Friday Links: On Reading (and Writing) All the Books

Whenever I get really busy, I start to have this panicky feeling in the pit of my stomach that says I’m falling behind with reading all the books I want to read. It’s irrational, of course. As a diehard bookworm, I know there isn’t any way I’ll live long enough to read all those stories. First of all, it’s a moving target, more great-sounding titles hitting the shelves every year. And second, I just don’t read that fast. But it’s still there. The anxiety over missing out. It’s the sensation that inspires me to indulge in weekend readathons, and that makes me particularly sympathetic to people with limited access to books. It probably helped steer me toward a career in publishing, because after all, getting paid to read books means you spend more time with your nose between the covers (or hovering in front of the computer screen).

This week’s Friday Links feature the usual assortment of reading-and-writing information and oddities, but I think my itch to spend some quality time reading shines through. Whether you’re planning a quick getaway, chasing after the kids, or spending the weekend in the yard doing chores, I hope you find a bit of time to devote to your own reading and/or writing. Maybe one or two of these with give you a push in the right direction. Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend!

12 New Books We’re Excited to Read on Vacation this Summer – A great list; a few of these are already on my TBR pile.

How Young Adult Authors Can Use Tumblr to Reach Their Readers – Excellent tips for all writers, not just those working in YA.

How to Write a Fight Scene in 11 Steps – Nice breakdown of various fight scenes and how to approach writing your own.

Infiltrating Literature’s Secret Societies – A look inside a very particular type of novel, including some great examples to add to your reading list.

The Inspiration for Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti is a Muslim Scientist from the 10th Century – A fascinating and inspirational peek at the real history behind Okorafor’s wonderful book.

Just. One. Book. – A compelling blog post about a small, rural school in California that is trying to restock their hopelessly out-of-date library with new, diverse titles. Please consider sending along a book and/or boosting the signal. Starting Monday they plan to have an Amazon wish list up, but they’d love to get a copy of your favorite middle grade/young adult title.

The Delicate Art of Character Folding – On the writer’s dilemma of having to eliminate characters they’ve grown to love.

Books I Wish I Wrote: On Writerly Jealousy – Pretty much what the title says, with some great books mentioned.

Friday Links: Hauntings of All Sorts

Greetings from Surrey, B.C., Canada, where I’m attending the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. For those of you looking to attend an excellent, all-genre conference in the next year or two, I highly recommend this one. Great organizers, programming to meet a wide variety of interests and skill levels, and an excellent faculty-to-writer ratio.

Just because I’ve escaped to cooler climes (it’s actually autumn here!), doesn’t mean I have forgotten about Friday links. I’ve got a nice array this week, and I hope they leave you inspired and excited to read and/or write this weekend. Enjoy!

Get Booked Episode 4: Haunted by Horror – This is a relatively new podcast from the folks at Book Riot, where they recommend books in response to a few questions from readers, in this case with a great Halloween/horror theme.

How I Got Millayed – A lovely look at how the author became intrigued by the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay.

How Libraries Acquire Books – An interesting peek behind the process.

Margaret Atwood on Vampires, Gene-Splicing, and Talking Turnips – Because my going to Canada calls for an appropriately Canadian author link.

Stacy Schiff: By the Book – The author (most recently of The Witches, about the Salem witch trials) talks books, writers, and influences.

Friday Links

Happy Friday! It’s officially the start of the Easter weekend in much of the world, and so for all of you celebrating, enjoy. Our offices are closed today, so I’m taking the time to catch up on some non-work related things and — I hope — do some personal reading. My TBR pile has been glaring at me especially hard the past few weeks.

But before I go “off duty,” I have some fun links for you to kick off the weekend. They’re definitely a bit all over the place today, so I hope you find something that sparks your imagination or just entertains you. Have a great weekend!

The Virtual Moleskine – A look at the history of this popular notebook, and at their efforts to add a digital option.

A Photographic Tour of America’s Libraries – In honor of National Library Week.

Bookmarks Competition Winners – Book Depository held a contest, and these charming designs were the winners.

In Pakistan, Literary Spring Is Both Renaissance and Resistance – A look at the book festival behind held in Lahore, despite the atmosphere of political instability and oppression.

The Power of Garcia Marquez – A look back at the writer, who passed away yesterday.

Holiday bonus: Peeps Show 2014, Winner and Finalists – An adorable and entertaining use of Peeps — those traditional too-sweet, sticky Easter-time treats — in storytelling. Worth a look, whatever your beliefs.

Friday Links

Happy Friday! How’s 2014 treating you so far? Getting things off to a good start? Personally, I’ve been working on getting back up to full speed. Coming off a longish holiday break is always difficult, but it’s good to stretch all my various muscles — mental and physical — and get back on track.

I’ve a pretty diverse assortment of links for you this week, including book lists, some business information, and beautiful book-related artwork. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, filled with reading and writing and whatever else is on your to-do list for the next few days. Enjoy!

2014 YA Fiction Preview – A list of upcoming titles for the first half of the year.

15 Fantastically Artistic Alternate Covers for Famous Books – Some interesting new looks.

When Books Enter Public Domain Around the World – A handy map proving copyright limits around the world.

28 Beautiful Quotes about Libraries – Along with some gorgeous library photographs. Makes me yearn to go on a pilgrimage.

Gorgeous Jane Austen Novel Illustrations from the Time before Adaptations – Recently released into the public domain, these illustrations date back to 19th century editions of Austen’s famous works.

Friday Links

Another very speedy week, at least for me. So much going on right now that I feel like the days just aren’t long enough. But that’s vastly preferable to the alternative; I hate when things are slow.

So this is more of a fly-by post than anything. I bring you lots of fun, interesting links to entertain you into the weekend. I hope you have a lovely one, filled with books and writing and whatever else makes you smile. Enjoy!

Season of the Dead – Colleen Mondor’s October column for Bookslut features some wonderfully spooky looking fiction for anyone looking for a Halloween read.

Neil Gaiman: Why Our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading, and Daydreaming – This has been making the rounds, but if you haven’t checked it out, it’s definitely worth a read.

The Jealous Curator – An interesting interview with artist and graphic designer Danielle Krysa, talking about creativity.

Rise and Shine: The Daily Routines of History’s Most Creative Minds – Further proof that there is  no one right way to approach your art.

13 of the Year’s Creepiest Books – Some more suggestions for seasonal reading.

Friday Links

I realize my readership crosses all sorts of weather patterns and seasons, but in my neighborhood we’ve scheduled a heat wave for this weekend. Triple digits right through Sunday, of varying levels of evil. I suspect I’ll be retreating to places like the movies and the library for a good chunk of the next few days, if only to let someone else pay for the air conditioning for part of the time. I will, of course, be taking some reading material along for the ride.

But before I go hide from the heat, I offer up a fun selection of links to kick things off. Wishing you all a lovely weekend, wherever you are. Keep cool, keep warm, and keep writing. Enjoy!

A Day in the Life: Amy Einhorn – An interesting look at one day in the life of the publisher and vp of Einhorn books.

10 Literary Restaurants for Hungry Book Nerds around the World – A fun run down. Anyone planning a vacation to one of these spots?

Kate Atkinson Interview – Learn a bit about the author of Life After Life.

Inside an Illegal Party in an Abandoned Subway Station Deep Under NYC – Cool photos for some potential inspiration.

Cool Bookish Places: Gladstone’s Library – Check out this fabulous library and then check in — they rent rooms to travelers.

Friday Links

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you had a lovely week. Personally, I’m not quite sure where it went.

A quick reminder: I am temporarily closing to new submissions starting tomorrow, June 1st. You can find all the details in my announcement post from earlier this week. This does not mean I’m no longer seeking new clients, but simply that I have a pretty serious backlog of submissions in the queue and I really have to work my way through them without more piling up as I go. I’ll reopen to submissions again as soon as things are a bit more under control.

But you’re all here for Friday links, so let’s get to them. Quite a few this week, so I hope there’s something for everyone. Enjoy, and have a fabulous weekend. Happy writing!

How to Get Permission to Use Song Lyrics in Your Book – You know those quotes you like to insert? Not so fast. A nice guest post regarding permissions.

A Rare Interview with Master Storyteller Stephen King – Not sure how rare these really are, but it’s a good interview, and he addresses why he chose to go paper (and audio) only with his new book — no digital.

Work in Progress: How to Read a Novelist – Preview of a book on author profiles, focusing on Jeffrey Eugenides.

Inspired Cincinnati: The Library that Never Closes – Put up your own mini lending library and share books with your neighbors. (Thanks to Susan for the link.)

Vintage Typewriters Find New Life – I know several people who collect old manual typewriters, so I found this article charming.

SummerFest 2013 – Writing software company Literature and Latte (makers of Scrivener) have a sale going on until June 14th. Get 20% off their popular software offerings, including Scrivener and the new Scrapple — a mind-mapping program. Great deal. (No, I have no affiliation, I’m just a fan of the programs.)

Friday Links

And we’re back! I felt very weird about not having a links post last week. I enjoy finding interesting tidbits online over the course of the week and choosing things to share with all of you. It’s become an entertaining habit. So I’m happy to report that this week was more the normal level of chaotic, and I once again have a selection of links to post.

I hope you all had a great week, and that you’re looking forward to the weekend. For those of you celebrating, I wish you a very happy Mother’s Day on Sunday.  And of course I wish all of you good reading and writing time. Enjoy!

Bestselling Thriller Authors Confess Their Biggest Fears – Everyone is scared of something.

You May Be a Book Hoarder If… – I resemble that remark. I suspect I have plenty of company.

10 Haunted Libraries of the US – Okay, so it’s not Halloween, but ghosts are fun all year round.

Reading It Wrong – An interesting look at what we as readers bring to reading by way of our expectations.

Writing Excuses: Blocking – A great podcast on writing about characters and scenery and their places in your narrative.

Friday Links

I come bearing a wealth of links this week. Yet again, I find myself with more open tabs than makes my browser strictly happy with me, some lingering from last week, but many of them brand new.

So, without further ado, I wish you a wonderful weekend, happy writing, and fun following a few of these links to the goodies waiting at the other end.

2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults – Courtesy of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).

Sherlock Lives! – Michael Dirda looks at the resurgence in Holmes’ popularity onscreen, as well as on the page.

10 Shakespeare Quotes You Use Every Day – You’d be surprised just where the Bard is lurking.

Plotto: A Forward by Paul Collins – A look at a book that promises the key to all possible plots.

On Getting Out of Your Own Way – Advice from author Dani Shapiro.

What Do You Do, Jamie Raab? – An interview with the publisher of Grand Central Publishing.

The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World – Courtesy of Flavorwire. It’s enough to make you start planning a pilgrimage.

The Great MFA Debate – The latest in this ongoing do-you or don’t-you discussion.

The Language of Stamps – How you positioned your stamp used to tell the receiver as much as the letter or card itself. Fascinating, whether or not you’re participating in the Month of Letters challenge.

Why Your Work Never Gets Read as Quickly as You Want it To – Courtesy of my colleague, Lucienne Diver.