Short-short fiction from me: "An Honest Proposal" at Mouth Full of Bullets in the Spring 2007 edition.
I am currently working on my second novel, slowly, since teaching and research take most of my time. The first novel (which you will almost certainly never see) was really, really, really BAD. Very bad. Painfully. But the new one has received good reactions from one editor and two writing groups.
In connection with my fiction writing, I organize a read-and-critique writing group called the Sunday Narrative Workspace.
I also belong to the Critters Writers' Workshop, which I recommend very highly for writers of Speculative Fiction.
Miss Snark, Literary Agent - has searchable archives and daily wit dealing with how to find agents, publishers, how to query, editing, and hundreds of other things aspiring authors need to know. She also points out the 20 Worst Literary Agencies - which are staffed by scam artists rather than real agents. They'll demand to be paid before they sell your work. Real agents sell first and make their money by taking 15% of the sale.
Evil Editor - offers critiques on author query letters to editors/agents. He pokes fun but also has much good advice. Miss Snark recommends him. His tagline: Why you don't get published. 'Nuff said.
SFWA - Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America - lots of good articles on writing, critiquing, getting an agent, getting published.
MWA - Mystery Writers of America - articles on writing, prize winners, agent and publishing advice.
NWU - National Writers Union - Rights organization and watchdog for all sorts of writers. Also has suggestions on how to be a more productive writer, and a quarterly newsletter, American Writer.
NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month - produce 50,000 words in just 30 days. Everyone who does is a winner. Suggestions on how to get writing fast to produce a draft without having your internal editor kill your creativity. Officially runs from Nov. 1-30, but you are encouraged to take the challenge whenever you like.
NaNoEdMo - National Novel Editing Month - spend 50 hours in 30 days fixing your novel. Suggestions on fleshing out, cleaning up and replotting your novel (whether you wrote it in 30 days or 30 years.)
The 20 Worst Agents/Agencies list from SFWA, Miss Snark, Absolute Write, and Making Light sites:
* The Abacus Group Literary Agency
* Allred and Allred Literary Agents (refers clients to "book doctor" Victor West of Pacific Literary Services)
* Capital Literary Agency (formerly American Literary Agents of Washington, Inc.)
* Barbara Bauer Literary Agency
* Benedict & Associates (also d/b/a B.A. Literary Agency)
* Sherwood Broome, Inc.
* Desert Rose Literary Agency
* Arthur Fleming Associates
* Finesse Literary Agency (Karen Carr)
* Brock Gannon Literary Agency
* Harris Literary Agency
* The Literary Agency Group, which includes the following:
Children's Literary Agency
Christian Literary Agency
New York Literary Agency
Poets Literary Agency
The Screenplay Agency
Stylus Literary Agency (formerly ST Literary Agency)
Writers Literary & Publishing Services Company (the editing arm of the above-mentioned agencies)
* Martin-McLean Literary Associates
* Mocknick Productions Literary Agency, Inc.
* B.K. Nelson, Inc.
* The Robins Agency (Cris Robins)
* Michele Rooney Literary Agency (also d/b/a Creative Literary Agency and Simply Nonfiction)
* Southeast Literary Agency
* Mark Sullivan Associates
* West Coast Literary Associates (also d/b/a California Literary Services)