Unearth Your Writing
We are now seeking details of writers and poets, examples of their work, courses, events, openings, talks, workshops and festivals for our new web site, www.unearthit.net. This site is totally dedicated to the creative community and to seeking out and telling others about all forms of original creative art.
All publicity for the site is done by the www.unearthit.net team. In fact, we are going out to roughly 10,000 people every week and this number is increasing. The site is totally interactive; workshops, courses, happenings and, if you wish, the sale of creative work, or in fact small extracts of your work, can be put on directly by you, whenever you like, edited by you and sold (or shared) by you (with no commission taken at any stage). You can also put up pictures and photographs. Keep resolution low so that others cannot photocopy. The site also allows you to give a link to your own web site. 
We are aiming for a major publicity drive to get the site nationally known to the general public in mid-summer so our first task, with your help, is for content. Whilst the Events section is currently UK-based (to be extended to the USA later this year and again to further countries throughout the year), all other sections of our site cover the whole world, our only proviso being that the site is in English.
There is no commission charged (the purchasers deal direct with yourselves) and currently the site is free to use. A nominal amount may be charged for forward use later in the year.
As a garden is made brighter by many coloured flowers, so let www.unearthit.net represent the wonderful diversity and multitude of talents of those now creating wonderful work today in our world.
Your constructive advice as to the site, the ease of use, layout, friendliness and marketing suggestions would be highly appreciated. With regards to marketing, we are building up lists of subscribed interested parties and should, for instance, you feel that your marketplace may lie in a certain direction, let us know and with enough consensuses amongst our members we will tailor marketing efforts to suit. We will be making this site known to all agents as a matter of course. If you succeed at www.unearthit.net then we will have succeeded!
Christopher, unearthit.net Course scepticism 
I have recently corresponded with a tutor of an online writing course called 'Castle of Dreams' . http://www.writingforchildren.co.uk. The same people (or person) also offer a 'book preparation course. I have no way of knowing if this is a worthwhile course, or if it is one solitary guy who has scant knowledge (or none at all). He responds quite pleasantly to emails but hasn't offered any references or any way of checking his credentials and has simply told me that his writing is 'mainly academic' and that he 'is having a book published in September'. Has anyone out there got any information regarding this course, or any suggestions to offer as to how I can check him and his course out?
David Sollom

Following David Sollom's comment:
I did a week's summer school on Writing Short Stories at Lancaster University which I found really valuable. As a result I've just started an internet course with the same University. 
Basically, over 4-6 months, you submit four pieces of creative writing (about 2000 words each) - any genre - and receive feedback from both tutor and peers. The fees are reasonable (with concessions) and, although there's no guarantee of success, at least I know it's a valid course (and can lead to a Certificate in Creative Writing). 
I've also done a residential course with the Arvon Foundation (Hebden Bridge), which was excellent. Christine Compton, Lancaster.

Stretch yourself
Thought everyone might want to know of a great site that I've found recently. 
It's http://www.sequoya-uk.com, offering a free demo application for writers. It is a random vocabulary tester, which uses a database of words that the user themselves create i.e. any new words you come across you simply add in. You can look up the meaning of any word or find a synonym etc. It has some other really useful functions too. Everyone should check it out.

Further Criticism of the  Richard Hamilton Agency
Just to let you know that I, too, am experiencing problems with the Richard Hamilton Literary Agency. Similar story - they sat on my ms for months, then told me that one publisher was interested. This time, it was Paragon Press. I paid £3,000 to get my novel published, which they led me to believe was standard practice for a first time author. The novel has been published, but I have been unable to contact the Richard Hamilton Agency. Also, Paragon Press have made no effort to market the book despite wonderful promises. Just before Christmas, PP put the blame for this on the database companies' merger, claiming that they had provided booksellers with all the information, but that this had been lost. They also agreed (verbally) to accept my second novel, which they would publish free, but I have heard nothing since. The first novel, entitled "The Bucket" is still impossible to order from bookshops. If you can offer me any ideas on how I should proceed, I would be extremely grateful. 
Janine B, Gloucestershire. Can you help Rae?
I wonder if you or your readers have any information on The Richard Hamilton Literary Agency?  They recently asked to represent my new novel but unfortunately they are not listed in W&A, and do not seem willing to disclose a client list.
Rae Hudson. The following information has been received:
They [Richard Hamilton Literary Agency] accept the writer's manuscript and then sit on it for several months. A letter is then sent explaining that various publishers have been contacted, but only one has shown any interest. That one is Cromwell publishing - this is a vanity publisher of which Richard Hamilton is secretly part.
The lack of office, an ex-directory phone number, and a box number for an address ought to ring a few alarm bells with prospective authors.

Can we help you?
Hi there, we thought we would contact you to let you know of our services to authors. We may be a helpful resource. 
Marie.L.Stevenson 
Better Books, Better Authors. www.lipstickpublishing.com

Feedback request
Very interested to read your letter on writerswebresource.co.uk Please visit my site: http://www.novelfeats.com I'm featuring my novel Nick Doughty's African Beginnings in serial form. I'd be glad to have some feedback.
Nola Schiff.

Slightly disappointed Sarah
I have been browsing your website and it looks good. I was encouraged to see on the Home Page that it was for British writers. However, when I looked at the Critique link, it was for a USA based - pay in dollars service. That was disappointing. 
Sarah

Have your writing group "Expose'd"
I have created a web site that publicises and promotes literature and poetry; I have had several submissions so far, mainly from international writers. I am more interested in writers a bit closer to home. I am currently listing all the writers groups in the UK, I know that it is a big job but I feel that it is viable as a resource to writers and to the publicising of my site. Have a look at it; see if your group would be interested in submitting, after all it is free.
Mike Green, Editor, Voodoo Publications.
www.exposweb.net

It's free of Course!
We've developed a resource that we believe will be of great use to Writers' Web Resource users. Course Junction allows anyone to list a course or search for a course for free.
The page that I believe would be most useful to your users is our writing education page www.coursejunction.com/courses_writing.cfm

Microsoft Outlook Update
I noticed on your computer tips page that you specify that a 'rules wizard' update can be obtained from the Microsoft web site. Well this isn't the only place, I found the very same update on the Office 97 CD. If you look in the help files there's lots of utilities and updates that will save you downloading them from the internet.
Steve B, Leicester. 

Are you legal?
I found the arrest of Pete Townsend rather concerning. At what point does a writer stop and think, 'Is what I'm doing legal?, am I allowed to view this information'? I haven't fallen into this trap but surely it could be possible to 'accidentally' view an illegal web site whilst doing genuine research into the porn industry. What other sites are illegal? I haven't a clue and I'm sure your readers haven't either!
Name supplied.

Praise for Amazon
Just a quick note of recommendation. I recently followed one of your book links (W&A) to Amazon. I've always been a bit nervous about buying on the net, but I found the experience rather easy and efficient.  Amazon promised delivery within four days and it arrived in two, the price was lower than the shops, and I didn't have to leave the house. Brilliant!
Well done Amazon you have my recommendation, and thanks WWR for giving me the courage to try it.
Joe H. Plymouth.

New books by You!
I've had several new links by authors to link to their website and that prompted me to thinking that a page dedicated to new books by my readers and their friends wouldn't go amiss. So, have you got something to showcase? Mail showcase@writerswebresource.co.uk and I promise I'll showcase it for you. Items of an explicit nature may be edited but generally any press release submitted will be published. This is your page. Use it!

Course recommendations needed
Does anyone know of a good writing course for writing for children and teenagers? I once subscribed to a course that was a complete waste of money but I'm prepared to try another if it is recommended by others.
Sarah

Writing Magazine
I just wanted to say how much I enjoy the 'Writing Magazine'. Every two months I scurry off to W H Smiths hoping that  it's arrived and eagerly take it home to read. I also read the 'Writers Forum' magazine, also very good but I think 'Writing Magazine' is the better publication. I've only ever seen these two mag's on the shelves, and only in Smiths, can you recommend any others? Great web site by the way.
S Jay, Selby