Links of Interest to Writers

A few gems on writing to inspire you!

• Creative Writing Video Tutorials for the Multimedia Age:  In Depth "Show Not Tell for Creative Writing by Cy Porter @drawnovel

• Author, Jody Hedlund  6 Key Things to Consider When Developing Characters @JodyHedlund 

• Clear Writing With Mr. Clarity:  Meaningless Nouns Make You Sound Phony by Joe Roy

• Fiction Notes:  Author Website Tech:  Professional Email by Darcy Pattison @FictionNotes

• Kate White:  How to Make Time for What You Love @katemwhite

• Catherine, Caffinated:  To Do:  A Social Media Spring Clean by Catherine Ryan Howard @cathryanhoward

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 to good writing! (And to good reading about writing!)

• Books & Such Literary Agency:  Are You in This for the Long Haul? by Rachelle Gardner

• Galley Cat:  Manuscript Wish Lists Hashtag Returns (on Twitter) by Jason Boog

• Prescription for Murder:  Prologues - To Use or Not to Use! by James J. Murray

• Jane Friedman:  Why Don't Publishers Believe in Author Websites? 

• Lauren Sapala:  Bring the Storm! How Ugly Emotions Can Ignite Your Setting

• LitReactor:  How Precocious is Too Precocious? Writing Smart But Believable Kids by Leah Dearborn

• Script:  Writing Wrap Up: You Can Do It - Setting Writing Goals by Paula Landry (This article is about writing films, but can easily be adapted to any writing!)

• Writer's Digest/Guide to Literary Agents:  5 Easy Steps to Conquer the Heartache of Rejection by Jessica Anya Blau

Maggie Stiefvater, Author

Maggie Stiefvater's Website

Maggie Stiefvater's Blog

Maggie Stiefvater writes young adult novels, which include Shiver, Linger, Forever, Lament, and Ballad. Unusual and riveting would be two words that only begin to describe her books. I’m looking forward to reading her recently released The Scorpio Races.

Writing process always fascinates me. I love to read about how other writers write. There are many great posts on her blog about Maggie’s process. Follow her label “How I Write” to locate some of them. She uses helpful examples that illustrate her points and she fills her blog with glimpses of her personal style.

Lisa Schroeder, Author

Lisa Schroeder's Website

I chose author Lisa Schroeder to start off this year's posts, because she's releasing TWO books in the first months of 2010! Her teen novel Chasing Brooklyn was released January 5th from Simon Pulse and her middle grade novel It's Raining Cupcakes will be released in March from Aladdin.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Lisa on a several occasions and she was nice enough to pose for a picture with my blogger bunny buddy Freckles.

There's some great information at both her website and her blog for writers.

Lisa Schroeder's Blog

Gail Carson Levine

Gail Carson Levine’s Blog

Gail Carson Levine writes wonderful fantasy stories. Her first published children's book, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Her blog is filled with advice for writers written in a friendly, conversational style. You can find more information about Gail Carson Levine and her books at her website.

Gail Carson Levine's Website

P. J. Hoover - Roots in Myth

Roots in Myth - P. J. Hoover's Blog

Roots in Myth, the blog of fantasy writer P. J. Hoover, offers information about writing and the author's life. Recent posts: Feeling the Fear, Loving and Hating your work in progress, the Red Dirt Festival in Shawnee, OK, and homemade Halloween gravestones. You just never know what you’ll find. An interesting author with an interesting blog.

For more information about P. J. Hoover and her books, visit her website:

P. J. Hoover's Website

Lisa Yee

Lisa Yee's Website

Lisa Yee's Blog

We just finished reading Lisa Yee’s three-book series Millicent Min Girl Genius, Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time, and So Totally Emily Ebers in one of my writer groups during our examination of “point of view." Lisa’s books are funny, creative, and interesting. Can’t wait to read her latest: Bobby Versus Girls (Accidentally).

Joan Bauer

Joan Bauer's Blog "Toward Home"

Joan Bauer has written some great books for kids: Best Foot Forward, Backwater, Rules of the Road, Thwonk, Squashed, and one of my all time favorites Hope Was Here. So, it is not surprising that I find her blog full of wise words and interesting advice. Just read her October 12th post "Dancing with Words" to see what I mean!

You can explore Joan Bauer’s writing life from essays to information about her books on her website.

Joan Bauer's Website

Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkins Blog

Ellen Hopkins writes young adult “problem” novels. They’re pretty edgy and don’t pull any punches. If you know anything about Ellen’s own story, you understand why, after tough times dealing with her daughter’s drug use, she felt the need to write a novel about teens and drugs.

It is an unfortunate fact of life in the United States that if you are truthful with teens and tell them about the not-so-pretty side of real life, someone is going to try to stop teens from reading about it. And of course, they don’t want to just block their own children from reading it, they want to control what everyone else’s kids read as well.

Ellen has fought many of these battles and is in the middle of a couple right now in Oklahoma. She talks about it frankly on her blog.

You can learn more about Ellen and her books at her website:

Ellen Hopkins Website

Cynsations

Cynsations

Cynthia Leitch Smith, children’s writer and instructor at the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults, authors a great blog called Cynsations. Her blog is "a source for interviews, reading recommendations, publishing information, literacy advocacy, writer resources, news in children's and teen literature."

You never know what treasure you'll find when you visit Cythia's blog. I always come away with a new nugget of knowledge.

Visit her website for even more resources!

Grow Wings: Laini Taylor

Grow Wings: The Journal of Laini Taylor

Laini Taylor's Website

Laini Taylor, the author of Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer. I loved this book, the story of Magpie, a kick-ass faerie living among crows and fighting a terrible devil to keep the dark from swallowing the world.

Two new books releasing :
Faeries of Dreamdark: Silksinger (available September 17, 2009)
Lips Touch (available October 2009)

In addition to writing, Laini is also a talented artist and the inventor of Laini Ladies. The collection consists of assorted ornaments, cards, and bookmarks adorned with beads, ribbon, and wire featuring quotes designed to inspire and motivate. (I have the Books Lady with the Louisa May Alcott quote hanging by my computer.)

Laini is also a new mom. Little Clementine was born on August 9, 2009. She has reddish-brown hair like her dad (from what I can tell from the pictures) and not the bright pink of her mom's lovely locks. Maybe the pink will grow in when she's a little older.