I
watch
Twitter,
so you don’t have to. Visit each Friday or Saturday (or Sunday!) for
the week’s best Tweets. If I missed a great Tweet, leave
it in the Comments. Always welcome suggestions on improving this weekly feature.
Check out these freshly launched personal blogs from the people who work at Writer’s Digest:
- The Sound and Furry (by Writer’s Market customer service maven and children’s writer Nancy Parish)
- My Name Is Not Bob (by Writer’s Market editor Robert Brewer)
Best of Best
The myth of “just an author”: it’s not true today and I doubt it ever was
@NathanBransfordAmazing insight on easily overlooked mistakes writers make (from Pat Holt)
@AprilParent
Why “self-publishing” doesn’t mean anything anymore. Enter “cloud-publishing”?
@bookovenThe 10 Rock Solid Elements of Effective Online Marketing (useful for authors too!)
@thecreativepennConsidering writing your first book? 5 tips before you start
@kristycolley
Stand Alone
Please don’t refer me to your website or attachment for your sample pages. I won’t read. Put them in the body of the email.
@MarleneStringerBe widely read in your genre. Seriously–it shows when you aren’t.
@bostonbookgirlMain reason I say NO to queries is the story & the writing don’t impress. Problem is the book, not the query.
@RachelleGardnerAuthors: putting “requested material” on your envelope doesn’t fool me, OK?
@ginger_clarkPlease. No more follow-up questions and/or angry e-mails after queries. Please. Please please please
@NathanBransfordEditing tip of the day. Cut mundane dialogue unless it has meaning, like characters’ awkwardness, tentativeness.
@LisaRomeoThere’s no such thing as “mainstream”, just big and small niches. Profitable publishing comes from knowing where your niche is.
@glecharlesYou’d be amazed at how quickly an experienced editor or agent can assess your writing skill. Often, 1 paragraph.
@RachelleGardner
How to create a pitch for your story
@benwhiting
Questions to ask yourself before seeking publication: What’s my category/genre? (via @moonrat)
@thecreativepennHere’s some good advice about the real role of an agent
@BubbleCowWhat not to say in your query via agent @RachelleGardner
(hard truth)
@JohnUpChurchFriends/family or God telling you to write a book? Don’t put it in yourr query!
@RachelleGardnerGood advice from an agent. My favourite: Q: The number one reason for rejecting a book? A: Because it isn’t very good.
@BubbleCowWhen agents stop reading your query letter
@thecreativepennIf you’re unpublished, it’s too soon to have a breakout novel. You need a break-in novel.
@bubblecowOn writing/publishing blogs — I love pimpmynovel.blogspot.com because it’s funny. Thank Thor.
@OnLocustStreet
Craft & Technique
Why your story isn’t getting published by @bhurley
@motsjustesThree Key Questions to Ramp Up Your Story’s Mojo
@cleshastatenAvoid stating the obvious
@motsjustesGood post for fiction writers on how to identify dragging narrative
@DanielLiteraryAn editor offers some good advice on using powerful verbs in your writing
@BubbleCowHere’s something to think about when creating characters: birth order
@PamCallow
Publishing Biz, Trends, Future of Publishing
Explosive ebook growth continues and that means big strategic challenges are just around the corner.
@MikeShatzkinThe Eleven Axioms of 21st Century Book Publishing (“A book’s function dictates its file container.”)
@mikecane“Let’s face it – the whole chain bookstore, publishing house, agent, author thing is bankrupt.” Huff Post
@TMatlackIf you haven’t read it, anyone working in bookselling or book publishing (and likely any author) should think about this
@draccahSell 7000 copies and you are a literary success (via @moonrat)
@thecreativepennArticle Writing Isn’t Dead (via @thewritermama)
@thecreativepennSteampunk: What it is, why I came to like it, and why I think it’ll stick around
@torbooks
Marketing/Promotion
“No matter who your editor is… the best, most passionate promoter of a book is going to be its author.“
@glecharles27 ways to breathe life into your ‘about’ page
@indieauthorInteresting article discussing the power of videos in selling your book [by a veteran of NY publishing]
@BubbleCow
Self-Publishing and E-Publishing
Authors are brands: @eoinpurcell blogs that self-publishing attracts star authors, too
@dbschlosserCovey: 2 months from a manuscript to self-pub book vs. a year with a traditional publisher
@dbschlosserWall Street Journal: No Agent? Publish Yourself Video
@StecykEnjoying this a lot » How to Write a Good eBook – You Know, the Kind that Doesn’t Suck
@namenick
Blogging
Seriously, not just for librarians: 100 Terrific Tips & Tools for Blogging Librarians
@UrbanMuseWriterThe 7 Deadly Sins of Blogging
@flipbooks6 Secrets to Writing Memorable Taglines
@flipbooks26 Places to Find Free Multimedia for Your Blog (via @mashable)
@thecreativepenn
Twitter / Social Media
My tips for social networking in 15 minutes a day
@RachelleGardner5 Reasons Every Book Editor Should Be on Twitter
@jcheiffetzGoogle Reader is one of the four primary social media tools every writer should be using
@glecharlesLove @zephoria’s rant about study saying 40% of twitter is “pointless babble.” She notes, you could say same of talking
@timoreilly
Resources and Tools
Free novel-writing software – a review
@motsjustesThe Basic Grammar eBook: free if you subscribe to feed
@BubbleCowComprehensive book publishing glossary
@NathanBransford85 Resources for Fiction Writing
@BubbleCowGreat list of 15 Must-Read Blogs for Writers, from @UrbanMuseWriter
@QuipsAndTips
The Writing Life / Philosophical / Inspirational
Writers: Don’t rely upon publication for career satisfaction. Advice from Anne Lamott
@DebraMarrstoni morrison on writing today
@reetamacLearning from one of the world’s most popular writers: Quips & Tips From J.K. Rowling
@QuipsAndTips
Looking for more?
- Join us for the Writer’s Digest Conference (Sept 18-20) in New York City, which focuses on how to use the newest tools to get published and market/promote your work.
- Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
- Become a fan at our Facebook page
This is great! Very nice to have all this in one place. And good selection too. Keep it up!