Some of the resources I have found helpful in getting started with writing.

• :Science Fiction Writer Robert J. Sawyer: {great source for getting started: not for faint of heart} http://sfwriter.com/2007/07/self-publishing-is-not-way-to-go.  Last I checked there were few if any kind words for self publishers. Some style preferences such as fonts and formatting might be misleading and cause a bit of pain in transferring over to print if you find a publisher who will take electronic submissions. Otherwise solid advice from a pro.
•  Yahoo: Dictionary: Online definitions and Pronunciations  
•  I would suggest buying one very large hard-copy comprehensive dictionary.(350,000 words plus) Often trying to verify your own usage of a word on line can be disappointing.  You could be using it correctly while the listing has only colloquial usage.  Then again,  your usage may in that case alienate your reader and unless it's part of a characters development you might rethink using  the word!           
•  Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online
•   Dictionary and Synonyms, Antonyms   Roget 
• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia {Take care there are many unverified pages here.  Still a great source for fiction writing.}
• The Gregg Reference Manual Online Information Center    (I have the  Spiral-With-Flap Binding)   I'm not sure what is on line.
•  http://www.writesf.com/       writing course for science fiction and fantasy.   
• Calibre - E-book Management       Viewer and converter for e-books multi-format 
•  Adobe - Digital Editions   Viewer for xlibris e-books  (at least the ones they give me) 
•  Amazon Kindle for PC: Install Instructions     Viewer for kindle e-books
•  The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation  An afterthought to the first encounter with copy-editor.
•  Jim C. Hines » First Novel Survey Results And...the survey says!   
•  Getting Published, by Science Fiction author Jeffrey A. Carver       I had to include this because it just confused me.  He seems to suggest that self publishing is not good (though he is not a total negative person as regards this).  Still, looking at the bottom of his page, he advertises with a link for Xlibris and a few others.             
•   http://www.writesf.com/       writing course for science fiction and fantasy.      
•  AgentQuery :: Find the Agent Who Will Find You a Publisher    
•  http://www.writesf.com/   
•  The SF Site:
•  sff.net
•  SFWA 
•  Analog -- Submission Guidelines

J.L. Dobias Author of Cripple-Mode: Hot Electric