Why have an index like this one? You likely already know the answer to this, but here's my three part answer: Hey, first I have to tell you that this sit is just too ugh, and doesn't give me enough control - so I'm setting these resources up on another site. Check it out: http://LitResources.bravehost.com It has all the stuff that's on this site, and it's a mush better site. OK, now that I have that out of the way - the stuff below is the important stuff to know, and explains why good resource pages are good to know about and add to yur favorites. Most indexes are just links pages created to improve search engine page rank that nobody cares enough about to maintain. It doesn't make sense, because all the dead links on most indexes eventually hurt a site's page rank, but that's the way it is. The worst aspect of this is all the time we surfers lose clicking back and forth from the links page to "404" messages to links page . . . Search engines, even Google, aren't much better. Some of the best stuff on the Web is buried a couple of dozen pages full of hits deep in the search engine returns, while some of the worst stuff pops up on the first few pages because the site has a clever Webmaster or can afford to be there - see the FAQ page if you want to read all the blah, blah, blah about how this works. Again, all we do is burn time and possibly get ripped off for our effort. Now, here's the bottom line: You save time, and sites that deserve your attention get it. Enough blah, blah, blah - here's an example of the good stuff! Poetry in the Arts is a literary nonprofit organization that seems to really care about visitors to its site. Check out their Poet & Writer Resources pages. They have what appears to be the most extensive indexes of publishers, literary competitions, literary archives and other poet and writer resources, and they are freely accessible and have fewer dead links than any I have found. The also have some cool online journals, Ardent!, and MoonCrossed 33/33 , a teen zine. If you have the time to blow, compare the Poetry in the Arts site to the LitLine site, linked below. While you are at it, notice the following about LitLine: It is part of a network of sites operated by the same people who publish several different literary zine sites that each link to one another and to Litline. The quality of the zines and this self-serving index is one of the reasons it is one of the top ranked sites in the search engine returns - despite the fact that the index has as many dead links and almost useless information about the publishers it lists. LitLine I'll be adding all the good stuff I find on this page - the links page is just for links to the sites I edit. Check them out and send me a cool Haiku. Real writer organizations with real benefits Amherst Writers & Artists - creative writing workshops and retreats for both established and beginning writers in affiliated workshops across the U.S. Now they are also offered in Ireland, Mexico, Peru, and on the Isle of Iona. Asian American Writers' Workshop - information about workshops and writer development and advancement events. Boston Screenwriting Workshop - classes for beginning to professional screenwriters in the New England area. Cave Canem -  program includes an annual summer workshop/retreat, regional workshops, a first book prize, annual anthologies, and readings and events in major cities around the United States. Manitoba Writers' Guild -  nonprofit organization that offers a number of services and programs to writers. San Diego Writers Cooperative -  support group that provides info on classes, events, and workshops of interest to writers of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. South Australian Writers Centre  -  a list of writers groups in southern Australia. Writers' League of Texas -  educational and technical assistance to writers from beginning to professional, and, as the Texas Commission on the Arts' Statewide Service Organization, the primary agency to handle literary grants on TCA's behalf. The National Federation of State Poetry Societies - NFSPS - find links to affiliated state poetry society Web sites on site New Zealand Poetry Society - serves its national membership with a monthly newsletter, holds monthly meetings, acts as a clearing house for competition information, runs an International Poetry Competition and publishes an anthology of entries from the contest, runs an annual Poetry Workshop with an established poet as guest tutor, and organises occasional tours of local and of overseas poets. The American Society of Newspaper Editors -  a resource for journalists and for editors, the ASNE site provides career development, job search and educational resources, among others. Association of Authors and Publishers - networking with peers/industry professionals, educational/informational speakers & workshops, access to industry information, resources, and reps., monthly speakers on pertinent industry topics, discount at COPY.COM, CopyMax, CopyDR., discounts on AAP workshops & tapes, discount on BookZone.com services, newsletter (coming soon -- REALLY!), and periodic e-newsletter, emailed/faxed local publishing industry updates, listings on the AAP web site, SPAN (Small Publishers Association of North America) membership discount, barcode generation for member book(s) at a reduced price. Canadian Authors Association - - national association for writers that offers support through its network of writers, information about conferences and resources for career development. Federation of BC Writers - courses and woorkshops - If you are a writer looking for other writers to meet in groups, one-on-one, via email or in your own weblog, let people know by posting in our new Writers Finding Writers pages. The Horror Writers Association - Offers the Bram Stoker Awards, Market Listings, The HWA Message Board, Industry and Convention News, Directory of Agents and other resources for members.  The Houston Writers League - a nonprofit, tax exempt corporation organized to provide a professional atmosphere for serious writers. Offers workshops, regular meetings with knowledgeable guest speakers, programs, seminars and conferences, community outreach projects that promote writing and literacy and an online forum. The International Women's Writing Guild - health insurance benefits, a list of literary agents and independent small presses,  the IWWG's Big Apple Workshop's Open House, Reduced Conference/Workshop Fees and other benefits. The National Association of Science Writers - access to an online jobs page, subscription to the nasw-jobs mailing list,  various health and dental insurance plans, and other benefits. The National Association of Writers' Groups - an effort to organize individual writers and bring small writers' groups into cooperative association with one another. Click here for information about the scope of the program. The National Writers Union - grievance resolution, industry campaigns, contract advice, health & dental plans, member education, job banks, networking, social events, and much more. The National Writers Union is affiliated with the United Automobile Workers (UAW) and through them with the AFL-CIO. Romance Writers of America - provides networking and support to members, as well as facilitates an annual Conference and honors award-winning authors each year with the prestigious RITA award. Information about the 150 RWA Chapters is available on site. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. - one of the most effective non-profit writers' organizations in existence. Over 1200 sf and fantasy writers, artists, editors, and allied professionals are members. Each year we present the prestigious Nebula Awards™ for the sf or fantasy best short story, novelette, novella, and novel of the year. SFWA(SM) is the only writers' group ever to demand and conduct a blanket audit of a major publishing house. Several publishers have withdrawn offensive language from their standard contracts, or offered redress to individual members, after quiet persuasion from SFWA's famous Grievance Committee.  Writers Guild of America, East - membership organization that offers online manuscript registration, advocacy, a health and pension plan, and a host of resources and other benefits for established writers. Writers Guild of America, West - same as above.