Helpful Websites
WARNING: Reading books about writing, and websites about writing, and collections of famous writers' letters about writing is not, in fact, writing. Beware the subtle temptations of spending too long doing this stuff and not actually getting the words on the page.
Company and Encouragement
Million Monkeys Find other writers to write and socialise with. Join the London-based group or start your own and keep in touch on Facebook.
Book in a Week Need to get a flying start on a project? This site is the place to visit (one of Writer's Digest top 101). Don't worry, you don't have to commit to writing a whole book in a week. BIC HOK TAM, everybody.
Advice and Chat
BBC Get Writing Mini-courses, exercises, and specially commissioned articles on "The Craft". Much of this site is aimed at beginners.
Absolute Write Huge site for writers, with lots of friendly and useful forums, and home of Gaie's monthly column. Help, support and advice for beginners to pros.
Miss Snark The brilliant (and now sadly discontinued) blog of the eponymous Miss Snark: crammed with take-no-prisoners advice on making it in the marketplace.
Preditors and Editors A guide to publishers and writing services.
CoolStuff4Writers Newsletter, articles, interviews and lots of links to other writerly resources on the interweb.
Newbie-Writers Help and resources for beginners, and writing prompts (aka story seeds).
Writing World Sister site to Newbie-Writers, for the more experienced. Tons of information, and genre-specific tips and articles.
Write Street Newsletter, forums and even a writers' online radio station!
Women on Writing Don't be put off by the name, chaps. This lively site has useful articles, competitions, writing tips and more.
Marketing Your Work
Ralan and Duotrope two excellent short fiction marketing resources.
On-line Critiques and Workshops
Zoetrope is a free on-line critique site, taking any kind of fiction imaginable. You will need to register, and to do some critiquing of others' stories before you can submit your own.
Critters is another on-line critique group, specialising in science fiction, fantasy and horror.