If you have an iPad or an iPhone, you can now host a video Google Hangout on your mobile device–connecting with your writing group, book club or editor in a face-to-face chat.

Simply download the free Hangouts app and sync with your Google+ contacts. Once your circles are loaded, you can quickly launch a hangout. AppNewser has more:

Users on iOS devices can finally start using Google’s new chat app, appropriately call Hangouts, allows you to do what you’ve always done with Gmail’s desktop experience: text friends, start videos, and share photos in seamless conversations across multiple devices. The best part about the new Hangout app is how easy it is to continue a video chat from a text chat in seconds. If that feature doesn’t impress you, Google’s also putting in 850 emojis for all of those emotions you can’t express.

Are you looking for a writers group? Writers groups can motivate you to write more, critique your work or even help you publicize your work.

We have created an experimental project to connect writers around the globe, helping hundreds of GalleyCat readers create writers groups both online and in the real world.

Sign up to join our free directory here. Once you fill out the simple form, you will be able to access our complete directory of GalleyCat readers who are looking for a writers group–contact them directly to build a new group.

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Assignmint is a new platform aimed at streamlining the process of pitching, writing and billing outlets for your writing.

Follow this link to sign up for a free author account. If you are a working freelance writer, you should explore the free service–they already have resources for keeping track of stories, creating invoices or adding up expenses. Check it out:

First, hit your Contacts dashboard to add your favorite outlets and editors. Be sure to search our directory outlet before you start typing addresses: We have more than 15,000 U.S. newspapers, magazines, websites and other publications already in the system. (Don’t see yours? Tip us off; we’ll add it.) Soon, you’ll be able to search this directory for new outlets that might want whatever it is you’re peddling. Then, put together some new ideas and send them via your Pitch dashboard. For your convenience, we’ve pre-installed dummy “pending” and “draft” pitches in your account to help you get started. Your editors can reply via email (as they normally would) or directly to your Assignmint account using our secure pitch lander pages. Once you get the job, it’s a snap to record assignment details, file copy, track expenses and send that all-important invoice. Soon, using our proprietary banking gateway, you’ll have the option to accept secure electronic payments directly from your employers.

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Are you looking for an alternative to the well-known crowdfunding sites?

Financial journalist Blaire Briody, photojournalist Brad DeCecco, and documentary filmmaker Ashley Panzera are raising funds for a reporting trip (and eventual book) exploring the oil boom Williston, North Dakota. They used a new community funding site called Fairstreet to raise the funds, so we caught up with Briody to find out more about the new platform:

I chose FairStreet because they’re a small startup with a hands-on approach. They’re different because they vet each project carefully and give you a support system – which includes consultation on how to build a successful campaign, sending the project out to their own contacts, and paying for the campaign video. The fact that they believed in my project gave me the confidence I needed to move forward with the funding effort. The video is professionally done and I think that helped add legitimacy to the project, and would’ve been hard to do on my own. Their encouragement and support has been phenomenal so far, and I don’t think I would get that with any other crowdfunding platform.

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Could working in an advertising agency teach you about creative writing?

You day-job might be more useful than you think. In a thought-provoking video interview at Open Road, author Fay Weldon explained how her time at an ad agency gave her invaluable lessons about the writing life. Here is a key excerpt:

I used to think creative writing couldn’t be taught and that you just kind of did it—until I realized that I had actually learned in an advertising agency all these skills of knowing what to say and what not to say. Of being rejected all time and having things discarded for reasons you couldn’t understand but had to come to understand. You can never teach what people are or what they have to say. Because they have to do that. But you can teach them how to have their words appreciated or to get the value of words. Nobody can say quite what they want to say or would say if left to their own devices. Because they want to be liked. It seems important that you should risk not being liked.

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New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins has launched a nonprofit called Ventana Sierra.

Here’s more about the organization: “Through their various careers in social work, the news media, and children’s publishing, the founding members of Ventana Sierra became acutely aware of the plight of young adults who desired college or career training, but were financially unable to accomplish their goals … Ventana Sierra was formed specifically to help highly motivated young people like these to build solid career paths toward a more positive future.”

In an effort to raise money, Hopkins will be hosting a writers conference set to take place from June 14th to 16th. This conference also has a one-day workshop for young writers on the schedule; there will be no charge for this particular event. The video embedded above features Hopkins talking about this social venture–what do you think?

Do you wish you could write by hand on your iPad or Android tablet?

This GalleyCat editor used to write everything by hand, but switched to typing as his life grew busier. However, using a TruGlide stylus and Notes Plus for the iPad, we now digitize our scribbled notes.

To help our readers find the best stylus, AppNewser rounded up highly recommended styluses that work on all devices with “capacitive touch screens.”

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School Library Journal has opened its doors to children’s and YA e-originals.

AppNewser has all the details about how to submit, along with advice for publishers who want to set up an alternative system for submission. Check it out:

The books must be exclusively available as eBooks. Publishers can submit titles using this form, which will send the title information and a widget to SLJ reviewers who will be able to access the digital galley through NetGalley. Only School Library Journal authorized reviewers (a distinction designated in their NetGalley profile) will be given access to the title.

Trying to remember a book you read as a child? Need help finding the title of a short story you loved in college?

Post your query on the Tip of My Tongue page at Reddit–thousands of dedicated readers will help you find the book.

One reader also suggested three other alternatives: AbeBooks’ BookSleuth forum, Barnes & Noble’s Lost Books forum or Amazon’s Askville forum.

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Reddit has opened a gift exchange for scribblers everywhere, connecting writers who want to share pens and stationery with other print lovers.

Read our What’s Your Favorite Kind of Pen? post for inspiration. So far 1,676 people have already signed up for the exchange. Here are all the details:

1. Sign up for the exchange
2. On May 13th, 2013 we will close sign ups and our computer program will choose who you should send a gift to (this is the most important part, this is about the giving!)
3. Once you come back here to pick up your match’s information, you’ll have until May 24th, 2013 to ship your gift. When you ship it, keep a receipt and come back here to tell us you’ve shipped it. If you buy your gift through the redditgifts Marketplace there’s no need to keep a receipt or mark it shipped, we’ll keep track of all of that for you!
4. When you receive a gift, you’ll need to come back here and post an amazing thank you note, hopefully with photos!