Links for Writers, Mar. 25th

Are your characters scared?
Gladiator's Pen

A very comprehensive list to help you create a fantasy world that feels real
Fantasy World-building Questions

Bob Mayer's Blog:
Seven Keys to Unforgettable Characters

Lydia Sharp on
Revising a Short Story

10 Ways to
Embarrass Your Characters

Formatpalooza:
Guidelines for Manuscript Format
(still a hotly debated topic)

Excellent post covering everything from Plot Structure to the Synopsis
The Basics of Fiction

Novel Building:
The Journey from Seedling to Bookshelf

Duolit:
Links of the Month (February)

Have a great weekend!

Links for Writers, Mar. 18th

Today's links are about the business side of writing.

How to Write a Query Letter to a Literary Agent

Your Writer’s Platform: What is it? How to Create It Using Websites and Blogs

How To Clearly Communicate the Essence Of Your Book To Agents And Publishers

22 Marketing Tips for Novelists

Fight For Your Rights

The Author Bio: Six Important Components

Creative Ways to Market Your Book

What Will Make an Agent "Gong" Your Query

Don't forget! For more links and news you can follow me on Twitter.

Have a great weekend.

Links for Writers, Mar. 11th

Excellent post from Suzie Quint on making sure your characters have distinct voices:
Are Your Character's Voices Distinctive?

From The Seekers:
The Smartest Writing Advice I Ever Got

From the Graceful Doe's Blog
Favourite Helpful Writing Posts 2010

From Julie Musil:
Writers: Take a Tip, Leave a Tip

From Write It Sideways:
10 Resources to Help You Write a Great Short Story

A great resource! Bookmark this one, you'll want to come back often! Thesaurus for emotions, symbolism, settings.
The Bookshelf Muse

The Writer's Resource Directory

#

Bluestocking was kind enough to bestow a blog award on me (thank you so much!).

The rules of the award: list four guilty pleasures; pass the award on to six great blogs.

My four guilty pleasures:

1) Watching "America's Next Top Model." I'm pretty sure I can get kicked out of the "Zombie Fans of America Club" for admitting that one. ;)

2) Books, books, and more books. I almost never trade them or sell them; I horde them after reading. Sometimes I re-read them. Sometimes I just sit and look at my bookshelves in all their weighted-down glory.

3) Texas Roadhouse Dallas Filet. No one should in good conscience actually eat the amount of food that comes in this meal (rolls, giant cheese-egg-and-crouton covered salad, 8 oz hunk of meat, big ole baked potato). But I lick the plate clean.

4) The casino. Not really a guilty pleasure, because I can rationalize it as work-related. I'm not much of a gambler but I love watching the huge variety of people and making up backstory. They probably think I'm creepy. That's okay; I can live with that.

It was tough narrowing it down (can't I pass it on to ten or twenty?), but here are the six I'm passing the award on to:

Janel's Jumble

The Life and Times of a Writer

Electric Shock!

C.M. Villani

Dawn Brazil's Brilliant Babbles about Books

Deborah Lawrenson

Have a great weekend!

Links for Writers, Mar. 4th

First, a little comic relief.
You know you're a writer

Now onto the serious business.

The Science Behind the Block

Awesome market listing site, complete with submission-response statistics

http://www.duotrope.com

Hey! Why ain't I on this list? ;)

Best blogs for writers to follow

Year-long examination of how to write suspense

50 word elevator pitch

Five writing mantras that bear repeating

Have a great weekend! See you on Monday!

Links for Writers, Feb. 25th

Includes links for further resources to help you on the road to publication.

How to Get Published



I don't just recommend this resource because sometimes my links are in it, lol. Lots of great links here.

Tips for Writers



Top Ten Author Promotion Missteps



Write a Better Novel



Writer's Resource Directory

Get a weekly writing prompt from Poets & Writers Magazine

http://www.pw.org/writing-prompts-exercises

I use this technique in the novel I'm currently revising. The antagonist is essentially who the protagonist will be if she doesn't change her ways.

Mirroring Heroes & Villains

Great places for readers to hang out; great places for writers to find and interact with their "customers."

20 places where bookworms go to read & socialize online

If you like/care about your protagonist, your reader probably will, too.

Building Our Protagonist

 

 

 

And last but not least, the oh-so-important story question

 

Finding the Question

 

Links for Writers, Feb. 18th

The brief stuff is what's always the hardest for me (loglines/elevator pitch/etc.). After I've spent so much time weaving this great-big story, now I'm supposed to summarize it in a mere sentence or two. Torture. Here are two links to help:

Conquering the logline

How to Write a Back Blurb


I have problems with #2, finishing what I start. I must have 100 orphaned stories laying around.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Writers


And all these years I thought I was just flighty. I have all those orphaned stories because I'm a Renaissance Soul (that's my story, and I'm sticking to it).

Are You a Renaissance Soul?


Excellent advice on making your book a "can't put it down" read.

Ending Hooks: Getting Your Reader to Turn the Page


Good post on writer's block.

To Write or Not to Write


And last but not least, an informative newsletter:

Writing World Newsletter


Have a great weekend!

Links for Writers, Feb 11th

Get ready to sit down and spend some time on these links. Lots of great info here!

How to Write a Novel

50 Best Blogs By and For Editors

Duolit Links of the Month

Ten Twitter Blunders Writers Make

Best Tweets for Writers

And if you aren't already, you can follow me on Twitter for more writing links.

My Blog on Blogs About Blogging . . . oy!

Blogging is an important part of the writing life, whether you blog as extra writing practice, to connect with other writers, or to connect with your readers and potential readers.

So today, some blogging links.

Think before you blog:
http://literaticat.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-to-keep-your-trap-shut-almost.html

How to Write a Readable Writing Blog:
https://misanthropology101.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/readable-writing-blog/

The 7 Essential Parts of a Blog
http://www.inkrebels.com/insp/the-7-essential-parts-of-a-blog/

20 Websites That Will Make You a Better Blogger
http://www.incomediary.com/20-websites-that-will-make-you-a-better-blogger/

6 Ways to Constantly Produce Quality Blog Content
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/6-ways-to-constantly-produce-quality-blog-content/

What's Your Blog Identity?
http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2011/01/whats-your-blog-identity.html

Old School: Stalker; New School: Target Market

One of the biggest changes to marketing over the last few year has been the rise of social media. Experts have decided that it's critical for businesses--including writers--to be involved in social media and blogging in order to market their products (books) and get their name "out there" via a strong web presence. Using social media, you can tap directly into your target market. And you have to start early--even before your book is published. You want people craving your book before it even hits the shelves--it works for every "i" product (i-pod, i-pad), right?

So today, some links to help other writers out with social media.

12 Places Authors Should Look to Develop a Strong Web Presence

How to Use Social Media to Bum Out Your Customers

12-part series on social media (this series is designed for vet practices, but a lot of the same rules & tips apply; if you're a writer writing about veterinary issues, double bonus!)

Should You Follow Back?

10 Ways to Increase Your Twitter Followers

6 Social Media Pain Points

A big caveat about social media: Don't overdue it. Trying to do unique blog posts (or status updates) on twenty different sites is damn near impossible. You're supposed to be writing, not spending all your time on the Internet. I mainly focus on Twitter and this blog, and then have other apps (like Hootsuite and Networked Blogs) feed my blog and my Twitter to the many other social media sites (like Facebook, MySpace, GoogleBuzz, etc.). This means I update two sites and the apps feed the rest. It makes me look like I'm everywhere while still leaving me time for writing. When I have a little extra time, I pop over to some of the other sites (like Facebook) and do a personal update. But writing always comes first.

Do you have any sites that helped you learn social media? Feel free to share in the comments section!

Helpful Links for the Revision Process

This is a great series on pitching your book. The series runs the entire month, with a new post every day.

Pitch University


I've been studying the hero's journey story structure while revising my fantasy novel. Here's a great series of blog posts about the hero's journey.

Terrell Mims's Blog: The Hero's Journey


And here's one I always have problems with: showing versus telling.

Wordplay Most Common Mistakes Series: Are Your Verbs Showing or Telling?


And, last but not least, don't forget to revise and polish your characters during the revision process (my characters tend to all sound the same, and I have to make their dialogue sound different during the revision process).

Plot to Punctuation: Don't Forget to Revise Your Characters too

Conquer Blank-page-aphobia

One of the biggest problems I used to have with writing was staring at the blank page. Sit me down in front of a blank page or a blank screen, and my mind would soon be blank, too. Writer's block!

I remedied it by never sitting down to a blank page again. No, I didn't give up writing (obviously). Instead, I started collecting prompts. Now I start my writing day by writing to a prompt. It serves as a great warm-up, and then I can move on to whatever writing projects I'm working on.

And don't think of prompts as just practice. They are a great warm-up, but they can also turn into stories. I keep a file of all my prompt-responses, and I've turned quite a few of them into stories (including the novel I'm currently working on--it started from a simple, one-line prompt).

If staring at a blank page causes you to freeze up, trying a prompt from one of these sites:

Toasted Cheese Prompt Calendar

Writer's Digest Blog: Promptly

Writer's Digest Writing Prompts

Writing.com Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

WritingPrompt.com on Twitter

Writing.com The Writer's Cramp (Daily Writing Prompt & Challenge)

Writer or Author? A scribe by any other name . . .

First, the links for today:

Better Writing Habits: A 31-Day Makeover Challenge Helpful articles all month long!

Slow and Steady Wins the Race Writers and social media. I signed up for all the social media sites, just like the experts recommended, and it was too much. So I linked most of them, now concentrate on Twitter and Facebook (and this blog), and let Twitter and Ping feed the rest. That way, I have a "presence," but I don't have to spend every second of my day on-line.

Random Plot Points Random plot point generator to ramp up the conflict for your characters.

Ghostwoods: How to Write a Novel in Three Days


And now I have a question for you: do you call yourself writer or author?

A lot of writers are reluctant to admit they write. Or, as I saw in a post earlier in the week, they add "dismissive" qualifiers like, "I'm an aspiring writer." Experts tell us to "own" our profession, to not dance around it, and just come right out and say, "I write." Great advice, but I don't know what title I should be owning!

In conversation, when people ask what I do, I say, "I'm a writer" -- mostly because saying "I'm an author" sounds weird. But in printed form, I say, "I'm an author" -- because phrases like, "The official website of Brenda Kezar, writer" sound a little weird.

Or maybe I'm just can't shake my preconceived notions. When I think of "authors," I think of Hemingway and Dickens. When I think of "writers," I think of Stephen King and John Grisham. I associate "author" with literary works and "writer" with genre works (and I'm a genre scribe).

So what do you think? What do you call yourself, and does your perception change based on genre?

From Your Friendly Professional Nag

Yep. I'm breaking out the cattle prod again.

We all know that if you want to be a "real" writer, you need to write as much as possible . . . preferably every day. Maybe that's your New Year's Resolution: write every day. Maybe it's a resolution you've had before, but every time you sit down and face that blank page, you struggle: "Okay. I'm here. Butt in chair, ready to write." And that cursor blinks at you on that big white screen; or that blank notebook looks up at you with all those pristine lines waiting to be filled with your beautiful words. That blank page/screen can be very intimidating! So here are some links to help you out.

Get a daily(ish) prompt at these sites, so that when you sit down at that blank page, you'll have an idea to write about. Use them as morning pages, a general warm-up, or see if you can turn a prompt into a full-fledged story (a lot of my stories started out as prompts)!

The One-Minute Writer

Sunday Scribblings

Dragon Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt (on Twitter)

No Telling

Creative Writing Ink

Bibliographic Junkies (Yahoo Group)

And why do I have all these links? Because I have problems facing the blank page, too. And I have trouble making sure I write EVERY DAY.

I'll plan to hold myself accountable for writing every day by posting my daily progress on Twitter (except weekends; I'm not a slave driver). If you'd like to do the same, you can follow me on Twitter (and I'll follow you back), and we'll hold each other accountable (cheers when you write; gentle encouragement to do better tomorrow when you don't). Just post your progress every day. Let's make 2011 the year we finally make our "write every day" goal!

http://twitter.com/BrendaKezar

Or, if Facebook is more your style, you can join Kelly L. Stone's 90 day writing challenge and get the year off to a good start (the challenge ends in April, but that doesn't mean you can't keep the momentum going through the year). You can sign up on Facebook here:

Author Kelly L. Stone's 90-Day Writing Challenge

Penmonkeys?

A mixed bag of links for you today. Some inspiration, some basic facts, and a kick in the pants.

I am a Penmonkey, no doubt about it:
The Writer's Prayer; the Penmonkey's Paean

I'm neurotic, you're neurotic; and it's okay:
When all that's left is writing

And some basic points:
Seven differences between published and unpublished authors

Don't forget to sign up! Ye deadline approachth:
Author Kelly L. Stone's 90-day writing challenge

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Have a Nice Day (for those who don't celebrate the holidays but still deserve good tidings)!

Bucket List, schmuket list: DO IT NOW!

January is just around the corner. Isn't it time you lived your dream and started writing every day? Isn't it time you finally started working on that novel you've always thought about writing? Well get to it! You're not getting any younger, ya know!

To help you get on the right path to making your dream a reality, here are some links for getting into the habit of writing EVERY DAY!

750 Words: I haven't had a chance to fully play with this site, but it seems simple enough. It's an online program where you sign up and try to write 750 words per day (fiction, non-fiction, journaling--whatever words you want; I'm partial to onomatopoeia). What makes it cool is that you earn points on a scorecard and can win little animal badges. So if you're looking for something to get you into the habit of writing and you're a visual person, this one might be just what you're looking for.

Novel Writing World: The name on this one had me confused at first. It's not a novel writing community, it's a novel (pause) writing-community (as in "unique"). Lol. Once I got it figured out, I signed up anyway. Basically, it's a community to encourage journaling, and members can friend each other and post comments (Facebook just for journalers). It includes a self-guided course to help you get into the habit of journaling every day.

And I'm repeating these links again, because I think they're worth it:

Bibliographic Junkies: Get a daily prompt, write something, post it. Shenanigans and fun follow. A fun, casual way to get into the habit of writing every day.

Author Kelly L. Stone's 90-day writing challenge: Set a writing goal; do it every day for 90 days. Facebook bunch cheers you on (or whips you with a pool noodle, I'm not sure which; I haven't met everyone yet).

So get to it! Then you can finally cross "write my novel" off that well-worn New Year's Resolutions list! (FINALLY)!

Scribe, Take Up Thy Pen and Take Heed

The worst part of the writing process (for me, anyway) is revision and editing. To make things a little easier, I created a checklist to go through; a "Revision Bible," of sorts. It's the sort of thing I recommend all writers to have.

The first part of my Revision Bible is a checklist of common writer's mistakes. You can find these through Google searches, writing websites, Writer's Digest, etc. Here's a good example:

"Writerisms and Other Sins: A Writer's Shortcut to Stronger Writing."

Start making yourself a personal CliffsNotes® version of the tips and recommendations from these articles.

The second part of the Revision Bible gets personal. As you write more, you'll begin to notice there are certain words you misspell regularly, certain words you overuse, etc. Start collecting them. Part two of your Revision Bible should contain your personal writing foibles and quirks: your commonly misspelled words, your overused words, your too-oft repeated character mannerisms, etc. The second part of my Revision Bible contains things like my love of the word "that," the fact that my characters seem to shrug every three seconds, and my chronic misspelling of the word desperate (I even spelled it wrong when I first did this post).

This will, of course, be a dynamic document. You'll always find new things to add, whether it's tips from new articles or your own ever-changing quirks (you will eventually outgrow your current foibles, but don't worry . . . new foibles will step into their place. I guarantee it). But with your own personal Revision Bible in hand, you'll at least have a guide to make the revision process a little less overwhelming. And more effective!

Get Rid of Your Guilt-Monkey and Write!

Today's links are all about getting in the habit of writing.

The first is a group I've belonged to for years! I'm really excited about it re-launching:
Bibliographic Junkies

Every day (or so), a prompt is posted. You write something based on the prompt and post it to the group. People comment on it, and you comment on the postings of others. It is NOT a formal critique group. It's all very casual, very relaxed. This isn't the place to post chapters of your magnum opus. It's just a great place to get into the habit of writing on a regular basis in a fun and creative environment, with lots of wacky folks (like me).

Today's second link is a 90-day challenge to get you in the habit of writing every day:
Author Kelly L. Stone's 90-Day Writing Challenge

Set a reasonable goal for yourself--500 words a day, 1000 words a day; whatever works best for you--and do it every day for 90 days. I like this idea, and I think of it this way: if you can meet that goal every day for ninety days, you should be able to make it every day, forever, right? Minus the occasional sick day and much-needed vacation (hey! I'm not a slave driver, you know), of course.

Check them out and sign up! I'll see you there!