1 YA Sunday Morning News: This Week for Writers 3/5/17

Happy March and welcome to your YA Sunday news!

This week, we have a bunch of author interviews and agent interviews, as well as a few new writing contests on the horizon. Read on for the best writing links across the web:

Writing for Publication: Before the Sale:

• Synopsis Critique #4 - YA High Fantasy via Operation Awesome: A sample synopsis and critique.

Writing for Publication: Book Marketing and Social Media:

• Book Marketing: Using Amazon Ads to Grow a Newsletter List via The Creative Penn: Using Amazon Ads more than just sales.
• Pubcrawl Podcast: Promotion via Pub(lishing) Crawl: Tips for promotion and getting the word out about your book.

Author Interviews:

• Between Two Lockers With Heather Demetrios via Forever Young Adult: Author Heather Demetrios discusses the final book in her Dark Caravan Cycle series, and her upcoming novel, Bad Romance.
• The Beast Is an Animal Author Peternelle van Arsdale on the Fears, Hopes, and Dark Tales Behind the Book via The B&N Teen Blog: van Arsdale shares how she came to write her debut novel.
• Real Talk: Black Lives Matter via Epic Reads Blog: Angie Thomas discusses why she had to write The Hate U Give.
• 16 Authors Discuss Being Autistic, Dealing with Guilt, and More in March’s YA Open Mic via The B&N Teen Blog: YA Open Mic is a monthly series in which YA authors share personal stories on topics of their choice. 
• A Café Chat with YA Author Diana Rodriguez Wallach (Plus Book Giveaway!) by Lori Ann Palma via Eastern Penn Points: My interview with Proof of Lies author, Diana Rodriguez Wallach.
• Carrie Mac, author of 10 THINGS I CAN SEE FROM HERE, on there being no writer's block via Adventures in YA Publishing: We discuss Carrie Mac's latest novel 10 Things I Can See From Here.
• Gena Showalter, author of LIFEBLOOD, on the dress rehearsal before real life via Adventures in YA Publishing: We talk with Gena Showalter about her latest novel Lifeblood.
• Tricia Levenseller, author of DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING, on no longer trying to please others via Adventures in YA Publishing: We sit down with Tricia Levenseller to hear more about her debut novel Daughter Of The Pirate King.
• Peternelle van Arsdale, author of THE BEAST IS AN ANIMAL, on magic, lies, and betrayal via Adventures in YA Publishing: Peternelle van Arsdale stops by to share more about her latest novel The Beast Is An Animal.
• Lynn Carthage, author of AVENGED, on practice makes progress via Adventures in YA Publishing: Lynn Carthage chats with us about book 3 in The Arnaud Legacy series.
• Interview with Whitney Gardner about You’re Welcome, Universe via Disability in Kidlit: A discussion on research, art, Deaf community, graffiti, and more.

Literary Agent News and Interviews:

• New Literary Agent Alert: Justin Wells of Corvisiero Literary via Writer’s Digest: Check out what Justin is seeking to represent.
• Literary Agent Natascha Morris in Her Own Words via BookEnds Literary Agency: New agent Natascha Morris answers questions about her MSWL and more.
• Kari Sutherland, Agent via Bradford Literary Agency: New agent Kari Sutherland seeks YA.

Writing and Pitch Contests:

• March 2017 Contest Roundup via Sub It Club: All the pitch contests, award, and fellowship opportunities available from March through the spring months.
• Red Light/Green Light Contest Entry Guidelines via Adventures in YA Publishing: RL/GL is a fantastic opportunity to test the waters with your opening lines, and affords entrants a chance to win a full request from our judging agent, Alyssa Jennette from Stonesong Literary.
• Get ready for Camp NaNoWriMo this April!“What’s that?” you... via NaNoWriMo Blog: Challenge yourself to write 50,000 words in a month.

Writing Craft:

• The Seven Deadly Sins of Prologues—What Doesn’t Work and What Does via Kristin Lamb’s Blog: Ways to use prologues properly.
• Edits Are The Time To Get Specific via Go Teen Writers: Getting down to the details during the editing process.
• Sugar, Sugar: Writing Devices That Make a Series or Story Rock via Fiction University: Literary device examples from the show, Riverdale, that you can steal for your story or series.
• A Killer Reading Strategy That Will Make You a Better Writer via The Write Practice: Mark Casper discusses how to plan your reading with a book list.
• Like It, Share It, Hashtag It: How to Incorporate Social Media into Your Novels via Women Writers, Women(‘s) Books: Effectively using social media elements in your novel.
• Does your protagonist have to be likeable? via Curtis Brown Creative: Traits to avoid in characterizing your protagonist.

Writing Inspiration:

• Now What? Don’t Give Up on Your Goal via NaNoWriMo Blog: YA author Beth Revis discusses goals and how failure can be a good thing. 
• A Very Good List Of Vital Writing Advice — Do Not Ignore! via Chuck Wendig: A list of 25 things to remember when you’re a writer.
• STEPHANIE GARBER GUEST POST via Literary Rambles: Author Stephanie Garber discusses her search for an agent and how her sixth manuscript, which would become Caraval, finally landed her a contract.
• On Writing and Failure via Pub(lishing) Crawl: Giving yourself permission to fail.
• HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE MARKET AND JUST WRITE via LitHub: Debut author Peternelle van Arsdale discusses her path to publication. 
• Keep Going: A WOW Pep Talk with Casey Griffin via Adventures in YA Publishing: This week on WOW Wednesdays, AYAP is joined by Entangled Teen author, Casey Griffin.

Publishing News & Trends:

• YA Round-Up: February 2017 via The YA Shelf: A list of links to news in the YA world from newspapers and magazines.
• Barnes & Noble Plunges After Worst Holiday Quarter in Decade via Bloomberg: The book giant’s holiday sales were weak due to the slump in coloring books and art supply sales. 
• What is a starred review? (Is it only Kirkus?) Are these paid? What's it mean for the writer beyond happy bragging rights? *Thank you* via YA Highway: The meaning of starred reviews for books.
• BookExpo to host Nijkamp, Reynolds for breakfast via YA Interrobang: BookExpo announced their 2017 Children’s Book & Author Breakfast will feature YA authors Jason Reynolds and Marieke Nijkamp.
• YA Lit Podcasts via YA Series Insiders: A list of the best YA lit podcasts.
• Changes in 'New York Times' Children's Books Coverage via Publishers Weekly: Children’s books editor Maria Russo will continue to lead coverage of children’s and young adult books through reviews and new kinds of features.
• This Week In YA: Before I Fall, 13 Reasons Why, and More! via Epic Reads Blog: Before I Fall hit theaters, we got a first look into the official 13 Reasons Why trailers, and more.

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:

• Mystery Writers of America announces 2017 Edgar Award Nominations via YA Interrobang: Five YA novels made the list of nominations. Congratulations to the authors!
• 2017 Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards Finalists Announced via Publishers Weekly: Congratulations to the YA authors who are finalists for the Teen Choice Book Award category!

YA New Book Deals and Releases:

• New Releases this week 2/27-3/5 plus 2 Giveaways via Adventures in YA Publishing: More books to add to your shelves!
• What authors received YA book deals in February? via YA Interrobang: A round-up of book deals for new and established YA authors.
• What new YA books release this week? (February 28) via YA Interrobang: A list of YA books hitting stores this week.

Just for Fun:

• 31 Amazing Books That Just May Help You Be An Adult via BuzzFeed Books: If you need some help adulting, here are resources to check out.
• The Five Reading Positions, Ranked via Book Riot: See where your favorite reading position fell on the list.
• Pick a Girl Scout Cookie, Get a Book Rec! via Epic Reads Blog: Let your cookie tastes decide your next book.

Happy Reading!

If there’s a news story or blog post you found particularly interesting, please share it in the comments!