16 Best Articles This Week for Writers 1/14/11

Now that I'm back from vacation, we're resuming our regular schedule of round-ups and catching up with the past couple of weeks. I hope you found our "Best of the Best" series helpful! A HUGE thanks to Cam, Cici, and Clara for keeping up with Google Reader while Marissa and I were gone! It's fantastic to come back and catch up with what we missed, especially since we get to share the good stuff with you. Here's to a happy new year of writing!

Inspiration

• Have High Expectations for Yourself [There Are No Rules] Love this: Go after what you want, or fail and become the wiser for it.
• Writing Rituals, Secrets, and Superstitions, Part I [The Divining Wand] Seven writers share their secrets to success.
• Finding Your Way Back From The Depths -- Christine Fonseca [Lightning + Lightning Bugs - Musings from Weronika Janczuk, Literary Agent] Seven lessons to help writers beat the fear of not being good enough.
• Writer Milestones: THE ELITE REQUEST!!! [Justine Dell] Putting the steps in perspective.
• How to Turn 'F-It' Into 'Effort' -- Kaitlyn Fall [Lightning + Lightning Bugs - Musings from Weronika Janczuk, Literary Agent] Ways to stay motivated.
• The 2 Ways Writing Keeps You Off the Streets & Out of the Bars [A. Victoria Mixon, Editor] With a title like this, you've gotta read it.
• Storytelling Techniques With Clare Edwards [The Creative Penn] 'Once you’re clear on the why, you can start to add the building blocks.'
• Justine's Writing Epiphany ... It's a BIG one! [Justine Dell] Remember the REAL reason you're doing this.
• What Are You Afraid Of? [Between Fact and Fiction] Get over it & get writing!
• What if You Think Your Fiction is Crap? [Advanced Fiction Writing Blog] Every writer faces this question.
• Simple Advice, Hard to Follow [Kidlit.com] 'Spare yourself the paralyzing anxiety of the ticking clock.'
• Eight Writing Lessons from Larsson [James Killick's Blog] 'If your story is that good, you can tell it how you want.'
• Tip Tuesday #70 [Literary Rambles] Love it- a look in the rearview does a writer good!
• Guest Post: G. Neri on Beginning the Journey to a Finished Novel [CYNSATIONS] Some of the best advice we've seen on crafting a novel.
• 7 Things I've Learned So Far, by Mark Mustian [Guide to Literary Agents] Great advice, from how to sign a book to trusting the experts.
• 10 Writing Resolutions You Can Fulfill [Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors] Love this post!
• Effective Goal Setting for Writers [WOW! Women On Writing Blog] Set your long-term goal, and then break it down.
• Writer, Interrupted [Pimp My Novel] Have more in your life besides writing? You're lucky.
• Pathway to Becoming a Bestselling Author [QueryTracker.net] It's a two-way circle.
• 7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Danica Davidson [Guide to Literary Agents] Giving up is not an option.
• Jane Smiley's advice for writers [Jacket Copy] We love any tips that include candy and naps!
• New Year's Resolutions [Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent] Use adjectives instead of nouns & verbs to set your goals for next year.
• 3 Things to Do While Querying [Let The Words Flow » 3 Things to Do While Querying] How to keep yourself occupied while waiting for The Call.
• Experiences--Or, Why I Took Anatomy Class [As the Plot Thickens] Why it's so fun to be a writer.

Craft of Writing

• Quick Writing Reminder: Concept vs Character [Hey, There's A Dead Guy in the Living Room] Does a yes or no question drive your character?
• First Vs. Third: Point of View and Character Development [The Other Side of the Story] A solid POV gives you the freedom to let the character shine.
• Deepening Your Character’s Needs [QueryTracker.net] An EXCELLENT post from Stina Lindenblatt!
• Tension On Every Page [The Sharp Angle] The difference between a book and a great book.
• Point of View: A Cheat Sheet [iggi & gabi] A comprehensive primer, menu style.
• Aaron Sorkin on the theme of what you write [Time to Write] Stick to intention and obstacles.
• Biography of an Emotion Thesaurus [The Bookshelf Muse] Have you tried this fabulous resource from @AngelaAckerman?
• T3 - Character Motivations, Part 2 [The Character Therapist] The need for affiliation. Is your mc social?
• Creating Monsters with N. R. Williams [Where Fantasy and Love Take Flight] Invent something new instead of reworking old creatures.
• What’s Your Favorite Writing Lesson? [Jami Gold, Paranormal Author] Read to learn and think about what you've read.
• Make Minor Characters Count [Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors]
• More Thoughts on Using Lists to Write [Mystery Writing is Murder] Lists can help with research, plot holes, and more.
• Creating Unforgettable Settings, Part 3 [The Bookshelf Muse] Enrich your setting with these awesome tips.
• Ways to go from Plod to Plot [.W.I.P. It] How to keep your readers from boredom and frustration.
• Tip Tuesday #71 [Literary Rambles]
• How to let a scene write itself [James Killick's Blog] 'A scene is all about what's happening.'
• How to Dish Out Backstory in Digestible Bites [* Fiction Groupie *] 'Think like a screenwriter.'
• Writing Tips to Tighten Your Process [WOW! Women On Writing Blog] 5 strong pieces of advice (and a bonus!).
• Plot or Consequences: Using Your Premise to Create Plot [The Other Side of the Story] Do you apply the broader aspects of your premise to your stories?
• Creating Tension (in any genre) [Dark Angel Fiction Writing] Hesitation, repetition, brevity, and other tools.
• Changing Format to Increase Impact [The Sharp Angle] Terrific post with concrete examples.
• A Bit on Emotional Structure [Anna Staniszewski] Focus on what the character knows (or doesn’t know) and what she fears.
• Suturing: Making Our Readers One With the Story [Author, Jody Hedlund] How to join your reader and your character.
• Speaking of Climax [Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers] 'Watch how and where you end your story.'
• Picture book Dummy Challenge [Inkygirl.com: Daily Diversions For Writers - by Debbie Ridpath Ohi] 25 weeks to put together your PB dummy.
• What Tickles Your Fancy? [Creepy Query Girl] Are you a plotter or pantser?
• Don’t Get Caught Making These POV Violations, Guest Post by Diane O’Connell [WOW! Women On Writing Blog] 10 major no-nos to avoid.
• Let's Get Ready to Write! Researching Your Novel: Setting [The Other Side of the Story] 'Let your research guide you, but not control you.'
• STOP RESEARCHING [Help! I Need a Publisher!] Write the book, research later.
• Creating Unforgettable Settings [The Bookshelf Muse] Fabulous post on the power of setting.
• Pacing - Keeping it Consistent [Babbles from Scott Eagan] Move your story at the right speed at the right time.
• On Coincidence [edittorrent] Coincidences must complicate your plot.
• How to Bring Adjectives to Life [Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors] Take the time to show intimate details.
• If I Write a Book: Your Feedback [There Are No Rules] Should you ignore writing advice?
• Writer's Laryngitis - Getting Your Voice Back Again [Babbles from Scott Eagan] Your story needs more than just words. It needs personality too.
• Golden Oldie: Pondering the Prologue [The Other Side of the Story] Should you keep or kill your intro?
• 7 Reasons Weather Is a Writer's Friend [Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors] Do you use rain, snow, & sunshine effectively in your writing?
• Stocking Stuffers for Writers: World Building [The Bookshelf Muse] How well do you know the new world you're creating?

Self-Editing

• Appositives: Quick Lesson From the Style Guide [edittorrent] Good explanation!
• Six Things I Wish I’d Known When I Was Writing My First Novel -- Krista Van Dolzer [Lightning + Lightning Bugs - Musings from Weronika Janczuk, Literary Agent] Read these BEFORE you decide your ms is done.
• What Are Editors For? [The Blood-Red Pencil] Five steps to better self-editing.
• Are These Filter Words Weakening Your Fiction? [Write It Sideways] Comprehensive explanation of a common writing mistake.
• 5 Essential Tips on Self-Editing from Catherine Ryan Hyde [Anne R. Allen's Blog] How to see your blind spots.
• Love Your Dictionary [edittorrent] This resource goes beyond spelling and definitions.
• 10 Tests to Prove Your Manuscript is Ready for Submission [Ingrid's Notes] Do you pass?
• Deadlines Are Meant to be Broken [WOW! Women On Writing Blog] Make life easier & your writing better with an orange deadline.
• Editing and Proofreading Tips – 5 Ways to Proofread Your Writing [Quips and Tips for Successful Writers] Proofreading, editing, and revising are the keys to great writing.
• Most Common Mistakes Series: Are You Using “There” as a Crutch? [Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors] It’s being used to hold up a weak and passive sentence.

Critiquing

• Re-Write Wednesday: Is it me? Putting Critiques to Good Use [The Other Side of the Story] How to evaluate, cope with, and apply tough crits.
• Got Ego? [All about them words] Love it: Believe in yourself even when others don't.
• Naked Writers [Julie Musil] The benefits of letting it all hang out.
• Cool Down Time: Handling Criticism Effectively [QueryTracker.net] 5 sound tips for receiving feedback and making the most of it.
• On Critiquing—When to Offer Suggestions [Mystery Writing is Murder] The pros and cons of speaking up, or holding back.

Congrats!

• ROBIN MELLOM THE CLASSROOM TO DISNEY-HYPERION [Jill Corcoran Books] Conrats to Robin Mellom and Jill Corcoran for the 4-book, 6-figure MG deal!
• My Next Project [Crowe's Nest] Congrats to Kristen Tracy on the release of The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter!
• Moving on [Magical Words] Congrats to Faith Hunter for the NYT list debut of Mercy Blade!
• Ah the Memories [Paranormal Point of View] Congrats and thanks to @LisaGailGreen for a YEAR of entertaining, generous, and imaginative blogging!
• lists, links, and frequently asked questions [allyson condie] Two more top honors for MATCHED! Congrats to Allyson Condie!
• Happy Dance! [Kody's Blog] THE DUFF has been selected as a YALSA Quick Picks Top Ten!
• Wonderful News! [The Other Side of the Story] The Pain Merchants is up for 2011 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize!
• A post in which I announce.... [T. Anne Adams] T. Anne signs with Rachelle Gardner! Woot!
• DOGSLED DREAMS released! [TerryLynnJohnson] Congrats, Terry!
• How I Got My Agent: Michael K. Reynolds [Guide to Literary Agents] A lesson in humility.

To Market

• Pitch Your Work at the Writer's Digest Conference [There Are No Rules] Missed the memo? Here's a final op to register!
• A Blast From The Past: Ask Daphne Archives [kt literary] An agent who loves your book is more important than one who loves the category of book you write.
• Agent Spotlight: Joan Slattery [Literary Rambles] Looking for MG and YA for "one of the most voracious and memorable years of reading: sixth grade."
• Agent Advice: Bree Ogden of Martin Literary Management [Guide to Literary Agents] Likes darker plots, dystopian, and new, unique supernatural elements.
• Intern Tips: The Query Edition [Let The Words Flow] What not to put in your query: twenty solid tips.
• Successful Queries: Agent Catherine Drayton and ''The Liar Society'' [Guide to Literary Agents] A must-read! Very cool.
• How Many Picture Books Should I Query? [Kidlit.com] Being selective should guide how many queries you submit.
• Query Letters--Shannon Style (Part Two: Hooks) [Shannon Whitney Messenger] Tips for crafting that killer sentence.
• Checklist for Submitting [Buried in the Slush Pile] An exhaustive list for crossing your t's and dotting your i's.
• New Agent Alert: Kimberly Perel of Wendy Sherman Associates [Guide to Literary Agents] She seeks voice-driven fiction and true-to-life characters.
• Three Tips To Writing A Better Book Proposal [BubbleCow] Keep it simple.
• Is the Query System Dying? [Author, Jody Hedlund] Some tips on making the system work for you.
• Agent Advice: Melissa Sarver of Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency [Guide to Literary Agents] Write because you can't do anything else.
• How Much to Sell Yourself? [Kidlit.com] Be confident, not bombastic.
• Chris Richman Agent at Upstart Crow Literary [Market My Words] Focusing exclusively on MG & YA.
• How Much Negotiation Is There With Contracts [Babbles from Scott Eagan] 'The use of the word "negotiate" is a bit extreme.'
• How to Avoid Getting an Agent [Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent] In a word- negativity.
• Query Letters--Shannon Style (Part One) [Shannon Whitney Messenger] Shannon breaks down formatting your query.
• The Truth About Feedback [Confessions From Suite 500] Four reasons feedback from an agent isn't feasible.
• Agent Spotlight: Jennifer Carlson [Literary Rambles] Enjoys high-quality fiction with a modern edge, including YA.

After the Sale

• How you find out all the ways you screwed your book up (reprise) [Personal Demons] The rev and edit process.
• How To Create A Book Trailer [The Creative Penn] Excellent advice from @TheCreativePenn!

Book Reviews

• The Bookinistas: Across the Universe [Lisa and Laura Write] The best first chapter the Bookanistas have ever read. WOW!
• You Wish by Mandy Hubbard [The Bookologist] Cute, light read with deeper concepts.
• Sapphique by Catherine Fisher [Writer Musings] Mixed review. What do you think?
• Review of Threads and Flames [YA Muses] Another definite for my To Be Read pile!
• Liz's Corner: Fire [WORD for Teens] Great review of one of my favorite recent reads!
• DARKEST MERCY by Melissa Marr [The Daily Harrell] 'If this book was a person, I would totally make out with it.'
• Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal [The Bookologist] A stunning page-turner filled with drama, struggles, betrayals, and lessons.
• Book Review: Timeless by Alexandra Monir [/- LA FEMME READERS -/] 'An elegantly written love story.'
• Book Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis [YA Highway] 'Poised to rock the YA world.'
• Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver [21 Pages] 'Gorgeous writing; it doesn’t get much better than this.'
• Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss [Oasis for YA] Another glowing review for Stephanie Perkins' book.
• Review- Here Lies Bridget [A Blog about Nothing] A quick, entertaining read.
• Book Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand [Novel Novice] 'A moving tale of love and fate.'
• Clarity by Kim Harrington - Review [Reading, Writing and Waiting] An enthusiastic 'WOW' for this upcoming release.
• SHADOW WALKER review by teen reviewer NYIA [LM Preston] A unique read achieving high marks.
• Book Review: Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen [Novel Novice] 'Lush settings and effortlessly lovely writing.'
• Review: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson [Confessions of a Bookaholic] We love this one, too!
• Book Review: Angelfire [Book Dreaming] This one will grab you and won't let go.
• Best Young Adult Books of 2010: Sara’s List [Novel Novice] Have you read these yet?
• Fast Forward to 2011 [Publishing Lane] Add these to your TBR list.
• List! [Hey, There's A Dead Guy in the Living Room] Great 'Best' list of YA books. Have you read them all?
• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand [Candace's Book Blog] Sounds like a fantastic book--and not the same old angel story.

Contests

• Double Giveaway for Best of 2010 [Heather's Odyssey] Enter by 2/3/11.
• Bookanista Review: Like Mandarin, by Kirsten Hubbard--AND AN ARC GIVEAWAY!!!! [Shannon Whitney Messenger] Enter by 1/22/11.
• Win a Critique and Help a Swim Team [Babbles from Scott Eagan] A good cause and a 30-page critique from Scott Eagan.
• First Page and GIVEAWAY: The Line [First Page Panda] Enter by 1/26/11.
• Dogsled Dreams!! [Writers' Ally aka ➔ sa larsenッ] Hint: You can win it with a simple comment!
• Debut Authors' Giveaways and Contests [Caroline by line] Enter to win books from the Elevensies!
• Novel Novice’s One Year Anniversary Contest of Epic [Novel Novice] Four HUGE prize packs!
• ENCLAVE by Ann Aguirre ARC Giveaway [ROOTS IN MYTH] The ever-so-generous PJ Hoover does it again!
• Voices You Should Hear: Trent Reedy + Giveaway! [Through The Wardrobe] Win a copy of Words in the Dust!
• Australian box set giveaway! [Claudia's Blog] You could be one of nine winners!
• Book Release Day of GOSSIP & Giveaways!! [Rose Cooper] 5 chances to win!
• Lauren Oliver is having a contest! [Confessions of a Bookaholic] Enter to win Delirium!
• Blog Tour: Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart and a giveaway [Confessions of a Bookaholic] 5 copies are being given away!
• Ling & Ting Receives 2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award! [Blue Rose Girls] Wow! Congrats, Grace Lin!
• Giveaway: The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor [The Bookologist] Easy entry for this great new book!
• Books That Inspire Giveaway: Delirium + Across The Universe! [/- LA FEMME READERS -/] Who DOESN'T want these books?
• DOGSLED DREAMS by Terry Lynn Johnson GIVEAWAY! [ROOTS IN MYTH] Contest ends January 21st!
• WINNER of the Roecker Sisters' Giveaway & Interview with author of PERILOUS [Writers' Ally aka ➔ sa larsenッ] Win a copy of Tamara Hart Heiner's Perilous!
• Marvelous Middle Grade Monday--Fairies and the Quest for Neverland (plus a SIGNED giveaway!) [Shannon Whitney Messenger] Another great recommendation and signed giveaway!
• January Debut Giveaway! [Anna Staniszewski] Enter. Now. Trust us!
• First Page and GIVEAWAY: Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings [First Page Panda] Contest ends January 17th!
• Across the Universe Contest!! [Confessions of a YA Writer] Get your hands on a pre-ordered copy!
• One Year Blogoversary Giveaway! [A Blog about Nothing] A multitude of prizes!
• BLESSED by Cynthia Leitich Smith ARC Giveaway [ROOTS IN MYTH] PJ does it again!
• Loser/Queen Giveaway [The Bookologist] Enter by January 27th!
• January Book Giveaway! [Writer Musings] Win Unearthly or Vixen!
• How About a Contest to Ring in the New Year? [Publishing Lane] Win a 50 page crit, or a query + synopsis crit!

Social Media

• On Starting Out Your Writing Blog [Mystery Writing is Murder] 'Don't bite off more than you can chew.'
• The Evolution of How I Use Twitter [There Are No Rules] Focus your following list.
• How to Write a Good Blog Comment [Nathan Bransford - Blog] It's an art.
• Do Fiction Readers Really Read Author Blogs? [Author, Jody Hedlund] Excellent discussion for any writer, reader, or blogger.
• The Writer's Road [Heather's Odyssey] New Twitter chat for writers- #WritersRoad.
• How Do You Decide on Your Author Brand? – Part One [Jami Gold, Paranormal Author] The best way to brand yourself is to BE yourself.
• How Do You Decide on Your Author Brand – Part Two [Jami Gold, Paranormal Author] Consciously choose how you want to be perceived.

Issues and Trends

• The Agent’s Role in Today’s Digital Book World | Digital Book World [www.digitalbookworld.com] Agent Mary Kole rounds up different opinions and says we can't ignore the changes coming.
• Applying the Women-in-Movies Test to Race-in-Stories [Mitali's Fire Escape] Three Bechdel Test style questions applied to race.
• The Greatest Challenge Agents Will Face: Standardization of Terms [Nathan Bransford - Blog] What if there's nothing to negotiate?
• Should Writers Complain Publically About Hardships? [Author, Jody Hedlund] Use your filter.
• On The Subject of Reviews: A Manifesto [Lightning + Lightning Bugs - Musings from Weronika Janczuk, Literary Agent] Reviews offer writers the chance to grow.
• Crossing Over with YA [Glass Cases] Love this discussion about writing crossover YA.
• The Importance of Subplots [Mystery Writing is Murder] Sometimes they give readers another reason to keep reading.
• QOTW: Connecting with Readers [Let The Words Flow] Write enjoyable stories and interact with your readers.
• 10 Biggest Predictions for the Future of Book Publishing [The LL Book Review] Hooray for #10: More YA books!
• In Defense of Blogging Agents [Nathan Bransford - Blog] The bottom line- social media works.
• Addiction: A Guest Post by Lena Roy [The Contemps] A serious issue relevant for all YA writers.
• How to Respond to Copyeditors' Marks [Editorial Anonymous] These marks should equal peace of mind.
• Publishing Predictions for 2011 from Richard Curtis [GalleyCat] What's in store for next year?

Just for Smiles

• Just for Fun Reading Challenge [Candace's Book Blog] One book a month just for enjoyment. You can do it!
• I needed this laugh today:) [Buffy's write zone] Save this one for whenever you need it.
• HANG IN THERE! [Grab a Pen] A pictorial day in the life of your manuscript. Awesome. :D
• Signs of a Bad Writing Day [The Blood-Red Pencil] 'Cleaning the oven with a toothbrush seems like a more efficient use of your time.'
• SNOOKI'S SIX SIMPLE STEPS TO LANDING A BOOK DEAL [Grab a Pen] Find your voice- or a signature hairstyle.
• Signs you are Query Worthy [unedited] You write, it sucks.
• Comic: New Year’s Resolutions [Writer Unboxed]
• A Year in 140 [Confident Writing] 2010, Twitter-ized.

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, Clara, Cam and Cici