Blog posts for writers - January 31

Writing Tip: Looking/Eye Words from odysseyworkshop via Bibliophile Stalker

Are You Using Setting to Deepen Your Characters? by K.M. Weiland at Wordplay

Writers on Writing . . . I’m Flat! by Sherwood Smith at Book View Cafe

Deliberate Practice by suelder at Fire and Silk

Fake It ‘Til Ya Make It by LB Diamond at Diamond–Yup, Like the Stone

7 Things I've Learned So Far, by Robert Lewis at Guide to Literary Agents

Blog posts for writers - January 30

"My book is just like.." by Janet Reid

Rejections from The Blood-Red Pencil

YA is red hot: Tips from 3 top agents from The Book Deal

GIVEAWAY / CONTEST

The Fabulous Follower Fiesta begins.... from Market My Words

Blog posts for writers - January 29

Game Changer at Pub Rants - I thought #3 was quite interesting

Writing Series and Trilogies from BookEnds LLC - how to query them

The Competitive Analysis from Chip MacGregor

More on either/or (perfect mechanics or great story-- don't be either/or) from edittorrent

SELF-EDITING - A BIT LIKE WEEDING by Nicola Morgan at Help! I Need a Publisher!

Is it suspense or surprise? by Jordan McCollum

Long-term vs Short-term Protagonist Goals from Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers

I disbelieve your lack of disbelief! from Plot to Punctuation - Show Some Character

Writers on Ice from Diamond–Yup, Like the Stone

Blog posts for writers - January 28

Can I fire my agent mid-submission? by Noah Lukeman of Ask a Literary Agent

Tough Economic Times from BookEnds LLC - an agent's response

This is your competition: edition 3,478 (or so) from Getting Past the Gatekeeper

Etiquette – hands in lap, napkin daintily applied to corners of the mouth by Lynn Price of Behler Blog

Fun with Droste by Lynn Viehl at Paperback Writer - a cool writing technique

Flashback versus Memory from Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers

Seven Deadly Sins for Novel Writing Sin # VI from the Bookshelf Muse - Sin #6: Dialogue Disaster

Why "Free" Sells from the Sharp Angle

SF Writers Conference from Gabrielle Edits - she'll be there!

CONTEST

The BONESHAKER buzz starts HERE..Boneshaker ARC contest via Lisa Amowitz

Blog posts for writers - January 27

Query Letter Writing Process by Elana Johnson - she wrote the book!

The Job Interview by Stephen Parrish

Foreign Authors, Local Agents from The Rejecter

Assessing your suspense with pacing and promises by Jordan McCollum

Blog posts for writers - January 26

Combining elements in sentences from edittorrent - a tool to create voice

Putting the tension in your self-editing by Jordan McCollum

Calls to Adventure from Mystery Writing is Murder

Tell the Truth Tuesday: You're Selling Yourself by Elana Johnson

I write, therefore I sit by Sharon Wildwind at POE'S DEADLY DAUGHTERS - writers and health

Loglines for Books from The Blood-Red Pencil - and for queries!

How to Survive a Critique…and More: Let’s Talk Troubleshooting by guest blogger Becky Levine at Writer Unboxed

Writer’s block is a writer’s best friend by Lisa Shearin at the Magic District

Blog posts for writers - January 25

Massaging Tense Verbs by Steven Harper Piziks at Book View Cafe

Imperfect Tense? from the Literary Lab

POINTS OF VIEW at Help! I Need a Publisher!

Friends and Sidekicks from Mystery Writing is Murder

Story Mapping: How I do It by Michele Lang at the Magic District

A Word on Awards from Pimp My Novel - what to put in a query

Nudging Know-How by Suzette Saxton at QueryTracker - when to nudge an agent

Looking for the Right Writers' Conference from The Blood-Red Pencil

CONTEST

A MYSTERY Followers Contest! at The Bookshelf Muse

Blog posts for writers - January 24

How to Complain About Your Publisher in Public from Editorial Anonymous

Well, you know, sort of from edittorrent - about weak writing

Author Pics and Bios from Mystery Writing is Murder

Embrace Your Inner Editor from Wordplay

Blog posts for writers - January 23

Attitude Matters at Diamond–Yup, Like the Stone

Don't be lame-- don't limp to the end of a sentence. from edittorrent

Right Brained Time Management from Mystery Writing is Murder

The Landscape of Genre Fiction by Misa Ramirez (Guest Blogger) at POE'S DEADLY DAUGHTERS

Blog posts for writers - January 22

Dang Greedy Agents... (Not) from Rants & Ramblings - about agent commissions

How to Get a Book Deal While Avoiding the Slush Pile by Jane Friedman at Writer Unboxed

From the Mind of Evil from The Other Side of the Story - about the bad guy

Wrapping up the suspense: Act III by Jordan McCollum

Ten Mistakes Writers Don’t See (But Can Easily Fix When They Do) from Holt Uncensored

Another Google Book Search Settlement Deadline by Victoria Strauss for Writer Beware Blogs

Blog posts for writers - January 21

THE END IS NIGH from Help! I Need a Publisher!

First and A Lot More Than Ten from The Other Side of the Story - about openings

The tale of two stories: character vs. plot by Lynn Price at Behler Blog - customizing a query letter

Seven Deadly Sins for Novel Writing: Sin V at The Bookshelf Muse - about Flat Wordsmithing

101 Dalmatians at The Alchemy of Writing - Do any of you think about audience while writing?

SF reading protocols by Jo Walton at TOR.com via TalkToYoUniverse

DIY Book Contract Negotiation from Mystery Writing is Murder - great tips and links!

Guest Blogger: Chuck Sambuchino at Rants & Ramblings - Would You Pay More For An Agent?

Blog posts for writers - January 20

Medic! from edittorrent - repairing an overwritten sentence (Read the comments, too.)

Slushy from Mystery Writing is Murder - getting out of the slush pile (I love success stories!)

What point of view? by Sophie Masson at Writer Unboxed

Re-Write Wednesday: False Starts by Janice Hardy at The Other Side of the Story - figuring out where to start your novel

A Time to Rewrite from BookEnds, LLC

Cutting the Fat by Elana Johnson at QueryTracker - more on editing

Proofreading Tips by Katie Salidas at Step 1: Write, Edit, and Revise.

Guest Post: Michelle Zink shares her Teen Data from Market My Words

CONTESTS

The 2010 Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest - Rules = Write a short story of no more than 8,000 words, that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration.

2010 ACFW Genesis contest for unpublished writers from Story Sensei - the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest for unpublished writers

Blog posts for writers - January 19

structure 2 by Brian Yansky at brian's blog: writer talk - about structure in composition

Improving on an Idea by Elizabeth Spann Craig at Mystery Writing is Murder

The tension begins by Jordan McCollum - her new writing series

The Back (Story) of Our Lives by Janice Hardy at The Other Side of the Story

Hidden in Plain Sight by Sharon Wildwind at POE'S DEADLY DAUGHTERS

Voice: An agent’s perspective by Therese Walsh at Writer Unboxed

A Word on the MaFiA from Pimp My Novel

Guest Blog Week: One, Two, Three, Five, Four by Bryan Russell at Nathan Bransford's blog

CONTEST

''Dear Lucky Agent'' Contest: Memoir and Narrative Nonfiction at Guide to Literary Agents

Blog posts for writers - January 17 (running late)

Confidence by Judith Tarr at Book View Cafe - about horses and writing

Home is where the hero isn’t by Marie Brennan at Science Fiction & Fantasy Novelists - about domestic characters

Q&A: Writing a scene with 2 characters who are not English speakers from Story Sensei

List in Importance by Janice Hardy at The Other Side of the Story - tips on plotting

Contests in your query by Janet Reid

Are You Called to Be a Writer? at Wordplay

Le Guin: Petition Letter to the Judge of the Google Book Settlement. by Ursula K. Le Guin at Book View Cafe

Blog posts for writers - January 16

Question Your Assumptions by Juliette Wade at TalkToYoUniverse

PRITHEE, HOW SHOULD I TACKLE HISTORICAL FICTION, FAIR LADY? from Help! I Need a Publisher!

The unavoidable character from Plot to Punctuation

Get Back (Story) Where You Belong by Janice Hardy at The Other Side of the Story

Ways to Trash Your Writing Career: Gossip by Deborah J. Ross at Book View Cafe

Avoiding Scams from BookEnds, LLC

Blog posts for writers - January 15

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff from BookEnds, LLC

Gail Carriger’s Query Letter from Pub Rants - the query and pitch blurb

Making Connections vs Selling Yourself from Market My Words

Terms to Know: Embargoed Title from Pimp My Novel

Guest Blogger: CJ Darlington at Rants & Ramblings - The Comparison Trap

Crossing Thresholds from Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers

Re-Write Wednesday: Clarifying Thoughts from The Other Side of the Story

Giving My Characters Voice by Allison Winn Scotch at Writer Unboxed

CONTEST

Our Next Contest! from QueryTracker

Blog posts for writers - January 13

A Query on Queries from BookEnds, LLC

Research Before Hitting "Send" by Mary Lindsey at QueryTracker

Why Authors Need Agents at Rants & Ramblings

The End. Now What? from Chandara Writes

Using Characters and Scenes to Trim the Fat from Your Story: Part One from The Blood-Red Pencil

I Love it When a Plan Comes Together, Part Two by Janice Hardy at The Other Side of the Story - more on plotting

Vision: A Resource for Writers - Lazette Gifford, Editor and Margaret McGaffey Fisk, Assistant Editor

Blog posts for writers - January 12

Update: The Google Settlement and Ursula’s List by Ursula K. Le Guin at Book View Cafe

What’s Mine is NOT Up for Grabs by Sharon Wildwind at POE'S DEADLY DAUGHTERS - about Facebook

Footnotes: 8 Articles on Query Letter Writing from Guide to Literary Agents

Why I absolutely, positively must have a plot synopsis by Lisa Shearin at the Magic District

The art of promoting books in 140 characters from Janet Reid, Literary Agent

WHERE DOES A STORY BEGIN?? from Help! I Need a Publisher!

Why people are scarier than monsters from Plot to Punctuation

Narrative Distance Comes Full Circle by Juliette Wade at TalkToYoUniverse

Voice Q&A: Evil Narrators and Guy Talk by Therese Walsh at Writer Unboxed

A momentary lull in the bloodletting from Query Shark

CONTEST

Contest!!!! And The Techie Post About Critting from * Fiction Groupie *

Blog posts for writers - January 11

Building Drama by John Sankovich from A little bit of...

How To Make Your Story Better by Will Everchase

Repetition: The Good, The Bad, and The Bad from * Fiction Groupie *

Metaphor Overload – add a little limeade from Behler Blog

Multiple Modifiers: A portal to deeper characterization from The Blood-Red Pencil

The Seven Deadly Sins for Novel Writing Part IV from The Bookshelf Muse

I Love it When a Plan Comes Together, Part One from The Other Side of the Story - on plotting

A Discussion of Sell-Through from BookEnds, LLC

Blog posts for writers - January 9

Eleven Revision Tips from Writing and Illustrating

Books Every Writer Should Read also from Writing and Illustrating

Never Giving Up: My Tale of One Novel, Two Agents and Three Continents from Guide to Literary Agents

Should You Tell People About Your WIP? from Mystery Writing is Murder

Blog posts for writers - January 8

Ways to Trash Your Writing Career: Trademarks by Brenda Clough at Book View Cafe

The tale of two authors from Behler Blog - another way to trash - or make - your career

Questions on Mysteries from BookEnds, LLC - about publishing with a small press

Middles from Mystery Writing is Murder - about avoiding saggy middles

The reader feels... maybe more from edittorrent - Just another thought about emotion.

To MFA or not to MFA? (Is that the question?) from Jordan McCollum

Guest Blogger Katharina Kolata: Review of Holly Lisle's "How to Revise Your Novel" Course from Literary Rambles

Blog posts for writers - January 7

a short meditation on how to write a novel from Bent on Books

Take a Risk—Stay True to Your Voice by Jennifer Stanley from BookEnds, LLC

Voice 101 by Juliet Marillier at Writer Unboxed

Subtext and Context from edittorrent

He who hesitates is found also from edittorrent

The Moss-Troll Problem by Sarah Monette at SFWA - about metaphors & analogies

Cliché – “make like a tree and get outta here” from Behler Blog

A Word on Market Share from Pimp My Novel

The Book's the Thing from Rants & Ramblings - about agent advice

A Critter Code of Ethics from Stephen Parrish - about accepting critiques

Blog posts for writers - January 6

Revision from brian's blog: writer talk - a great list

Re-Write Wednesday: And Coming up on the Left, Stuff from The Other Side of the Story - on POV

Voice…or Volume? by Donald Maass at Writer Unboxed

Rules schmoolze, readers don’t care, so why should you? from Behler Blog

Guest Blogger Pat Martinez: Morphemes and the Creation of Character Names and Words
from Literary Rambles

Free E-Book: Crafting Unforgettable Characters from WordPlay

The Author Bio from QueryTracker.net

CONTEST

Kick in 2010 with a Writers' Contest! from AuthorCulture

Blog posts for writers - January 5

Top 10 Lists from QueryTracker

Answering the Call from The Other Side of the Story - links to questions to ask agents

Last Revision Before Submission from edittorrent

Enliven Your Writing, Part 1 from Mystery Writing is Murder

Enliven Your Writing, Part 2

Writing / Research Tip Tuesday from Literary Rambles - check those adjectives and/or adverbs

Why Didn't I Say Yes to Your Novel? from Rants & Ramblings

How do you make your life what you want it to be? from Holly Lisle

CONTEST

Kidlit Contest from Kidlit.com - submit first 500 words of your MG & YA

StarDoc Turns Ten from Paperback Writer - book giveaway

Blog posts for writers - January 4, 2010

What we are thinking about when we're thinking about your book from Janet Reid - questions editors ask

Guest Blog Post: Distributor vs. Wholesaler--Getting Your Book on the Shelf by Cathy Clamp at Writer Beware Blogs!

Caroline Meckler on Voice from Writing and Illustrating

“Genre schemre, just let me write!” from Behler Blog

Please Vote For Us! from edittorrent - please vote for these EXTREMELY helpful editors!

Subtext article also from edittorrent - the best article on this subject I've found

NaNoReVisMo #6: Electric Kool-Aid Conflict Test PART TWO from the Intern

Writers Emergency Assistance Fund from the Literary Lab

CONTESTS:

THE SECRET YEAR Teen Diary Contest Extravaganza!! from Nathan Bransford

Suzette and Bethany's Wicked-Awesome-Prizes Contest from Shooting Stars
The Prizes:
2 Query Critiques*
+
2 First Five Page Critiques*
+
1 Inscribed/Autographed The Dark Divine*
_____
5 Winners

Blog posts for writers - January 3, 2010

Writing A Fantastical Query, By Steff Green at Vision, a Resource for Writers

NO UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS, OK???? from Help! I Need a Publisher - why and how to query

The Seven Deadly Sins of Novel Writing Part III from the Bookshelf Muse - Sin # 3: Missing the Mark on Voice & POV

10 Habits of Successful Authors from Wordplay

What I Have Learned in Writing from Chandara Writes - great tips!

Classes from Mystery Writing is Murder - includes a list of sites with low-cost classes

For free classes, join Forward Motion Writer's Community

Blog posts for writers - January 2, 2010

>NEW YEAR INSPIRATION? from Help! I Need a Publisher!

>The perfect time is now from Janet Reid

Talented Characters from Mystery Writing is Murder

>The Best Advice from Romance University

>Footnotes: 8 Articles on Synopsis Writing from Guide to Literary Agents

>Fabulously Fun Friday: Top Ten New Years Resolutions for Writers from AuthorCulture