by Gillian Taber

Created on: June 26, 2009

Choosing one internet site as 'the best' is impossible. Every internet user has different requirements and personal preferences. That being said, there is one website that is a fabulous resource for writers.

The Accentuate Writers forum is the brainchild of Michelle L. Devon. Michelle is a well-known writer, an author and an informed and informative blogger. She describes herself as 'Author, poet, editor and professional dreamer'. Her portfolio can be found

here, along with much more information about the lady herself.

Accentuate Services, started by Michelle Devon in 1994, is now a global company that provides editing, writing and writing administrative support to writers, publishers and companies. An offshoot of this is the Accentuate Writers Forum which is one of the most supportive and informative writers' resources to be found on the internet.

The first thing to note about the forum is that the people there are dedicated writers. Although this is not apparent by simply surfing onto the site, it becomes abundantly clear after reading no more that half a dozen threads within the forum. The writers are there because they love to write and are looking for information, support, encouragement and critiques from their peers and from verified, professional sources.

Professionalism is important at Accentuate. The forum is friendly and supportive but everyone there is a consummate professional, encouraged and guided by the 'Boss(y) Lady. Michelle. Michelle is not an absentee landlord, leaving the forum to flounder along. She is there daily and always ready to give advice and encouragement to the forum members. Her experience and straight-talking manner are refreshing in a world awash with false promises and people who are too scared to tell you what they really think. There is no point in building someone up on false hope. This forum avoids that but with a gentle touch that does not deride or discourage.

The forum has an excellent section for paying and non-paying writing leads which is constantly updated. Looking around the forum will show how many people have written for and have been paid off of the back of these leads. One of the invaluable sections is a 'scam detector'. Any and all scam writing sites are posted to the section and many an individual had been saved from potential trouble by reading that section.

The forum has dedicated threads about the major writing sites such as Helium, Associated Content and E-How where writers discuss their work and problems or successes. Questions are answered by people who work for these companies and know their business. Information at Accentuate is reliable and accurate and that is a truly important factor.

Currently, there are writing contests underway and the details of the themed submissions can be found here. These are contests run by Michelle and lead ultimately to writers being published in anthologies. Any writer looking for a possible market would do well to check them out and to also look at the 'Unsent Letters' submissions, which is also a paying market.

Of course, like most good websites, it isn't all work. The forum members have a lot of fun and discuss every subject under the sun, from current news to jokes and personal events. The forum members are very much a family, welcoming and helpful, endeavoring to make all newcomers welcome and to answer their questions whilst offering support and encouragement. If you are a writer looking for paying work and a friendly, accessible forum, Accentuate Writers is the one to go for.

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