CWIP Web Site Directory
» EMPLOYMENT
Job Listings | Job Search/Career Advice | Freelance Opportunities | Internships | Salaries & Fees | Staffing Agencies | Miscellaneous Listings
» PUBLISHING NEWS & INFORMATION
» ORGANIZATIONS & ASSOCIATIONS
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EMPLOYMENT
Job Listings
• bookjobs.com: Jobs in Publishing • Job-search and info resource sponsored by the Association of American Publishers, featuring positions nationwide from throughout the publishing industry.
• Chicago Book Clinic: Jobline • Free-access job postings focused on Chicago publishing, sponsored by long-standing organization of publishing-related companies and individuals.
• Chicago Writer: Job Links • Extensive collection of publishing-related job links, one of the few focused on Chicago employment and freelance opportunities, offered by Chicago Writer books.
• craigslist Chicago • Chicago edition of long-time classified site with a large, well-populated jobs section, especially strong in humanities-related jobs.
• Get Copy Editor Jobs • Free job-posting and job-seeking service for copyeditors; also includes other editing and writing positions.
• mediabistro.com: Job Listings • Up-to-date employment opportunities at the popular site “dedicated to anyone who creates or works with content, or who is a non-creative professional working in a content/creative industry.”
• Philanthropy News Digest: Jobs Corner • Sortable job listings from U.S.-based foundations, grant-making public charities, corporate programs, and nonprofit organizations, as well as executive recruiters and staffing agencies, courtesy of the Foundation Center.
• Printworkers.com • Job board for Web, copy, and printing professionals; requires free registration to access nationwide employer and job-seeker sections and industry news links.
• Publishers Lunch Job Board • Free nationwide job-search feature affiliated with networking organization Publishers Marketplace.
• Publishers Weekly: PW JobZone • Classified staff and some freelance job listings, updated daily from the book industry's leading international newsmagazine.
• Sunoasis Jobs • Job listings, links, resources, and more for writers and editors nationawide, both freelance and on staff.
Job Search/Career Advice
• Cover-Letters.com • Enormous trove of cover letters and letters for consultants, available free from CareerLab, a "career strategy and leadership development firm."
• Ed2010 • Online community of young working and aspiring magazine editors, featuring job-hunting information, resources, education, and regional subgroups (including Chicago).
• Quintessential Careers • Extensive, well-organized, and conveniently cross-linked resource site devoted to college, career, and job-search content, with tutorials and articles covering resumes, cover letters, job sites, and career change.
• Writing Career • Independent advice and resources on writing and other publishing career training, education, and job searching.
Freelance Opportunities
• Elance • Online hirer/freelance matchmaker; self-described as having the largest network of rated and certified business professionals and the ability to facilitate the entire work process from hiring to collaboration to payment.
• mediabistro.com: Freelance Marketplace • Listing board where freelancers can showcase their work for editors and other hiring agents.
Internships
• bookjobs.com: Internships • Listing of current internships in book publishing, some paid, many offering college credit.
Salaries & Fees
• Editorial Freelancers Association: Editorial Rates • Member-reported ranges for freelance editing, offered "as a rough guideline [since] rates vary considerably depending on the nature of the work, the time frame of the assignment, the degree of special expertise required, and other factors."
• MediaBistro.com: Salary Survey • Popular site's review of salary data on media-related jobs, contributed by readers, both staff and freelance, and divided by geographical region and then by industry segment and subsegment.
Staffing Agencies
• CBG Experts • Employment staffing and search firm serving libraries and applying "library and information science principles to business operations" in academic, not-for-profit, business, educational, and government groups.
Digital People • Staffing concern in the Chicago area, specializing in creative, marketing, and new media.
Miscellaneous Listings & Services
• Creative Directory • Paid listings of Midwest creative companies, independents, and staffing firms in film, video, audio, print, multimedia, and corporate communications.
EDUCATION
Graham School of General Studies • Extensive range of instruction in publishing, writing, and editing; affiliated with the University of Chicago and U of C Press offering individual courses as well as a Certificate in Editing.
StoryStudio Chicago • Center for creative and business writing classes, workshops, events, and networking; also features a Youth Institute for younger writers.
UIC External Education • University of Illinois-Chicago's extension course offerings for professional development and personal enrichment, including the publishing-related Writers Series and Business Communication Program.
• W3 Schools • Vast and free training site covering virtually all technical subjects involved in constructing a Web site.
PUBLISHING NEWS & INFORMATION
• Authorlink • News and marketing site aimed primarily at connecting writers, agents, producers, and editors; largely membership driven but also provides free access to extensive searchable databases.
• Baker & Taylor • Top wholesale distributor to school, public, and specialty libraries; a major figure in the book-publishing industry.
• BookMarket.com • Site of book-publishing and marketing expert John Kremer, containing information and resources, mainly in the form of free newsletter back issues and low-cost reports.
• Chicago Publisher's Gallery • Online extension of the Chicago Cultural Center's physical space showcasing area publishing and literary community. The physical exhibit features 1,500 publications by 125 book and periodical publishers, and the Gallery site provides links to the publisher's own sites.
• Chicago Writer • Web site from iWrite Publications offering books for sale on the Chicago publishing market, as well as free resources including job links, articles, news, and skill builders.
• Dan Poynter’s Para Publishing • Site of the writer and self-publisher-turned-small-publisher, with free and useful resources on all aspects of developing a book, from idea to promotion. Includes articles, stats, an InfoKit, and a newsletter.
• Folio: • Online presence of print resource on all sectors of magazine publishing, offering job postings, webinars, helpful articles, and resources.
• Independent Publishers Group • Major small-press distributor that markets "titles from independent presses to the book trade," including an extensive linked listing of its publishers.
• Ingram Book Group • "World's largest wholesale distributor...of books and audiobooks to booksellers, librarians, and specialty retailers" whose site, though not consumer-direct, offers industry info as well as a close look at a key book-industry institution.
• Newsletter on Newsletters • Long-established resource for newsletter creators, providing "marketing and promotion ideas, money-saving tips, editorial and design trends, and financial management strategies."
• Published! How to Reach Writing Success • Writer-focused area of author and marketing guru Marsha Yudkin's site, offering succinct, practical info and tools for publishing hopefuls, including books, paid services, and a free newsletter.
• Publishers Marketplace • Major online gathering spot offered by Publishers Lunch where publishing professionals, for a monthly fee, can trade info, news, book deal reports, databases, and more.
• Publishers Weekly • Site of the 131-year-old international news magazine dealing with the book industry; offers free access to PW JobZone postings and subscriber access to articles, reviews, and newsletters.
• Self-Publishing Resources• Site of Marilyn Ross, celebrated "guru of self-publishing," containing her books, recommendations, links, and a trove of articles largely addressed to self and independent publishers.
ORGANIZATIONS & ASSOCIATIONS
• Academy of American Poets • Major literary organization fostering careers in and appreciation of poetry through an info- and activity-rich site featuring a vast database of poets and poems, essays, and related material.
• American Book Producers Association (ABPA) • Organization of professional book producers (or "book packagers") who create books, wholly or in part, for other publishers and for nonpublishers.
• American Booksellers Association (ABA) • Largest national trade organization for independent book merchants, providing education, services, products, and business information since 1900.
• American Library Association (ALA) • Organization devoted to advancing libraries and information services and the profession of librarianship, sponsoring educational, career, and advocacy initiatives, and events and conferences.
• Association of American Publishers (AAP) • Principal trade association of the book-publishing industry, serving U.S. publishers of all sizes and types through advocacy, information, and market-specific initiatives.
• Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) • National nonprofit writing organization supporting writers, teachers, and writing programs through informational publications, career services, competitions, and an annual conference.
• Book Industry Study Group (BISG) • Major research association focused on the business side of publishing, offering results via publications for sale and free resource directories on trade issues, statistical data, and international publishing.
• Chicago Book Clinic • Long-established organization of Chicago book-publishing professionals supporting industry growth through networking, education, promotional events, and awards.
Chicago Creative Coalition (C3) • Group for communication-arts creatives—including graphic and Web designers, illustrators, photographers, copywriters, and educators—offering business and technology educational programs, and networking.
• Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) • National professional alliance of self-employed workers in publishing and communications that works to raise the professional status of its members.
• Graphic Artists Guild (GAG) • National alliance of illustrators, designers, Web creators, production artists, and other creative professionals united to pursue common goals.
• Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA; formerly Publishers Marketing Association [PMA]) • Major trade association of independent publishers that provides co-op marketing programs, education, and advocacy within the publishing industry.
Independent Writers of Chicago (IWOC) • Nonprofit professional association of Chicago-area freelance writers, providing educational and social programs, networking opportunities, and other member benefits.
• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) • International organization geared toward the communications field, including public relations, graphic design, marketing, and printing, with chapters worldwide and throughout the U.S., including Chicago.
• Metcalf Institute • Organization dedicated to scientific and environmental journalism, facilitating communication between news media and the scientific community, and educating journalists on marine and environmental reporting.
National Association of the Self-Employed (NASE) • Association for U.S. self-employed and micro-businesses, providing a broad range of benefits and support to help the smallest businesses succeed.
• National Writers Union (NWU) • Labor union for freelance writers in the U.S. working in all genres, media, and formats, focused largely on contracts and other legal issues and offering member health plans, a job hotline, and discounts on professional goods and services.
• Newspaper Association of America • Major member-based organization representing the newspaper industry, concerned principally with marketing, public policy, diversity, industry development, newspaper operations, and readership issues.
Small Publishers Association of North American (SPAN) • Professional association working to foster self-publishers and independent publishing through education and marketing opportunities. CWIP members receive discounted membership and access to helpful benefits.
• Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network (SPAWN) • Organization with information, resources, and networking for writers, editors, illustrators, graphic designers, photographers, small publishers, and self-publishers. Includes member directory, industry articles, and links to relevant services.
• Society of National Association Publications (SNAP) • Organization site serving association publishers, communication professionals, and support industries, featuring events, a directory, and an open-access career center job board.
TOOLS
• AgentQuery • Free searchable database of over 900 literary agents, providing full profiles and current contact info to help writers navigate the publishing world.
• Authors Registry • Fee-based, not-for-profit payment agent that distributes royalties from non-publishing organizations to American authors.
• Google Docs • Free online collaboration site from the major search engine for creating and sharing documents and other project-related material.
• Library of Congress • Research arm of the United States Congress and the largest library in the world, with resources onsite and online available to the American public.
• LinkedIn • Social networking for the professional set to connect with colleagues, discover job and business opportunities, and get expert industry advice.
• Literary Market Place • Online version of library reference staple, an exhaustive directory of U.S. and Canadian book-publishing industries, with free limited-access registration and fee-based full-access subscriptions available.
• Merriam-Webster Online • Free online searchable version of the major dictionary, also featuring its thesaurus, a children's dictionary, Encyclopædia Britannica's short-entry version, word games, and more.
• Shelfari • Site where books meet social networking; allows users to create a virtual shelf to show off their books, connect with friends, discover new titles, and voice opinions.
• United States Copyright Office • Official U.S. agency through which writers, composers, and other creators of written intellectual property may apply for and secure exclusive right to their works.
• Webopedia • Extensive online dictionary and information resource covering Web terminology and common technology topics; geared to a general non-tech audience.
• Wordle • Fabulously fun free visual toy for word people. Users can generate a "word cloud" design based on text and then manipulate the color, layout, and font.
ANNUAL EVENTS
• AWP Annual Conference • Major four-day literary gathering presented by the Association of Writers & Writing Programs, with a program of more than 300 events of featured presenters and over 400 publishers.
• Book Expo America (BEA) • Largest U.S. book-industry trade show, where thousands of publishers and related companies exhibit for booksellers, librarians, and the public; offers educational events, literary agent meetings, author readings, and networking.
• Chicago Book Clinic: Book and Media Show •Gala evening celebrating publishing in the Midwest with awards for outstanding print and multimedia works entered into competition by publishers; public invited to attend (fee includes drinks, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and dessert).
• Chicago Humanities Festival • Sprawling six-week fall series of lectures, performances, panels, classes, exhibitions, and other explorations of the humanities; teachers and students free, most others $5.
• IABC Business Writing Conference • Two-day writing and editing conference offered by the International Association of Business Communicators, offering workshops and breakout sessions to improve skills and advance careers.
• Printers Row Book Fair • Two-day outdoor literary showcase in early June held in historic South Loop Printers Row, sponsored by the Chicago Tribune and featuring some 200 exhibitors, as well as multiple stages for literary events.