Links
I’ve been requested by a few readers to compile a list of links that I find useful or that I can’t live without. They are now below for your perusal. Please note that while this list is mostly complete, I will be adding to it as omissions become apparent (for example, I currently don’t have a section for Podcast novels, but I’m sure I will later as I find more than three I enjoy). I have created a comments page here where you can ask questions or make suggestions, as the whims take you.
Blogs
Dan Wells Site – Dan Wells, the author of brilliant YA/Horror genre novel, “I am not a Serial Killer”, is also one of the producers of the wildly popular and amazingly useful Podcast shows on writing, Writing Excuses. He blog tends to update several times a week and it’s not only entertaining but it is also a very useful resource for new writers.
The Worlds of Philippa Ballantine – This brilliant writer from New Zealand is a published author of many books, but I will admit that I know of her better from her various podcasts. The podcast of her novel Chasing the Bard, was brilliantly executed and contained some amazing writing and the voice talents of more than a few brilliant podcasters. The second show of hers that I have been listening to, Digital Magic, is Urban Fantasy and is still absolutely brilliant. Check out her podcasts, her novels and of course, her blog!
Hello, Ko – I have been following Koichi in his various forms since 2007 a mere few months after the inception of Tofugu, a Japanese blog and occasionally vlog about learning Japanese and proper culture. I have been interested in Japanese language and culture for many years, and his is one of the best, and most entertaining, resources I’ve ever found on the subjects. His most recent blog Hello, Ko! is a blog focusing on his personal work efforts and running a business.
Sites of Interest
Nanowrimo – The program that started it all, offering amateur writers everywhere a chance to write. Standing for National Novel Writing Month, this programs challenges its participants to write 50,000 words (the rough draft of a novel) over the course of November. The first year had only 21 participants… the program has grown significantly since it’s inception and as of 2009 just under 170,000 people worldwide took part of the challenge. I am there every year under the name Feytouched, and I sincerely hope that you’ll all join me in subsequent challenges!
Twitter – Twitter is pretty self explanatory these days. You can follow me and my tweets here.
Podcasts
Writing Excuses – The podcast that I refuse to miss each week. By far this is the most useful resource online that I have found to help me with my writing and they are wonderful to listen to as well. Hosted by Brandon Sanderson (of Mistborn and Wheel of Time acclaim), Dan Wells (author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, a brilliant YA Horror) and Howard Taylor (cartoonist for ongoing webcomic Schlok Mercenary, a Space Opera about Mercenary’s), this show literally improved my writing in under a year, just by listening to their advice and learning how to look at my writing as an author and not as an amateur. The top podcast I can suggest!
Get Published – A podcast by the man who single handedly propelled me to my Nanowrimo win of 2009. Okay, he didn’t do it single-handedly, but he was always willing to push me on, and in fact, it was to him and an online writing community that I shared the line that pushed me over 50k (one final thing before I pronounce you well… I need some of your blood). Back to Get Published though, this podcast follows Michell Plested’s trek towards getting published. His first publication should be out this September, and his podcast is great. Put out on a bi-weekly basis, Get Published regularly has famous guest stars who number among famous authors, publicists, editors and everyone else who has a part in publishing novels. Very interesting and another podcast that I refuse to miss.
Grammar Girl - This one isn’t quite as fun to listen to, but it’s so helpful that it needs to be on this list. This show is about 5 minutes long, and every week has a new tip. Most importantly, Grammar girl gives new way to remember the old rules, and therefore, saves me a lot of time when I’m writing so that I can remember whether I’m supposed to use that comma or not without taking the time to check.
Articles that help the writing process
WoW! Women on Writing! : Nano Applied by Suzanne Pittner – This article is a wonderful description of how Nanowrimo works, and where her trips through the Nanowrimo machine have taken her. She also gives quite a few good tips on how to plan for your Nano-novel and how to reach your goal. Definitely a fun read and very informative.
Mark Forester’s Homepage : Shitty First Drafts by Anne Lamott – Before you toss away that horrid manuscript, I’d suggest reading through this article, detailing the pit falls of writing that first draft. I can’t say that every writer feels like this as they write, but I can say that I’ve followed along almost to the word when writing the first drafts of my music reviews. Read it and most importantly understand that you can move beyond it… no matter how bad your current manuscript make seem.
The Zen of Editing by Philippa Ballantine – This article is a brilliant example of a published author willing to help out the little guys. Philippa Ballantine writes that the mere thought of editing tends to put writers into a cold sweat and then gives advice and a few suggestions on how to move past that.
Webcomics