Some interesting sites I’ve found that in various ways function as portals for “amateur” creative production, consumption and networking – beyond the well-trodden ground of fan production.

Creative Writing

Zine5 – very extensive resource/community site with masses of creative writing from various genres – I’m guessing based in India?

Photography

photoblogs – probably the best photoblog portal I’ve found so far.

Game Development

Game Discovery – here amateur game developers, designers, composers etc. can contribute skills, upload content, or share ideas and collaborate globally on projects.

Also found an interesting how-to/general info article on amateur adventure games.

Animation

How could I forget stickdeath – one of my flute students pointed me to it months ago (he wasn’t your run-of-the-mill flute student, believe me). In fact stick figure death is a burgeoning genre all of its own.

General

Then there’s the Hokey Oprah School of Creativity. I’ll only inflict one of those on you. Be afraid…

As refreshing sorbet antidote to that sickly sweet mouthful, make your way to the ludicrously snappy zine spark-online, if you haven’t already. I did, and I felt so much better.