Writing Roundup, May 8
And, another work week for the 9-5 crowd comes to a close. I wonder if this song lyric would be true of me if I did not have a day job to do in addition to this crazy writing thing: “I wake up every evening, with a big smile on my face, and it never feels out of place.” (from Gives You Hell by the All-American Rejects)
The Business of Writing
Writing as an Identity
Is writing who you are or what you do? Agent Nathan Bransford explores why most writers seem to believe it is who they are.
Author-Agent Agreements
Agent Rachelle Gardner has started a series that describes what happens once she decides to request more from an author who has queried her. This installment covers the written and verbal agreements that may be made between an author and his or her brand-spanking-new agent.
American (Author) Idol
This is an interesting look at the cult of the author that has built up on the Internet. It is a balanced exploration of both the good and the bad. What do you think? Is it about the author or the book?
Fiction
The Fake-Book-Idea Factory
Jody Wallace writes fantasy, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. She often gets asked things like, “When are you going to write a real book?” Now, we all know that her books are just as real as any others out there, so that is not the point of including her guest at Powell’s Books. Instead, she talks about the process of generating ideas.
Crafting the Paranormal Romance
As this is what my current WIP is (paranormal romance, or PNR), I found this post very interesting. You can apply the steps here to any genre, though.
Freelancing
Marketing Tips
A new season means a new approach to marketing for freelance guru Jennifer Mattern. (All of a sudden, I feel as if I’m announcing a fashion show. But not as a serious announcer with a love of fashion. Rather, I’m taking on a very Janeane Garofalo-esque persona. And I don’t mean to sound sarcastic about this post, because it had some good ideas that can help you break out of a marketing rut.)
Prepare for Problems
We all know that things will go wrong when we least expect them to. As writers/business managers, we need to ensure that we are prepared for likely obstacles so that they don’t completely derail us. Allison Boyer offers some potential problems and solutions.
Hey. You’re Not Romantic At All.
Aspiring writer December Gephart describes through example the beauty of fiction. She doesn’t believe in soul mates in real life, but she sure does believe in romance in writing.
General Writing Tips
Discovering and Developing Your Voice, part 1
The ladies at the Blood-Red Pencil have a post that will help you find your voice as a writer. They ask questions that will guide you in learning the hallmarks of voice and using them in your writing.
Errors will Ruin Your Chances
I wish we lived in a world where this went without saying, but 30 Helens and writer Sue Lick agree that proofreading is important.
Showing versus Telling
In her untitled blog post, Robyn Campbell looks for guidance in (a) showing instead of telling and (b) knowing when it is right to tell.
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Categories: Uncategorized, writing
