Three (Writing) Reads and a Writer's Platform-Building Crusade

Read this one when it originally came out. Well worth reading again.

Kidlit.com · A Million Bad Words

On getting the voice in your novel to match the character in your head. I am switching a mg from first to third person and oddly enough, for me, the voice is coming through a whole lot better. In other words, voice isn’t just about telling a story in first person. AnyWHO, enough from me. Here is the link and there is a chance to win a first chapter crit from Natalie.

Literary Agent Natalie Fischer On Nailing Voice -- And a 1st Chapter Crit

Well, on the next link? LOVED it. And yep, I love the whole writing “game”. In other words, I’m owning my insanity. What about you? Check this out:

Operation Awesome: Owning My Insanity

What a great idea this. As time allows I am going to go through these have a look. I know my blogging platform, writing will be built around Oh MG YA Canada (which I will expand, of course, to become all things Canadian children’s and teen’s literature as I really get going) and being a librarian running a book club for children and teens. Clearly still working on that! Went off on a little think aloud. The trick, for me, is separating my writing self from the librarian self-blogging wise, I mean. I think it’s important for those coming to your blog to know exactly what they will get. Oops, did the think aloud again....! Here is the link!

Rach Writes...: Writers' Platform-Building Crusade

Three (Writing) Reads and a ?

I have to begin by saying, March 5 already? Really? Huh.

I just picked up some index cards because I want to try this out. I find that when I’m working on a book I think it out best when “handling” it. Either doodling, writing-something away from the computer. So am thinking using something like this could really work well for me.

Kimberley’s Wanderings: 3x5 Card Plotting Method


Like the idea of stretching outside of your genre to, er, stretch your writing muscles for your work in progress<lol, I swear I am a writer, well, a re-writer who didn’t re-write the line she just wrote. On to the link! Yeesh.


Laurel's Leaves: Short stories: notes from the trenches


I have been reading SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder and what he says sync’s with my brain on a level that I kind of find exciting. Anyhow! This next link is not a read and learn writing link---it’s a drooly I wish I could go to this writing link. Having said that, there is a forum on this website that is well worth having a toodle around. Yeah, yeah, I said toodle....


Save the Cat!® » Blog Archive » Announcing Our First Novel-Writing Beat Sheet Workshop

?

I’ve decided to change the giveaway link to....something. The book I’m reading? A writing prompt? Fun, random vid? Pictures of the books I’ve bought from work even when I swear I am going to work a shift and NOT BUY ANYTHING? My version of in your mailbox. The new stationary supplies (the other addiction) I get? Hi, My Name is Deb and I love office supply stores almost as much as bookstores and libraries.

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

Many of you already stop by, I think. But if you don’t, you should! Great round up of links to help pump up your writing, learning more about your craft.

Seeing Creative: Cool Links Friday

Well, it’s a short reading morning for me, so I am going to come back and read my own post and follow the links. That’s kind of weird, I guess. But then. I’m kind of weird. So, here is one of my read laters :

Best Articles This Week for Writers 3/4/11

Great post from Elana Johnson on social networking, which could become part of your writing life (and maybe already is!)

YA Author Elana Johnson: My Social Networking Rules

And, right at the top of Elana’s blog? There is a give away of the LIAR’S SOCIETY by Lisa and Laura Roecker. Go, go now!

Three (writing) Reads and a Contest

March already. Really? And look! It is -34 outside (without the wind chill) Can I just say, YIKES!

On to my morning reads and a contest I entered that I thought you might like, too.


Gotta love conflict not just with your writing but IN your writing.

Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors: 5 Ways to Keep Readers Riveted With Conflict

Oh, this was a good one, with a great link inside (and another blog on writing to check out!)

Book Dreaming: Sizzle Those Sentences

This is a really good tip and one I use too.

Tip Tuesday #78 | Literary Rambles

A must enter, but if you can’t wait go out and buy the book (or e-book if you really really can’t wait). This way, if you win you have an extra copy to share with someone or donate to a school or public library!

WriteOnCon.com – Win THE LIAR SOCIETY Prizes!

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

Revisiting a post from last week, the giveaway is over but the learning more about character is still there! :

Crafting Character Likeability -- Plus a Giveaway

A good and insightfilled look at reviion! Love seeing the journey of her book.

Pen And Ink: Revision

And a way cool way to add tension to your manuscript!

Seeing Creative: Toss Those Papers, Babe

The Giveaway!

First Page and GIVEAWAY: A & L Do Summer « First Page Panda

Three (writing) Reads and a Giveaway

A great character exercise!

Fiction Friday – Working with RAGE | CHRISTINE FONSECA, AUTHOR

Mixes tenses, it can work (and I happen to love books that do this)

Writer Musings: Mixing Past and Present Tense

Sometimes it’s nice just to sit back and listen. I really like this series from The Plot Whisperer

YouTube - marthaalderson's Channel

And a contest...mine!

Just Deb: Interview and Book Giveaway-Hélène Boudreau

Just found this blog thanks to R.J. Anderson’s tweet. Love the seven steps to great characters! A good all around read that reinforces everything I’ve been learning and adds in some new bits. And just check out that side bar of his--it is a treasure trove of reading and learning I tell you!

Cockeyed Caravan

If your ready and querying, or writing that query, this is a good contest (now done) to read through, see the winners and learn from them and the honourable mentions.

Market My Words: Winners of Agent Pitch - Onto the next round

And for the writer who is also social networking!

Author Michelle McLean: Being a Social Networking Writer


A giveaway (for a book I will be buying either way!)

First Page and GIVEAWAY: Rival « First Page Panda

My three writing reads today (and one included a giveaway).

Some great advice in this one, and it’s something I do do to help with the patience :

Patience « Let The Words Flow

I like it :

Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors: The 3 Integral Components of a Story’s Beginning

Looking forward to doing the character exercise they link to in the following post (and certainly hope I don’t have a Mary Sue!) :

Crafting Character Likeability -- Plus a Giveaway

The giveaway (including a link to mine, it close midnight tomorrow, next up? REAL MERMAIDS DON’T WEAR TOE RINGS by Helene Bourdreau)

TerryLynnJohnson: Insanely Mega Elevensies Debut Giveaway

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

This is a tip from last week on Literary Rambles. It’s a gooder. I too have to find the name before the story really (really) flows.

Tip Tuesday #75 | Literary Rambles

This was a good read to start the morning. I do struggle with this sometimes, especially with the courage to keep on putting the work “out there”.

The Bookshelf Muse: The Fine Art of Conquering Impatience

And another tip for Monday. Thanks, Rose!

Rose Cooper: Simple Writing Tip

The giveaway is for THE GIRL WHO COULD FLY, a great middle grade read-check it out!

Shannon Whitney Messenger: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday--The Girl Who Could Fly (and a Giveaway!)

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

Funny how a week can sneak by and something can fall way behind, that being my blog reading! Back on track now.

Marietta Zacker is high on my list of agents-check out this interview where you can get to know her a little better.

Middle Grade Ninja: 7 Questions For: Literary Agent Marietta Zacker

Thanks to Jennifer R. Hubbard: Tasty assortment I followed a link to Laurel's Leaves: Giving life to peripheral stories-how great is that post? Pretty great.

Most of you may already be following along, but just in case(s) here is part two!

Shannon Whitney Messenger: Revision--Shannon Style (Part Two: Personal Revisions)


The giveaway, not one, but two books! And what a fabulous series this looks like, if you don’t win, get it anyway.

WORD for Teens: Giveaway: The Devil's Kiss & Dark Goddess

And just a quick note, you can check my giveaway of Eileen Cook's latest book right here.

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

A good before read on things to check for in your wip :

Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors: The 4 Most Common Mistakes Fiction Editors See

Especially excited to check out the link on Memories (yeah, have to head off to work soon, so this is a read that has to wait ’til I return!)

Seeing Creative: Cool Links Friday

And speaking of having to head out to work, another saved read through is (natch!)

Best Articles This Week for Writers 2/4/11

The giveaway is a link to my own. You have until this Monday (when Eileen Cook’s interview and giveaway goes up!) :

Just Deb: Interview and Giveaway-Denise Jaden


Happy Friday!

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

Okay. I loved this one. Why? Because the writer went the story and created a unique and compelling--vampire story. For me, it shows that ultimately you must not worry on there being hundreds of books just like yours out there--“just like yours” didn’t happen in this case. And if the author would have said “nah” to the story, “nah, there’s too many vampire books out there”, we wouldn’t this story to read. I guess it’s just my reminder to not through the vampire out with the bathwater-or the werewolf, or the Harry--

YA Outside the Lines: Interviewing myself

Now that you have the unique compelling idea-but it is a vampire/werewolf/angel, well you get the picture, the next is writing the query. Convincing the editor or agent that you really do have something new. This post from Adventures in Children’s Publishing has some good, good advice. First, you need to find, follow, research the whoever might be a good fit, then you have to write the query :

WOW Weds: Michelle Leigh Brown on Writing in the Cracks


A great random read I came across while browsing through friends of friends blogs. It’s on writing the alternate or parallel universe. Sets your imagination to humming-of course, if you are currently working on or finishing up a project, set the hum to low so it doesn’t interfere with the current wip. Seems I have to do that quite a bit...

Paperback Writer: Multiversing

Entered this giveaway, you should check it out, too. Knights, Templars-fighting, fantasy. Yep, my kind of read!

Mundie Moms: Author Interview & Giveaway with Sarwat Chadda

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway (Contest)

Not quite a read, more a watch, but I always love the tips that Tina gathers. This one? About research.

Tracy Barrett - Research Tip of the Day - Tales from the Rushmore Kid

Great post on unsticking that which is stuck--and conversation in the comments to keep the ideas flowing!

Words On Paper: It's Like a Movie

Follow along with The League of Extraordinary Writers this week! They are sharing how they revise. Here’s Julia Karr’s post :

The League of Extraordinary Writers: Writing/Revising - Same coin/2 sides

This is more of a contest--and it’s a gooder if you are on an agent hunt and one of those agents that has made your short list is Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Trident Media! Contest ends this Friday and is for MG and YA manuscripts (more about what Alyssa is looking for on the Trident site, plus in various interviews you’ll find when you google her name, or check her out on Query Tracker...huh, am I still talking?...okay. Here’s the link :

Market My Words: Need an agent? Pay It Forward Contest starts today!

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

This link is compliments of Query Tracker (yay for those Friday round-ups!)

There Are No Rules - Are You a Renaissance Soul? Use It to Your Advantage

Now this one made me go, oooo I like it, and what she says is to true!

Jennifer R. Hubbard: What characters see

Finally, a new blog on the writing process that I am really looking forward to following and learning from. It’s Elizabeth O. Dulemba’s other blog that follows her writing middle grade journey.

Love My Muse

Giveaway! Stina is taking entries from anywhere on the planet and you have until this Sunday (10 PM EST)January 30 to enter.

Seeing Creative: Homework Helpers & Giveway

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

Just a rather excellent!! post on voice. Short sweet and oh. so. right.

BookEnds, LLC — A Literary Agency: Something about Voice

A wrap up of a month long series at “the character therapist”.

The Character Therapist: T3 - How to Determine Your Character's Motivating Need

A post on “the perfect time to write.” And from that post, “Perfect writing times are made not born and if you insist on waiting for one...well, good luck finishing that book.” CJ Omololu makes her point and makes it well. There was a time when I could write in and around everything else going on...somewhere along the line I have lost some of that. Reading this was a good reminder that it can be done.

YA Outside the Lines: Finding the Perfect Time to Write-CJ Omololu


GIveaway! This one is international and ends February 3. And it’s a gooder. A book that I can’t wait to recommend to teen mystery lovers!


Carolina Valdez Miller: Review of THE LIAR SOCIETY with a SIGNED ARC GIVEAWAY

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

Author interview with K.M. Weiland on Key Business Partners, LLC blog | Key Business Partners, LLC

And, can I just say WOW on this series on writing the Query. It is chock full of good information. Even if you think you know it all, read this.

Shannon Whitney Messenger: Query Letters--Shannon Style (Part Four: The Rest--and a giveaway!)

I am not quite there yet. On the other hand, maybe I am and don’t know it. There are some posts I’ve been “saving”. Saving? Maybe they just aren’t working!

The Post That Will Not Be

Giveaway of YA Highway Awesomeness!

YA Highway: ~*Super Shiny ALA ARC Giveaway!*~

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

Revisiting your writing goals. Here Julie Eshbaugh and her colleagues re-visit their goals for 2011-they have three main areas that emerged. Self-Discipline, Patience and Reading. Julie takes those and expands on ways to reach those goals.

Revisiting Your Writing Resolutions « Let The Words Flow

This next post ties in with why I write, why I started writing. When I used to do school visits, I would tell stories and read aloud from picture books and novels (parts of the novel, that is.) I loved the energy this created. Kids would come into the library, looking for the books, share books they’d read and loved--get library cards. I remember one mom coming up to the reference desk very excited...her son who apparently didn’t like reading, came home from school with a list of books he’d written out for her to get. They were books I’d talked about at a visit. So, YAY to the authors who put those words to the page and all the people in between who get the books into kids hands! I want to be one of those authors!

Wendie's Wanderings: Why Reading Aloud to Kids encourages the love of Reading

This is a great tip. I do something similar...my place saver is written in caps lock.

Tip Tuesday #73 | Literary Rambles

Giveaway and I love this one. It is for book bloggers, encouraged to read and review...create more exposure for the books! This is U.S. only and you have until February 11.

The Story Siren: ARC Giveaway (Again)

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

A solid read on using the movies to help structure your novel. Liked how she used two very different movies to show what she means. Like she says at the end...”Good story-telling is good story-telling,...” Why not learn from a variety of mediums? Makes sense to me!

Taking Tips from the Movies and TV « Let The Words Flow

Like this one. A discussion about what you do when another idea strikes in the middle of working on a different project--let’s face it, it happens!

Author Michelle McLean: New Idea Hit and Run

Not writing, writing, this next one, but...certainly part of the writing life-I’m heading to the Western Washington Conference in April, so this is a good read!

Alice Pope's SCBWI Children's Market Blog: SCBWI TEAM BLOG Pre-Conference Interview: Editors & Agents on Interacting With Them

Did I say Three Writing Reads? Hmmm, okay...but here is one more anyway!

The Character Therapist: Nugget of Wisdom: Characterization

And the giveaway : )

Just Deb: Book Giveaway-Pluto's Ghost by Sheree Fitch

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

Writing the blog :

This is such good good advice. And I came across it because I’m participating in Maw Books Bloggiesta Challenge. I am learning so much about writing a blog it’s craaaazy, man. Craaazy.

10 Things Bloggers Should NOT Do

Writing the query letter :

Now, many of you may already know this, but just in case in your writing reads travels you missed it, Elana Johnson’s book from Query to the Call is now free. Go to her website (even if you already have it, or don’t need, just go her to website and enjoy--it’s gorgeous! And be sure to put her forthcoming book on your to read list) and you can download it!

Elana Johnson, YA Author

Writing dialogue :

Thanks, yet again (yes, I am a fangirl, lol) to Adventures in Children’s publishing I followed a link to this :

And in the morning, I'm making waffles! - Hey, There's A Dead Guy in the Living Room

And the giveaway :

Pluto's Ghost by Sheree Fitch

Three (Writing) Reads and a Giveaway

The reading writer. I happen to agree with this.

Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors: Why You Should Read the Type of Stories You Write

And more tips on writing the blog. Yes!

dulemba: Thinking about blogging? Here are some tips...

The writer’s eyes.

Weekend Writing Workout: Ways of Looking « The Accidental Novelist (Writes Again)

And the giveaway.

VANISHED – Interview and Giveaway! | From the Mixed-Up Files...