides an opportunity for writers to find reputable literary agents looking for new talent to represent, and the chance to form friendships and alliances with other writers.

There are no strings attached - listing is completely free and non-obligational - the only condition being, that if you are a literary agent and your agency requires fees, you must explicitly state that in your description of services. Those that knowingly omit such a statement, if applicable, are promptly removed from the Directory.

Can We Trust Publishing Professionals Listed On Writers Net?

A listing in WritersNet(sm) does not constitute endorsement of the writer or agent. We at NetConcepts do not have the time or the resources to verify the validity of each entry or review qualifications. However, if you discover an entry that you believe is inaccurate, misrepresentative, or unprofessional, please let us know.

See our Agents Directory for some ideas on how to check whether an agent is trustworthy. Alternatively, ask the participants in our Discussion Forums whether any of them have reason to doubt the integrity of a particular publishing professional you are considering entering into a professional relationship with. Unfortunately, there are members of the publishing world who mislead new and established writers and exploit them.

How Did WritersNet Come Into Being?

WritersNet(sm) was born in 1994 after Stephan Spencer, founder of boutique web design innovator Internet Concepts, saw the cover of the November 1994 issue of Writer's Digest: "Get Writing Assignments Online".

Intrigued by the potential of the internet to break down traditional communication barriers, Stefan read the article. It described how writers were making connections with publishers and editors in online forums on CompuServe and other online services. Stephan was skeptical -- how would an editor or publisher find the time to chat real-time with writers of unknown caliber on CompuServe?

Stefan - never short of an idea - figured there was a better way for writers to connect with editors and publishers online. Why not build a searchable database of writers to allow writers to promote themselves online. That way publishers and editors could find the sort of writer they were looking for quickly and easily before making the contact through the Internet.

By the end of December 1994, WritersNet(sm) was online and announced on various writing-related discussion groups.

Why Create a Site To help Writers Further Their Careers?

Stephan initially created the site because, as the husband of a writer, he can appreciate the difficulties that come with a career in writing - the difficulty breaking in to the field, the difficulty making money from writing, the difficulty in making the connections.

His hope is that WritersNet(sm) will help writers succeed by facilitating relationships between: writer and publisher, writer and editor, writer and agent, and writer and writer.

Stephan Spencer left the world of viruses behind, after completing a master's degree in Biochemistry, when his attention was grabbed by bytes not bugs. The web site design company he founded in 1995 now builds and maintains sites for large companies and industry bodies. He also consults for companies that wish to get on the Internet. He has presented papers at international symposia such as the Second International World Wide Web Conference.

Stephan's hope is that the writing community will continue to grow through WritersNet. He encourages all writers, publishers, editors and literary agents to list on the site. Remember, the only way to get listed on WritersNet is by filling out the online entry form available by selecting the "Add Entry" option from the WritersNet(sm) Home Page.

(Read more about Stephan here.)

How do I Join WritersNet?

Simply create a profile but there are a few things that you should know:

• Please read carefully the Guidelines for Inclusion in WritersNet(sm) before filling out the form. Be sure to assign your entry a password (i.e. make one up!) and write it down. This is extremely important: if you do not assign a password to your entry, then you will not be able to make changes to it online.

• After submitting the completed online entry form, your entry will become immediately available online. It will be your responsibility to keep your entry up-to-date. This would mean periodically checking the accuracy of the entry in WritersNet(sm) and making appropriate changes using the online Edit Entry option. You are more than welcome to include a URL in your biographical statement.

• It's quite easy to edit or change your entry once you have submitted it. Just select the "Edit Entry" option from the WritersNet(sm) Home Page. Then pick your name from the list. A fill-in form page will then appear with all your previous information in the blanks. Change what you need to, be sure to type in your password (which you assigned yourself when you first added your entry to WritersNet), then click on the Submit button.

• If you forgot your password, simply click the forgotten password link and enter your name and email address. The password will then be emailed to you.

We Need You!

Currently, WritersNet needs sponsorship and publicity. To us, sponsoring means making a contribution -- a contribution to this site, and to the Internet community. It connotes an interactive, mutually beneficial relationship. So money, although important, is not the goal. It's partnering with a few select companies and/or associations that share the vision of WritersNet(sm) and want to do what they can to get the word out and make it the best it can be. Please contact Stephan if your company or association is interested in sponsoring WritersNet(sm).

Contact Us!

(SM stands for Service mark, just as TM stands for Trademark. A service mark is very similar to a trademark, except that the mark refers to a service instead of a product. So by placing an SM next to WritersNet, NetConcepts gives notice that WritersNet is a legally protected service mark that belongs to us.)