Showing posts with label delilah dawson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label delilah dawson. Show all posts

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Blog Roundup: July 16 - 22, 2012

I liked this post from Greta van der Rol on "the process of plotting" and not just because I'm a fangirl and it means we're getting a new book. No, I liked it also because it gives a nice glimpse into the insanity that is a writer. She's just so matter-of-fact about Ravindra talking to her. And aren't we all? Our characters speak, we listen. It's when we don't that things get messy and complicated and difficult.

Well, this is interesting. Back in May, Joe Konrath hosted a guest post from Ann Voss Peterson. She talked about her relationship with big publisher Harlequin and why she couldn't afford to write for them anymore. It's a startling, sobering post. This week, Joe posted an update on her situation--sort of. In Harlequin Fail Part 2, Joe mentions the class-action lawsuit against Harlequin and the shady business practices that led to it. Yikes.

Girl Who Reads wrote about newsletters in her Tips on Thursday post this week. I'm definitely checking out those resources.

Paperback Writer made a wonderful list of suggestions for coping with the culture of immediacy.

Pub Rants hosted a Roni Loren guest post that all bloggers need to read. Especially if you use photos in your posts, read that post! (Don't panic, but don't ignore it, either. It's about lawsuits and the dangers of copyright infringement.)

Delilah Dawson shared some thoughts on editing. I really liked her first thought. That can be such a problem for new writers--and even for some of us who have been at this a while.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Blog Roundup: July 9 - 15, 2012

Chuck Wendig is basically like a hairy, foul-mouthed little writer god and you should listen to him. Read his 25 Bad Writer Behaviors post. It's a good post. It's a really, really good post.

Caustic Cover Critic discussed E-Book Cover Design here and here. If you're looking for a cover artist, or doing it yourself, read these posts (and this blog).

Over at Do Some Damage, Scott Parker wrote about knowing if you're a writer. I would argue that if you write and identify yourself in any way by that activity, then you're a writer (even if your work only has an "audience of one"). If you're feeling any of the insecurity or self-doubt that seems to come with writing, that's a good post to let you know you're not alone and there are ways to make it better.

Girl Who Reads discussed negative reviews in her Tips on Thursday post this week. I've said it before and I'll say it again: reviews are for other readers, not for authors, and authors would do well to keep in mind that a negative review isn't a personal attack (except when it is, and then it's not about the review, it's about nastiness and being a jerk), it's an opinion, and everyone is entitled to their opinions.

Rik Davnall's posts likening a story to sex and books to sex toys made me laugh, entertained me, and informed me enough to make me think--which means those posts hit the perfect trifecta of How To Be Successful On The Internet.

Lynn Viehl's Zero Cost Ten is packed with useful, free writing tools. I love it when she makes posts like that!

Every single one of Delilah S. Dawson's posts last week was golden. Every. Single. One. Go read them all.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Blog Roundup: July 1 - 8, 2012

Greta van der Rol released a new short story this week. GO GET IT.

Karen McQuestion posted about keeping your finger on the pulse of the publishing industry with a short list of go-to blogs. I can't fault her choices there and I recommend anyone just starting out follow those blogs.

Parajunkee posted about DNF (did not finish) book reviews. As a reader, I think DNF reviews are very useful. If readers who think like me didn't finish a book, I want to know that, and I want to know why.

Aimee Salter defines humility and insecurity. This should be required reading for new authors. (I would also like to add a bit on false humility. Where you say, "Oh, no, I'm terrible" to make yourself look good, then reject all criticism because you secretly believe--and your "friends" confirm--that you're the Best EVAR. No. No, you're not.)

I love Sierra Godfrey's 6 Tips for a Friendly Author Website. So many authors, especially self-published though traditionally published authors (George R. R. Martin, Aaron Allston, I'm looking at you fellows), have bad websites. Don't be one of them.

Stella Deleuze's Confessions post is nice to read because, really, we're all of us--self-published authors--in the same boat. We want to produce high-quality, error-free text that lets us live our dream.

Delilah Dawson's 10 Tips for Barfing a Book made me laugh and agree. She's got some great tips there.