Current links for writers - May 31

Oh, Woe Is Me at The Other Side of the Story - plotting and characters

Act TWO at Chandara Writes

Are You Ready? How Do You Know? by Shannon Messenger at QueryTracker

Ways to Trash Your Writing Career: Cop a ‘Tude by Judith Tarr at Book View Cafe

Writing Nowadays–Good Agent, Bad Agent by Steven Harper Piziks also at Book View Cafe

I’m a perfect fit, so why did you reject me? at Behler Blog

Getting Offers from Multiple Agents at Kidlit.com

Bios and Nonfiction at Editorial Anonymous - plus her thoughts on fiction writers' bios

How to Throw an Awesome Book Launch at Editorial Ass

Sub Ops Ten at Paperback Writer - Ten Things About Submission Opportunities

Current links for writers - May 30

8 Ways Longhand Writing Frees Your Muse at Wordplay

Interviews, or Going the Extra Mile to Research Your Novel by Tracy Hahn-Burkett at Writer Unboxed

4 Do’s & 4 Don’t’s for Writing Series Fiction by A. Victoria Mixon, Editor via Bibliophile Stalker

Director's Corner: Active Versus Reactive Characters at odysseyworkshop, also via Bibliophile Stalker

Your Author Bio is your Business Card at Twelfth Planet Press

A breadth of critique at TalkToYoUniverse

#160-the director's cut at Query Shark

CONTEST

Dream Retreats by Paperback Writer

Current links for writers - May 29

Hello, Diction, My Old Friend at The Alchemy of Writing

Trying Something New vs. Branding at Mystery Writing is Murder

The Hidden Costs of Social Networking by marketing specialist Rob Eager at Chip's Blog

How To Sell Your Wife from 19th-century American Women - fascinating info and story inspiration

Current links for writers - May 28

The Perils of Sing-Song Names at AuthorCulture

Four tips for portraying young adult characters at Plot to Punctuation

The YA Love Interest(s) at Linn Prentis Literary

I Have An Idea! Now What? at The Other Side of the Story - more on plotting

Climax at Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers - The final 1/4 of a story

Further Thoughts on eReader apps for the iPad by Lou Anders at Pyr-o-mania - a comparison

Bookkeeping for Writers by Brigitte A. Thompson at The Blood-Red Pencil

Kvetching About the Bestseller List by Alicia Rasley at Jungle Red Writers via edittorrent

The Only Way to Know If You’ll Be a Successful Writer by Jane Friedman at Writer Unboxed

CONTESTS

Week of win: Friday Prizes. at Adventures In Writing

Book Day Giveaway! Day Five by Elana Johnson

Current links for writers - May 27

PACE - IT'S NOT A RACE at Help! I Need a Publisher!

Author, We Have a Problem at The Other Side of the Story - about plotting

Someone for the Reader to Care About at Mystery Writing is Murder

Vampires and Other Super(duper)naturals: Their Present and Their Future by Amy Hayden at Linn Prentis Literary

The Triple T Guest Blogger: Mary DeMuth at Rants & Ramblings

You Really Aren't the Sherlock Holmes of that Manuscript by Lady Glamis at the Literary Lab - about critiquing

“I want to keep my e-book rights!” at Behler Blog

Dandelion Sunrise at Scotland In The Gloaming - just because I love this photo

CONTESTS

Pick a Winner, Win Something Yourself :D at No Letters On My Keyboard

Book Deal Giveaway! Day Four by Elana Johnson

So much to see. So much to win. at Adventures In Writing - a list of contests

A contest reminder at Shooting Stars

Current links for writers - May 26

EPIC Resource for Fantasy Writers by Angela Ackerman, The Bookshelf Muse

How Books Work, part 2: Day 'o' YA by the Intern

How To Make Your First Draft Not Suck Too Much at the Sharp Angle

Theme in Query Letters at edittorrent

7 Tips on Book Publicity by Livia Blackburne at Guide to Literary Agents

Website and Blog Musts at Mystery Writing is Murder

Branding: Not Just For Livestock Anymore by Sheralyn Pratt at QueryTracker

Squirrels are a lot like getting published… at Behler Blog - Oh! How I laughed!

CONTESTS

Week of win: Wednesday Prizes. at Adventures In Writing

Book Deal Giveaway! Day Three by new author Elana Johnson

Current links for writers - May 25

How to Get (and Keep) People's Attention at *A Brain Scientist's Take on Writing*

What's in a word? at Adventures In Writing

Rearranging Things at Mystery Writing is Murder

Fight! Fight! Fight! at Plot to Punctuation

On Formatting from Getting Past the Gatekeeper

How to Get an Agent's Attention at Guide to Literary Agents

Frustrated with your Rejections? at Rants & Ramblings

What Is an Editor? by Linda Lane at The Blood-Red Pencil

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Meet Leland McCaslin at Hair Dye & Samurai - Hurray for my QT friends!

Another Success Story! at Miss Snark's First Victim - congrats to J.M. Frey

CONTESTS

Book Deal Giveaway! Day Two by Elana Johnson

Tales from the Sideline Blogfest at Justified Lunacy

Current links for writers - May 24

Medical Mondays: Willow Bark has a Bite! at The Word is My Oyster

What You Can't Write About by Davin Malasarn at The Literary Lab

Writing Nowadays–What an Editor Does by Steven Harper Piziks at Book View Cafe

Using Your Galleys at BookEnds - more great ideas in comments

E-books – royalties, production costs, and sales, oh my! at Behler Blog

Is the Grass Really Greener? from Rants & Ramblings - changing agents

CONTESTS

A week of win. at Adventures In Writing - win The Forest of Hands & Teeth, and The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan.

All Hail the Queen! at Book Dreaming - two $10.00 Amazon gift cards

Book Deal Giveaway! Day One from Elana Johnson - two prize packages

Current links for writers - May 23

Writers on Writing: Manners and Wit by Sherwood Smith at Book View Cafe

tension at brian's blog: writer talk

Don't Shortchange the Muse! at Writer's Corner

Writing Comes Before Research, Or at Least at the Same Time by Jeanne Kisacky at Writer Unboxed

Generality Is the Death of the Novel at Wordplay

things you include in a query letter at edittorrent

CONTEST

A salute to Scottish Breakfast Tea (and a giveaway!) at Scotland for the Senses

Current links for writers - May 22

Switching genders? by Lonnie Cruse at POE'S DEADLY DAUGHTERS

So what’s an e-book cost, anyway? from Behler Blog

Finding the Time by Anna Elliott at Writer Unboxed

CONGRATULATIONS!

Story of a Girl by and about Elana Johnson - Hurraaaaaaaaay!

CONTESTS

Author Spotlight and Book Giveaway with Sierra Rose at Written in Blood

A writing challenge for YOU! from agent Janet Reid

The Writing Challenge for YOU! and a clue!

a writing challenge for YOU - take 2! from Suzie Townsend at Confessions of a Wandering Heart - Oh, dear!

Current links for writers - May 20

Warriorship, Writing, and Communication by Nancy Jane Moore at Book View Cafe

Author Voice vs. Character Voice* at * Fiction Groupie *

Isn't Short Fiction Worth Its Weight in Gold at BookEnds

10 Tips for Transitioning to Full Time at Chip's Blog

Deadlines at Books & Such

Good and Bad Things About Synopses at Mystery Writing is Murder

Author Tip #4: What's your problem? at Linn Prentis Literary - why she stops reading

Themes in Queries at Elaine English Literary

Agents – too much power? at Behler Blog

CONGRATULATIONS! -- A new writing book

Motivate to Create: a guide for writers by Nate Hendley at Five Rivers Chapmanry

CONTESTS

Poseur by Rachel Maude at Confessions of a Wandering Heart

May Grab Bag Giveaway at Neverending Page Turner

Agent- judged Contest Announced! by Suzette Saxton at QueryTracker

Current links for writers - May 19

Pacing Emotion at AuthorCulture

Truth=Depth at Shooting Stars - use your past

Where are My Pruning Shears? at Book Dreaming - words to avoid

Virtual Pockets at Mystery Writing is Murder - thoughts on first drafts

Teach Thyself at Paperback Writer

Reputations at Rants & Ramblings

CONTESTS

Oooh, I loves a contest. via Adventures In Writing - a long list

The Official Cinderella Society Blog Tour Giveaway! at Market My Words - win a Glass Slipper, but enter tonight!

Current links for writers - May 18

The Spaces Between the Lines at Book Dreaming - dialogue advice

The Magic Notebook by Deborah J. Ross at Book View Cafe

Psychic links and channels of communication at TalkToYoUniverse

Some Things I Might Know About Query Letters from Pimp My Novel

eBook Royalty: Another Way To Protect at Pub Rants

What if My Agent Doesn't Like My Next Book? at Rants & Ramblings

Current links for writers - May 17

Foreshadowing is never a bad thing at Justified Lunacy

Mental Health Monday at Diamond–Yup, Like the Stone - the Stages of Change

Medical Mondays: Hole Hearted at The Word is My Oyster

Writing Ruts at Books & Such - things to watch for

Three steps to a breakout story at Plot to Punctuation

How To Critique: It’s All In the Way You Say It by Carolyn Kaufman at QueryTracker

AGENT OR NOT? at Help! I Need a Publisher!

#160-for the win! from Query Shark - gasp! A winner right out of the box!

The Value of the Verbal Pitch at Rants & Ramblings

10 Tips For Marketing Your Books Online at Guide to Literary Agents

101 Best Websites for Writers (My Favorites) at There Are No Rules - the free download is very interesting

One Very Important Part of Being a Writer at Mystery Writing is Murder

CONTESTS

Introducing The League of Extraordinary Writers (and our first PRIZE PACK)! via Literary Rambles

Contest coming—get ready! by Jordan McCollum

Current links for writers - May 16

Don’t Stop the Writing by Sarah Zettel at Book View Cafe

Keith Richards and Character Transformation at Mystery Writing is Murder

Seven ways to show character growth at Plot to Punctuation

Who Mary Sue Isn’t by Marie Brennan at Science Fiction and Fantasy Novelists

Reading Your Work in Public by Jo Klemm at The Blood-Red Pencil

10 Things… by Cheryl Angst - 10 things agent Kate McKean hopes for in a query letter

Give a Book, Help A School (Nashville) at Market My Words

CONGRATULATIONS!

Tackle Box goes across the Pond – Invasion of the Yanks! by Lynn Price

Current links for writers - May 14

Plotting the Plot – not as tough as it seems? at Behler Blog

Are you my hero? at Revelations of a Smoothie Girl - types of heroes

Backstory: more resources by Jordan McCollum

Age Is Just A Number at Pub Rants

#QueryFail: Over the Top at Books & Such

Successful Queries: Agent Kristin Nelson and ''Give Up the Ghost'' at Guide to Literary Agents

All About Acquisitions at Chip's Blog

CONTEST

Prizes! I made it to 150 Followers! at The Word is My Oyster - Three Great Prizes!

Current links for writers - May 13

Mythical Creatures via TalkToYoUniverse

That's Not My Name: Pseudonyms at * Fiction Groupie *

How To: Remove Section Breaks at The Blood-Red Pencil

Humor is a Frog at Book Dreaming

Subtexts, "Hoops," and Industry Standards at BookEnds - about queries

Query keywords at Getting Past the Gatekeeper

#QueryFail: TMI at Books & Such

The One Sentence, One Paragraph, and Two Paragraph Pitch from Nathan Bransford

A Wonderful Game Called "What's My Department and What Does It Do?" at Pimp My Novel

Sub Ops Ten at Paperback Writer - Ten Things About Submission Opportunities (Kids & YA Special Edition)

CONTESTS

1000 Words, Part One at KT Literary - win a 30 minute phone conversation with an agent

The Ultimate Interview Contest!! at No Letters On My Keyboard - Zoe will feature the winner on her blog in a guest interview (you also get a nifty golden flash drive)

Current links for writers - May 12

Backstory and character motivation by Jordan McCollum

Voice, Quickly and Brilliantly at Kidlit.com

Ex-Pec-Ta- Hmmm at Adventures In Writing - Expectations.

Some advice by Ann Aguirre at Writer Unboxed - never feel like you have to mortgage your vision

#QueryFail: Clever Queries at Books & Such

Advice for Myself at Rants & Ramblings

Should You Create a Facebook Fan Page? (And If So, When?) at There Are No Rules

Welcome Signs at Book Dreaming

Great Cause at Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers - Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research.

CONGRATULATIONS, Bethany!

I've Done It! at Shooting Stars

CONTESTS

''Dear Lucky Agent'' Contest: Fantasy and Sci-Fi at Guide to Literary Agents

May's Secret Agent Contest: Early Info at Miss Snark's First Victim

AC's Anniversary is Almost Here! at AuthorCulture

Current links for writers - May 11

Backstory and characterization (and what NOT to do!) by Jordan McCollum

Developing a Protagonist at Mystery Writing is Murder

The Learning Curve from TalkToYoUniverse

Finding YOUR Voice at Writer's Corner

Drowning in the Title Pool from Editorial Ass

Cleaning Up the Puke - revising with Elana Johnson

Secrets of a Great Pitch at Rants & Ramblings

You Need the Lovin' Before the Sellin' at The Writing Spectacle - why an agent needs to fall in love

While we're on the topic of Elizabeth Gilbert... at Getting Past the Gatekeeper
...please, please, please don't ever compare your work to Eat, Pray, Love.

Without Fear of Punishment... or Publication at Editorial Anonymous - Do editors worry when children’s book authors post political trash talk on the internet?

We're All Just Big Old Hens! at Book Dreaming - LOL!

Current links for writers - May 10

A Punch in the Gut from Book Dreaming

How to Craft a Great Voice from Nathan Bransford

Backstory through setting and props by Jordan McCollum

Mental Health Monday at Diamond–Yup, Like the Stone - panic attacks

Medical Mondays: Mmm, I'll have a side of dirt with that burger. at The Word is My Oyster

Synopses at Mystery Writing is Murder - more tips

Publisher/agent hunting – Is it raining outside? at Behler Blog

Making Comparisons, Part II at BookEnds - should you make comparisons in your query?

Getting Into a “Closed” House at Kidlit.com

Writing Nowadays–Bad Contracts by Steven Harper Piziks at Book View Cafe

Are you really going to post that? by Kathleen Bolton at Writer Unboxed

Current links for writers - May 9

Sooner is Better at brian's blog: writer talk

Idioms at TalkToYoUniverse

A Writer’s Support at Mystery Writing is Murder

Query Recap at Confessions of a Wandering Heart - read this agent's pet peeves near the end of the post

Improve Yourself, Improve Your Writing at Wordplay

Current links for writers - May 8

That PO Box in Schenectady by Brenda Clough at Book View Cafe - places to get ideas

POV—Which Is Best? from Pub Rants

A Different Point of View from the Sharp Angle

Are you using the power of nicknames? at Plot to Punctuation

That Sentence Isn't Your Problem by scott g.f.bailey at the Literary Lab

25 Words or Less at Upstart Crow - tips on creating your pitch

Tips on how a writer can break out from the pack at Books & Such

Is What It Is Ism (Or Why You Must Be Your Own Evil Drill Sergeant) from Editorial Ass - don't let your work fall to "It is what it is."

What If Multiple Agents Want Your Work? at Guide to Literary Agents

Why Writer Beware Doesn't Provide Publisher Recommendations (Plus Some Advice) at Writer Beware

Agent Critiques, Editor Critiques, Autographed Books, and More! via Shooting Stars - auctions to help Nashville = great writing related items

Current links for writers - May 6

Plot. What is it and how do I get one? from Chandara Writes

Disliking and deep pov at edittorrent - why contest judges didn't like the heroine

Don't Leave Me Hanging at The Other Side of the Story

HOW RISKY IS YOUR WRITING? at Help! I Need a Publisher!

Is Your Story Science Fiction or Urban Fantasy? by Elsa Neal at The Blood-Red Pencil

And then things started to blow up: how my friend getting an agent (on her first try) helped me write a darker novel from Getting Past the Gatekeeper

The Benefit of Hindsight at Rants & Ramblings - Guest Blogger: Karen Witemeyer

Synopsis Pointers and a Reminder by Lady Glamis at the Literary Lab

Slush Metrics at Gabrielle Edits

Public Speaking by Therese Walsh, author of The Last Will of Moira Leahy

Symbolism Thesaurus Entry: Instability & Turmoil at The Bookshelf Muse - a wonderful series

Current links for writers - May 5

How writers can use Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs at Plot to Punctuation - choosing your character's motivation

Wright's Writing Corner: Guest Blogger Jordan McCollum on Suspence! at Visions of Arhyalon - about that wonderful tool of the suspence writer, The MacGuffin

The Elements of Awe, Part III by Donald Maass at Writer Unboxed

Re-Write Wednesday: I Had to Do This at The Other Side of the Story - vague pronouns

Where Are We Going With This? from Mystery Writing is Murder - think about your long-term plans

Resubmitting Queries from BookEnds

Breaking Out of the Pack: Something Old, Something New at Books & Such - How do you make an editor or agent notice your work?

The Worst of Contracts at Chip's Blog

Amazon—or Shamazon? inside customer reviews from the Intern - comments are interesting, too

Meet the 'sabre-toothed sausage' at BBC News - this article is simply cool, especially if you invent aliens

CONTESTS

Caption Contest! at The Wannabe Vampire... Um, I mean Author

Claire de Lune Contest Giveaway at Why A?

Win the Harper Teen Prize pack from the Book Pixie - Enter by May 16th.via Confessions of a Wandering Heart

Stella is hosting her first ever contest (50 followers, yay!) - Enter by 5/21 also via Confessions of a Wandering Heart

Current links for writers - May 4

Backstory through narration by Jordan McCollum

The Series Bible at Nathan Bransford - if you write a series, you need to write one!

How They Do It: Guest Blogger Lydia Sharp on The Long and the Short of it at The Other Side of the Story - great tips for any type of story

The writer’s toolkit: Eavesdropping for dialogue at the Book Deal

That One Question We Always Hear at edittorrent - warning, they edit erotica, so some wierd questions

On Acknowledgments from Getting Past the Gatekeeper - who to thank

How to Have an Awesome Time at a Writers Conference at Guide to Literary Agents

A Splash of Cold Water at Rants & Ramblings - reality rears its ugly head

Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics by Victoria Strauss at Writer Beware - those self-publishing numbers

Ask the Editor Free For All Day! By Morgan Mandel at The Blood-Red Pencil - great q&a in the comments

Not-to-Be-Missed This Week at There Are No Rules - offers from Writer's Digest

Finding the Creative Joy by Heather Reid at Writer Unboxed

Current links for writers - May 3

Mental Health Monday at Diamond–Yup, Like the Stone - The topic of today is “neuroticism.”

Medical Mondays: Good Morning. How's your function? at the Word is My Oyster

How Firm Is Your Handshake? at the Sharp Angle

Guest blogger: Agent Roseanne Wells talks kitchen sink plots, or "Adding a dragon won't help." at the Swivet

Starting A Novel In The Wrong Place at Pub Rants

Building Your Pitch by Elana Johnson at QueryTracker - great info!

A Note on Synopses from Elaine English

Know Your Category at Kidlit.com

What's in a Publishing Contract? at Rants & Ramblings

Passive Marketing at AuthorCulture

Footprints in the sand – Online presence at Behler Blog

The Fate of Self-Published Works at BookEnds

CONGRATULATIONS!

A Dream Come True at Hair Dye & Samurai

ANNOUNCEMENT

Let the submissions begin at Elaine English Literary

CONTESTS

Spreading the Awesome from Elana Johnson

Spreading the Awesome! at Book Dreaming

Spread the Awesome + Contest! at Shooting Stars

Spreading the Awesome + Signed Book Giveaway! at Literary Rambles

Celebrate the Awesome Book Pick: The Dead-Tossed Waves at the Bookshelf Muse

Current links for writers - May 2

What a novelist needs to know about marketing at Chip's Blog

Agent Barbara Poelle On: Three Things Debut Authors Should Know When Signing With an Agent at Guide to Literary Agents

When Your Story Doesn’t Turn Out Like You Planned at Wordplay

I've been attending a digital writers' conference, and it's been a lesson in patience. A chatroom just doesn't have the dynamic of a live conference. Admittedly, I've only gone to Costuming and to Science Fiction / Fantasy conventions. Lively folk go there, not shy writers.

Has anyone had any experience with writers' chatrooms? What do you think?

Current links for writers - May 1

Babytalk. at Adventures In Writing

The Experience of Reading and Getting into the Character at Fire and Silk

Don't call me your Mary Sue at Justified Lunacy - So, how do humans behave?

Foreshadowing from Mystery Writing is Murder

The Battle of the Query by Anne Brown at Writer Unboxed

Comic: “The Pitch Session” by Debbie Ohi at Writer Unboxed

CONTEST

Author Spotlight and book Giveaway with T. L. Jones at Written in Blood