Backspace is an online writers organization with over 750 members in a dozen countries. A third of the membership is agented and published, and include nearly a dozen New York Times best-selling authors. Members’ books have been nominated for and/or won prestigious awards: Quills, Edgars, Anthonys, Lambdas, the Carl Sandburg Literary Award, John Sargent Jr. First Novel Prize, the Orange Prize, and Booksense’s ‘Book of the Year,’ to name a few.

One reason for Backspace members’ outstanding success is that Backspace takes its mission statement seriously. Backspace is predicated on the idea of writers helping writers, which is accomplished by means of discussion forums, an online guest speaker program in which agents, acquisitions editors, and best-selling authors regularly conduct question and answer sessions with the group, advice and how-to articles from publishing experts on this website, as well as real-world conferences and events.

Backspace is endorsed by David Morrell, Gayle Lynds, Lee Child, Richard Curtis, Jeff Kleinman, Kristin Nelson, and many others associated with writing and publishing. In February 2006, Backspace received Preditors and Editors’ ‘Truly Useful Site’ award. Backspace has been named to Writer’s Digest Magazine’s ‘101 Best Websites for Writers’ list all four years of our existence. (2005-2008)

The discussion forums are available by subscription ($30/year, including a 5-day free trial). If you’re not yet a Backspace member, why not check them out? Here's how to join.

I love being associated with you guys. Such a class act. Backspace is the pre-eminent writers organization because you guys have made it so. Always innovating, thinking outside the box, and just generally doing conferences bigger and better than they have been done before. I'm just honored to have been there from the start.” -- Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary Agency

"Backspace is relatively new but it's the real deal - which is amply proved both by the quality of discourse within and the truly amazing hit-rate its members have already achieved." -- Lee Child, New York Times best-selling author of BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE"

I mention Backspace whenever I teach my writers' workshop around the country. The Backspace website is an invaluable source of information for writers, whether they're new or experienced. The yearly Backspace conference is also an invaluable resource. I've taught there and can’t say enough good things about the information, encouragement, and enthusiasm they provide." -- David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of SCAVENGERS