Links of Interest to Writers

A toast to writers everywhere!

• The Write Practice:  How Original Are You? by Sophie Novak

• The Character Therapist:  Helping NonWriting Partners "Get" Your Passion

• Jamie Gold:  How to Avoid a Sagging Middle in Our Stories

• A Writer's Journey:  Eliminate Unnecessary Stage Directions

• Kristen Lamb's Blog:  Novels & The "Knockout" Ending

• All Write - Fiction Advice:  Why You Should Back Your Characters into Corners

• Jody Hedlund:  Having Self-Discipline All Year (Not Just During NaNo)

Links of Interest to Writers

Study your reading to see if the writing works!

• How to Plan, Write, & Develop a Book:  Dialogue Dos & Don'ts:  Crafting Lively & Believable Back-and-Forth on the Pages of Your Book by Mary Carroll Moore

• Amanda Bumgarner:  Head Hopping:  What it Looks Like & Why You Shouldn't Do It

• The Write Practice:  Writer's Block? Try Getting Visual by Joe Bunting

• The Daring Novelist:  Story Game:  The Situation Worksheet by Camille LaQuire

• Mythic Scribes:  Case Study:  Using Villains to Shape Your Hero by Brian DeLeonard

• The New York Times:  Slaves of the Internet, Unite! by Tim Kreider

• Ink & Angst:  A NaNoWriMo Toolkit:  Practical Tip, Apps, & Playlists  (NaNoWriMo = National Novel Writing Month)

Links of Interest to Writers

Hope you find one of these articles helpful in motivating your writing!

• i09:  10 Ways to Make Everyone Root for Your Amoral Protagonist by Charlie Jane Anders

• The Atlantic:  The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors by Nolan Feeney

• dwiFilms:  How to Speed Read (YouTube)

• Project Eve:  Amateur Blogging:  Getting Started

• Live, Write, Thrive:  Use Camera Angles to Supercharge Your Novel by C. S. Laken

• YARN:  Commit to Your Writing Now...And Later.

• HootSource:  5 Authors Using Social Media to Reach Readers & Sell Books by Alyssa Kritsch

Links of Interest to Writers

Happy reading! Then, get to work and write that novel!

• AuthorCulture:  The Top Ten Writing Fallacies by Kevin B. Parsons

• Now Novel:  Talking About Your Character:  Eyes

• Babbles from Scott Eagan:  Your Query Letter Did Not Sell Your Book

• Storyfix:  A Paradoxical Perspective on the Creative Process by Larry Brooks

• Beyond the Margins:  Help! My On-Line Presence is Killing Me

• The Writer:  Improve Your Writing:  Step Away From The Desk by Megan Kaplon

• Guide to Literary Agents:  The Writer's Promise:  How to Craft a Book's Pitch by Tony Vanderwarker

Links of Interest to Writers

Reading and writing go together like peanut butter and jelly or Hansel & Gretel or pickles and ice cream!

• Write it Sideways:  What Charlotte Bronte Taught Me About Writing by Benison O'Reilly

• The Write Practice:  How a Scene List Can Change Your Novel-Writing Life by Monica M. Clar

• An Awfully Big Blog Adventure:  No More Postcards Any More by Nicola Morgan (An interesting point of view on promotion with postcards and bookmarks.)

• Project Eve:  What is Google Analytics? by Shweta Jhamvar

• Project Eve:  What is Tumblr? by Danielle Boulton

• Jody Hedlund:  Why Voice is Becoming More Important in Today's Market

• The Original Fantasy:  Merging Characters:  Cull Your Robot Clone Army by Emily Craven

Links of Interest to Writers

Education never stops! Here are some articles that might help you learn more about your writing.

• The Plot Whisperer:  How to Pre-Plot a Series

• GalleyCat:  Free Writing Cheat Sheet (article by Jason Boog, Sheet by Mike Shea)

• Tranquility:  A free text editor that helps you with poems - rhyme helper, syllable counter

• Slick Write:  A free text editor for prose

• Write to Done:  Transform Your Post from 'Good' to 'Awesome': 6 Ways by Francesca Nicasio

• The Write Now Coach:  How to Have Fun AND Create Amazing Characters by Rochelle Melander

• Wordswimmer:  Procrastination and Perspective

Links of Interest to Writers

Some great writing blog posts that caught my eye!

• The Write Practice:  The Power of Sacred Time:  The Writers Edition by Birgitte Rasine

• Writers in the Storm:  11 Frequently Asked Questions About Book Royalties & Money by Chuck Sambuchino

• The BookBaby Blog:  Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling by Chris Robley

• All Write - Fiction Advice:  Suspending Disbelief for Readers - Part 2  (Find the link to Part 1 in the October 8th links below.)

• Anne R. Allen's Blog:  Why Writers Need to be on Google Plus...Plus a FREE Tutorial On How to Use it Effectively by John Base (Allen)

• Ninie Hammon:  Three Ways to Use Thoughts to Create Unforgettable Characters

• Positive Writer:  Why You Need to Risk Writing Something Dangerous by Bryan Hutchinson

Links of Interest to Writing

If you're a writer, why aren't you writing? These blog posts might get you motivated!

• M J Wright:  How to Write a 50,000 Word Novel in a Month

• Mystery Writing is Murder:  Protagonists Should Climb in the Front Seat by Elizabeth S. Craig

• Books & Such Literary Agency:  11 Things Happy Authors Don't Do by Rachelle Gardner

• The Bold Life:  How to Be Brave:  20 More Bold Acts That Count by Tess Marshall

• Todd Mitchell, Author:  Book Trailers:  Ten Tips to Help You Avoid the Suck, Pt 1

• The Book Deal:  How to Grab, Delight or Shock Your Readers Right from the Start by Alan Rinzler

• Writers in the Storm:  How to Support an Author's New Book by Chuck Sambuchino 

Links of Interest to Writers

Happy writing!

• Anne R. Allen's Blog:  Social Media Secrets for Authors, Part IV:  How Not to Spam (I wish more authors would follow this advice!)

• Beyond the Margins:  Do This! Don't Do That! To Outline or Not:  That is the Question by Randy Susan Meyers

• Writer's Digest:  Should You Quit Your Day Job to Write Full Time? by Zachary Petit

• Writers Helping Writers:  Finding Your Character's Weakness by Angela Ackerman

• Live Write Thrive:  Harnessing the Storm in Your Brain through Mind Map

• The Creative Penn:  How to Get in the Zone and Stay in It with Tom Evans [Podcast]

• Copyblogger:  The Power of Mystery by Demian Farnsworth

Links of Interest to Writers

Write, write, and then write some more!

• The Other Side of the Story:  The Alchemy of Inspiration - How to Turn Ordinary Ideas Into Gold by Tiffany Reisz

• Prolific Living:  9 Mistakes that Rob You from Living Your Dream Life 

• A Writer's Journey: Killing Your Darlings by Nat Russo

• Pink Tea & Paper:  Time Management:  Working Full-Time & Writing by Ellen Brickley

• Daily Infographic:  The Psychology of Book Abandonment [infographic]

• Author, Jody Hedlund:  Plotting:  How to Know Which Scenes to Include in Your Book

• A List Blogging:  What Exactly Makes a Blog Fail? by Mary Jaksch (Some great info in the comments on this post!)

Links of Interest to Writers

Advice from the masters!

• Brain Pickings:  Kurt Vonnegut's 8 Tips on How to Write a Great Story

• Amanda Bumgardner:  On Avoiding Unnecessary Narration

• The Write Practice:  What are Stock Characters and How Can They Enliven Your Story by Liz Bureman

• QueryTracker:  Ten Things I Need to Tell You. . .About Dreams Coming True by Rosie Genova

• Writer's Digest/Brian Klems' Blog: 6 Secrets of Writing a Novel by Steven James

• The Writers Alley:  Deb Raney on Time Management 101

• Luc Reid:  Still Not Getting to That Goal? Four Essential Factors

Links of Interest to Writers

The fun of writing is knowing what you're doing and doing it well! Here are some articles that might help with that.

• The Other Side of the Story:  Plotting with the Hero's Journey by Janice Hardy

• The Narrative Breakdown:  Character Flaws, Pt 1 (Podcast)  

• Institute of Children's Literature:  "Don't Quit Too Soon" by Jan Fields (Poetry)

• The Daring Novelist:  Story Game:  Erle Stanley Gardner's Plot Wheels  by Camille LaGuire

• Sally Apokedak:  Description - A Little Goes a Long Way

• The Character Therapist:  Your Character's Greatest Fear...or Anxiety? by Jeannie Campbell

• Brain Pickings:  2013 Nobel Prize in Literature Laureate Alice Munro on The Secret of a Great Story

Links of Interest to Writers

Writing today? Read one of these to get you motivated!

• Tina Gayle:  Do Authors Need a Website? 

• Yorick Reintjens:  117 Most Beautiful Words in the English Language

• Write it Sideways:  When Fear is a Good Thing for Your Writing by Christi Craig 

• Mythic Scribes:  The Benefits of Outlining:  A Layered Approach by Steven M. Long

• The Write Practice:  Why You Should Use Symbolism in Your Writing by James Hall

• Writability:  Pacing Tip:  Contrast in Plot by Ava Jae

• Lauren Sapala:  Think You Know Social Media for Writers? Here's What You're Missing

Links of Interest to Writers

Here's some writerly wisdom!

• Donna L Martin's On the Write Track:  Creating Anthropomorphic Characters by Judy Cox

• Quick & Dirty Tips:  Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Children's Book by Mary Hertz Scarbrough

• The Daring Novelist:  Alpha Dog Week - Characters Exerting Control

• Books & Such Literary Agency:  Book Length by Wendy Lawton

• Viva Scriva:  World Building Meets the Real World by Ruth Tenzer Feldman

• Rebecca Schiller:  Discovering Your Character's Motivation

• Reading & Writing Are Fattening:  The Pitfalls of Writing Books in a Series by Marla A. Madison

Links of Interest to Writers

Here they are - some tips to help your writing!

• Imran Writes:  From Plotting to Writing to Editing to Submitting

• Worddreams:  5 Ways to Write Like Your Hair's on Fire by Jacqui Murray

• Kristen Lamb's Blog:  "Write What You Know" - Paying Attention to the Character's Journey 

• Molly Greene:  Business Plan Basics for Authors & Bloggers

• Marcy Kennedy:  Are You Writing in the POV You Think You're Writing In?

• School Library Journal:  Horror in YA Lit is a Staple, Not a Trend

• The Picture Book Academy Blogateers:  Setting Up for Success by Lori Mortensen

Links of Interest to Writers

Here's a dose of intelligence!

• Writing Forward:  Writing Tips for Creating a Complex Villain by Melissa Donovan

• Writer's Digest/Brian Klems:  How to Build Subplots From Multiple Points of View 

• SpiritAuthors:  Going Public - What All Authors Fear When Getting Read to Publish by Lynn Searfinn

• Publishers Weekley:  New Trends in YA: The Agent's Perspective by Sue Corbett

• LA Times:  Lois Duncan on Reaching a New Generation of Teen Readers by Elisabeth Donnelly

• The Writer:  Character Profile (Interview Your Character) by Patrick Scalis

• Susan Kaye Quinn:  Create a Five-Year Plan

Links of Interest to Writers

Learn something new today!

• AuthorCulture:  Deep POV Basics by Paula Mowery

• QueryTracker:  Reaching One Reader at a Time by Sarah Pinneo

• The BookBaby Blog:  How Literary Agents' Responsibilities & Compensation are Changing by Chris Robley

• Courage 2 Create:  Don't Be Afraid to be Ambitious by Ollin Morales

• Fiction Notes:  Lousy First Draft:  It's Hard to Trust the Process by Darcy Pattison

• How to Plan, Write, & Develop a Book:  If You Want to Quit Your Day Job & Be a Full-Time Writer. . .Is it Possible? by Mary Carroll Moore

• Writers in Charge:  40 Ways to Boost Your Brain (Even if You're The Dumbest Writer in the World)

Links of Interest to Writers

Here are 7 inspirational and informative articles and websites that will help you with your writing.

• Babbles from Scott Eagan:  Everything Needs A Purpose in Your Story

• Writer's Digest/Brian Klems: The Pros & Cons of Self Publishing (& Traditional Publishing) 

• A.Word.A.Day:  A word every day! Sign up for their daily email and increase your vocabulary.

• A Writer's Journey:  Micro Distractions While Writing by Nat Russo  - "Small distractions that pull you away from writing for short periods of time may improve your productivity."

• A Writer's Wings:  Some Things to Keep in Mind When Self Editing by Cynthia Dawn Griffin

• All Write - Fiction Advice:  Suspending Disbelief for Readers - Part 1 by AJ Humpage

• An Awfully Big Blog Adventure:  Good Advice I Can't Seem to Follow... by Tracy Alexander

Links of Interest to Writers

Read, Write, Publish!

• Time to Write:  How Not to Write the Right Novel or Screenplay by Jurgen Wolff

• Bad Language:  20 Must-Read Blogs for Writers by Clare Dodd

• YA Muses:  Inspiration Days:  Six Ideas for Writers by Joni Kendall

• Children's Book Blog:  Everything You Wanted to Know About Children's Writing (But Were Afraid to Ask) by Rebecca Davies

• Gail Carson Levine:  You, The Narrator, The Character

• HuffPost-The Third Metric:  How Daydreaming Can Actually Make You Smarter by Carolyn Gregoire

• Write to Done:  The 7 People Who Will Help You Fire Up Your Writing by Nicolas Gremion

• ScreenwritingStandard.com:  10 Dead Simple Ways to Make Readers Love Your Characters by Paul Peditto

Links of Interest to Writers

The writing part is the fun part - the revision, not so much! Maybe these articles will help ease the pain.

• Mystery Writing is Murder:  Novel Revision: Twenty-page Sessions by Jack Smith

• Positive Writer:  Are You Unwittingly Sabotaging Yourself by talking About Your Writing? by Ali Luke

• Novel Matters:  Protecting the Quiet by Kathleen Popa

• Shelli Johnson:  My Favorite Writing Advice - Make a Writer's Contract

• Write to Done:  This is What Blocks Your Writing (And How to Bust Through)

• MiG Writers:  My Love-Hate (Ok, Mostly Hate) Relationship with Rejections, Plus What I've learned Along the Way by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

• LucReid.com:  Tools for Naming Characters

• The Writer's Alley:  How to Write a Novel While Standing on Your Head Backwards, Chewing Gum, and Texting at the Same Time by Krista Phillips

Links of Interest to Writers

Articles for the discerning writer.

• Catherine, Caffeinated: How Much Time Do You Need to Write? by Catherine Howard

• Writer's Digest:  13 Quirky Workplaces of Famous Writers by Zachary Petit

• Worddreams:  19 Tips for Children's Writers by Jacqui Murray

• Worddreams:  59 Tips for Fantasy Writers by Jacqui Murray

• Jami Gold:  Being a Writer:  Commitment vs. Self-Doubt

• Writer's First Aid:  Rituals: Jump-Start Your Writing by Kristi Holl

• Laura Sapala:  How Your Grand Vision is Holding You Back

• Moody Writing:  Inside Inner Conflict

     

Links of Interest to Writers

Read, Write, Repeat!

• The Write Practice:  What Do You Do When Your Muse Is On Vacation?  by Debra Elramey

• Write to Done:  Overcome the Limitations of First Person POV:  5 Ways by John Yeoman

• The Creative Penn:  Lessons Learned From 2 Years As a Fulltime Author Entrepreneur

• Project Eve:  Tips on Working from Home by Whitney Weiss

• Angela Booth's Writing Blog:  Pacemaker (Free) Helps You Achieve Your Writing Goals

• California Department of Education:  Characteristics of Middle Grade Students

• Jody Hedlund:  One of the Best Ways to Find Writing Ideas

• Beyond the Margins:  To Establish a Writing Routine or Not, That is the Question

Links of Interest to Writers

Are you a reading/writing addict? This will feed your need!

• QueryTracker:  Break It Up:  How To Reduce Reader Fatigue by Ash Krafton

• Mad Woman in The Forest:  Revision Roadmap by Laurie Halse Anderson

• A. Victoria Mixon:  7 Reasons Fiction Needs a Washing Machine

• Project Eve:  How to Stay Motivated...Even When It's Really, Really Hard by Rhonda Hale Warren

• All Write:  Does There Have to be a Moral to Every Story?

• HuffPost:  Everything You Thought You Knew About Creativity Is Wrong 

• Daily Writing Tips:  Lay vs. Lie:  What's so Hard? by Maeve Maddox

• An Awfully Big Blog Adventure:  Who Are You Today? by Penny Dolan (Showtime Author vs. Working Author)