Marketing Expert David Somerfleck

Welcome to an interactive list of online digital marketing & everday use tools.

Recommend a Tool
Privacy Focused Search

 

But Wait, There’s More:

In checking sources, it helps to evaluate accuracy of information using the C.R.A.P. test procedure that only takes a few extra minutes.

Also, learn more about online safety using these links:

Searching the Dark Web

But what if you want to search the legendary “dark web?”

Well, you have to use the TOR browser, should probably use a VPN concurrently, and exercise added caution in judging accuracy. Saying all of that, here are a few unvetted, untested links:

Common Dark Web Search Engines

  1. Ahmia

    • One of the most reputable dark web search engines.

    • Also accessible from the surface web (filters out illegal content).

  2. Torch

    • One of the oldest search engines on the dark web.

    • No censorship, so it can include illegal material (use caution).

  3. Kilos (the specific onion address changes regularly)

    • Focused on darknet markets (often used for illicit trade).

    • Not recommended unless you’re conducting academic or journalistic research with caution and legality in mind.

  4. DuckDuckGo on Tor

    • A privacy-focused surface web search engine that is also accessible via Tor.

    • Doesn’t index much dark web content but is secure for anonymous searching.

Warnings:

  • Accessing dark web content can be risky: You may encounter scams, malware, hacked sites, or illegal content.

  • Stay legal: Even viewing certain sites can be illegal depending on your jurisdiction.

  • Use strong security practices: VPN + Tor, disable scripts, avoid logging in to any personal accounts.

Privacy Focused Email

 

 

Password Sharing

Here are some sites and services commonly used for temporarily sharing confidential information, such as passwords. It should go without saying that I can’t guarantee the safety or stability of any of these sites (or any other for that matter), but this is my list.

Some are used by common hosting providers (such as QuickForget) and huge corporations (such as Yopass, allegedly used by Spotify, although I don’t know that for sure).

Test them out with friends, yourself, or others, before trying them out if you want.

 

 

Privacy Focused VOIP

TextNow (textnow.com)

  • Free U.S. and Canadian numbers.
  • Can send texts and make calls via the app.
  • Requires an internet connection.

TextFree (Pinger) (textfree.us)

  • Free U.S.-based VoIP numbers.
  • Supports texting and calling.
  • May require occasional use to keep the number active.

Dingtone (dingtone.me)

  • Free U.S. VoIP number (ads required).
  • Offers international numbers (paid feature).

Hushed (hushed.com)

  • Provides a free trial number for a limited time.
  • Good for temporary use (paid plans for longer use).

Burner (burnerapp.com)

  • Free trial number available.
  • Paid plans for extended use.

Talkatone (talkatone.com)

  • Free U.S. and Canadian numbers.
  • Can be used for calls and texts over WiFi.

 

More Privacy (but with Strings Attached):

 

  • Receive-SMS-Free (receive-sms-free.cc) – Publicly available numbers for receiving SMS only.
  • SMS Receive Free (smsreceivefree.com) – Temporary numbers for verification codes.
  • FreePhoneNum (freephonenum.com) – Public VoIP numbers that can receive SMS messages.

???? Downside: These services (and their data) may be public, meaning anyone can see messages, and they may not support calls.

 

Privacy Focused Maps & GPS

This list is focused on Android users but most if not all of these are available for Apple users as well (in addition to Apple Maps):

 

Privacy Focused Collaboration

Here are a few more private alternatives to Google Docs:

Website Security Checks

 

IP, Domain, and DNS Lookup

IP Lookup

Domain Lookup

 

Broken Link Checkers

 


Link Checker or Link Scanners

Send & Store Large Files

 Send Large Files

 

Store Large Files

 

 

Privacy-focused / end-to-end encryption options

  • Proton Drive — https://proton.me/drive Proton
  • Tresorit — https://tresorit.com/ tresorit.com
  • Sync.com — https://www.sync.com/ Sync
  • MEGA — https://mega.io/ Mega.io
  • Internxt — https://internxt.com/drive Internxt
  • Icedrive — https://icedrive.net/ icedrive.net
  • Koofr — https://koofr.eu/ koofr.eu

Regional / alternative ecosystems

  • Yandex Disk — https://360.yandex.com/disk/ 360.yandex.com
  • Infomaniak kDrive — https://www.infomaniak.com/en/ksuite/kdrive infomaniak.com
  • Rakuten Drive — https://home.rakuten-drive.com/ Rakuten Drive

Budget/freeware & classic file-hosting

Photo-centric (storage + apps)

  • Amazon Photos — https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Photos Amazon

Backup & object storage (power-user friendly)

  • IDrive — https://www.idrive.com/ IDrive
  • Backblaze — https://www.backblaze.com/ Backblaze
  • Wasabi — https://wasabi.com/ Wasabi

 

 

Scholarly Search

 

Similar Searches

 

Podcast Guest Resources

Podcast Guest Links:

 Facebook Groups

Reddit Groups

Know about other links I could add here? 

Please use the button located at the top or bottom of this page to submit updated links!

Free Courses

 

Google Courses

OpenCulture

 

 

 

Foreign Travel Advisories

 

Timers

 

Bookmarking

 

 

Event Organizing
Image Editors

 

Image Compression

Image Resizing

Image Hosting

Reverse Image Search

Audio Editors

 

Time Zones
Web Proxies

 Web Proxies can pose security risks, such as be malware sites, so if you use one, make sure you be aware of potential risks they can pose.

Your best bet is always to use a trusted, known, well-reviewed VPN for regular browsing and / or work online and something like TOR when you want to only browser or search anonymously (and never log into an actual account using TOR – just my opinion on that one). 

Image Hosting

Image Hosting Sites.

Everybody loves large, beautiful images and infographics on their websites. I certainly am not immune. But they consume huge amounts of website database storage; so what do we do? We find somewhere other than the site database to store our images, right? Groovy. Let’s dig into a few I found.

  • ImgBB — https://imgbb.com Drag, drop, get HTML embed code and direct URL instantly. No account required. Supports JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, BMP, TIFF. Free tier up to 32MB per file.
  • Postimages — https://postimages.org Zero friction, zero account required. Direct links, HTML and BBCode generated on upload. Also lets you resize the image before uploading, which is a useful bonus for non-technical users.
  • Imgur — https://imgur.com The internet’s most widely used free host. Unlimited uploads, HTML embed codes, direct URLs. No account needed but optional. Compresses files over 5MB, worth noting for high-resolution book covers.
  • ImgBox — https://imgbox.com Drag-and-drop, instant HTML and BBCode, no account needed. Permanent storage on the free tier, 10MB file size limit.
  • FreeImage.host — https://freeimage.host Anonymous, no account, no fuss. Generates direct links and embed codes immediately on upload. Lean interface with no community noise.
  • Imghippo — https://imghippo.com Newer entrant, very clean interface. Upload, get embed code, done. No storage limits advertised on the free tier.
  • ImageBam — https://imagebam.com Particularly good for batch uploads — drop multiple images at once and receive organised embed codes for each. Popular with bloggers managing larger image libraries.
  • Slightly More Featured but Still Non-Technical
  • Flickr — https://flickr.com The veteran photographer’s platform. Free tier gives you substantial storage, high-resolution hosting without compression, and embed codes. Has a community dimension but you can ignore it entirely. Better for authors wanting to maintain a visual portfolio alongside image hosting.
  • Photobucket — https://photobucket.com Long-established, well-known. Offers editing tools alongside hosting and embed codes. The free tier has some limitations but it handles the basics cleanly.
Online Storage
SEO Tools

 

Free eBooks & Audio Books

eBooks

 

Audio Books

Website Monitors

 

Money Transfers

 

Dictionaries & Thesauri

 Dictionaries

 

Rhyming Dictionaries

Phrase & Expression Dictionaries

Thesauri

 

Video Summarizers

 

 

Screen Recorders

Screen Recorders that should work with Windows 11, and record whatever appears on your screen.

 

Online Device Testing
Super Freelancer Jobs List

Disclaimer:

The following lists and opinions are meant for entertainment and informational purposes only – not direct job advice.

This information is here to try to be of informational assistance.

Results and outcomes can vary from person-to-person and situation-to-situation.

You use this information, the links, and my statements at your own risk. Also, as I edit and update these links to help others, some links are clickable (you can click on them). Others you may need to copy and paste the link (also called a URL) into a new tab address bar (the white space) and tap “Enter” to visit.

Introduction: How These Lists Came to Be

For approximately 25 years I worked in digital marketing as a freelancer, as a digital marketing agency web designer and developer, as a copywriter and copy editor, logo designer, SEO go-to guy, and eventually as a project manager.

There were times, in-between agency jobs, where I struggled to pay the rent and put food on the table; but through a great deal of persistence and creativity, I made it to the point where I had a repeatable, sustainable routine.

Just as I had to learn to apply the structure and methods I’d learned from working at digital marketing agencies to how I worked with (and screened) potential freelance clients…I had to also learn how to apply those same structures and methods to how found freelance work.

That meant putting together a list of freelancer job sites, honing and saving a list of specific types of resumes for specific types of positions, never counting on just one job application to land a job and learning time management that worked for me. Office politics was a part of job-hunting, but not as large as it would be once you landed the actual position.

In this resource, you’ll find a “super” list of freelancer job sites I’d put together and went through daily when seeking work. Some sites might be gone as many businesses come and go like the wind or merge with other larger businesses, and many are still around today. Some could have changed their policies since I used one or more, so you have to check each site to make sure it’s right for you.

Use it as you can, and if some of this content helps you, great. 

Good luck in your freelancing career and I hope you find a fulfilling, enjoyable position using my “Super Freelance Jobs List.” If you use it, and it helps you, let me know.

Onward……..

Freelance Job Sites I Used to  Check Daily

 

Teaching English Online Sites

  • ALO7 (https://boxfish.cn/en/)
  • Cafe Talk (https://cafetalk.com/tutor/page/?t=p&lang=en)
  • Boxfish (https://boxfish.cn/en/)
  • Digino (https://digino.org/first-future-apply/)
  • Cambly (https://www.cambly.com/signUpFlow)
  • DadaABC (https://www.dadaabc.com/teacher/landing)
  • English First (https://www.englishfirst.com/teach-english-to-adults-online/)
  • Preply (https://preply.com/en/teach)
  • Engoo (https://teach.engoo.com/app/teach)
  • Say ABC (https://t.sayabc.com/#/home)
  • First Future (http://www.firstfuturejobs.com/contact/index.html)
  • Skima Talk (https://www.skimatalk.com/en/become_teacher)
  • Gogo Kid (https://teacher.gogokid.com/)
  • Tutoring Go (https://tutoringgo.com/home/en)
  • iTalki (https://teach.italki.com/application)
  • Verbal Planet (https://www.verbalplanet.com/tutorhome.asp)
  • Learn Light (https://careers.learnlight.com/careers-2/teaching-positions/)
  • Verbling (https://www.verbling.com/teach)
  • Magic Ears (https://t.mmears.com/v2/)
  • VIP Kid (https://www.vipkid.com/teach)
  • Whales English (https://www.whalesenglish.com/)
  • Open English (https://www.openenglish.com/en/careers/teachers/)
  • Zebra English (https://www.zebraenglish.com/)
  • Pal Fish (https://www.ipalfish.com/teacher/)

 

Tutoring Sites

 

Virtual Assistant Job Sites

 

Micro Job Sites

 

Freelance Forums

 

Reviewer Jobs

  • BOOKS
    Kirkus Reviews (Careers): https://www.kirkusreviews.com/about/careers/
  • Foreword Reviews (Reviewer jobs): https://www.forewordreviews.com/jobs/reviewer/
  • Library Journal (Review for LJ): https://www.libraryjournal.com/page/Review-for-LJ
  • The US Review of Books (Reviewer info): https://www.theusreview.com/USRreviewer.html
  • Reedsy Discovery (Reviewers): https://reedsy.com/discovery/reviewers
  • Reedsy Discovery (Apply): https://reedsy.com/discovery/reviewers/apply

MOVIES/TV

  • ScreenRant (Contributor): https://screenrant.com/contributor/
  • Collider (Work with us): https://collider.com/work-with-us/
  • Collider (Contributor): https://collider.com/contributor/
  • MovieWeb (Contributor): https://movieweb.com/contributor/
  • IndieWire (Pitching): https://www.indiewire.com/how-to-pitch-stories-and-articles-to-indiewire/

FILM MAGAZINES (PUBLISHED RATES)

  • Cineaste (Writer guidelines): https://www.cineaste.com/writers-guidelines

BOOK SITE (PAID CONTRIBUTOR PROGRAM)

  • Book Riot (Write for us): https://bookriot.com/write-for-book-riot/

 

JOURNALISM JOB BOARDS

  • https://www.poynter.org/media-jobs/
  • https://www.mediabistro.com/jobs
  • https://mediajobboard.com/
  • https://www.ire.org/jobs/
  • https://gijn.org/jobs/
  • https://journalismjob.com/
  • https://www.reddit.com/r/journalismjobs/

FREELANCE WRITING BOARDS / LISTS

  • https://problogger.com/jobs/
  • https://freelancewritinggigs.com/
  • https://allthingsfreelancewriting.com/freelance-writing-jobs/
  • https://www.contena.co/
  • https://studyhallnewsletter.com/
  • https://members.studyhall.xyz/

EDITING-FOCUSED

  • https://aceseditors.org/resources/job-board

REMOTE WRITING BOARDS

  • https://weworkremotely.com/remote-writer-jobs
  • https://remoteok.com/remote-writer-jobs
  • https://remotive.com/remote-jobs/writing
  • https://www.flexjobs.com/remote-jobs/writing-editing-journalism
  • https://www.indeed.com/q-remote-writer-jobs.html

 

Find RFPs

(RFPs are Requests for Proposals. Now, yes, many of these are baloney, but for many companies and even freelancers, winning a Proposal from a legitimate company can mean mucho dinero and sometimes repeatedly for ongoing contracts.)

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Question: Whoa! What is all this? I just need any remote job I can get as soon as possible!

Answer: No problem. Go to Indeed, create an account, make sure you state you want “remote” for your location if indeed you are looking for “remote” jobs. I personally would apply for at least 30 positions daily, because landing a job is often a numbers game, create daily alerts for each different type of job or job title you could apply for and reasonably perform. For example, if I’m a experienced WordPress website developer I would create alerts for job titles that are “WordPress,” “WordPress Developer,” “WordPress Website Designer,” and so on. In the space where you are asked to enter your location I would enter “remote.” I would make each alert daily. I would have response email templates and different copies of my resume ready to send off and save these emails as drafts in my email account. Apply for at least 30 every day. Don’t’ stop until you get several offers. Then go to Cambly and apply to teach English online, same with iTalki and other similar websites. While you do this, when you have time, start looking at the other categories and links. Once you have a solid offer, take a break, and then decide if you want to continue looking in your spare time for something better.

Question: How many jobs should I apply for daily?

Answer: There is the question of how many you can handle applying to daily of course and your ability to keep track of who said what to whom at what time, your credentials, what you’re applying for, and so forth. But, when I was in-between agency jobs and needed work quickly, I would apply for about 30 per day. Once I had a solid offer on the table, accepted it, and was given a start date, and only after that, would I stop applying. Sometimes I continued applying for jobs even after I’d accepted a new job, because you never know what that new job’s work culture (or lack thereof) will be like. Many times employers would misrepresent requirements or expectations whether intentionally or not, or expectations would change dramatically once I’d taken the job. So sometimes it makes sense to keep your options open.

Question: How do you keep track of who you apply for, what you position you applied for, who you spoke with, their contact information, and what you were told and when to check back with them?

Answer: You can use a kanban tool, like Trello. I usually used an Excel or Google Sheets spreadsheet or even a Word document or Google Docs document as long as I could create multiple cells or boxes to put down contact information (email and phone of more than one person, preferably), what I was told and by whom, dates, and job title and description and links to research the company. A quick, easy way could be to open a free account at KanbanFlow.com or Trello and create color-coded columns and detail who you contacted, what company, for what position, a section for concerns, pay, what you were told, when to check back, and so on. I’d also recommend keeping a folder for job applicant emails sent and what resumes you send to whom. The main thing is that you know which resume you are sending off to which jobs, if you are using multiple different resumes, and who you received positive responses from and know who to reply back to and don’t get them mixed up.

Question: How long should I wait?

Answer: Just my opinion based on my own experiences: You should never wait. It always was and always will be a numbers game. The more jobs you apply for, the more likely you are to actually get one. Remember, we’re always either entering into a recession or coming out of one, or we have a global pandemic, or something else. Plus, agencies and companies prefer to hire those they already know, are family members or friends of friends or related some other way. This is just life. You can’t beat that, but you can even the odds by not taking a job seriously until you have a solid offer on the table and even then not until you’re hired. I would recommend, however, allowing a company 2 business weeks to respond back to you unless they are a college, university, government agency, or nonprofit, which can often take months to respond back to you and then require multiple screening interviews and tests even after that.

Question: Should I take tests?

Answer: In my past experiences, tt really depends on how connected you feel to the particular job, how good a test taker you are, and how badly (and soon) you need to find work. When I was freelancing I didn’t take tests, because they were time-consuming and I found I could easily apply for ten more jobs (at least) in the time it took to take the tests companies anonymously wanted taken. You’ll find some sites, like Indeed, seem to run on tests; while others like Dynamite Jobs, at last check, did not require them. And again, when I worked for a certain college (and my wife in HR) we would see often how tests would be used as a screening tool not only to qualify some prospects but also disqualify others who might not “fit in with company culture.” So I’d only take tests if the job in question looks like a fantastic fit for you on every level. Most government agencies will require tests, and pay can be quite good with very good benefits, but again, this process can be extremely tedious and time-consuming.

Question: Should I lie to get a job?

Answer: Nobody should ever lie to get a job. I can tell you that when I worked for marketing and advertising agencies as a staff member or as a outside freelancer, we would often have people in very senior positions who had no idea what they were doing. They got their jobs because they were related to someone, were attractive to someone doing the hiring, knew the right people, or were great at interviewing. I worked at a college where the Academic Dean was required to have a Master’s degree as part of the job. He did not have one but was hired, anyway, because he was a great interviewer and personally knew others in senior positions. He never held any job for more than one year but somehow was always able to get senior-level positions making $75,000 or more annually. I believe it’s perfectly fine to give yourself credit for work done on your resume and to learn by others’ examples.

Question: How many jobs should I list in my resume?

Answer: I was always told (again, these are my own past experiences so you be the judge here) not to ever go back more than 10-11 years. And all resumes should be no more than one page. Do not include photos of yourself and if you have distinctive, ethnic name that could be used against you, use initials if you can, such as D.M Mathabane. Employers can and do discriminate based on age, gender, race, and ethnicity and it’s naïve to think they don’t do this. Why give them the chance if you can avoid it?

Question: Should my resume show a photo or have different colors?

Answer: I perosnally don’t think so, based on my own experiecces. And the reason for that is that many agencies and HR staffing firms use scraping / scanning programs to specifically look for key words and terms to see if they match identically to job requirements. So…the closer your resume matches or mirrors identically the job, the greater the likelihood you’ll get interviewed and also many firms don’t want to see photographs as they can be accused of bias. So don’t use photos if possible, and if you can, keep everything as professional and serious in tone as possible. As far as format, use PDF.

Question: Should I apply to staffing firms?

Answer: Sure, you certainly can, but be aware, again, it’s a numbers game and to take this even further, most staffing firms want to hire exact mirror duplicates of whatever the job position lists. They are notorious for listing ridiculously long requirements for web designer positions, for example, when all designers and developers know they don’t need to use all tools mentioned in the job requirements to be good at their jobs. And most HR staffers have no idea what tools you need to do the job, or what your skills sets should be. Many copy previous job descriptions directly from Monster or Careerbuilder. I used to work with web designers who had no idea what SEO or Google Analytics were and didn’t care and had no ability to code basic HTML and were making very good wages. They would tell the staffing agency person whatever they thought the person wanted to hear and then wait until they spoke directly with whom they would be working with on a daily basis. That approach doesn’t always work but sometimes it does. The takeaway is to realize that HR staffing people often copy and paste job ads and often have no idea what they’re hiring for. I used to get contacted by HR staffing agencies weekly just through LinkedIn, and found that if I asked one question about the job, I’d never hear from them again. So know who you could be dealing with.

Question: Should I take a part-time job?

Answer: Much of this depends on what you can or can’t accept financially, but often (especially at colleges, established nonprofits, and government agencies) part-time and grant-funded jobs are jobs many simply don’t want since hours and pay are limited and you’re not likely to get any health benefits. That being said, it’s also a reason why sometimes these jobs may be available. You have to weigh the pros against the cons.

Question: I need a job immediately and can’t wait. What should I do?

Answer: If you’re not having much luck freelancing and applying for 30 jobs per day, the easiest and quickest answer is to apply at a day labor location nearest to you. The pay is very low, the work can be physically brutal, but you’d get paid at the end of the day in many cases. (Be sure to check before going to one). Most of these locations open before dawn, so you’d want to arrive two hours before they open so you can get a spot closest to the front door. Bring enough for two meals, and be prepared for hard physical work, but you’ll earn some money right away. Another solution is to offer to help locals with computer repair, and so on. Applying to be a substitute teacher can also bring in money quickly but the process of actually applying can take months.

Notes:

Whether you are a copywriter, freelance editor, logo designer, website designer, UX/UI designer, programmer, photographer, please keep in mind that none of these links are “only” for one type of freelancer. For example, AIGA and Indeed have job listings for copywriters and designers alike. It’s up to you to set up daily alerts, upload a resume (and different versions of a resume where possible), cover letters, and take deliberate action to ensure you can apply for more jobs, more often. When I was between agency jobs, I would typically apply for 30-40 jobs per day and keep track of dates, employers, and positions and position descriptions with contact information in a Word or Excel spreadsheet. After a month I’d delete it. Typically, I wouldn’t waste time taking tests unless I felt they were quick; same with applying through larger corporate portals. Governments jobs, while very stable and more profitable long-term usually promoted from within unless it was a part-time or temporary contract position fewer people would want. I was able to land three part-time positions at two different colleges during one period of time that there was little competition for since nobody wanted part-time or grant-funded jobs. Remember that most (if not all) employers taking applications are being deluged with resumes, so they’re looking specifically for exact responses and resumes that mirror whatever it is you’re applying for.

In most cases tools listed or approaches cited for very technical positions are irrelevant and are there to weed out applicants. Most HR staff don’t know how to solve their own company’s’ problems and are looking for someone to come in and take over without any training. And of course when responding to RFPs I would always try to encourage the soliciting organization to respond back with a personal video conference call a few days off. This would give me an edge others who responded anonymously wouldn’t get, let me find out if they were assigning the RFP already to a known “of record” agency but couldn’t say so publicly (you’d dig around at the point and try to get a feel for how many people have responded thus far, etcetera), and also provide the opportunity to try to learn about specific pain points and what their known short-term and long-term goals are. Then, if you do decide to respond to the RFP you’d make a special note to paraphrase your conversation and summarize the call content with comparisons how you’ve done exactly what was described already for previous clients. Nonprofit volunteer sites, believe it or not, can also good ways to find work. How do you use nonprofit volunteer sites to find paying work? Well, it’s a “long game,” but it can be done by going to websites such as CatchaFire and Taproot Volunteer.org and many others (and Googling other similar sites), creating a profile, adding testimonials and references, and simply offering to help nonprofit organizations in limited capacities at first with a consulting call.

You can explain how you screen and onboard potential new clients but remember that the first call should always be on your terms and serve as the introductory conversation where they are shown an agenda and you find out if they are a good fit for you in terms of temperament and organization -and answering their questions as honestly as possible so you legitimately help them. If they decide they want to work with you outside of the volunteer site, make sure to deactivate your account while working with them and keeping clear boundaries. If you are a new freelancer without experience, these sites are great places to start, but bear in mind, again, they will ask for more than you’d think, add requirements half-way through a project, and expect it all for free.

Question: Your list and insights have been very valuable to me. What can I do to thank you for your decades of experience and for providing this invaluable resource?

Answer: Thank you kindly. You can show your appreciation in two ways: Acting on the insights listed herein, not just reading them and going about your daily life as before. Next, offer to help others similarly struggling.

We change the world one person at a time with human kindness. Finally, you can go to LinkedIn or Facebook or Twitter, and submit a positive review or remark or recommendation where possible.

 

Writer's Resources

 

National Writing Organizations

  • Academy of American Poets: The largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets.

 

 

  • Authors Guild: A national membership organization that provides advice on contracts and defends freedom of expression.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specialized Writing Organizations

 

 

 

Regional and Local Writing Organizations

  • California Writers Club: One of the oldest and largest professional writers’ clubs in the nation, with branches throughout California.

 

 

Diversity-Focused Writing Organizations

  • Kundiman: Dedicated to nurturing generations of writers and readers of Asian American literature.

 

 

Additional Resources

 

  • Poetry Coalition: A national alliance of organizations promoting the value poets bring to our culture.

 

Statewide Virginia Organizations

 

  • Poetry Society of Virginia: Founded in 1923, this membership-based organization promotes poetry through monthly open mics, writing workshops, contests, and readings.
    poets.org

Regional and Local Organizations

  • James River Writers: A multifaceted nonprofit based in Richmond, serving as central Virginia’s literary hub by connecting and inspiring writers and those with a love for the written word.
    jamesriverwriters.org

 

 

  • The Writers Guild of Virginia: Founded in 2015, this nonprofit organization is dedicated to promoting writing and the arts, providing a platform for writers to learn, network, and collaborate through digital meetings and events.
    writersguildva.com

 

 

  • Write by the Rails: The Prince William Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club, supporting writers in the Prince William County area through resources, networking, and events.
    wbtr.org

Literary Magazines and Workshops

 

 

Additional Resources

 

Statewide New York Organizations

  • New York State Writers Institute: Based at the University at Albany, this institute offers readings, workshops, and residencies to support writers and foster a literary community across New York State.

New York City-Based Organizations

 

 

  • The Writers Room: New York City’s first nonprofit, shared writing workspace, providing a quiet environment for writers 24/7 in a top-floor loft on Astor Place.
    writersroom.org

 

 

 

  • The Poetry Project: Based at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, this organization has been a forum for public literary events, a resource for writers, and a venue for new and experimental poetry since 1966.

 

  • The Authors Guild: The nation’s oldest and largest professional organization for writers, offering legal assistance, web services, and advocacy for authors’ rights.

 

  • PEN America: A branch of the international writers’ organization, PEN America works to defend and celebrate free expression in the United States and worldwide through the advancement of literature and human rights.

 

  • The Center for Fiction: The only nonprofit literary organization in the U.S. solely dedicated to celebrating fiction, offering reading groups, workshops, and a circulating library.

 

 

  • Cave Canem Foundation: Committed to cultivating the artistic and professional growth of African American poets, offering workshops, retreats, and readings.

 

  • Poets House: A national poetry library and literary center that invites poets and the public to step into the living tradition of poetry.

Regional and Local Organizations

  • Hudson Valley Writers Center: Located in Sleepy Hollow, this center offers readings, workshops, and a community for writers in the Hudson Valley region.

 

  • Brooklyn Poets: A nonprofit organization celebrating and cultivating the poets, poetry, and literary heritage of Brooklyn through workshops, readings, and other events.

 

  • Staten Island Writers Group: A community of writers on Staten Island offering critique groups, workshops, and support for writers of all genres.

Diversity-Focused Writing Organizations

  • Lambda Literary: Nurtures and advocates for LGBTQ writers, elevating the impact of their words to create community, preserve legacies, and affirm the value of LGBTQ stories.

 

  • Kundiman: Dedicated to nurturing generations of writers and readers of Asian American literature.

Additional Resources

  • WriteByNight: Provides a collection of resources for writers in New York, including information on conferences, local critique groups, and literary magazines.

 

Online Poetry Communities

  • AllPoetry: The largest poetry community on the web, offering a platform to share poems, receive feedback, and participate in contests.

 

  • Poetry Foundation: Publisher of Poetry magazine, providing a vast archive of poems, articles, and resources for poets and poetry enthusiasts.

 

  • Poets.org: Managed by the Academy of American Poets, this site offers a wealth of poems, essays, and educational materials, along with virtual events and readings.

Online Writing Communities

  • WritersCafe.org: An online writing community where writers can post their work, get reviews, join writing groups, and participate in free writing contests.
    writerscafe.org

 

  • Critique Circle: A members-only site that allows authors to post stories in exchange for feedback on other people’s writing, offering tools like storyboarding, writing prompts, and workshops.
    blog.reedsy.com

 

  • Scribophile: A writing community that provides detailed critiques, writing contests, and forums to discuss all things writing.

 

  • Wattpad: A global platform where writers can share their stories and readers can discover new voices, fostering a large online community.

 

  • TheNextBigWriter: An online writing workshop and community where writers can post their work, receive feedback, and connect with other writers.

 

  • FanStory: A writing community offering feedback on stories and poetry, with writing contests and a platform to share your work.

Additional Resources

  • Shut Up & Write!: A global community that offers both in-person and online writing events, providing a structured time to write and connect with other writers.
    shutupwrite.com

 

Novlr: A creative writing platform built by writers, offering a community-driven space with tools to support your writing journey.

Additional Online Poetry Communities

  • Deep Underground Poetry: A writing and poetry community that allows members to share and publish poems, lyrics, short stories, and spoken word performances. The platform offers critique opportunities, poetry competitions, and a space to connect with other poets and writers.
    deepundergroundpoetry.com

 

  • Poetizer: A social network dedicated to poets, allowing users to share their original poetry, discover new poems daily, and connect with a global community of poetry enthusiasts.
    poetizer.com

 

  • Writing.Com: Established in 2000, Writing.Com is an online community for writers of all interests and skill levels. It offers creative writing help, online portfolios, and various writers’ tools.
    writing.com

 

  • Eratosphere: A free-to-join workshop for formal poetry, as well as a forum for free verse, poetry and prose translation, fiction, art, literary criticism, and discussions on writing.
    en.wikipedia.org

 

  • WritersCafe.org: An online writing community where writers can post their work, receive reviews, join writing groups, and participate in free writing contests. The platform supports various forms of writing, including poetry, short stories, novels, scripts, and screenplays.
    writerscafe.org

 

  • The Writers Lounge: Established in 1997, this international community allows poets to publish their work for free, discuss and like poems, and connect with authors worldwide.
    writerslounge.net

Additional Online Poetry Communities

  • PoetrySoup: A comprehensive online poetry community and resource where poets can submit their poems, participate in contests, and engage with other members.
    poetrysoup.com

 

  • Her Heart Poetry: An online poetry community that features new and emerging voices on their Instagram platform. Poets can use the hashtag #herheartpoetry for a chance to be featured.
    readpoetry.com

Additional Online Writing Communities

 

  • Critique Circle: An online writing workshop where writers can submit their work for feedback and provide critiques to others, fostering a reciprocal learning environment.
    clevergirlauthor.com

 

  • Fictionaut: An online community for short fiction and poetry writers to share their work, receive feedback, and connect with other writers.

 

 Book Review Sites

(Disclaimer: This list is STILL being sorted out and organized, so be aware that some of the links could be inactive or accidentally repeated while they’re being sorted. Ya dig?)

Book Reviewer Websites & Directories for Authors

This list contains directories and reviewer blogs appropriate for speculative, dystopian, and science fiction authors. Always verify each site’s submission rules and whether they accept indie authors.

Directories / Lists

Specific Review Blogs (Genre-Friendly)

 

Tip: Keep review requests professional, include your book blurb, cover image, and relevant metadata (ISBN, word count, genre, and availability). Always check for review policies before submitting.

 

General Links (to be Sorted)

 

Book Marketing & Publicity

 

Book Cover Design

 

Book Editing

 

Book Reviews

 

Copyrights

 

Interior Book Design

Writing Online Tools

 

Virginia Residents

Enjoy my Books for Free As a Fellow Virginian!

 

My fellow Virginia residents and citizens can enjoy my books for free through the following online resources:

 

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World Clocks

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Malaysia

Richmond

New York

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Washington

Bejing

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