Links of Interest to Writers

After reading these articles about writing, you can't help but sit down and write!

• Writer's Digest/Guide to Literary Agents Blog:  11 Steps to Finding The Agent Who'll Love Your Book, Guest Column by Lori Rader-Day @LoriRaderDay; Blog by Chuck Sambuchino @ChuckSambuchino
• Are you looking for an agent? Great ideas here.

• Publishers Weekly:  Spring 2015 Children's Sneak Previews compiled by Shannon Maughan @PublishlersWkly
• Start your list of books to read next spring! Always fun to see what's ahead.

• Highlights Foundation:  Why You Should Be Outlining by Alan Gratz @AlanGratz
• Author Alan Gratz offers some interesting ways to include your research in your outline so you can sit down and concentrate on writing your book.

• Copyblogger:  The Prepared Writer's Process for Creating Excellent Content Every Day by Katie a.k.a The Wellness Mama @wellnessmama
• Ways to assist you in sitting down every day to writer - adaptable to any type of writing.

• K.M. Weiland/Helping Writers Become Authors:  10 Best Tools to Make Writing More Successful, Organized, and Effective by Sandra Miller @KMWeiland
• Some great apps mentioned in this article that I hadn't head about yet.

Links of Interest to Writers

Writing is art, writing is also craft. Here's a little help:

• Jane Friedman:  How to Create Your First Booktrack (and Get 2,000 New Readers) Guestpost by Laurence MacNaughton @LMacNaughton @JaneFriedman

• Plot Whisperer:  Emotional Elements of Plot:  Stories that Last Evoke Emotion by Martha Alderson @plotwhisperer

• My Book Therapy:  The Great Debate! Story vs Structure by Rachel Hauck @RachelHauck @MyBookTherapy

• Julie Musil:  Stuck in Your Story? Try Roadmapping Guestpost by Laurisa White Reyes @lwreyes @juliemusil

• Tony Neal:  6 Beautiful Ways to Recharge This Summer @tobywneal

• Positive Writer:  3 Myths That Hold Your Best Writing Back by Bryan Hutchinson @ADDerWORLD

Links of Interest to Writers

Do a little reading about writing to get you in the mood!

• The Write Now! Coach:  5 Ways to Use a Journal to Boost Writing Productivity by Rochelle Melander @WriteNowCoach

• The Purple Crayon/Harold Underdown:  Who's Moving Where?  News & Staff Changes at Children's Book Publishers @HUnderdown This frequently updated page on The Purple Crayon website keeps you in the loop on changes at publishing houses!

• Unleaded - Fuel for Writers:  No Outlining Involved:  5 Pre-Story Time Saving Tips for Pantsers by Linda Maye Adams @lindaadamsva 

• The Review Review:  21 Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Started Writing:  Must-Read Advice for Writers at All Levels by Robin Black @Robin_Black

• Writers Helping Writers:  Get the Scoop on Fair Image Usage by Doug Langille  @douglangille @beccapuglisi 

• Bad Language:  16 Go-To Sources for Copyright-Cleared Images by by Katelyn Piontek @KatelynPiontek @mstibbe

Links of Interest to Writers

Read and watch a little about the craft of writing. Here are some links to start with:

• The Seekers:  Five Things I Learned About Writing from Jack Reacher by Tina Radcliffe @TMRadcliffe

• Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast:  Peanut Butter and Jellyfish:  Jarrett J. Krosoczka Discusses His Picture-Book Process [Video]  @StudioJJK

• The Write Practice:  How to Improve Your Metaphors And Similes by Monica M. Clark @monicamclark @write_practice

• Fiction University:  Oh, That's Subtle:  The Little Things Holding a Story Back by Janice Hardy @Janice_Hardy

• Bane of your Resistance:  Action Map Your Way Out of Writers Resistance by Rosanne Bane @RosanneBane
• Action Map Your Way Out of Writers Resistance, Part 2
• Personalize the Action Map to Free Your Writing

Links of Interest to Writers

Gather inspiration from these articles about writing.

• JeriWB Author & Editor/Make Every Word Count: 10 Tips for Writing Poetic Prose by Jeri Walker-Bickett @JeriWB

• Writer UnBoxed:  10 Tips About Process by Brunonia Barry @BrunoniaBarry @WriterUnboxed

• The Webwriter Spotlight:  9 Things Exceptional Writers Habitually Do So Well by David K. William @DavidKWilliam @Writerspotlight

• Jami Gold, Paranormal Author:  Story Themes:  What's Your Worldview? @JamiGold

• 99U:  29 Ways to Stay Creative [Video] @99u

• Gail Carson Levine:  Character Flip Flop

Links of Interest to Writers

Here are some writing gems to polish your prose.

• Brain Pickings:  Neil Gaiman on Why Scary Stories Appeal to Us, the Art of Fear in Children's Books, and the Most Terrifying Ghosts Haunting Society by Maria Popova @brainpickings @brainpicker @NeilHimself

• Write to Done:  How to Write a Poem (and Why This Will Help You Become a Better Writer) by Mary Jaksch @WritetoDone @Mary_Jaksch

• Writers Helping Writers:  Getting Quiet and Letting Go of Expectations by Alyssa Archer @beccapuglisi @TheWriterShip 

• BookBaby:  What Does a Style of Writing LOOK Like?  by Chris Robley @Chrisrobley @BookBaby

• Publishers Weekly:  My Self-Publishing Journey:  On Becoming an Indie Author by Paige Crutcher @PublishersWkly @PCrutcher

• Anne R. Allen's Blog:  Building Platform:  What Most Writers are Getting Wrong @annerallen @RuthHarrisBooks

Links of Interest to Writers

Writing, writing, writing, reading, reading, reading! Here's some interesting reading about writing.

• Blogging Funk:  Tips for Writing Picture Books:  The Illustrator Is Your Partner by Josh Funk, @papajfunk

• Eight Ladies Writing:  Justine:  Map Freak by Justine Covington, @AuthorJustineC

• As The Plot Thickens:  Juggling Act by Jennifer B. White, @JenniferBWhite (One author's look at juggling projects.)

• Fiction Notes:  OutTakes:  Publicity for Your Book by Darcy Pattison, @FictionNotes

• Writers Helping Writers - K. M. Weiland:  Why Gut Feelings Are a Writer's Secret Weapon by Harrison Demchick, @HDemchick, @KMWeiland

• From The Write Angle:  Decisions, Decisions:  Choosing the Conference That's Right For You by MarcyKate Connolly, @MarcyKate

Links of Interest to Writers

Spend some time improving your writing craft!

• The Write Conversation:  Keep Writing -- Sometimes You Have to Go Through the Junk to Get to the Gems by Edie Melson

• Emu's Debuts:  Making Time by Megan Morrison

• Daily Writing Tips:  Showing Dialect in Dialogue by Maeve Maddox

• Writers Helping Writers:  Softening a Hard Character to Make Them Likable by Angela Ackerman

• Narrative Breakdown:  Middle Grade Fiction with Author Jill Santopolo

• Huff Post College:  Ink on Paper:  Some Notes on Note-taking by Wray Herbert

Links of Interest to Writers

If you want to write, here is some great reading to assist you.

• The Writer's [Inner] Journey:  A Workshop for Writers Who Hate Writing Groups (and Why This Writing Group Works) by Meredith Resnick

• Kill Zone:  A Short Course on Dialogue Attributions by James Scott Bell

• The Write Life:  How One Famous Author (Elizabeth Gilbert) Tricks Herself Into Writing Wonderful Stories by Amanda Palleschi

• Writer Unboxed:  The Lessons I Should Have Learned From Stephen King's On Writing... by Jeannie Ruesch

• Time to Write:  More Book Trailers Should Be Like This by Jurgen Wolff'

• Anne R. Allen's Blog:  Writer's Toolbox #5:  Must-Have Research Tools Beyond Google & Wickipedia by Ruth Harris

Links of Interest to Writers

Some great tips about writing in these blog posts!

• Pretentious Title:  Managing Your Inner Editor by Rachel Aaron

• Brain Pickings:  Debunking the Myth of the 10,000-Hours Rule:  What It Actually Takes to Reach Genius-Level Excellence by Maria Popova

• Sharing With Writers & Readers:  Blog Tour Tips:  Reminder or New Ideas for a More Successful Tour by Carol Howard-Johnson

• Books & Such Literary Management:  Alert:  New Home Office Tax Law by Rachel Kent

• Write To Done:  How To Create an Inspiration Workspace for Writing by Laura Carlin & Alison Forbes

• The Washington Post:  The Health Hazards of Sitting by Bonnie Berkowitz & Patterson Clark

Links of Interest to Writers

What are you waiting for? Start reading!

• The Cybils Finalists (Children's & Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards) 

• Goins, Writer:  500 Words a Day:  The Secret to Developing a Regular Writing Habit by Jeff Goins

• BookBaby:  How To Write Your Book's First Draft Like a Professional

• The Write Practice:  3 Dialogue Terms You Probably Didn't Know (But Should!) by Liz Bureman

• The Nitty Gritty of Children's Writing:  He Thought to Himself and Other Excesses by Susan Uhlig

• Write to Done:  How to Be a Writer:  Do You Use These 3 Vital Keys to Success? by Mary Jaksch

Links of Interest to Writers

Here's some great writing advice from blogs I love.

• How to Write, Plan, & Develop a Book:  Your Writing Voice:  how to Develop It, Recognize It, Not Copy Someone Else's by Mary Carroll Moore

• Writer's First Aid:  What Type of Writer Are You? by Kristi Holl

• Elizabeth Spann Craig:  Twitterific Writing Links

• Writers in The Storm Blog:  Advanced Craft Tips - Writer Strong by Laura Drake

• Adventures in YA Publishing:  Inspired Openings:  Care About Your Character by Jackie Garlick-Pynaert
• Babbles from Scott Eagan:  How Will You Sell Your Story In This Competitive Market?

Special Note:  Because so many bloggers are celebrating the holidays, their postings become less frequent at this time of year. I will only post links when I have gathered several I think are of interest to writers. Posts will pick back up after the new year. Please have a happy holiday season whatever your beliefs and traditions! 

Links of Interest to Writers

It's almost Christmas - why not write a holiday story? Here are some writing links that might help.

• Daily Writing Tips:  Transition Words by Maeve Maddox

• Helping Writers Become Authors:  The Moral Villain by Becca Puglisi

• Brain Pickings:  The Year's Best Books on Writing & Creativity by Maria Popova

• Amanda Bumgarner:  On Setting the Mood

• Get Me Writing:  Getting into Your Writing Headspace

• Fiction Notes:  Writing Out of Sequence by Darcy Pattison

Links of Interest to Writers

Take a moment to learn something new about writing.

• Angela Booth's Writing Blog:  Writing Tip:  Schedule Time To Think and Brainstorm

• Digital Book World:  Trident Media Group Chairman Robert Gottlieb on Re-Engineering The Rold of Literary Agents

• Copyblogger:  Here's How Elizabeth Gilbert (Bestselling Author of Eat, Pray, Love) Writes by Kelton Reid

• Fiction Notes:  Hope, Optimism, Despair:  Writer's Emotional Roller Coaster by Darcy Pattison

• Writer's Digest:  Try These 30-Minute Writing Prompts

• Publisher's Weekly:  Fabulous First Lines (2013) by Elizabeth Bluemle

Links of Interest to Writers

It's cold outside! Great time for reading & writing. Here are some suggestions:

• From The Write Angle:  Things Non-Writers Don't (Always) Get by R. C. Lewis

• Jamie Gold:  The Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers (A comprehensive guide to gifts for you or your writing friend.)

• The Write Practice:  How to Write & Launch a Thriller Novel:  Interview with Joanna Penn by Joe Bunting

• The Business of Being an Author:  Don't Let the Pain of Rejection Blind You to the Opportunities by Marquita Herald

• Writer's First Aid:  Writing During the Holidays by Kristi Holl

• Kristen Lamb:  The Duality of Character Traits - Why We Need the Good, the Bad and Even the Ugly by Becca Puglisi

Links of Interest to Writers

Spent a great four days at a Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators retreat at Silver Falls State Park near Silverton, Oregon. What fun to be in the company of other writers and talk writing, walk writing, and sleep writing! Inspiring and motivating. A similar feeling happens when I read blog posts with great writing advice like these:

• Lauren Sapala:  The One Thing You're Doing to Block Your Writing Success

• Mystery Writing is Murder:  The Ability to Single-Task by Elizabeth S. Craig

• Writers Helping Writers:  Mystery Writing Basics:  Characters & Plot by Staci Troilo

• An Intense Life:  The Elusive Search for Balance by Christine Fonseca

• Slate:  A Textual Analysis of The Hunger Games:  Suzanne Collins' favorite adjectives, adverbs, & ways of starting a sentence. By Ben Blatt

• The New York Times Sunday Review:  Art Makes You Smart by Brian Kisida, Jay P. Greene, & Daniel H. Bowen

Links of Interest to Writers

Here are some writing articles full of great advice!

• W.I.P It:  8 Benefits of Writing by Lynda R. Young

• Angela Booth's Writing Blog:  Flow:  The Ideal Writing Mind State

• From the Write Angle:  A Case for "Nicer" Villains by R. C. Lewis

• Babbles from Scott Eagan:  What Makes Your Story Stand Out?

• Jamie Gold:  Using Conflict to Understand Our Characters

• Judy Lee Dunn:  Can You Name 99 Things You Love in 10 Minutes?

• Writer's First Aid:  Thinking:  First Backward and Then Forward

Links of Interest to Writers

Here's to good reading and writing!

• Daily Writing Tips:  How Many Words in Your Vocabulary? by Maeve Maddox

• Shallee McArthur:  The Power of the First Draft

• Mark & Angel Hack Life:  10 Harsh Realities that Help You Grow

• Publisher's Weekly:  Best Books of 2013

• NPR Books:  How Cynthia Rylant Discovered The Poetry of Storytelling

• A. Victoria Mixon, Editor:  3 Vital Steps to Creating Your Protagonist for NaNoWriMo

Links of Interest to Writers

Read, read, read, write, write, write, revise, revise, revise - the cycle of life!

• File this under creative ways with books! Mental Floss:  13 Sculptures Made Out of Books

• PiBoldMo Day 12:  Elizabeth Rose Stanton Procrastidoodles

• Lauren Sapala:  Taking Emotions Risks in Your Writing

• Publisher's Weekly:  Best Children's Books of 2013

• PUB(Lishing) Crawl:  A Peek at an Editor's To-Do List by Jordan Hamessley London

• The League of Extraordinary Writers:  Building a Story From Atmosphere by Bethany Hagen

Links of interest to Writers

Here are some writing nuggets to inspire you.

• Writer's Fun Zone:  Want To Write a Novel? (But Don't Know How To Begin?) by Beth Barany

• Writability:  Why Do Your Characters Like Each Other?

• Time to Write:  Is This The formula for Creativity?

• Word Serve Water Cooler:  5 Writing Rules I've Learned from Pixar

• Wise Ink:  Our Favorite Online Resources for Writing Mechanics

• Nathan Bransford:  Favorite Writing Tips (from readers)