Here is a handy table of contents that will help you quickly reach the topic of your choice. Let me know if you like it this way.
Letting the Market Speak
The Waxman Agency blog hosts this great post reminding writers not to put the cart before the horse. Focus on your writing first, and your career aspirations second. Still be career minded, if that’s your bag, but allow your agent and the needs of the marketplace to have a role in when and what you roll out.
There Has Never Been a Better Time to Be a Writer
Christina Katz, writer and platform guru, gives us a little happiness and light in this inspirational post.
Oregonian Memo: Many Current News Teams Will Cease to Exist
The Oregonian is up for sale, and the higher-ups are reorganizing in anticipation of a smaller news staff. The memo stresses that the Oregonian will continue to provide high-quality content, but I wonder what this means for investigative journalism in Oregon. Will Willamette Week be our only source?
Declining Book Sales?
Jeff Rivera shares his opinions on why book sales are declining at the Galley Cat blog.
How I Got My Agent
Novelist Laura Whitcomb, who is speaking at this weekend’s Wordstock festival, discusses the process she went through when looking for an agent.
Letter to a Soon-to-Be-Published Author
Andy Crouch posted an open letter to the new author. He tells us what matters and what doesn’t from his perspective.
Publishing-Related Backlist
This is a great collection of Moonrat’s posts on this biz we call pubz.
Fending Off Procrastination
This collection of ideas for beating the demon procrastination is invaluable. Though iced lattes aren’t enough for me–as you loyal readers know, only Diet Rock Star gives me the jolt I need to type through fatigue.
Finding Your Voice
In this guest post on Rachelle Gardner’s blog, Heather Goodman discusses different exercises you can do to find and sharpen your voice. Your voice is the lifeblood of your writing, and without a good sense of it, you won’t be ready to succeed.
Tip of the Week
The Buried Editor offers this advice this week: Write the novel that is in you, not what you think the market wants. If you try to time the market, you will likely be off. If you try to ignore the novel that is in you for something that seems more marketable, it’s not going to work. Your writing won’t convey the passion it needs to, and no one wants to read a book not even the author loves.
Positive and Negative Spaces
In this awesome post, Toni McGee Causey uses the lessons of architecture to explain story structure. Lots of great tips here about when to start a story and how (and when) to build your world.
What is Omniscience (In Fiction Writing)
Writer Kimberly Davis gives a very thorough definition of omniscience as a literary term, complete with specific illustrative examples.
Where Is Your Freelance Writing Career Going?
Jennifer Mattern reminds us that, with the year drawing to a close soon, it is a good time to review our goals and beginning planning for the upcoming year.
Using a Blog to Market Your Book
Todd Rutherford gives some straightforward examples of why you should keep blogging even after your book releases.
Marvelous Marketer: Christina Katz
Christina answers questions on Shelli Johannes’s book marketing blog. Christina provides a good summary of the concepts behind her book Get Known Before the Book Deal and a nice list of common platform mistakes.
I’m sure you didn’t miss all the hullabaloo about the new FTC guidelines requiring full disclosure of any financial relationships between reviewer and reviewee. At this point, the common wisdom is that giving free books to book reviewers is a financial relationship.
Fines for Bloggers?
Kate Schafer Testerman shares her thoughts and collects some good comments from her readers. The post also includes a link to the guidelines in PDF format.
FTC FAQ for Book Bloggers
The Boston Bibliophile blog hosts an FAQ written by a lawyer. Because he is a typical lawyer, he makes sure to remind we readers that nothing he says should be construed as legal advice.
FTC Guide re Endorsement Update
The reviewers at Dear Author are following the issue closely and ensuring that they comply with the new regulations. Their blog is a good one to add to your reader, if you don’t already subscribe.
Bloggers, Stop Worrying; Publishers, Start
Ron Hogan posted a late-breaking update that should help squash some of the fears of amateur book bloggers. Ron has been providing some great thoughts on the regulations and the concerns many of us have with them. Follow him on Twitter if you don’t already.
Tweets that mention Writing Roundup, October 9 « Uncategorized « Jen's Writing Journey -- Topsy.com // Oct 10, 2009 at 1:12 am
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Sunday Wash-Up, 11th October « Shack's Comings and Goings // Oct 10, 2009 at 3:04 pm
[...] Writing Roundup, October 9 Jennifer Roland always links to great posts in her round ups. She has now added a neat contents list at the top which links to a subject. Real cool. [...]
» How to Avoid Corporate Blogging Disasters // Jan 30, 2010 at 4:52 am
[...] Writing Roundup, October 9 Here is a handy table of contents that will help you quickly reach the topic of your choice. Let me know if you like it this way. The Business of Writing Craft Fiction Freelancing Platform Special Section: The FTC Rules The Business of Writing Letting the Market Speak The Waxman…… [...]