A Web digest from Writer's Digest

Writer's Digest typically isn't viewed as a magazine for newspaper writers. I've always thought of it as being geared to free-lancers, particularly fiction writers, and not the ink-stained and carpel-tunneled wretches who snap up regular paychecks at dailies and weeklies.

Still, I've picked up the magazine occasionally through years, depending on how much free-lance non-fiction writing I was doing at the time and how much I felt I needed to brush up on available markets. Usually I found something of interest. It's been a long time since I've checked it out, however.

While browsing the Web recently for tax tips for free-lancers, I stumbled across http://www.writersdigest.com and its list of "The 101 Best Sites for Writers." It was a pleasant surprise. I'd recommend stopping in for a look, no matter how you make your living with the written word.

At the moment, the 1999 and 2000 lists are posted, and I assume 2001 is just around the corner. The editors say they received recommendations from more than 600 readers last year and narrowed the list down to 101.

I spent a half-hour or so browsing both the 1999 and 2000 lists and found a number of unfamiliar sites that might be useful to journalists. The sites are organized in easy-to-navigate categories.

The "search engine" section offers up most of the standards, but the "general reference" and "specialized references" offered up several welcome surprises. I also found a couple of good grammar guides (including one I've mentioned here at Suite101.com) in "The Writing Life" section.

The "job sites" category also contained a few sites I hadn't encountered before. If you're on the job hunt or expect to be soon, click this category into your bookmarks. It also should prove valuable for free-lancing gigs, if you're interested.

Finally, be sure to check out the "just for fun" section. I'd recommend a visit to http://www.howstuffworks.com Just as its name implies, the site offers quick and succinct explanations of how stuff works. You never know when something like this might come in handy on deadline. Or for settling a bar bet or friendly argument with your mate.

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