16 Best Articles This Week for Writers 12/3/2010

Inspiration

• Feeding Your Spirit to feed Your Writing [WOW! Women On Writing Blog] Focus on the positive to keep your inspiration and enthusiasm going.
• Keeping Creative Without Burning Out [Mystery Writing is Murder] It's okay to vary the pace, but do keep writing.
• Best Writing Exercises, Part VI [The Divining Wand] Six writers share great tips.
• So you want to write? What’s stopping you? [Not Enough Words] Two must reads.
• You want to write: which voice will you obey? [Time to Write] We all have negative inner voices as well as positive.
• Tip Thursday: Inspiration Amnesia [Angels and Demons and Portals. Oh My!] How to capture those great ideas.
• SCBWI TEAM BLOG Pre-conference Interview: Author Sara Zarr [Alice Pope's SCBWI Children's Market Blog] Don't forget the joy that first led you to write.
• What's In A Name? [Renae Mercado] Where to find inspiration for naming your characters.
• Comparison Doesn’t Work [Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent] You're on your own journey.
• Remaining Thankful for Your Writing [Excuse Editor] Count your writing blessings.
• Three lessons from a not-so-wimpy author [Time to Write] Nine years before it hit. Persevere.
• Is the joy of writing missing in action? [Time to Write] Write because it's fun.
• The Powerful 'P' Words [The New Author] More Ps for your writing life. And yes, patience is still here.
• Symbolism Thesaurus Entry: Beauty [The Bookshelf Muse] Infuse your writing with symbols for beauty.
• Psychology in Writing: Front Page News [NouveauWriter] Finding inspiration for fiction in papers and magazines.
• Basic Writing Tips – 6 Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills [Quips and Tips for Successful Writers] Make your writing better with these pieces of advice.
  

Craft of Writing

• J.K. Rowling's advice... [Buffy's write zone] Be ruthless about protecting writing days.
• Amazing Resource for Writers: THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO PSYCHOLOGY [QueryTracker.net] This sounds interesting!
• 3rd Annual International Plot Writing Month -- Day One [Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers] The Character Emotional Development Profile
• The 6 Degrees of Show vs. Tell, Rated by Quality [A. Victoria Mixon, Editor] Excellent, interesting perspective.
• YA character advice [Dystel & Goderich Literary Management] Would your MC still be a hero without special powers?
• Scene Questions [JULIE BUSH] 22 Questions to drop kick you back into your story.
• Get Dangerous [JULIE BUSH] Push the edge, so long as you stay true to your audience and your voice.
• Symbolism Thesaurus Entry: Borders/Barriers [The Bookshelf Muse] Writer's guide to roadblocks, literal and not.
• T3 - The Drama Triangle [The Character Therapist] Pinging back and forth between Persecutor, Rescuer & Victim.
• The Teen Brain [Write-Brained] And how it makes YA unique to write.
• Books on Writing [Sisters in Scribe] Stephen Kind's On Writing and Bell's Plot and Structure.
• 3rd Annual International Plot Writing Month -- Day Two [Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers] More about subplots and hidden treasures.
• Keeping Track of Story, or My New Toy [Magical Words] Using a magnetic whiteboard...
• National Novel Writing Month Writers Produce 2,799,449,947 Words [GalleyCat] Links to all the craft advice + NaNoEdMo
• Writing Advice From Agatha Christie [The Literary Lab] Ideas, characters, and setting. Where do you find them?
• Tip Tuesday #65 [Literary Rambles] Outlining by Subplot
• Put the hero through hell, not the reader [James Killick's Blog] Putting your MC through hell, but in a reader-friendly way.
• Creating Characters--Shannon Style [Shannon Whitney Messenger] Shannon shares her crafty tricks to making her characters real.
• Planning a Series Can Be Dangerous [Babbles from Scott Eagan] Think of ways to expand instead of planning.
• Grab that reader in the first 10 minutes [Ripping Ozzie Reads] Fabulous article!
• Writing Is More Than Using Technique [Babbles from Scott Eagan] Learn the technique then internalize.
• 4 Ways To Deal With Fictional Parents [Anna Staniszewski] Excellent list.
• Resources For Writers [Paranormal Point of View] Six online stops any writer should make.
• Description: Friend or Foe? [Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors] Provide a few perfect details to let the reader see the scene.
• Conflict, Keep It Up Front, WAY Up Front [tracy edward wymer] The first sentence matters.
• Basics 101 : Character Creation [Write Anything] Given life, characters pursue experiences you would never dare.
• Active vs. Passive Voice in Writing - blog - ourlittlebooks [www.ourlittlebooks.com]
• How to Write the First Draft – 6 Writing Tips From Writers [Quips and Tips for Successful Writers] Nice tips.
• Question about character motivation and action [edittorrent] Really interesting writing question.

Self-Editing

• Revision Checklist [YA Muses] Nine steps to a better manuscript.
• Pop Quiz! The Page-69 Test [The Sharp Angle] Great tip. Read page 69 for voice and interest.
• Not My Type: Formatting Your Manuscript [The Other Side of the Story] Oh, go ahead. Use italics.
• Re-Write Wednesday: Send up the (Red) Flag: Words That Often Spell Trouble [The Other Side of the Story] FANTASTIC post that will change your writing.
• Do You Get My Meaning?: Providing Emotional Clarity [The Other Side of the Story] Add onto the emotional reaction words.
• Thoughts on Revision, by V [YA Muses] Love this: Own your story. Know it like your skin.
• From the Style Guide: Who/Whom [edittorrent] Tune up your grammar skills.
• Revisions Week - Outlining & Plans [unedited] Another option -- outline after drafting.
• Crafting Powerful Sentences [Writer Musings] Pare them down!
• Friends Don't Let Friends Overwrite* [* Fiction Groupie *] Seven things to look for in your own writing.

Critiquing

• 4 Ways to Find a Critique Partner [Author, Jody Hedlund] Great advice.
• A Question of Betas [QueryTracker.net] Where to find them and what makes them right.

To Market

• Successful Queries: Agent Lauren MacLeod and ''Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings'' [Guide to Literary Agents] Helene Boudreau's brilliant query! YAY Helene!
• First Impressions by Melissa Jeglinski: December Edition [The Knight Agency Blog] An agent's perspective on a first page.
• Agent Spotlight: Adam Friedstein [Literary Rambles] Looking for loud voices, captivating characters, books that make statements.
• Submission Etiquette [Let The Words Flow] Good thoughts on querying and submitting.
• New Agent Alert: Stephanie DeVita of Dystel & Goderich [Guide to Literary Agents] She seeks YA among other genres.
• Agent Bob Silverstein On: Query Letter Tips [Guide to Literary Agents] Four things that make a great letter.
• How I Got My Agent: Flynn Meaney (and a Free Book Giveaway) [Guide to Literary Agents] Good inspiration and information on Dan Lazar.
• Agent Advice: Uwe Stender of TriadaUS Literary Agency [Guide to Literary Agents] Looking for women's fic, high concept YA & strong MG.
• When multiple agents make an offer [Let The Words Flow] FANTASTIC post with all the answers.
• ’Tis The Season To Query? [QueryTracker.net] Are you wondering?
• So You Want To Write A Novel [kt literary] -- Don't quote this to an agent.
• How To Pitch A Book Series [BubbleCow] Your approach may depend on how many books you've written.
• (title unknown) [YA Highway] Good article on deciding who and how to query.
• Getting The Call Means Your Work Gets Harder [Babbles from Scott Eagan] Be sure you are ready to go pro.
• Agent Spotlight: Ann Behar [Literary Rambles] Looking for children's PB to YA as long as it's beautifully written.
• MY AGENT HATES MY WIP! #@*&%# [Jill Corcoran Books] What to do when your agent's just not that into your WIP.

After the Sale

• What is Your Slingshot? [Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent] One size does not fit all.
• How Publishers Can Use Social Games [GalleyCat] Tie-ins for book launches within games like Mafia Wars?
• 5 Things Writers Should Do BEFORE Release Day [Guide to Literary Agents] Outstading tips to move out on now.
• Reversion of Rights [Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent] Important questions with excellent answers.
• Author Blurbs [GENREALITY] Great tips on blurb etiquette.

Book Reviews

• Middle-Grade Review: Brixton Brothers and the Case of the Case of the Mistaken Identity [Great Books for Kids and Teens] Tongue-in-cheek look at mysteries.
• Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl [The Bibliophile's Journal] Intricately weaves paranormal with romance, humour and heart pounding action.
• Book Review: The Dead Boys by Royce Buckingham [/- LA FEMME READERS -/] Phantasmic yet spooky concept.
• Bookanistas: REVOLUTION [Laura and Lisa Write] Tragedy, heartbreak, obsession, Paris, revolution, time travel. Wow.
• Bookanista Review: Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins--and a GIVEAWAY! [Shannon Whitney Messenger] Incredible pacing, delicious moments & more.
• hooray, awesome LIKE MANDARIN review! [Kirsten Hubbard: YA Author + Travel Writer] "Passionate, multifaceted and intense."
• Book Review: The Mockingbirds [Oasis for YA] The aftermath of date rape, with a thread of hope.
• Book by Book - Vote Now! [Never as the crow flies] Vote every day until 12/31.
• Early Review: Wither by Laren DeStefano [Confessions of a Bookaholic] Five stars-complex and rich with emotion.
• Meagan Spooner - What is Dystopian Fiction? [meaganspooner.livejournal.com]
• Review of: The DUFF [Young Adult Books Reviewed] One that can be read again and again.
• How many have you read? BBC List of 100 books [Write Me!] Try this for fun!
• Best Novels of 2010: A Literary Mixtape [GalleyCat] Best books with sample chapters. Love this idea!
• December's Debut Author~Saundra Mitchell [Heather's Odyssey] Revisiting Shadowed Summer.
• Matched & Other “Breathless Reads” from Penguin Teen [Novel Novice] Great reviews for books to read this holiday season.

Congrats

• Happy Release Day, ANNA! [kt literary] Congrats to Stephanie Perkins--wow reviews on release day!
• Congratulations! [Musings of a Penniless Writer] Congrats to Ellen Booraem and Kate from The Scribbling SeaSerpent!
• Thursday Squee-day [Marianne de Pierres - Burn Bright] BURN BRIGHT's beautiful cover!
• Woo! [Coffey. Tea. And Literary.] Congrats to Kody Keplinger for making the Indie Next List

Contests

• Seasoned Agent + Critique Auction = Donation [Words from the Woods] Irene Goodman to auction off 15 partial critiques for good cause.
• Dear Readers, A Bagful of gifts for YOU! [Clara Gillow Clark] Win critiques--enter by 12/15/10.
• REAL LIVE BOYFRIENDS ARC Giveaway! [ROOTS IN MYTH] Enter by 12/10.
• Contest, Contest, Contest [The Story of a Writer] Enter by 12/6
• Great Contest Opportunity [My Bloggish Blog Thing] Great op for 100K edit from CA Marshall.
• December Debut and SECOND EVER ORIGINAL SIN ARC Contest! [Personal Demons] Enter to win the sequel to Personal Demons.
• Holiday Readathon is here! [Young Adult Books Reviewed] iDrakula giveaway. Enter by 12/5/10.
• Win a Critique! [* Fiction Groupie *] First 5 pages or query crit. Enter by 11/30.
• Contest Monday - For Writers and Readers! [Sisters in Scribe] Great roundup -- two agents plus giveaways.
• The most stress-free giveaway you will ever enter! [The Publication Follies of Alexandra Shostak] Enter by 12/15
• Marvelous Middle Grade Monday--The Secret Series (and a Giveaway!!!) [Shannon Whitney Messenger] High marks for this series and 3 books up for grabs!
• Want to win some free books? Here’s your chance … [Novel Novice] Three book giveaways. Enter by 12/5.

Issues

• Crack Is Whack (Or Awesome) [a heart on a wire] Are you willing to pay for Wikipedia?
• Democratization or Disinformation? [Writer Beware™ Blogs!] Don't fall for unrealistic assumptions!
• Literary Dialect [TheWriteGame] Good analysis of a serious question for writers.
• Is Speech Recognition Software The Next Step In Writing? [www.publetariat.com] What do you think?
• December Is NaNoEdMo - National Novel Editing Month [The Sharp Angle] Wait, I thought this was in March?
• Genre Sales 2: Children's/YA (Part 2 of 8) [Pimp My Novel] Better money in YA than adult?
• Will You Ever Buy Mostly E-books: The Results [Nathan Bransford - Blog] The numbers are climbing steadily.
• You Tell Me: Will You Ever Buy Mostly E-Books? [Nathan Bransford - Blog] How are your reading habits changing?
• The Hunger Games Budget Set at $60 Million [GalleyCat] Compared to $37 for Twilight, is this enough? Too much?
• The C-Bomb [The Kill Zone] What stops you reading?
• Amazon Book Reviewer Feuds Profiled in The Daily Mail [GalleyCat] Buying Amazon reviews and grudge matches.
• Free speech: V.S. Naipaul, Hari Kunzru and WikiLeaks [Jacket Copy] Censorship, free speech, or public service?
• Facts and Fluff and Ferocious: YA Non-Fiction [YA Highway] Why does YA fiction get all the love?
• forty miles from atlanta, this is nowhere [Ghost Medicine] Sex in YA is practically unavoidable.
• The Great F-Bomb Debate [The Kill Zone] To bomb or not to bomb? Will it affect your marketshare?

 

Social Media, Twitter & Blogging

• 
  The Gifts of Blogging Confidence [Confident Writing] What has blogging given
  you?
• 
  Be Yourself Online [Where Fantasy and Love Take Flight] Food for thought. It's
  easy to hide online.
• Creating the Destination Blog [Ara's Blog] In a world of blogs,
  what keeps 'em coming back?
• The Numbers Tell the Story: Why Social Media Matters [Author Marketing
  Experts, Inc. » BLOG] Simple fact- book buyers are online.
• How to Start a Blog: The Basics for Non-Geeks. [Anne R. Allen's
  Blog] Have you been thinking about it?
• The Changing Face of Publishing: Author/Illustrator Elizabeth Dulemba [Write
  About Now] Creating apps. Are you ready?
• Twelve Ways To Scare Away Twitter Followers [* Fiction Groupie
  *] Excellent list!
• BACK TO BUSINESS MONDAY: Labels & Plans [Writer on the
  Side] Make your blog searchable.
• How To Keep Blogging From Being a Popularity Contest [Author, Jody
  Hedlund] 'Relate with real people in real ways.'

Just for Smiles

• GETTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT AT A DISCOUNT [Grab a Pen] Does cutting words make for a better sale?
• Plot Holes [The League of Extraordinary Writers] We all know we have to fix ours. But some are famous.
• 7 STEPS TO SUCCESS WITH YOUR NANOWRIMO NOVEL [Grab a Pen] Click on this- trust us!
• THE 11 STAGES OF EDITING A NOVEL [Grab a Pen] Kind of like grief. Which would be number 12.
• Simon & Schuster Offers Groupon Discount [GalleyCat] $40 in books for $20, plus unlimited shipping.
• Why Alpha Males are ASSHOLES [Hello Ello] Great post about stereotypes and unrealistic characters.

 Other Weekly Round-Ups:

• Jane Friedman of Writer's Digest also does a wonderful list of best tweets of the previous week. 
• Alice Pope does a Wednesday Tweet Roundup for the SCBWI Children's Market Blog.
• Northern Colorado Writers do This Week in the Writing World every Friday.
• Jennifer Roland does a Writing Roundup on Fridays.
• Ricki Schultz does an "In the Blogosphere" post on Fridays where she lists posts she's stumbled across during the week.
• Elizabeth Craig has started posting a weekly list of all her helpful Twitter posts.
• And don't forget to check Nathan Bransford's blog later this morning for his weekly recap of publishing news and information.
• Saturday Link Party [Forever Young] Jessica rounds up fun and interesting links.
• Stina Linddenblatt does a Cool Links Friday. This week, she caught a lot I wish we had on ours. I know what I'm doing for the next few minutes!
• DuoLit does a weekly list of links with some emphasis on self-publishing and marketing.
• YA Highway's Friday Road Trip hits the high points of the publishing industry, writing craft, submissions process, and other fun stuff.
• Cynthia Leitich Smith at Cynsations does a Cynsational author and book news review.

Did we miss anything? Anyone? Please leave a comment!

Happy reading and joyous writing,

Martina & Marissa