Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Dec 29

Ask the editor: Help with transitions and bridges from the Book Deal

Sagging Middles Part Deux: Pick up the Pace from * Fiction Groupie *

Open the Phone Booth Door by Sharon Wildwind at POE'S DEADLY DAUGHTERS - character (and writing) behavior

Top nine character development tips of 2009 from Plot to Punctuation

HOW SMART ARE YOUR WRITING RESOLUTIONS? from Help! I need a Publisher!

Tunnel Vision from Mystery Writing is Murder - Tips for handling criticism and making it helpful

Responding to bad advice from Jordan McCollum

The tipple in Scotch Trifle from Scotland for the Senses - just plain YUMMY!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Dec 28

Author Question: What Does It Mean That I'm in My Second Printing? from Editorial Ass

What is an Author Platform? from Guide to Literary Agents

Setting, Keeping, and Achieving Your Writing Goals in the New Year by Carolyn Kaufman at QueryTracker.net

Keep Your Day Job, Right? from The Other Side of the Story

The Unexpected from Mystery Writing is Murder

Dialogue Interruptus from The Blood-Red Pencil

Skip The Starting Line from the Literary Lab

Sub Ops from Paperback Writer - Ten Submission Opportunities for Writers

Red Tag Contest from Elana Johnson

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Dec 19

Writers Killing off Their Characters . . . from Poe's Deadly Daughters

Creating Characters That Live from Author Culture - How do you turn boring characters into ones that readers will cry and laugh with throughout an entire story?

Villains are heroes too from Plot to Punctuation

Agents at a Conference Talk Queries, Short Stories, the State of the Industry & More from Guide to Literary Agents - lots of good info

Publishers desperately seeking insanely great debut novelists from the Book Deal

Gerund or Present Participle Phrase? from Step 1: Write, Edit, and Revise - clear explanations for clearer writing

5 Things That Make Me Stop Reading Websites & Blogs from Writer Unboxed - I strongly agree on all points!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Dec 17

The Value, or Not, of Reviews from 5 Rivers Chapmanry

Agents who half-ass it from Behler Blog

People Read That? The About Me Section from Fiction Groupie

Agents Insider 411 from Market My Words - a few things to remember for AFTER you get an agent.

Worse Before It’s Better from Mystery Writing is Murder - about first drafts

All About Writing Contests from Nathan Bransford - read and understand the fine print.

Queries and Cover Letters from Elaine English

Sharing Your Writing... from Writer's Corner - first readers

Blog posts for writers - Dec 16

Website review for Deb Salisbury -- Jordan McCollum and Kathleen MacIver review my website

Conflicting Opinions from BookEnds, LLC - about agent's taste in queries

Buy My Hardcover, or I'll . . . . from Paperback Writer

Re-Write Wednesday: Take Two from The Other Side of the Story - Writing a sequel is hard.

Writing Sex Scenes Without Being Pornographic from the Sharp Angle

Best of the Blog 2009: Kiss of Death: The Renaissance Writer from Books & Such - about the writer of many genres

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Monday, December 14, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Dec 14

You've Decided to Try for Publication. Now What? from A Good Blog is Hard To Find

Negotiating Your Advance from BookEnds, LLC

Scene breaks and hand-offs from TalkToYoUniverse

When Unnamed Characters Speak from edittorrent

Don't Like it? Tough! from The Other Side of the Story - make life tough for your characters

Halfway point! from Gabrielle Edits - Open submisions at Dragon Moon Press reminder, with lots of good advice

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Dec 13

Fragments redux from edittorrent

Who is teaching this stuff? also from edittorrent, about trends in writing 'styles'

"A Joke Is An Epitaph To An Emotion" from Diamond–Yup, Like the Stone

Fantasy Writing Resources from About Writing – The Personal Blog of Pace J Miller, via Chandara Writes

The Day My Characters Started Talking to Me By Brad Parks, guest blogger, from Poe's Deadly Daughters

2010 LEAPFROG FICTION CONTEST ANNOUNCED - Leapfrog Press

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Friday, December 11, 2009

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Dec 10

This was posted on J's site, but I need to record it from edittorrent - from Jordan McCollum, about POV

Your Character is Wrong from the Literary Lab

Editor Request from BookEnds, LLC - about requested material

Hudson Audio Publishing from Writer Beware Blogs!

A 19th-Century Mathematician Finally Proves Himself, by Laura Sydell of NPR
- about Charles Babbage's 'Difference Engine'
If you write Steampunk or Victorian historicals, this is a must-see article.

It didn't win, but I loved it most from Janet Reid - ROFL!!!
The Twelve Tips on Queries (to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas)

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Dec 8

An Axe Is A Handy Tool from Diamond–Yup, Just Like the Stone - about editing your work

Terminator Offers Some Lessons for the Salvation of Your Novel from the Rejectionist

Fun things from edittorrent - about making your story fun

Lighting up your reader’s brain: Can neuroscience teach how to be a better writer?
from The Book Deal - an interview about the brain, with Livia Blackburne

Respecting Each Other from BookEnds, LLC - about working with an agent

Publicity Pogo from Behler Blog - lots of great tips from editor Lynn Price

December Book Giveaway! from Writer Musings

Monday, December 7, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Dec 7

Sharpening Those Verbs from Book View Cafe

Event sequence in scenes from edittorrent

Does your story carry a message? from TalkToYoUniverse, also about a writing tool: Patterns

How to revise your characters' physical attributes from Plot to Punctuation

Reality Check from Gabrielle Edits, about using real people in your stories

An agent's view on No Simultaneous Submissions by BookEnds, LLC

How Did We Get Here? from Dean Wesley Smith, about the agent relationship, via Bibliophile Stalker

How Do I Format My E-Query? from Literary Rambles

A contest

Words Move Me - Sony Reader Giveaway! from Rants and Ramblings

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Nov 28

I've been down with a bug, so here's a long list of posts I thought you'd find useful.

What is the ideal page count for a first novel? from Ask a Literary Agent

What's not to like? from Bent on Books - about how agents choose manuscripts

Manuscripts Roasting on an Open Fire, Jack Daniels Nipping at My Nose...
from Editorial Anonymous - about querying over the holidays

Character or symbol from edittorrent

Thoughts on pacing-- nothing brilliant also from edittorrent - very helpful

No! No! Bad Writer* from Fiction Groupie - about rules to make your writing stronger

This Magic Moment* also from Fiction Groupie
- What separates a novel from being just good to being great?

How semantics can help you! Part 3 by Juliette Wade, from SFWA

Each Character has a Job from Mystery Writing is Murder

The Last NaNoPost from Paperback Writer - about not giving up
Look at the photos of the castle!

Marketing Principles: Part 2 of 3 by Jim Rubart, from Rants & Ramblings

Steinbeck was wrong from Plot to Punctuation - about ideas

Chekhov's Gun from The Literary Lab

Guest Post: Connecting "Point of View" and "Show, Don't Tell" from the Sharp Angle

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Nov 24

More about Smashwords and Digital Rights Management from 5rivers News, Views and Points of Interest

Writer Question: When Should I Take Revision Advice, and When Should I Listen to My Gut? from Editorial Ass

When Can You Query Agents? How Do You Know if Your Project is Ready? from Guide to Literary Agents

Character in Queries from Elaine English

Write What You Don't Know from the Literary Lab

Top 7 Reasons Readers Stop Reading from Wordplay, by K.M. Weiland

Four Contests to Consider:

Cry Havoc from the Ham-Sized Fist Award - an award to be given for the best heroic fantasy or sword-and-sorcery published during the year.
Don't let the date worry you. This contest runs until December 31 2009, and the winner will be picked no later than March 1, 2010. The award is currently $400, and could go up.

**CONTEST** Win a $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card!!! from Hair Dye & Samurai: Musings from an overly caffinated writer
"Because the people at work are trying to kill me you, my friends, get lucky!"

"Thanks for following this Turkey" Contest! from Market My Words
"I will leave the contest open until midnight Pacific time on Wed night. I will draw a name on Thanksgiving Day and post the winner next Monday.
"The winner will get a one hour free marketing consulting session and a book."

Writing Contest! from Cipherqueen - a short story contest
Deadline: December 30th (The sooner, the better)
Length: Must be less than 7,000 words or twenty pages. Please number them.
Topic: A life-changing moment (Both fiction and nonfiction accepted)

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Nov 21

Let it BREATHE... from Writer's Corner

Paying Attention from Mystery Writing is Murder

Pseudonyms from BookEnds, LLC

When Characters Take Over from Brian's Blog

Shnookiedoodlepoo and the Diaper from Editorial Anonymous - about titles

WRITE FOR READERS from Help! I Need a Publisher!

Happy Thanksgiving and Other Such Things from Elana Johnson
She is offering a discount on her book From the Query to the Call

Monday, November 16, 2009

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Nov 12

Call For Submissions from Gabrielle Edits, Editor of Dragon Moon Press
"WHAT WE WANT: Completed 80,000-100,000 word novels in the following genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Gentle Horror, in any flavor or variety."

Do Your Research from 5rivers News, Views and Points of Interest

Following the Rules: Fiction from Books & Such

A PERFECT SCENE THROUGH DIRTY WINDOWS from Help! I Need a Publisher!

First Things First by Juliette Wade of TalkToYoUniverse - about first sentences

The Short Synopsis from Elaine English Literary

Ack! Grammar! from Writer's Corner

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Nov 11

Golden Oldies: Show Vs. Tell from The Other Side of the Story

The Neverending Difficulty of Story from The Alchemy of Writing

Eric Brown's Ten Tips for Aspiring Writers from When Gravity Fails, via Bibliophile Stalker

An Author's Credentials from BookEnds, LLC - the dreaded bio

Following the Rules: Agents and Editors from Books & Such

How to Start Off on the Wrong Foot -- from Elaine English Literary

NaNoReVisMo #3: the transformers are coming from The Intern - on character change

Something special: Scotland for the Senses needs help giving away music DVDs of "2009 Edinburgh Military Tattoo." (YouTube link)

She is looking for people who would particularly enjoy this music. "Perhaps you have an elderly neighbour who was born in Scotland and hasn’t been home for many years. What a nice surprise it would be. Maybe your mother’s grandfather was in the Black Watch, or perhaps the local legion could share it among its members. Or maybe someone you know simply loves the bagpipes, military music or Scottish history."

Read all the details at: Wanted: Scotland-loving Elves

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Nov 10

read and write from Brian's Blog

How Book Royalties Work from Rants & Ramblings

Use Both Sides Of Your Brain from Will Everchase

It's Not for Me from BookEnds, LLC - why agents reject

Boost Your Creativity With Eye Movement from Scientific American - reading seems to do it!

Following the Rules: Book Proposals from Books & Such - also discusses queries

KILLING YOUR DARLINGS - SELF-EDITING FOR SOFTIES from Help! I Need a Publisher!

Voice Finding Techniques from Cathy Yardley from Livia Blackburne

The Use of Etiquette in an Historical Setting from Elaine English Literary

It Doesn't Always Suck from The Other Side of the Story - about first drafts

Monday, November 9, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Nov 9

Do You Know How to Sell Your Sword? from SFWA, via Bibliophile Stalker

Licensing Your Rights from BookEnds, LLC - the difference between selling and licensing your rights

Following the Rules: Queries from Books & Such

5 Tips on Maximizing a Writers' Conference from Guide to Literary Agents

Leaping that Final Hurdle from Upstart Crow

Setting the Mood from Mystery Writing is Murder

Telling Ten from Paperback Writer
Ten Things That Appear in Your Novel, and What They Tell Me

Don't Use That Voice With Me! from QueryTracker.net blog - about the voice of a novel

Giving Your Characters Life from Rants & Ramblings

Golden Oldies: Ten Things to Remember if You Want to Be a Published Writer from The Other Side of the Story

Double Meanings from Writer's Corner

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Nov 4

Five Rivers Seeking Fiction from micro-publisher Five Rivers
"We are actively seeking solidly plotted, character-driven Canadian fiction by Canadian authors."

Training Tactics from edittorrent - teach yourself to write on command

Query Length from BookEnds, LLC

this rant brought to you by the letter Q for Query from Et in arcaedia, ego

How To Avoid Getting an Agent from Rants & Ramblings

7 Things I've Learned So Far, by Jessica Zelenko from Guide to Literary Agents

NaNo Tip no. 4: Word Count is Not Everything from Justine Larbalestier,
via Bibliophile Stalker

Mid-Week NaNoPost from Paperback Writer - about scheduling your writing

What's in a name? from Plot to Punctuation

What I Learned at World Fantasy Week: Double Jeopardy from The Other Side of the Story
-- advice on planning your hooks

The Sequel Question by Megan Crewe, from Tor.com

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Blog posts for writers - Nov 3

Anti-Stakes from Will Everchase - up the stakes in your writing

Psychology in Fiction Q&A: Effects of Being Isolated from Men from Archetype Writing Blog

Less than zero: a distasteful sub-species from Behler Blog - about fake agents.

Intent from Mystery Writing is Murder - writer's intent & reader's expectations

The Sound of Silence from Potent Potables - about nudging an agent

Foreshadowing vs. Telegraphing from Rants & Ramblings

Ask the Editors: Third Person/Present Tense from The Blood-Red Pencil

Some Thoughts on Middles from The Literary Lab - on plotting and structure

Trust Your Editor…Or Not from Books & Such

Read, Read, Read! from Writer's Corner

Monday, November 2, 2009

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Ghost Dragon


I've been moving this poster around with me for nearly 20 years. My sister, the interior decorator, hates it, but will never talk me into getting rid of this dragon.

I'd like to dedicate the Ghost Dragon to a good friend, Michael Miller, who died last week. The world is a poorer place without him. Fly high and free, Michael.

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