2 YA Sunday Morning News: This Week for Writers 2/12/17

Writing for Publication: Before the Sale:

• This Way Be Dragons: How to Evaluate a Publishing Contest via Writer Unboxed: Reading the fine print when it comes to publishing contests.
• PubLaw + The Art of Negotiation with Lawyer-turned-agent Melissa Edwards via Manuscript Wishlist: A podcast on publication law and negotiation.
• When your agent wants to charge you a fee via QueryTracker blog: Fees within agency contracts and the red flags this raises.
• Agent Referrals via Books & Such Literary Management: What is an agent referral and referral etiquette.
• Successful Query: Whitney Gardner & You’re Welcome, Universe via Writer’s Digest Guide to Literary Agents: Example of a successful YA query letter.
• Author Blogs: 5 Bad Reasons for Authors to Blog and 5 Good Ones via Anne R. Allen: Blogging for the right reasons.
• 5 Tips for Querying & Choosing a Literary Agent via Writer’s Digest Guide to Literary Agents: YA author Brianna Shrum discusses how to navigate multiple agent offers.
• Query Letter Basics via Babbles by Scott Eagan: Tips for a better query and why the query letter is a necessary part of publishing.
• What can a new writer do to get noticed by an agent? via MacGregor Literary Blog: Standing out at a conference pitch session/meeting.
• Using #MSWL To Personalize Your Query via Pub(lishing) Crawl: Tips for querying an agent after seeing a #MSWL tweet.

Writing for Publication: After the Sale:

• How to Make Podcasts Part of Your Book Marketing Strategy via Operation Awesome: Guest blogger Josh Pantalleresco discusses how to use podcasts as part of your platform.
• Why There’s No Perfect Time to Post on Facebook via Buffer: How to decide when to share your content on Facebook.
• Snapchat Marketing Strategy 101: Getting Started, Building a Community, and Generating ROI via Buffer: A podcast on starting with Snapchat for marketing.
• Keeping Track of Your Writing Achievements via Books & Such Literary Management: Tips on updating your writer profile.

Author Interviews:

• Caraval Author Stephanie Garber Pairs Your Favorite Bands with Must-Read YA via The B&N Teen Blog: Stephanie discusses her love of music and how it influences her writing.
• Frost & Fire: Elly Blake talks FROSTBLOOD via YA Interrobang: Elly discusses how she got the idea for Frostblood and how the manuscript progressed.
• Writing the Unfixable: Abigail Johnson on real and relatable teen/parent relationships via Adventures in YA Publishing: Author Abigail Johnson on her novel, If I Fix You, and the nuance of writing teen/parent relationships.
• 15 Authors Discuss Loving Yourself, Immigrating to the U.S., and More in February’s YA Open Mic via The B&N Teen Blog: Personal stories from YA authors.
• Interview: Renée Watson on YA Novel “Piecing Me Together” via School Library Journal: Renée Watson discusses strong relationships among Black women, poverty and privilege, and the power of art. 
• Kimberley Griffiths Little, Author of RETURNED, on Being Forced into Learning Patience via Adventures in YA Publishing: Discussion on Little’s third novel in her Forbidden series. 
• Brenda Drake, Author of GUARDIAN OF SECRETS, on Wanting Her Readers To Ugly Cry via Adventures in YA Publishing: Discussion on the second book in Brenda’s Library Jumpers series.
• Secret Agents & Heroes: Kristen Orlando talks YOU DON’T KNOW MY NAME via YA Interrobang: YA author Kristin Orlando on her debut novel.
• Q & A with Nina LaCour via Publishers Weekly: Discussion on Nina LaCour’s new novel, We Are Okay.
• The Shade Me Trilogy by Jennifer Brown Author Secrets! via YA Series Insiders: Author secrets with Jennifer Brown.
• Chris Miles, author of SPURT, on harvesting the organs of earlier works via Adventures in YA Publishing
• Arwen Elys Dayton, author of DISRUPTOR, on what to do after jumping off a cliff via Adventures in YA Publishing
• Erica Cameron, author of ISLAND OF EXILES, on complexity without the labyrinth via Adventures in YA Publishing
• Sophie Jordan, author of RISE OF FIRE, on her deepest, darkest fantasies via Adventures in YA Publishing
• Catherine Alene, author of THE SKY BETWEEN YOU AND ME, on how an ending can turn out to be the beginning via Adventures in YA Publishing
• Sheryl Scarborough, author of TO CATCH A KILLER, on why you should quit writing via Adventures in YA Publishing

Literary Agent News and Interviews:

• New Literary Agent Alert: Quressa Robinson of D4EO Literary via Writer’s Digest: See the genres of YA Ms. Robinson is accepting in her query inbox.
• Literary Agents Put Out an Open Call for Submissions From Muslim Writers via Writers Write: Call for submissions from 60 agents.
• TBA Monthly Wishlist - Feb 2017 via Bent on Books: The Bent Agency reveals their monthly manuscript wishlist.
• Agent Interview: Alyssa Jennette of Stonesong Literary via Adventures in YA Publishing: Writing tips for unpublished writers.

Writing and Pitch Contests:

• February 2017 Contest Roundup via Sub It Club: Writing contests from now until June.

Writing Craft:

• The 4 Main Characters As Literary Devices via Writers Write: Using four main character types to help develop plot.
• How to Research Your Genre to Write Better Stories via The Write Practice: Identifying the aspects of your writing genre to write appealing stories.
• Do You Italicize Book Titles? And Other Title Conundrums via The Write Practice: Rules for all types of media titles.
• 7 Useful Lists To Help You Create A Character via Writers Write: A helpful infographic to study when you’re developing characters.
• On Voice, Autism, and Parrot-Ear via Disability in Kidlit: Author Sally J. Pla discusses finding an authentic voice for characters.
• How to Write With a Teen Voice via Fiction University: 7 tips on writing teen voice and reasons why it sometimes doesn’t work.
• How To Strengthen The Theme Of Your Book During Edits via Go Teen Writers: YA author Stephanie Morrill discusses building theme.
• Unpacking the “Character-Driven” Story—How to Make Your Story Sizzle via Kristen Lamb: Understanding the term “character-driven.”
• Why You Should Vomit Your First Draft via The Write Practice: Writing without hesitation to complete a first draft.
• Opening Lines: Red Light/Green Light Preparation via Adventures in YA Publishing: Laura shares her thoughts on the importance of opening lines and how to grab a reader’s attention.
• The Complete Guide To Evaluating Your Short Story via Writer’s Write: Evaluation tips to assess your story. 
• 5 “Fashion” Tips for Writers via The Write Practice: Using fashion descriptions to bring your characters to life.
• What To Do When Your Book Is Such A Mess You Don't Know If It's Worth Editing via Go Teen Writers: Thoughts and tips on when to let go of a draft.
• 8 Ways A Thriller differs from a Mystery via Karen Woodward: The hallmarks of a thriller novel.

Writing Inspiration:

• Clearing the Clutter From Your Writing Space via WOW! Women on Writing Blog: Four tips to clear out your writing spot.
• The Devil Went Down to Georgia via Writer Unboxed: Writing the books you were meant to write.
• Use the Energies of 2017 to Jumpstart Your Writing Career via Writers in the Storm: Embracing the possibilities 2017 can bring to your writing.
• My First Job via WOW! Women on Writing: Lessons learned from first jobs can be applied to your writing.
• Be the Encouragement via Writer Unboxed: Be the encouragement you want to see in the world.
• Do You Need to Be Lucky to Get Published? via Fiction University: The balance between hard work and luck.

Publishing News & Trends:

• BFYA Teen Feedback Session at ALA Midwinter 2017 via YALSA: Teens give their thoughts on the Best Fiction for Young Adults list.
• Authors fear accusations of cultural appropriation, forum hears via The Bookseller: The issue of diversity was discussed at the Westminster Media Forum.
• NY Times Removes Comics Bestseller Lists: Why this is a problem via Book Riot: Discussion on how removing graphic novels and comics bestseller lists hurts the industry.
• What the Industry Is Talking About: Best Takeaways for Authors From Digital Book World via Jane Friedman: A list of links to new out of the Digital Book World 2017 Conference.
• Volunteer Opportunities: Three New YALSA Taskforces via YALSA: Volunteers needed to help YALSA raise funds and support leadership opportunities for members.
• The YA Shelf’s YA Round-Up: January 2017 via The YA Shelf: News from the YA lit world.
• Shelfie Closes via Publishers Weekly: The Shelfie app ends its run.
• LEIGH BARDUGO IS WRITING A SHORT STORY COMPILATION OF GRISHA FOLKTALKES via Fierce Reads: New stories from Leigh Bardugo in September 2017!
• What new YA covers hit the web this week? (February 5) via YA Interrobang: More cover reveals!
• 6 Days of Fall 2017 YA Cover Reveals via Riveted Lit: Books to look forward to later this year.
• Publishing Industry News via The Walk of Words: Publishing industry news from 1/19-2/3/17.
• This Week In YA News: Cover Reveals, Tahereh Mafi & More! via Epic Reads: YA covers and news on a new Tahereh Mafi book.

New YA E-Book Deals

• Epic Reads Book Deals
• Amazon Teen & Young Adult Book Deals

New YA Book Giveaways:

• Adventures in YA Publishing Giveaways
• Epic Reads Giveaways
• Goodreads Giveaways
• RivetedLit Giveaways
• YA Books Central Giveaways

YA Book Awards and Congratulations:

• 24th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards Winners via Writer’s Digest: Congratulations to the YA authors!
• Walter Dean Myers Award honors John Lewis via YA Interrobang: Awards are piling up for John Lewis!
• 2017 Rainbow Book List via glbtrt.ala.org: The Rainbow Book List is a bibliography of books with significant gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning content, which are aimed at youth, birth through age 18. Congratulations to the YA authors!
• ​ANNA AND THE SWALLOW MAN, ON BLACKBERRY HILL win National Jewish Book Awards via YA Interrobang: Congratulations to Gavriel Savit and Rachel Mann!
• Three YA titles make Amelia Bloomer Top Ten list via YA Interrobang: The Amelia Bloomer list announces their top ten feminist reads for 2017. Congratulations to YA authors Frances Harding, Meg Medina, and E.K. Johnston!

YA New Book Deals and Releases:

• New Releases this week 1/30-2/05 plus Two Giveaways! via Adventures in YA Publishing: Anticipated YA books hitting the shelves.
• What authors received YA book deals this month? via YA Interrobang: All the latest book deals by YA authors.
• What new YA books release this week? (January 31) via YA Interrobang: More books! 
• What new YA books release this week? (February 7) via YA Interrobang
• New Releases this week 02/06-02/12 plus 8 Giveaways! via Adventures in YA Publishing

Just for Fun:

• 29 Ways To Create The Ultimate Reading Nook via BuzzFeed Books: Book nooks that’ll make you want to read even more.
• The Best YA ’Ships to Ship This Valentine’s Day via Harlequin Teen: Get ready to swoon at these YA relationships.
• February Book Roulette! Via Epic Reads: Why not try a game of roulette to choose your next book?
• 21 Of The Most Romantic Quotes In Literature via BuzzFeed Books: Find romance with these love-ly quotes.
• 23 Valentine’s Day Cards for Book Lovers via Book Riot: Book-themed cards for your valentine.

Happy Reading!

If I missed anything, please leave a comment!