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Friday Links: From First Drafts to Engaging with Readers

Nephele Tempest

 

These days Friday feels like just one more herald of the coming of year’s end. Work weeks are busy and weekends are filled with attempts to catch up not just with additional work but with every single thing I intend to accomplish before 2016 rolls around. Anyone else feeling that same sense of speeding up to fit everything in before the holidays hit?

For those of you participating in NaNoWriMo, this weekend marks the one-week point. Don’t think about being ahead or behind, just get those words down. Write, write, write, and the editing and polishing will come later. Remember that everyone’s first draft is pretty crappy, no matter whether you’re writing to a deadline or just working your way through the story at a leisurely pace. First drafts are just a jumping-off point.

Whether or not you’re swamped with NaNo and a long to-do list, I hope you’ll take a few moments to check out some of this week’s links. They range from entertaining to practical, and there should be something to appeal to everyone. Enjoy, and happy writing!

21 Invaluable Writing Tips from Renowned British Writers – Some excellent advice here.

Scrivener for NaNoWriMo – Some great tips on using the writing program to organize and work through your NaNo novel.

Scrivener NaNoWriMo Offers – Discounts on the writing software in honor of NaNoWriMo; either 20% off now, or 50% later if you complete NaNo.

My 2.5 Star Trip to Amazon’s Bizarre New Bookstore – Amazon opened their first brick-and-mortar shop this week in Seattle. One visitor’s thoughts.

Want a Jane Austen Quote Delivered to You Everyday? – A new app for Jane Austen fans.

The Book Seer – A fun new online tool that recommends books based on the last one you read (and presumably liked).

Walter Dean Myers, Writing White, and Affirmation – One writer learns to put herself into her work.

What Do Writers Owe Readers? – A thoughtful look at the reader/writer dynamic, and the level of expectation that sometimes seems to come from having read an author’s work.

Friday Links

Nephele Tempest

Happy Friday, and happy long Labor Day weekend to those of you in the U.S. Even though we technically have a few more weeks of summer ahead, this weekend marks the unofficial close of the summer season for many people, so by all means, put this weekend to good use. It’s time for quick getaways, splashing in the ocean or a nearby lake or a lovely pool, backyard cookouts, or reading a great book in a shaded hammock. However you spend this weekend — holiday or not — I wish you a terrific one. And, of course, offer up a few fun links to help kick things off. Enjoy!

I Smell Your Rookie Moves, New Writers – Some excellent advice from the always-funny Chuck Wendig.

A Writing Lesson from Ursula K. LeGuin – As stated.

One Shade of Grey – A virtual peek through the doors of London’s Persephone Books.

10 Instagram Tips for Writers – Share images of your bookish world.

Making Maps for Books: 2 Cartographers Show Us How It’s Done – Wonderful interview with two map makers who frequently provide maps for fantasy novels, etc.

Friday Links

Nephele Tempest

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you’ve all had a good week, especially given how turbulent it has been in certain parts of the world lately. From tornadoes to earthquakes and riots to terrorists, things feel particularly tenuous. So give the people you love a hug or a call — or maybe write them a lovely handwritten letter — and take a moment to think about the very different lives we all live. It’s good writing inspiration, yes, but it’s just good humanity, too. And if you’re in the U.S., don’t forget that Sunday is Mother’s Day.

Philosophical moments aside, I’ve got a nice collection of links for you today. I had to poke around a bit this week as things were particularly busy at work, so I hope you find these worth my digging. Enjoy, and happy writing!

Five Ways Scrivener Can Help Your Work in Progress – I’m a huge fan of the Scrivener writing program (and no, I have no connection to the company), and this is a great little mini tutorial. If you don’t have Scrivener and are interested in trying it out, ignore the link on the page and go straight to the source, where you can get a trial run before committing.

Paul Beatty on Satire, Race, and Writing for “Weirdos” – An interview with the author.

Anatomy of a Regency Letter – A lovely post on the physical details of a letter of the era, including paper sizes and folding techniques. (Thanks to Mary Robinette Kowal for the link.)

The First Day in the Life of a Brand New Bookstore – On last week’s opening day for Little City Books in Hoboken, NJ. Charming and heartening. If you’re in the Hoboken area, go buy some books.

Reach a Wider Audience: Eleven Foreign Literary Markets – Some thoughts on how to sell your short work into foreign territories, and why that might help your career on a wider scale.

 

Friday Links

Nephele Tempest

Another tense week here in the U.S. My weekend plans include brunch and books and manuscripts. Er… not in that order. I fully intend to unplug from the internet and the news, however, because it’s mostly just depressing me. Maybe I’ll peek occasionally, so I’m not completely out of the loop, but other than that… just no. It all makes me want to bang people’s heads together. So much irrational cruelty and needless violence. Somewhere on my shelves there must be a book that will remind me that human beings do good things, too. Because the other option, apparently, is to watch celebrities pour ice over their heads (for an admittedly good cause) and that’s getting old.

But first, I have links! There’s a pretty diverse group this week, so I hope there’s something to appeal to everyone. May you be inspired to some creative greatness this weekend, or at the very least find an excellent read. Enjoy!

Finding My Voice in Fantasy – Author and Time magazine book reviewer Lev Grossman discusses how he made the leap from “literary” writing to fantasy.

Why We Must Strive for Diversity in SF/F – Author David Mack talks about his own work and his reaction to readers criticizing his diverse characters.

Practical Art: On Teaching the Business of Creative Writing – A great look at some of the practical aspects of a writing career that should possibly get addressed as part of a writer’s education.

Surreal Worlds Digitally Painted by Gediminas Pranckevicius – Amazing art work that looks like it should serve to inspire some fantastic fiction. (For those of you looking for a prompt.)

Why We Need Independent Bookstores More Than Ever – The director of a smaller publisher weighs in on the book-selling wars.

When to Cut that Scene – Some good tips on how to revise with an eye toward editing out the fluff — no matter how much you might love it.

Friday Links

Nephele Tempest

Happy Friday! Who has plans to write this weekend? Or maybe hit the beach with a good book? Whatever you have on the agenda, I’m wishing you a wonderful time.

As for me, I’ve a huge stack of reading looking at me — client manuscripts, submissions, and some books with covers that are taunting me with their presence. No question as to what’s on my schedule for the next few days. But first, I bring you this week’s links. Some reading recs, some writing inspiration, and just some general bookish fun. Enjoy!

Dani Shapiro on Vulnerability, the Creative Impulse, the Writing Life, and How to Live with Presence – A mouthful of a title, but worth checking out.

Nailing Your Novel’s First Chapter – Some great advice, whether you’re just starting a new project or going back to revise.

Bookstores of New York – Charming sketches with fun anecdotes to accompany them.

14 Brilliant Pieces of Literature You Can Read in the Time it Takes to Eat Lunch – What it says on the wrapper. Great assortment.

The Muscle-Flexing, Mind-Blowing Book Girls Will Inherit the Earth – Wonderfully upbeat look at one segment of the reading population.

Friday Links

Nephele Tempest

Normally I’m all about Friday. Yay, weekend! Even though I work at least part of most weekends, there’s a certain mindset they bring with them that just makes things feel a bit more cheerful. Except this weekend I have a hot date with my tax return, so… not so much. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not wishing all of you a wonderful weekend, and naturally I have a list of links to help you ease the way. At the very least, I hope they make you think or perhaps take a fresh look at how you approach your writing. Enjoy!

Speak Plainly: Are we Losing the War Against Jargon? – An interesting look at trends in conversational style.

10 Signs of Underdeveloped Characters in Your Novel – Some good tips.

10 Surprising Ways to Transform Your Creative Thinking – Thoughts on how to best get your brain churning.

Buried Badasses: The Forgotten Heroines of pre-Code Comics – A peek at some “Golden-Age” comics, and at the kick-ass women who graced their pages.

The Night I Slept Outside Shakespeare & Company – One writer’s encounter with the famed Parisian bookstore.

Friday Links

Nephele Tempest

TGIF! I hope you’ve all had a lovely week and that your weekend looks to be even better. I’ve had a busy run of it over here, but things seem to be slowing down a tad, so I’m looking forward to actually prying myself away from my desk for a bit.

I come bearing this week’s links. I hope you find them fun and useful; I think there’s a little something for everyone here. And next week I’m hoping to get back to offering up a little more substance on the blog overall. In the meantime, happy writing, happy reading, and enjoy!

How These Six Highly Productive Bloggers Get So Much Done – Looking to expand your social media platform? Need more writing time? Figure out how to put your goals first with these handy tips.

The Writer’s Room – The New York Times checks out the work spaces of a number of professional writers.

Is Amazon Bad for Books? – George Packer takes a long, hard look at the e-retailer.

Black Balloon Publishing’s Top 10 Favorite Literary Blogs – You may already be familiar with a handful of these, but there are also a few lesser known blogs mentioned that are well worth checking out.

Literary Prizes Make Books Less Popular, Study Finds – This seems a chicken-or-egg scenario. (Do they give prizes to books that are overly highbrow and unreadable? Or do readers simply perceive prize-winning books to be uninteresting?)

Friday Links

Nephele Tempest

Happy Friday! I’m currently in the midst of the Surrey International Writers Conference in B.C., Canada, but through the miracles of modern technology, I still have a lovely assortment of links to help you kick off the weekend. Wishing you lots of excellent writing time, with time off to read for good behavior. Enjoy!

Alice Munro, First Nobel Laureate of the MFA Program – An interesting look at how the author’s work has become the go-to example for teaching how to write.

Opportunities for Writers: November and December 2013 – Upcoming contests, awards, etc.

New Trends in YA: The Agents’ Perspective – A look at what’s trending these days.

10 Paranormal Romance Novels You Should Read (An Opinionated Opinion) – Some great suggestions, including a few Knight Agency authors.

15th Century Dutch Church Converted into 21st Century Bookstore – Field trip, anyone? With thanks to Kathy Chung for the link.

Friday Links

Nephele Tempest

October is well underway and, in my neck of the woods, we’ve even been experiencing weather that suggests the kiss of autumn: a slight chill in the air, that nice crispness in the morning that tells you summer has flown. Mind you, it’ll probably get up around 90 degrees again at least once before the holidays hit, but that’s Southern California for you.

Still, October means Halloween, so I’ve a few links to help you with your scary seasonal reading. Nothing like a few haunted houses or ghosties to put you in the mood. Whatever your plans this weekend, I hope you set aside time to do a bit of writing, and indulge yourself in a good book. Enjoy!

The 50 Scariest Books of All Time – Not all strictly horror, so there’s something for everyone.

The October Science Fiction and Fantasy Books You Can’t Afford to Miss! – A good roundup of new releases.

10 Awesome Secret Passage Bookshelves – Because secret passages seem even more appropriate this time of year.

Canadian Author Alice Munro Wins 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature – A career from short stories, first book published at age 37; proof positive that talent and hard work can win out if you persevere.

James Patterson’s Bookseller Pledge – The best-selling author has pledged $1 million to help independent bookstores. More information available at his website.

Friday Links

Nephele Tempest

Friday already? Not that I’m complaining… Well, perhaps I am. Just a bit. This week has flown by and I still have so much to do. I’m on quite the productive roll, however, so I will just keep plowing along and see how much I can accomplish.

Ever feel that way about your writing? Like you’ve got an excellent streak going and you just don’t want to stop for fear of it all drying up? Be sure to take advantage of those. Shut that internal editor right up and just write your heart out. Plenty of time to cross out and replace and tweak later on. Get the draft on paper; the rest can wait.

With those pearls of oft-said wisdom, I leave you with some links to kick off your weekend. Enjoy, and happy writing!

Hunting for Red October: Remembering Tom Clancy – I didn’t read much of his work; his books weren’t really my thing. But he had a huge talent and was an iconic figure in publishing for decades. RIP.

Did the Cat Eat Your Gymsuit? Then These Books Are for You – A look at Lizzie Skurnick’s new project to revive the young adult books of our youth.

Amazon Says France’s New Bill Is ‘Discrimination’ – New legislation aims to limit Amazon discounts in order to help bolster France’s independent bookstores. Personally, I’d say turnabout is fair play.

Document: Manuscript Pages of Great Expectations – Because I’m a lit geek through and through, and this is just cool.

What the Tea Leaves Said – Having trouble taking the leap and committing to your writing? Read this.