by Sue Kendrick

“How on earth did you dream up the idea for Writelink?” is a question I have been asked many times since its inception, seven years ago. The truth is I didn’t! The original Writelink began in 2000 and sprang from a few of my favourite writing related links, mainly as a way of organising my own writing resources on the web.

To my surprise, my fledgling site began to attract a steady stream of daily visitors which grew as more assets were added. A few weeks later I launched a monthly newsletter to accompany the site and lo ... www.writelink.co.uk was born! Both site and newsletter expanded quickly over the months until the subscription list today numbers over 8,500!

Published and Paid ...
From the many emails I received it soon became apparent that the two things most writers want is to see their work published and, quite rightly in my opinion, to be paid for it.

Unfortunately it soon became clear to me that although most of these writers had some ability, the vast majority had little idea about how to sell their work by targeting or studying the right markets or presenting their work properly. Moreover, many of them unwittingly made the same mistakes time and time again which inevitably led to rejection.

Enter Writelink Mark II ...
In a road to Damascus flash of illumination I realised that the best way of learning anything is by doing it! To this end, Writelink was redesigned and became a full blown, writers’ community in which members could gain help from each other and publish directly to the site. Membership is set at two levels, Reader and Writer. Readers are welcome to browse most of the pages while Writers have full access to the site which includes our innovative Arena.

The Arena offers our Writer members the opportunity to post stories, poems, articles and book chapters directly to the site and have them rated and commented on by other members. An exclusive, monthly competition is also run through the Arena which offers a cash prize and very often writing related ebooks for the runners up.

Our current competition is Yule Sing Me One Song which calls for festive song lyrics. There is £20 for the best entry and the selected poem will be set to music and sung by one of the Writelink musicians. Details can be found here:
http://www.writelink.co.uk/arenacomps

Writelink Mark III ...
A few months ago we launched the Writelink blogs. Here, Writer members set up and run their own blogs. These are proving very popular and a lot of work is going on behind the scenes to develop these into the third incarnation of Writelink!

The new site will give members full control over what they publish and who they share it with, but will also allow them to add sound and video, run their own newsletters and develop their own circle of friends.

Anyone for the Tour?
In its present format, Writelink is an extensive resource of information and links all designed to help the established and emerging writer. Until you find your way around the community it can be a little bewildering which is why we have produced a short tour. You can get this automatically simply by registering with the site.
http://www.writelink.co.uk

Bio:
Sue Kendrick is a freelance writer and publisher living in the English Midlands. She writes regularly for a number of publications, mainly on farming and countryside pursuits and provides copywriting services to local businesses and websites. Some of her writing is on her personal blog:
http://www.writelink.co.uk/blogs/Sue_Kendrick

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Thank you for your invitation to the Arizona Authors Association requesting an article for your Whisper From The Heart Poetry Club. President Toby Heathcotte has asked me to respond to your message.

After reading several entries from your December, 2007, Monthly Newsletter, it is a pleasure to honor your wish. Of particular interest were the No Rush Tours of sunny South Africa, the winning monthly poems such as P. J. Filmalter's This World's A Prelude and T. S. Rakwena's This Christmas and New Year's Day, plus the inspiring list of student contest winners.

Although AZ Authors includes world wide interests of varied talents in articles, essays, true stories, poetry, novels, short stories, fiction, non-fiction and children's literature, we do not have categories for the artist or photographer but do encourage your major work in poetry and short stories.

Since you appear to honor a wide number of young prize winning authors, perhaps you would be interested in our wildly successful Annual Literary Contest. Published and unpublished entries are accepted from January 1 to July 1, 2008, with finalists announced in October and winners revealed at our November Award Banquet. Twenty-three judges read the creative works and determine the winner in each category. A beautiful Arizona Literary Magazine proudly presents the winners of the awards,
publishing segments from the first three winners in each category. The 2007 event took place in the Sheraton Crescent Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona.

Just when I think the banquet and literary magazine can't get any better, they do. This year we had a wonderful site at the Sheraton Crescent, a dynamite lady in charge with Greta Manville, and winners who drove in from around the state and flew in from around the country to claim their prizes, some with tears in their eyes. It's great fun to make people cry--for happiness, that is. Toby Heathcotte

Our association also maintains a website and offers to its members a newsletter, workshops, meetings, festivals and seminars in various locations around the state. Members may advertise free in the newsletter and the Arizona Literary Magazine. We welcome articles from our readers on publishing and writing topics as well as short fiction. We encourage letters to the editor, book reviews and comments.

You may be interested in our January/February, 2008, You Too series offered to members. You Too Can Write a Novel, You Too Can Write Your Life Story, You Too Can Write a Mystery, You Too Can Publish a book, and You Two Can Edit Your Writing. A similar series could be created within your interests: poetry, short story, artist and photography.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to write about AZ Authors. Please find additional information on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Best Wishes,

Mali Berger, Secretary