Author, Jody Hedlund's Blog

Jody Hedlund's Blog

I follow Jody Hedlund on Twitter and frequently click on links to her blog posts about the writing life, both inspirational and craft articles. A lot to learn here. Check out the topics on her side bar for past articles.

Recent Blog Posts:

• Write Because You Love It
• 3 Reminders About eBooks Versus Paper books
• Some Things Are Out of Our Control
• 7 Dialog Basics that Can Help Tighten Our Stories
• Why We Need to Put Our Books to Bed
• How Can Modern Writers Become & Stay Visible?

This is a blog well worth checking out.

Diamonds & Toads

Diamonds & Toads Blog

Diamonds and Toads blog shares information about all things fairy tale. You can find links to a number of interesting fantasy blogs and sites, including the fairy tale journal, Enchanted Conversation. For anyone who loves fairy tales and wants to know more, this is a great place to start.

Come in Character

Come in Character Blog

This is an unusual blog, because writers are encouraged to comment in character. You choose one of your own characters or create a new one, and post your comment under that character's name, answering as your character would. A fun way to stretch your imagination and learn more about your character.

Plot Whisperer

Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers

Martha Alderson follows up the great information ins her Plot Whisperer books with day-to-day inspiration and examples that will keep your plots filled with conflict (that’s a good thing!)

Writer Unboxed

Writer Unboxed

Writer Unboxed, filled with information “about the craft and business of genre fiction,” boasts a wealth of author interviews, essays, and guest posts about writing. Twelve authors contribute pieces, so a fresh perspective is a constant. Always something interesting to find here. Time flies as you jump from post to post, so allow yourself plenty of it when you visit.

Six Sentences

Six Sentences Blog

Write your story in six sentences. Then submit it to this blog. What could be simpler? Right. Just try it! Writer Guidelines (written in just six sentences, of course) are available on the blog. Good luck!

MFA Confidential Blog

Writer's Digest: MFA Confidential

Written by Kate Monahan, a 2nd year MFA student at The New School University in downtown NYC, this blog is a great source for inspiring writing information. It’s fun to follow Kate through her writing journey. A recent post on what to do with your half written stories hit a strong note with me. Do you recycle bits of unfinished stories into other stories? When do you give up on a story? Questions most writers face at some time. It’s hard to let go of our babies.

Since an MFA program is out of the question for me right now, I'm looking forward to learning along with Kate.

Clear Writing with Mr. Clarity

Clear Writing with Mr. Clarity

Wondering whether your writing is clear to readers? Mr. Clarity uses examples to demonstrate how to make your writing better understood. Whether he's explaining the usages of hedging words or misplaced modifiers, Mr. Clarity will help clarify your writing.

Story is Promise

Story is Promise

Here’s what Bill Johnson says on his Story is Promise website:

"This site offers writers of all levels and genres new ideas on the essential elements of storytelling:
creating dynamic characters...
identifying what's at stake in a story...
and ensuring that both the plot and story lines converge into an emotionally fulfilling resolution.

Reviews of popular novels, plays, and screenplays highlight those aspects of storytelling essential for fulfilling a writer's promise to the reader.

The essays on this web site are part of my exploration of what it is to both tell and enjoy a story. I welcome everyone who shares that journey.--Bill Johnson"

Story is a Promise also offers a page called Oregon Writers Speak with videos of writers sharing valuable information on their topics of expertise.

Fuel Your Writing

Fuel Your Writing

At Fuel Your Writing you’ll find a number of viewpoints, inspirations, motivations, and informative posts. Tips, publishing news, and tools for your writing are all offered here. It will take a bit of time to explore it all, so prepare to stay awhile.

AuthorCulture

AuthorCulture

I always find something interesting about authors or books at AuthorCulture. Whether it’s a fascinating look at how three authors strategized a plan for writing their book to a list of author resources, this blog never fails to offer enlightenment.

C. Hope Clark

Funds For Writers

C. Hope Clark is the hard-working individual behind Fundsfor Writers.com, where you’ll find the latest information about opportunities for authors. At Funds for Writers you’ll find sections on grants, contests, markets, and several newsletters to keep you updated. At her blog she shares detailed information about the features on the Funds for Writers site.

C. Hope Clark's Blog

Procrastinating Writers Blog

Are you a writer? Do you procrastinate? Then, the Procrastinating Writers Blog is for you. This site offers “Advice, motivation and inspiration for writers who struggle to get started.” Recent posts have related tips and suggestions for preparing for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November, but that could be useful for writing at any time of the year.

Writer's First Aid

Writer's First Aid

Kristi Holl blogs about ways “to ease the pains of the writing life” on her Writer’s First Aid blog at The Institute of Children’s Literature. The last few days she has been blogging about keeping your focus when bad things happen in your life that are beyond your control – a lesson I need to memorize. She blogs about assorted ways that life and your thoughts can intrude on your ability to write. You’ll always find something interesting to read at Writer’s First Aid.

Very Short Novels

Very Short Novels

Don’t have time to read a long novel? Then David B. Dale’s Very Short Novels is the blog for you. Each novel is less than 299 words. As the caption says “Anything more is a waste.”

Writing for Children & Teens by Cynthea Liu

Writing for Children & Teens by Cynthea Liu

Cynthea Liu writes about all areas of writing for children and also includes interviews with authors, submission information, and occasional ‘free-tiques” in which she critiques a full picture book or partial longer manuscript.

Alice’s CWIM Blog

Alice’s CWIM Blog

Alice Pope, editor of the Writer’s Digest Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market, offers updates and information from the land of children’s publishing – agents, editors, publishers, events, etc. Even if you don’t have a copy of the latest Market (and you should…at the very least to read the articles within), you will find something of interest at this blog.

Fiction Notes

Fiction Notes

Darcy Pattison shares a variety of writing tips and information through her blog and website, Fiction Notes. In her archive of posts you’ll find 30 Days to Stronger Characters, 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book, 30 Days to a Stronger Novel and her famous Novel Diagnosis Series.

I’ve been using her revision workbook Novel Metamorphosis: Uncommon Ways to Revise as part of my recent revision strategy for my middle grade novel. I can highly recommend it.

Writer Beware

Writer Beware Website

Hosted at the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, the Writer Beware website offers “Warnings about Literary Fraud and the Schemes, Scams, and Pitfalls That Target Writers.” These warnings are of use to ALL writers, not just those who write science fiction and fantasy.

Writer Beware Blogs!

 The blog includes postings by A.C. Crispin, Richard White, and Victoria Strauss, who keep us up to date with the people and companies to stay away when searching for publication.

Recent posts include information about:

• a German academic publisher which is actually an author mill,
• debunking a writers’ myth,
• opting out of the Google Book Search Settlement, and
• a literary agency which has been the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Florida Attorney General’s office.

Every author needs to check out these resources when you are ready to send your work out into the world.

The One-Minute Writer

The One-Minute Writer

Each day this blog offers a writing prompt and asks you to spend one minute writing about it on the theory that EVERYBODY has one minute to spare.

Here are the instructions from the site:

“1. Read the daily writing prompt.
2. Push "Play" on the timer on the right side of the screen.
3. Spend 60 seconds or less writing a response to the daily prompt.

You may respond in the "Comments" section of each post, if your response is family-friendly. Or you can use your word processor, or an old-fashioned pen and paper. It's up to you. Also feel free to use the "Comments" section for informal discussion about the responses that are posted.”

What’s a minute out of your life? I love the fact that they give you the timer. There is absolutely no excuse not to write. Who knows, the daily prompt may start you on the path to writing the great American novel.