This may be more for the sci fi people than the non sci fi people, but I thought I'd take the time to recommend something I mentioned at the kick-off party last night:
http://www.365tomorrows.com is a flash fiction website that publishes a new story of 600 words or less every day. They take submissions, and they have an active community (some of whom take part in nanowrimo: http://www.365tomorrows.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1303 )
Flash fiction is a excellent writing exercise as it really makes you condense. I think my writing has improved leaps and bounds since I started writing them. In part because it has tightened up my writing style a lot, in part because it lets me storyboard ideas very fast.
If you want the practice, and you like sci-fi, I can heartily recommend it.
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http://www.irennie.com



