comics

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

Happy Friday! I hope you all enjoyed the week and have some great plans lined up for the weekend, perhaps including some quality time with your work in progress, or with your latest read. I come bearing links to some fun and interesting sites, so with any luck they’ll leave you inspired and itching for a bit of quality literary time. Enjoy!

How to Use Reading to Become a Better Writer – We understand there’s a correlation, but this post makes it abundantly clear.

Embed Let’s You Share Tens of Millions of Images – Looking for visuals for your blog? Getty Images has a new program that allows free usage.

2013 National Book Critics Circle Award Winners Announced – Some great titles.

Scrabble Contest Seeks New Words – Apparently Hasbro has decided to broaden the Scrabble dictionary of acceptable vocabulary.

The Frontier Spirit: Will Eisner and the Discovery of Comics’ Next Dimension – A look back at Eisner’s participation in the growth of comics and the subjects they address.

Friday Links

Nephele Tempest

Lots of links today, ranging from writing tips to new book releases. I hope you all find something here to entertain you.

But links aside, I want you all to go do something this weekend that you’ve been putting off. Some fun outing or adventure that you think about but are always too busy for. I lost a dear friend recently. He was just 41, and left behind a wife and 17-month-old little boy. Life is so very short, and we have no idea what’s in store for us. I realize people say this all the time, but I’m adding my voice to the chorus. Make time for yourself this weekend. Seize your life.

Broca’s Area Style Guide: The ’10 Mistakes’ List – A great check list of things to work on while polishing your writing.

Fiction Affliction: October’s Releases in Fantasy and in Urban Fantasy – A nice round up of new books in the fantasy/urban fantasy genres, courtesy of Tor.

Drawing Verse – A lovely profile of poet Bianca Stone, who is also an artist producing “poetry comics.”

How to Write a Better About Page for Your Website – Geared toward entrepreneurial sites, but applicable to anyone with an about page who markets themselves and/or their work.

On Cultivating Instinct as an Ink-slinging, Story-spinning Pen-monkey Type – Tips from Chuck Wendig. Just read.

Friday Links

Nephele Tempest

Apologies for the quiet state of the blog this week. I am still digging out from my conference jaunt Monday and Tuesday. I’m suffering from a combination of work-pile-up and drained brain. Thank goodness it’s almost the weekend. The current plan is to retire to my couch with several client manuscripts and stir only in case of emergencies.

Meanwhile, I leave you with some links to kick off the weekend. Not too many, I’m afraid (see above), but I hope they make up in quality what they lack in quantity. Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend. Happy writing!

Conversations with Myself: An Author’s Guide to Writing Reading Group Guides – An interesting post over at The Millions.

Journey to Middle Earth – A gorgeous time-lapse film clip of New Zealand’s South Island.

Marvel Comics Makes History with a Gay X-Men Marriage – Partly because it’s about time, and partly because I’ll admit to a tiny Avengers addiction. I blame Joss Whedon.