Welcome to our first link round up of October!
If you write short stories, Writer’s Digest’s Popular Fiction Awards contest is open until October 15. Check out the multiple categories and see if one is a fit for you.
The longlist for the National Book Award Nonfiction category came out—and Ron Charles wonders why there is only 1 female author out of 10.
Can Harry Potter change the world? Research shows that reading Harry Potter changes the way people view normally marginalized groups.
Banned books are always a concerning topic. The American Library Association brings us sobering statistics and revealing patterns in their infographics “Banned Books by the Numbers.” Claire Fallon discusses how one person with a pen taught her about censorship, while Carina Kolodny brings us 10 gorgeous quotes from banned and challenged books.
CRAFT
We all start our novels with an idea. D.E. Ireland lays out 6 steps to develop a novel idea.
Sometimes all we have to start with is a title—and other times the titles come much later. Terry Odell has 5 title tips, and Keith Ogorek outlines 7 things you need to know to write the best title for your book.
Although screenwriting can give you a great feel for character and dialogue, Roz Morris reminds us that dialogue in prose is not the same as in screenwriting. To round out our characters, Angela Ackerman delves into the character talent or skill called mentalism.
When editing your work, you should look at these story signposts from Elizabeth Spann Craig, as well as keeping in mind David Brewster’s tips on rewriting.
We may have the perfect title for our story, but what about the ending? Nancy Kress tells us how to write a successful ending for our story, while Jean Oram shows us how to write a killer ending.
How can we make our creativity work for us? Shane Snow outlines how to apply lateral thinking to our creative work, Jocelyn Gei explains how to hone your creative routine, and Johan Lehrer explores 10 science-backed ways to spark creativity.
In the category of surviving this writing life, Sarah Ruhl discusses the short essay form as a survival mechanism for writing with young children, and Ellen Mulholland shares 7 things she knows about writing.
BUSINESS
Attorney Helen Sedwick walks us through the legalities of using pen names.
If you want to succeed in publishing, you must know your audience. Yvonne Coppard explains why knowing your audience is even more important when writing for children. However, you needn’t go too crazy when finding an agent: even if your audience is women, a male agent may be the best fit for you.
Publishing success can be elusive. Mike Kenny outlines how NOT to get your indie book inside Barnes & Noble, Nathan W. Pyle explains how his Reddit post became a New York Times bestseller, and Bella Andre lays out 5 lessons in publishing success.
Agent Janet Reid discusses whether or not authors should spend money on a publicist or publicity, Betty Kelly Sargent shares 7 tips for metadata magic to help sell your book, and Travis Simmons explains how professional book formatting can make your book stand out.
When it comes to marketing, there are so many avenues to explore. Joan Stewart defines 14 terms you need to know when creating an author media kit, Rachel Wilson shows how to write a treatment for your book trailer, and Jane Freidman tells us how to avoid the extra work of social media.
THE UNIQUE SHELF
Maybe we need to email these to friends and family… Chuck Wendig gently suggests 10 things to never say to a writer.
Stephen King has named his most hated expressions.
Are you still confused about the Harry Potter plots? Lucy Knisley created an infographic visualizing the entire Harry Potter saga in one chart.
Meanwhile, Italian illustrator Olimpia Zagnoli reimagines The Wizard of Oz in minimalist graphics.
Laura Creste has put together literary advice for when you drink too much.
Reinier Gerritsen races to photograph subway reading habits before e-readers make it impossible to know what others are reading.
Rachel Kowal shares 7 of the best photographs found in used books at the Strand bookstore. The lesson? Be careful what you use as a bookmark—it may end up on the internet!
That’s all for this week!
The Author Chronicles 
Leave a comment