I hope you are all having as productive a month as you would like it to be. This seems like such a good time to take a breather and go light on the writing projects. Not me, I always seem to have big deadlines in the summer. Maybe next year, I will schedule things differently…
The Business of Writing
How Blogs Changed Everything
Scott Rosenberg looks at the heavy influence blogs had on our desire to engage in two-way communication with our media. I will admit that in the early days of blogging, I thought it was quite narcissistic to think that anyone would want to read what amounted to an online diary. I am glad to see that blogs have grown into truly useful tools for conversation and information dissemination.
A Writer’s Guide to Social Networking
The only thing not covered in this piece is how to make the time for it! Great overview of the tools out there to connect you to the editors and agents you need to meet. After you read this piece, visit Q4U: Social Networking Anyone? and share your experiences with online networking tools.
How Do You Know?
Agent Jessica Faust explores the author-agent relationship. No matter how much homework we do before even querying an agent, the thought of putting our careers into someone else’s hands to some level can be scary. I think you should do your homework and follow your gut. The relationship will grow and change over the years, and there will be bumps. But you’ll know if it is right.
Dreams
Another compelling question: How do you know when it is time to give up on your dreams? Travis Taylor explores this question and asks for commentary.
Craft
How to Combat Writer’s Block
In this article in Women on Writing, Sue Bradford Edwards shares her recent experiences with writer’s block and how she fought it.
Everything You Need to Know about Writing a Novel
Victoria Mixon shares her writing truths in a guest post on agent Nathan Bransford’s blog. Lots of great information distilled into a nice, concise piece.
Interview with Randy Ingermanson
If you aren’t familiar with Randy Ingermanson’s Advanded Fiction Writing site, please take a moment and visit it right after you read this interview at So You Want to be Published?
Fiction
Scholarly Writers Empower the Romance Genre
You can’t go anywhere without hearing about how the romance genre is now respectable and how much economic clout its readers hold. In this piece, USA Today provides some historical context and shares the experiences of the Smart Bitches.
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
This post at the fictionistas allows us all to share a bit of our process. Visit the site, post your comment, then direct your readers there to read your and other writers’ responses.
Best First Book Nominee: Private Arrangements
In this interview with Dear Author, Sherry Thomas shares a bit about her book, some of the background of her publishing career, and her writing process.
Freelancing
Freelance Writing in Piss Poor Shape? I Don’t Think So
A lot of us get down about the plethora of low-paying freelance gigs. Truly, it seems as if $1 a word is the American dream of 2009. Jennifer Mattern puts it in perspective and gives advice for what we need to do to ensure that we can make a living off our writing.
Self-Publishing Books: An Interview with Peter Bowerman
Remember how I like to mention the need for multiple income streams? Peter Bowerman, the author of The Well-Fed Writer, shares his rationale for self-publishing nonfiction books to not only create income but also build your reputation of expertise in your chosen specialty.
Does Working More and Earning Less Hold You Back from Success?
James Chartrand makes an argument for working less and charging more. See what you think.
Sunday Writing Wash-Up 12th July « Shack's Comings and Goings // Oct 2, 2009 at 5:11 am
[...] Jennifer Roland’s – Writing Roundup, July 10 Each week I am linking to Jennifer Roland’s Roundup, so if you have loads of time or the links here were not of high interest then pop over to her page where she has thirteen more great links for you to enjoy. [...]