For authors

I spotted some really great resources for authors and I had to share them. Here they are, with a tiny explanation as to why they’re awesome.

1. How to query. This one is from Heather Webb an editor and writer herself, from Romance University. She tells you what to do and what to avoid in those so-important queries.
2. If you’re writing a query, you must start by finding an agent. You can look everywhere, or you can go to Agent Query. Truly the best site on the web for such a search. It’s not only the largest online but the most up to date.
3. If point number one only ended up terrifying you (which happened to me), then hang on and read these posts on the Fear of Writing from Kelly Leiter or try this one from the Tiny Buddha on how to transform Self-Criticism into Self-Appreciation!
4. Finally, if you’re shouting, great links, Taylor but I want more! Here’s a great resource site from Tina Hunter with tons of links. Her site rocks! Just check out this page filled with reviewers by genre!

Yeey links!

 

Those awesome posts!

Another rush of those amazing posts came my way and I couldn’t resist but to collect a few of them and line them up for you. See if you like them. My hope is you find a couple useful or at least interesting.

I haven’t kept my writer’s block a secret from anyone. If you have this, you know how painful it can be. This post is from Nathan Bransford on the subject. He has his own version of a break through. If Nathan Bransford doesn’t do it, here is the latest help on that subject from The Write Practice, by Marcy McKay. Finally, Tiny Buddha has this great post on how to keep dreaming when others have discouraged you.

Free right now, in Amazon, this book is a great help to Write better. Check it out and get it…free! And a HUGE thanks to Winter Bayne for this tip!

We had a ton of announcements this week. Here’s Rose B. Fisher’s, an update from Natacha Guyot, Sourcerer has this one for self-promotion, here’s Infinitefreetime’s, Amos M. Carpenter had a big announcement here, Brittney Sahin has hers here, Chris McMullen has found a ton of awesome Math Blogs here and Ronovan made some changes here.

Looking for a way to improve your stats? Here’s a great post from The Positive Writer with 7 Great Blogging Tips.

If you need a laugh, check out this post from Elfkat I found thanks to Chris the Story Reading Ape.

And, finally, a little something to make you smile,

(credit: amazon.com)

Posts I loved this week

This week the posts are filled with helpful tips and how-to’s. An absolute feast for the reader, this selection made me grin through a very cold, February week. A huge thanks to everyone for these amazing posts!

Looking to do a little blog promo? Suzi81 Speaks has an opportunity for you. Check it out here.

If your manuscript is finally done, check this list on how to self-publish with 12 handy steps. Don’t do what I did which was to do it wrong over and over until I stumbled on the correct way by sheer luck! A big thanks to The Sprint Shack for that very helpful post!

What would a Saturday be without me getting my WeekendCoffeeShare fix? I love these posts and this one in particular had everything from a good update to Mardi Grass, to Compassion. A big thanks to Part Time Monster for that gem!

Filled with his great sense of humour, Bill Ferris has this great post on how to Nurture Your Fan Base and it’s filled with great ideas. A huge thank you to Writer Unboxed for that wonderful post!

Another hilarious version of the Weekend Coffee Share, this one is by Write On Sisters and I laughed out loud because I’m from Canada too and I get those comments on the weather!

If you have a couple of minutes and are into this, check out this survey on reading and methods of reading. When you vote it’ll show you the results but here they are all tallied up. Pretty interesting stuff! A big thanks to Chris McMullen for setting that up.

Not only does April mean the start of Spring, it’s also the A to Z Challenge. This blog challenge comes with a Theme this year and it’s growing into an epic movement. Check out the sign up site and you can add your blog or find an awesome site to follow! Where did I hear about this? From the one and only Just Gene’O. Check out this post with all kinds of awesome announcements.

If you’re into Twitter, here’s a great post with links and tips just for you from Writer Christoph Fischer. If you’re into Facebook, here’s a great post with tips for for you from Ellen Meister at Writers in the Storm.

Thinking about joining WordPress.org and hosting your own domain and website? Check out this post from Jemima Pett, someone who did. They cover all the do’s and don’ts. A huge thanks to Chris The Story Reading Ape for finding this awesome post!

On that topic, if you’re not ready for your own domain and website, check out this step-by-step post on how to set up a blog of your own from On Blast Blog. It’s simple, easy and has not only links but buttons. What an awesome post from a fantastic blog filled with resources! And if you do set up your own blog, let me know so I can snoop around and give you a shout out! 🙂

Help me congratulate Winter Bayne on her debut release! Secret Identities is out and looks absolutely amazing! Typical of Winter, she humbly posts about her success while sharing the secrets that got her a publishing contract. A huge congrats to her on this great accomplishment!

The Annual Reader Poll for 2014 releases is in at All About Romance. Find out what book made it to the top of the Best Romance according to readers just like you, or the best Historical or Paranormal. It’s a great chance to find a new book!

Tiny Buddha had this great post, 10 Choices that Lead to a Happy, Fulfilling Life and I loved it. Maybe it was the coffee but I’d bet it was the wisdom in those 10 suggestions. If you’re looking for something to make you feel better, I couldn’t recommend a better post.

Jen Owenby has this great post with Stephen King’s Top 20 Rules for Writers. They both surprised me and made me laugh. A big thank you to her for this great post!

Finally, a little something to make you smile.

(credit: genius.com)

 

Posts I loved this week

It’s February and freezing around here. Still, these posts make my day, cheer me up and enlighten me. What would I do without you guys? A huge thanks to everyone for their fabulous posts!

I’m so excited about this initiative. I’m so impressed with the numbers it has already generated. There is so much kindness in the world and this is just a small demonstration of it. A huge thank you to The Qwiet Muse for this post. While you’re there, check out this post. It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s an honest love story and, like most of them are, it’s both wondrous and so true, it grabbed my heart and didn’t let go. I can’t recommend it enough. *Sigh*

Those wonderful If We Were Having Coffee posts are incredible; I simply love them. Check out this awesome one from Write On Sisters and, if you’re curious about the idea, they came from the one and only Part Time Monster.

I was waiting eagerly for Rose B. Fisher’s debut at Sourcerer. That blog has the most impressive group of writers and contributors ever, so I was thrilled to see that Rose F. was going to join them. She didn’t disappoint. What an excellent post!

Check out this beautiful post from Open Hearted Musings on smiling for inner peace. From the amazing quotes to the cutie babies, I just loved it. What an uplifting post!

Interesting Literature has this post with 10 Free Online Resources to Improve your writing. They’re truly great sites so I recommend checking them out. For example, Positive Writer, one of those sites, has this great post on the Top 50 Writing Blogs for 2015. That’s just one of the sites recommended.

If you’re considering starting your own blog, check out this site. The Blogstarter takes you gently though the steps on getting a blog set up with pictures and free videos. If your cup of tea is a website, check out this site with step by step instructions for webs on WordPress by The WebsiteSetUp.

If you’re looking for writing resources, might I suggest Adirondack Editing? Check out this resources page and see if you can’t find what you’re looking for there. They have everything from scams to top blogs for authors.

I certainly needed this post on 10 Ways to Declutter Your Mind For Clarity, Focus and Peace from Tiny Buddha. What an amazing blog!

Looking for a new site full of writing, advertising and cover resources? Check out Chris Mcmullen‘s site. Just an example of why it’s great, here’s his link page!

Looking for a site with blogging resources? Try One Cool Site. It’s got WordPress blogging tips, tools, tutorials and so much more!

Finally, a little quote,

(credit: goodreads.com)

P.S. Did I miss a post that you adored or do you know a blog that’s amazing? Let me know! I’d love to hear about it!

Posts I loved this week

Here are my weekly favourite posts. From those that touched my heart to those that give reviews, they’re all here. Enjoy!

This one definitely surprised me as a way to write better by Emily Wenstrom in The Write Practice.

If you’re considering editing and wonder about options, this post has them for you by Jami Gold.

I’ve already mentioned the Write Practice but they had this great post on exercise and writing and I can’t help but mention them again. Such a great post by Birgitte Rasine from birgitterasine.com!

21 of the Best quotes on Writing from Stephen King. An absolutely delicious post. Check it out on the Positive Writer.

A great post on some very bad advice. I loved this one by Jeff Goins.

We writers are always looking for conflict for our WIP but we don’t want that in real life. Here’s a great post on how to resolve conflict with your loved one from Tiny Buddha.

Funny and endearing, this post by Anne Greenwood Brown had me from the get go. Then I noticed how informative it was! A huge thank you to Writer Unboxed for this great post.

A great set of links for writers in this blog. A huge thanks to Geri Walton at 18th and 19th Century.

Kristen Lamb has these five tips for long term writing success that were excellent.

Romance has often been criticized for being formulaic. In this fantastic post, All About Romance argues the pros and cons of following a winning recipe.

Cute or funny, these quotes from famous writers about writing made me laugh–on a Monday. A great post by Interesting Literature.

In this wonderful post, The Procrastiwriter wrote: “You can take long breaks, and the words will be waiting for you.” I just loved it.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan or if you just read the books, don’t miss this gem by Inky Tavern. It’s a thing of beauty.

The latest post Inside the Life of Moi made me laugh. Hilarious and cute, I had to include it here.

The title says it all: “When the Gazillionth Pass through your Manuscript tries to Kill you” by Heather Webb with great ideas in Romance University.

Absolutely delicious, this post had to be included in this list. A huge thank you to Part Time Monster for this one.

Brand new site, for those of you looking for reviews, check out Room With Books.