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

Are you writing today?

• Courage 2 Create:  How to Keep Yourself Grounded When Writing Away From Home by Ollin Morales

• Writer's First Aid:  Course Corrections by Kristi Holl

• The Seekers:  Using Poetry in Your Novel by Sandra Leesmith

• Nick Daw's Writing Blog:  How To Be Your Own Agent, Whether You Have One or Not by Joe Mynhardt

• Stavros Halvatzis:  How to Use Coincidence in Stories

• A Writer's Wings:  The Seven Deadly Sins of World Building by Cynthia D. Griffin

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

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

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

Motivation, inspiration, and passion - three important elements of the writing life. Here are some articles to help you spark all three!

• The Institute of Children's Literature:  Ten Tips for Wowing Editors with Your Verse by Jan Fields

• The Guardian:  Making Your Writing the Best It Can Be:  Top Tips from Children's Books Editors

• Books & Such Literary Agency:  Negotiation:  A Primer by Mary Keeley

• Babbles from Scott Eagan:  What Makes Your Character Interesting?

• YA Confidential:  Roundtable:  "Strong" Female Characters

• Writer Unboxed:  A Cautionary Tale: 3 Writing Rules That Can Derail Your Story by Lisa Cron

• Huff Post Parents:  What Classic Kids' Books Are REALLY About. (Photos)

• Real Life, Beautiful Planet:  Seven Virtuous Ways to Avoid Writing Your Novel by Belinda Pollard