Thursday, October 29, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 29

When to Quit from Stephen Parrish
- I wasn't going to watch the video, but I'm glad I did.

Ask the editor: The top 5 secrets to getting a book deal from The Book Deal

Writing tips from Ally's Diary - she's a NYT bestselling YA author

Promote Your Book, Start a Group Online! from Bob Baker's blog

How Long Is Too Long to Wait from BookEnds, LLC - about agent response time

how to write your second novel or if you want to make God laugh, show Him your outline
an essay from Stephanie Kallos that made me laugh and cry

Flipping Out from The Other Side of the Story
- about finding new perspective on the conflict in your scenes

Quirky Cards from Writer's Corner - a writing assignment

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 25

Top Hat from Fire and Silk, about keeping your characters 'on-screen'

Narrative and the brain from Livia Blackburne

Starting Out from Mystery Writing is Murder, link for those who want to write Mysteries

Show Some Character! from Plot to Punctuation

Voice = literary fashion: you going to make me change my clothes? from Behler Blog

To Cuss or Not to Cuss... from Writer's Corner

Friday, October 23, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 23

Being Stubborn from Brian's Blog: Writer Talk

Professionally Developed from Elana Johnson

letters from the query wars from Et in arcaedia, ego -- a quick guide to the query letter

Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st Century Writer - A different kind of guide for writers from The Swivet

Six Elements That Drive Your Personal Booklife from Jeff VanderMeer
-- the author of Booklife

POD and readership from Behler's Blog

Show, Don’t Tell: Body Language and Nonverbals in Writing from the Elaine English blog

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? Thinking about it?
Author Lazette Gifford has a collection of articles to help you navigate the madness.

Go to her site: http://www.lazette.net/

and download your free NaNo book in pdf format. NaNo for the New and the Insane is an amusing book with great tips for surviving NaNo -- and making it fun. I just finished reading it, and I highly recommend this book.

While you're visiting Lazette's site, have a look at her artwork and great stories. This is a lady with talent!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 22

Does "Commercial" Mean All Genres? from Guide to Literary Agents

A Brief Dip into Politics: Health Care as related to writers, from The Magic District

Not Just Because from BookEnds, LLC - about submissions and queries

Freelancer’s Survival Guide Part Three from Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Guest Blogger: Billy Coffey -- The Middle Rule -- from Rants & Ramblings

Out-of-Character Characters from Writer's Corner

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 20


You Are Awesome from Elana Johnson, Author

Lying – just…don’t from Behler Blog

Jumbles from Mystery Writing is Murder -
about fixing your writing

This Week in Doom: Walmart.com
from Pimp My Novel

Back to Basics from Rants & Ramblings -
"How do you know in the first couple of pages whether you're interested in a writer?"

Pickup Lines from The Other Side of the Story - creating a one-line summary of your novel

Passive Voice from Writer's Corner

Monday, October 19, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 19

The Essential Parts of a Novel Synopsis from Guide to Literary Agents

Marvelous Marketer: Michael Stearns (Upstart Crow Literary) from Market My Words
Great advice on promoting your book.

Writing is a Business from QueryTracker.net's Blog

The Exclamation Point!!! (And Other Annoying Devices) from Rachelle Gardner

author websites part 1.75: what not to blog from The Intern

Writer Motivations from Books & Such

trembling with rage from Ask Nicola
This post isn't about writing or publishing. It's about heartbreaking inhumanity and bigotry. I read this post, recommended from The Swivet, in stunned disbelief.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 18

Release and Surrender from Market My Words - surviving the publishing process

Weddings, speech acts and symbolism from TalkToYoUniverse

The Powers of Observation from Writer's Corner

every writer absolutely must read this! From Editorial Ass - and I agree with her.

Deadlines from Behler Blog - my Sunday funny

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 17

How a debut novel affects its author by Terese Walsh

“How many agents should I approach?” from Ask a Literary Agent

Way Too Much Information from Editorial Anonymous - what you don't want to say

“You missed the mark!” from Behler Blog

it’s hard to walk the highwire with no tension from the Magic District

I won! Autumn treat winners from Scotland for the Senses
I won a wonderful-looking book, Haunted Places of Scotland. I only recently discovered this blog, and I greatly enjoy it. There is a longer post about Porridge and Ghosts: Winter Staples (& treats!) that tells about a porridge tool I had not heard of before, the Spurtle.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 15

Author Pages from Gabrielle Edits - add your info to Amazon.com if you've been published

What I’ve learned in my first year as a published author from Do Things Different

From the Mailbag: On Starting With Dialogue from edittorrent

Submission question re: amateur marks also from edittorrent

They're Called GOOGLE ALERTS, and Yes We Have Them from Guide to Literary Agents
-- btw, you should have them on your name, too.

When Settings Attack from Mystery Writing is Murder

P&L 4 of 4: The Future from Pimp My Novel

The Importance of Not Being Too Earnest from Science Fiction & Fantasy Novelists
Why a well written book might seem boring.

W(h)ither Publishing? from Upstart Crow Literary

Why Referral Fees Present Ethical Problems from Writer Beware Blogs!

Now. Yes, now. from Writer Unboxed - great writing advice.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Terra Cotta Dragon


This little gentleman is about 4" tall and is made of glazed terra cotta. His scales were carved individually, then washed in gold. I cannot find a maker's mark, but I bought him in the late 1980's.

Do you recognize the artist? Please let me know in comments!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 8

Paperback Writer: WotC on Scribd - author Lynn Viehl is offering Way of the Cheetah at a discount on Scribd.
I bought this book and loved it. It is a good guide for living as well as for writing.
I highly recommend it.

Tips for Submitting Partials by Colleen Lindsay from Backspace

Components of a Query Letter from Gabrielle Edits

Agents and the First Two Pages by Therese Walsh of Writers Unboxed

Bought and paid for, yessirreee bubba from Janet Reid, thoughts on the FTC ruling

You Spin Me Round from the Other Side of the Story

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 6

Publishing-Related Backlist from Editorial Ass
-- this is a list of great posts on publishing

What Should You Write in the Bio Paragraph of a Query Letter?
from Guide to Literary Agents

More On Comp Titles from Pimp My Novel

Dedicated to the Lone Ranger from Rachelle Gardner, about why writers should network

Thoughts on Self-Promotion by Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware Blogs!

A No-Regrets-Pre-Pub Push by Therese Walsh of Writer Unboxed - more on promotion

Never Let 'Em See You Sweat! from Writer's Corner

Congratulations to these writers!
Happy Release Day!!!! by the Other Side of the Story - Janice Hardy
Shadowlight Arrives by Paperback Writer - Lynn Viehl

Monday, October 5, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 5

A quick overview of the Hero’s Journey from Jordan McCollum

Shoot for the Stars from BookEnds, LLC

TWITTERING IS NOT JUST FOR BIRDS from Help! I Need a Publisher!

Hobbyists and Serious-sts from Behler Blog

Some Thoughts on Public Speaking from Inkspot

Querying and Submissions from Gabrielle Edits

And the Pace is On from the Other Side of the Story

author website curmuddlement from the Intern

This blog is about Transylvania, and she puts up many wonderful photos.
Queens and Romania from Things about Transylvania.
Today's photo shows a castle reputed to be Dracula's - by Bram Stoker.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Friday, October 2, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Oct 2

Margaret Fisk has a long list of great links: Friday's Interesting Links on her blog, Stray Thoughts Of Margaret Fisk

A Publishing Fairy Tale? from Books and Such

Pimp My Monkey (Guest Blogger: Chris Eldin) from Editorial Ass. I recommend this post on branding!

Let's have a pop quiz! from Janet Reid, information on formating your manuscript from the agent who wants to read it.

Blue: First Person Present Tense at Its Best from Livia Blackburne

MG vs YA fiction: What’s The Difference? from MIG Writers

It's All About Collaboration from Rachelle Gardner

Tale of two agents from Behler Blog. Thoughts to consider when choosing an agent.

Re-Write Wednesday: Arc Enemy from The Other Side of the Story, by Janet Hardy