Clara’s Favorites
- Is it worth a year of your life? How to test if your story idea is worth .
The Question You Should Ask Before You Ask “What if?” - Looking beyond the craft: how to make your good writing great. Love this!
James Killick’s Blog: How to make good writing great - Anyone a trilogy will love this interview with @bethrevis at League of Extraordinary .
The League of Extraordinary Writers: Writing a sequel to a Bestseller — Exclusive Beth Revis interview about A MILLION SUNS - Fantastic post on using hidden elements to communicate your story’s purpose.
Words and Such: On Logos, Arrows, and Storytelling - A query letter is a sales letter: show the agent you are perfect for the job.
Babbles from Scott Eagan: Show Editors & Agents How You Meet Their Guidelines - How @elspethwrite knows when she’s not in The Zone. (not)
It’s a Mystery: 10 Signs You’re NOT in The Zone - One of the best posts I’ve ever read on finding your voice.
25 Things Writers Should Know About Finding Their Voice - A query is probably the most important letter you’ll ever compose. How The Beatles got it right.
The Kill Zone: Paperback Writer - Overwhelmed by revisions? Wipe those tears, take a deep breath, then read these excellent tips
Project 2012: Dealing with problems. Big problems. - Your hero’s victory over the villain must be hard-won or it doesn’t feel like a victory at all. Brilliant.
Seeking the Write Life: Mighty Heroes REQUIRE Mighty Villains - Dozens of links to @elizabethscraig’s favorite writerly blog posts this week.
Twitterific | Mystery Writing is Murder - Hooks, loglines, & pitches: don’t write yours until you’ve read this.
Anne R. Allen’s Blog: Hooks, Loglines, and Pitches: What Every Writer Need to Know - Congrats to The Indelibles on your new MG & YA Indie group! Your launch party sounds like fun! @IndelibleWriter
The Indelibles: The History of The Indelibles - Severus Snape & Good Will Hunting: Wounded is the latest addition to the Character Trait Thesaurus at Bookshelf Muse.
The Bookshelf Muse: Character Trait Thesaurus Entry: Wounded - Revise with purpose: Use each draft to focus on fixing a weakness. Fantastic checklist!
Write and Rewrite | The Editor’s Blog - Your website can be the most powerful selling tool you have. Don’t hurt yourself with an outdated, poorly-designed site.
Is Your Website Hurting Your Writing? - Backstory: it gets a bad rap, but you need it to create rich characters. How to make it work.
The Other Side of the Story: We Have a History: Making Backstory Work for You - DITCHED by Robin Mellom “reads like a John Hughes movie.” I am so in! 5-star review by @MundieMoms
Mundie Moms: Book Review: Ditched by Robin Mellom - My critique partners LOVE my manuscript! So why are agents/editors rejecting it?
*Lynnette Labelle* @Chatterbox Chitchat: Editors Passed on Same Book Critique Group Loved: 6 Reasons Why - Finding the balance between thought & action: revealing emotion without hurting the pace. A must-read post from @lisagailgreen#writing
Paranormal Point of View: Internal Dialogue - Congrats on the release of UNDER THE NEVER SKY,@V_Rossibooks! Can’t wait to read it!
YA Muses: Under the Never Sky Launch Day - @KMWalton1 celebrates the release of CRACKED with a contest & giveaway. Congratulations!
Some Things I Think…: CRACKED is Released! - Tips for emotionally satisfying endings.
Grand finales: Tips for writing great endings - @annerallen relates how she overcame her addiction to querying and found success. Congratulations!
Anne R. Allen’s Blog: Confessions of a Former Query Addict - Round-up:@writing_tips’ most-visited posts of 2011 (I read every single one of them!)
The Best of Daily Writing Tips in 2011 - Finding it hard to write because the kids are home for winter break? 4 tips to find writing time
How Do You Write with Kids in the House? | Fantasy Faction - Congratulations,@MundieMoms, on your 1 million visitors! Awesome giveaway, too!
Mundie Moms: 1,000,000 Visitors Giveaway!! - Chain, convergence, divergence, & thunderbolt: 4 ways your protag can discover hidden truths.
James Killick’s Blog: 4 ways your protagonist can learn the truth - Gripping & intense, DON’T BREATHE A WORD by Holly Cupala will keep you guessing.
A Blog about Nothing: Don’t Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala - 3 books to add to your craft of writing library recommended by @redsofaliterary. I’m buying them all!
How’s your writing reference library looking? - THIS. I want THIS. Best gift for writers
Will Write For Chocolate: Best Gift For A Writer – Inkygirl: Guide For Kidlit/YA Writers & Artists – Inkygirl: An Illustrated Guide For Those Who Write & Draw For Young People - Read it, print it, frame it, live it:@RoniLoren’s 10 Commandments of a Successful Author
* Roni Loren – Fiction Groupie *: The 10 Commandments of a Successful Author - Behind the words: making big picture revisions. 6 tips from @JamiGold
How to Force a Story to Evolve: 6 Revision Tips | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author - The rude shock of staying published: What to expect after that 1st contract.
The Writer’s Journey - Denial can work against your character but for your story. Superb post by @NovelEditor
Don’t Give Characters What They Want | The Editor’s Blog - Simply filling out a character worksheet doesn’t develop the character. What’s the next step?
edittorrent: The “Why” of Character Worksheets - Make editing your ms easier with these 11 resources, compiled by @Publetariat
Top Posts of 2011: 11 Resources To Make Editing Your Novel Easier | www.publetariat.com - When “strong language” does not mean “dirty words.”
QueryTracker.net: Caution: Contains Strong Language - 5 fantastic tips on emotion.
The Bookshelf Muse: Stocking Stuffers for Writers: EMOTION - Finding time:@JaneFriedman’s 5 tips on how to fit in everything you need to do.
So, How Do I Find The Time To Do All This? | Jane Friedman
Book Reviews and Giveaways
- Interesting post on the effect ebooks have on the reader’s reading habits and spending.
Positive and Negative Effects of eReading - DITCHED by Robin Mellom “reads like a John Hughes movie.” I am so in! 5-star review by @MundieMoms
Mundie Moms: Book Review: Ditched by Robin Mellom - @KMWalton1 celebrates the release of CRACKED with a contest & giveaway. Congratulations!
Some Things I Think…: CRACKED is Released! - A++ review for THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT 1ST SIGHT
Katie’s Book Blog: The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith - Gripping & intense, DON’T BREATHE A WORD by Holly Cupala will keep you guessing.
A Blog about Nothing: Don’t Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala - @MundieMoms list their 10 fave YA dystopians of 2011. Is your favorite on this list?
Mundie Moms: 2011 Mundie Moms Favorites: Dystopians - HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand: 5 stars! Moving & emotionally binding. Reviewed by @MundieMoms
Mundie Moms: Book Review: HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand - Corrine Jackson’s IF I LIE looks like an excellent read. Coming August 2012.
Cover Reveal: IF I LIE by Corrine Jackson; Also, Watch me Ramble - Share your love of books on April 23 and be a World Book Night 2012 Giver.
Register to be a WBN 2012 Giver
Craft of Writing, Editing, and Critiquing
- Looking beyond the craft: how to make your good writing great. Love this!
James Killick’s Blog: How to make good writing great - Anyone a trilogy will love this interview with @bethrevis at League of Extraordinary .
The League of Extraordinary Writers: Writing a sequel to a Bestseller — Exclusive Beth Revis interview about A MILLION SUNS - Fantastic post on using hidden elements to communicate your story’s purpose.
Words and Such: On Logos, Arrows, and Storytelling - Write faster and avoid writer’s block with these five tips from Ann Aguirre.
Five Productivity Tips - Does your character have enough at stake? Can he/she walk away from the conflict?
Two Surefire Symptoms of a Static Character - One of the best posts I’ve ever read on finding your voice.
25 Things Writers Should Know About Finding Their Voice - Overwhelmed by revisions? Wipe those tears, take a deep breath, then read these excellent tips
Project 2012: Dealing with problems. Big problems. - Your hero’s victory over the villain must be hard-won or it doesn’t feel like a victory at all. Brilliant.
Seeking the Write Life: Mighty Heroes REQUIRE Mighty Villains - Severus Snape & Good Will Hunting: Wounded is the latest addition to the Character Trait Thesaurus at Bookshelf Muse.
The Bookshelf Muse: Character Trait Thesaurus Entry: Wounded - Revise with purpose: Use each draft to focus on fixing a weakness. Fantastic checklist!
Write and Rewrite | The Editor’s Blog - Backstory: it gets a bad rap, but you need it to create rich characters. How to make it work.
The Other Side of the Story: We Have a History: Making Backstory Work for You - Finding the balance between thought & action: revealing emotion without hurting the pace. A must-read post from @lisagailgreen#writing
Paranormal Point of View: Internal Dialogue - Pack both introspection & world building into phrases to achieve depth (good advice even if you don’t write category).
Babbles from Scott Eagan: Writing Category Romance Doesn’t Mean Skimping on Depth - Criticized for having boring characters? Make them interesting with these tips from @SuperheroNation
Ideas for How to Make a Boring Character Interesting - Tips for emotionally satisfying endings.
Grand finales: Tips for writing great endings - Chain, convergence, divergence, & thunderbolt: 4 ways your protag can discover hidden truths.
James Killick’s Blog: 4 ways your protagonist can learn the truth - Three books to add to your craft of writing library recommended by @redsofaliterary. I’m buying them all!
How’s your writing reference library looking? - Similes & metaphors: Seven guidelines to do them well.
Artzicarol Ramblings: Similes and Metaphors That WORK - Behind the words: making big picture revisions. 6 tips from @JamiGold
How to Force a Story to Evolve: 6 Revision Tips | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author - Denial can work against your character but for your story. Superb post by @NovelEditor
Don’t Give Characters What They Want | The Editor’s Blog - Simply filling out a character worksheet doesn’t develop the character. What’s the next step?
edittorrent: The “Why” of Character Worksheets - Make editing your ms easier with these 11 resources, compiled by @Publetariat
Top Posts of 2011: 11 Resources To Make Editing Your Novel Easier | www.publetariat.com - When “strong language” does not mean “dirty words.”
QueryTracker.net: Caution: Contains Strong Language - @MundieMoms list their 10 fave YA dystopians of 2011. Is your favorite on this list?
Mundie Moms: 2011 Mundie Moms Favorites: Dystopians - Five fantastic tips on emotion.
The Bookshelf Muse: Stocking Stuffers for Writers: EMOTION - Is it ever okay to use “was?”
The Blood-Red Pencil: To “Was” or Not to “Was”
Inspiration and Smiles
- Is it worth a year of your life? How to test if your story idea is worth writing.
The Question You Should Ask Before You Ask “What if?” - Finding it hard to write because the kids are home for winter break? 4 tips to find writing time
How Do You Write with Kids in the House? | Fantasy Faction - Slumps are inevitable. Three tips on pulling yourself out
3 Ways to Get Out of a Writing Slump - Fantastic motivation for those who keep revising, but never finish the ms.
Chip MacGregor .com: The Best Writing Advice: A guest blog from novelist Kaye Dacus - Read it, print it, frame it, live it: @RoniLoren’s 10 Commandments of a Successful Author
* Roni Loren – Fiction Groupie *: The 10 Commandments of a Successful Author - Finding time: @JaneFriedman’s Five tips on how to fit in everything you need to do.
So, How Do I Find The Time To Do All This? | Jane Friedman - Another reason to do more research before querying: info from online agent databases can be out of date.
A New Year’s Resolution – Public Service Announcement - Get the most out of a conference by knowing your goals. Excellent tips!
Attending a Writers Conference in 2012? Know Your Goals? | GENREALITY - Why pre-ordering a book is the best way to support an author.
From the Write Angle: Not All Sales Are Created Equal—What Your Writer Friends Wish You Knew But Are Too Polite to Tell You - Think your 1st novel will find immediate success? Think again, says @greyhausagency.
Babbles from Scott Eagan: It’s Your First Book – Don’t Expect Miracles - “If you’re going to self-publish, do it deliberately.” Excellent interview on the rewards & challenges of self-pubbing
QueryTracker.net: The Challenges and Rewards of Self-Publishing: An Interview - Why finding an agent is an uphill battle.
Babbles from Scott Eagan: The Numbers Behind Finding Agents - A renaissance of storytelling: good news for epubbers from @ravenousromance.#writing
Agent in the Middle: December 2011
Issues, News, Trends, and Congratulations
- Congrats to @AngelaAckerman @BeccaPuglisi @JaneFriedman @StoryFix @thecreativepenn and the other Top Ten Blog finalists!
Top 10 Blogs for Writers Contest 2011/12: The Finalists | Write to Done - Congrats to The Indelibles on your new MG & YA Indie group! Your launch party sounds like fun! @IndelibleWriter
The Indelibles: The History of The Indelibles - Happy book birthday to @RoniLoren’s CRASH INTO YOU! Congratulations!
* Roni Loren – Fiction Groupie *: Is That the Sound of My Dream Coming True? CRASH INTO YOU is out!!! - Congrats on the release of UNDER THE NEVER SKY,@V_Rossibooks! Can’t wait to read it!
YA Muses: Under the Never Sky Launch Day - @KMWalton1 celebrates the release of CRACKED with a contest & giveaway. Congratulations!
Some Things I Think…: CRACKED is Released! - @annerallen relates how she overcame her addiction to querying and found success. Congratulations!
Anne R. Allen’s Blog: Confessions of a Former Query Addict - Congratulations,@MundieMoms, on your 1 million visitors! Awesome giveaway, too!
Mundie Moms: 1,000,000 Visitors Giveaway!! - THIS. I want THIS. Best gift for writers
Will Write For Chocolate: Best Gift For A Writer – Inkygirl: Guide For Kidlit/YA Writers & Artists – Inkygirl: An Illustrated Guide For Those Who Write & Draw For Young People - Woot! Congrats on the sale of the next two books in your UNFAIRY TALE LIFE series,@annastanisz!
Anna Staniszewski» Blog Archive » Big News! - Happy blogiversary,@candacemom2two! Thanks for giving us so many excellent posts to tweet!
Candace’s Book Blog: Happy Blogoversary To Me!
Social Media
- What do impressive social media stats look like?@amandaleudeke on successful platforms by the numbers.
Chip MacGregor .com: Thursdays with Amanda: How Big Should a Writer’s Platform Be? - Your website can be the most powerful selling tool you have. Don’t hurt yourself with an outdated, poorly-designed site.
Is Your Website Hurting Your Writing? - Blogging & writing: how to find the time to do both.
How I get time to blog as well as write - Is Twitter making us better or worse?
Does Twitter Make Us Better Writers? - Social media before you debut: website/blogging tips & resources
What to do Before Your Book Debuts (Part Two) | Beyond The Margins - Website tips for fiction writers: how to build your audience.
How to Build an Audience for a Fiction Writer’s Website
Self-Publishing, Book Promotion, and Author Marketing
- Have a book app? How can you get readers to find it?
Guest Post: Elizabeth O. Dulemba on Promoting a Book App - What do impressive social media stats look like?@amandaleudeke on successful platforms by the numbers.
Chip MacGregor .com: Thursdays with Amanda: How Big Should a Writer’s Platform Be? - Your website can be the most powerful selling tool you have. Don’t hurt yourself with an outdated, poorly-designed site.
Is Your Website Hurting Your Writing? - Fantastic post on promotion & what you should do NOW, before you sell.
Targeted PR, Cross-Promotion, and Knowing Your Audience
Self-Publishing, Book Promotion, and Author Marketing
- The mindset and terminology of the freelance author.
The Business-Minded Writer: When the Hobby Becomes the Job - An optimistic timeline of a book from start to finish.
Remember, Trends Started 3 Years Ago
To Market
- A query letter is a sales letter: show the agent you are perfect for the job.
Babbles from Scott Eagan: Show Editors & Agents How You Meet Their Guidelines - A query is probably the most important letter you’ll ever compose. How The Beatles got it right.
The Kill Zone: Paperback Writer - Hooks, loglines, & pitches: don’t write yours until you’ve read this.
Anne R. Allen’s Blog: Hooks, Loglines, and Pitches: What Every Writer Need to Know - Should you sign with a new publisher?@behlerpublish on how to evaluate & decide.
Just because they offered you a contract doesn’t mean you need to take it - Fantastic!@DaphneUn of kt literary gives specifics on what she wants–and doesn’t want–to represent.
kt literary » Blog Archive » What I’d Like To See - Another reason to do more research before querying: info from online agent databases can be out of date.
A New Year’s Resolution – Public Service Announcement - My critique partners LOVE my manuscript! So why are agents/editors rejecting it?
*Lynnette Labelle* @Chatterbox Chitchat: Editors Passed on Same Book Critique Group Loved: 6 Reasons Why - Really cool pitch contest & giveaway
Brenda Drake Writes . . . under the influence of coffee: Can You Hit A Perfect Pitch? Blogfest Contest with agent Ammi-Joan Paquette - Don’t just get an agent. Get a GOOD agent. Here’s how to evaluate them.
How Do You Know If Your Agent Is Any Good? | Jane Friedman - @JS_Lawson’s roundup on what agents want: more YA romance, no more vamps/weres/zombies.
Falling Leaflets: Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest and Agency/Agent News - The rude shock of staying published: What to expect after that 1st contract.
The Writer’s Journey - “Please respond” is just an invitation not to, & other ways to be instantly rejected.
Janet Reid, Literary Agent: A brilliant new way to shoot yourself in the query
Other Weekly Round-Ups:
- Cynthia Leitich Smith at Cynsationsdoes a Cynsational author, craft, and book news review.
- Elizabeth Craig posts a comprehensive weekly list of all her helpful Twitter posts.
- Stina Lindenblatt does a fabulous Cool Links Friday post every week.
- YA Highway’s Friday Road Trip hits the high points of the publishing industry, writing craft, submissions process, and other fun stuff.
Did we miss anything? Anyone? Please leave a comment! Happy reading and joyous writing,
Clara and Martina







