Welcome to the last Top Picks Thursday of July. As always, the summer is speeding by. If you want to take advantage of the warm weather and are a lover of houseplants, you might want to participate in Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day. After all, exercise is good for writers and readers (and everyone else).
Readers already know that reading is good for you too, but it’s gratifying to have that validated by research. Rachel Grate shares the great news science has for people who read actual books.
If you’re still looking for summer reading, on BNTEENblog, Darren Croucher suggests 8 female-penned YA science fiction novels, while Kristen Lamb analyzes why speculative fiction matters. If you prefer something shorter, Louis Menand asks can poetry change your life? What do you think?
To writers, freedom of the press is an important right. Novelist Polly Tyer writes about journalists and the First Amendment.
Writers aren’t the only ones who spend at lot of time at a keyboard. If you are someone who does, you might want to take Grace Wynter’s advice about using ergonomics to design the optimal workstation.
Photo by Vadim Sherbakov on Unsplash
CRAFT
Without an idea, there is no story. Janice Reid reassures a writer who discovers someone else had the same brilliant idea, while Annie Neugebauer considers thought triggers: the Chekhov’s gun of writing tricks.
Most writers would love to have more time for writing. With ideas to speed your writing process, Candace Granger shares two semi-no-fail ways to fast drafting, one for pantsers, one for plotters, and Jordan Dane offers key resources and tips for dictating your next book.
Looking for tips on creating characters? The Script Lab considers internal conflict and your characters, Bonnie Randall stresses taking a love inventory of your characters, Janice Hardy explains how to write characters that don’t all feel the same, and Kristen Lamb explores the reason shame is the beating heart of all great stories.
Several bloggers delve into the elements of setting and world building: Janice Hardy explores creating the setting and building the world, K. M. Weiland details 16 ways to make your setting a character in its own right, and Kyla Bagnall lays out 5 ways to incorporate multiple languages into your fantasy novel.
Story structure is important for novelists and narrative non-fiction writers. James Scott Bell reminds us that eventually you have to bring order to the story stuff, and Dario Ciriello discusses plotting for pantsers.
Having trouble pinpointing the problem in your book? Dawn Field advises writers to find the center of your book, while Jodi Hedlund lists three ways authors can keep research details from boring their readers.
Writers who learn the basic grammar rules make the editor’s job a lot easier, but even the best writers can make grammar errors. Christina DesMarais points out 43 embarrassing grammar mistakes even smart people make, and Melissa Donovan offers 10 good grammar resources.
For those experiencing difficulty writing, Anne R. Allen considers writer’s block and depression: why writers need to fill the well, Kathryn Craft considers whether a life detour is an obstacle or opportunity, and Bob Hostetler urges writers to write like baseball.
Interested in trying out a different facet of writing? Janet Reid explains how to break into ghost writing novels in the big leagues.
Photo by Jesus Kiteque on Unsplash
BUSINESS
Here are some insights for those trying to interest an agent or publisher in their works: Jennifer Slattery discusses writing queries that get read, Steve Laube explains what happens in the agency after a writer sends in a proposal or query, and Jacob Warwick explains how to make powerful pitches to large publications.
Three bloggers contribute some tips on self-publishing. Beth Bacon explains how to write a creative brief so your graphic designer creates an amazing book cover, and Nicole Dieker relates her experience in self-publishing a debut literary novel: the actions, the costs, the results. You can also put out your own audio book, but Laura Drake asks: SHOULD you create your own audio book?
Whether you chose traditional or self-publishing, author marketing improves book sales. We found a number of posts that address the issue of marketing. Ryan Holiday writes about the marketing rule you can’t forget, Judith Briles discusses authors and marketing fatigue, Drew Chial examines how hard selling can hurt your brand, and Lysa Grant shares the best free book marketing sites.
Melinda Clayton emphasizes the importance of categories and keywords for your books on KDP, and David Gaughran takes a look at when reader targeting goes wrong.
Are visits to book stores in your marketing plan? Debbie Young considers book marketing: how to get your self-published books into bookstores, while Dana Kaye analyzes whether book store events matter: how to benefit from in-person author visits.
For those active on social media, Nadya Lyapunova explains how to promote a young adult novel on social media, and Frances Caballo wonders if you have seen these changes to Facebook and Twitter.
If you’re trying to improve your blog, Jane Friedman shares WordPress plugins she can’t live without, Kathryn Lilley provides tips for crediting photos used in blogs as well as suggesting sources [we used a source she mentions for the terrific photos in this post], and Jami Gold speaks about blog commenting: building a community.
Have you created an author website? Janet Reid has suggestions for your contact page, while Jami Gold focuses on how to create a reader friendly website.
Photo by Rachael Gorjestani on Unsplash
THE UNIQUE SHELF
The Guardian‘s Alison Flood reports that Jane Austin’s “Great House,” the Chawton House Library, has launched an urgent appeal to stay open.
Sarah Gibbens of National Geographic writes about the discovery of a manuscript written by the Hippocrates in a remote Egyptian monastery.
Tabatha Leggett shares the BuzzFeed community’s 30 feminist children’s books that every child should read.
Open Culture announces that The British Museum has created 3D models of the Rosetta Stone and over 200 other artifacts which can be downloaded or viewed in virtual reality.
BuzzFeed‘s Kimberley Dadds gives us 22 novels that are crying out to be turned into films. Do you have any favorites that you’d like to see made into a film?
That’s it for this week’s Top Picks Thursday. See you in August!
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
The Author Chronicles 
Welcome to the last Top Picks Thursday of July. As always, the summer is speeding by. If you want to take advantage of the warm weather and are a lover of houseplants, you might want to participate in Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day. After all, exercise is good for writers and readers (and everyone else).
Readers already know that reading is good for you too, but it’s gratifying to have that validated by research. Rachel Grate shares the great news science has for people who read actual books.
If you’re still looking for summer reading, on BNTEENblog, Darren Croucher suggests 8 female-penned YA science fiction novels, while Kristen Lamb analyzes why speculative fiction matters. If you prefer something shorter, Louis Menand asks can poetry change your life? What do you think?
To writers, freedom of the press is an important right. Novelist Polly Tyer writes about journalists and the First Amendment.
Writers aren’t the only ones who spend at lot of time at a keyboard. If you are someone who does, you might want to take Grace Wynter’s advice about using ergonomics to design the optimal workstation.
Photo by Vadim Sherbakov on Unsplash
CRAFT
Without an idea, there is no story. Janice Reid reassures a writer who discovers someone else had the same brilliant idea, while Annie Neugebauer considers thought triggers: the Chekhov’s gun of writing tricks.
Most writers would love to have more time for writing. With ideas to speed your writing process, Candace Granger shares two semi-no-fail ways to fast drafting, one for pantsers, one for plotters, and Jordan Dane offers key resources and tips for dictating your next book.
Looking for tips on creating characters? The Script Lab considers internal conflict and your characters, Bonnie Randall stresses taking a love inventory of your characters, Janice Hardy explains how to write characters that don’t all feel the same, and Kristen Lamb explores the reason shame is the beating heart of all great stories.
Several bloggers delve into the elements of setting and world building: Janice Hardy explores creating the setting and building the world, K. M. Weiland details 16 ways to make your setting a character in its own right, and Kyla Bagnall lays out 5 ways to incorporate multiple languages into your fantasy novel.
Story structure is important for novelists and narrative non-fiction writers. James Scott Bell reminds us that eventually you have to bring order to the story stuff, and Dario Ciriello discusses plotting for pantsers.
Having trouble pinpointing the problem in your book? Dawn Field advises writers to find the center of your book, while Jodi Hedlund lists three ways authors can keep research details from boring their readers.
Writers who learn the basic grammar rules make the editor’s job a lot easier, but even the best writers can make grammar errors. Christina DesMarais points out 43 embarrassing grammar mistakes even smart people make, and Melissa Donovan offers 10 good grammar resources.
For those experiencing difficulty writing, Anne R. Allen considers writer’s block and depression: why writers need to fill the well, Kathryn Craft considers whether a life detour is an obstacle or opportunity, and Bob Hostetler urges writers to write like baseball.
Interested in trying out a different facet of writing? Janet Reid explains how to break into ghost writing novels in the big leagues.
Photo by Jesus Kiteque on Unsplash
BUSINESS
Here are some insights for those trying to interest an agent or publisher in their works: Jennifer Slattery discusses writing queries that get read, Steve Laube explains what happens in the agency after a writer sends in a proposal or query, and Jacob Warwick explains how to make powerful pitches to large publications.
Three bloggers contribute some tips on self-publishing. Beth Bacon explains how to write a creative brief so your graphic designer creates an amazing book cover, and Nicole Dieker relates her experience in self-publishing a debut literary novel: the actions, the costs, the results. You can also put out your own audio book, but Laura Drake asks: SHOULD you create your own audio book?
Whether you chose traditional or self-publishing, author marketing improves book sales. We found a number of posts that address the issue of marketing. Ryan Holiday writes about the marketing rule you can’t forget, Judith Briles discusses authors and marketing fatigue, Drew Chial examines how hard selling can hurt your brand, and Lysa Grant shares the best free book marketing sites.
Melinda Clayton emphasizes the importance of categories and keywords for your books on KDP, and David Gaughran takes a look at when reader targeting goes wrong.
Are visits to book stores in your marketing plan? Debbie Young considers book marketing: how to get your self-published books into bookstores, while Dana Kaye analyzes whether book store events matter: how to benefit from in-person author visits.
For those active on social media, Nadya Lyapunova explains how to promote a young adult novel on social media, and Frances Caballo wonders if you have seen these changes to Facebook and Twitter.
If you’re trying to improve your blog, Jane Friedman shares WordPress plugins she can’t live without, Kathryn Lilley provides tips for crediting photos used in blogs as well as suggesting sources [we used a source she mentions for the terrific photos in this post], and Jami Gold speaks about blog commenting: building a community.
Have you created an author website? Janet Reid has suggestions for your contact page, while Jami Gold focuses on how to create a reader friendly website.
Photo by Rachael Gorjestani on Unsplash
THE UNIQUE SHELF
The Guardian‘s Alison Flood reports that Jane Austin’s “Great House,” the Chawton House Library, has launched an urgent appeal to stay open.
Sarah Gibbens of National Geographic writes about the discovery of a manuscript written by the Hippocrates in a remote Egyptian monastery.
Tabatha Leggett shares the BuzzFeed community’s 30 feminist children’s books that every child should read.
Open Culture announces that The British Museum has created 3D models of the Rosetta Stone and over 200 other artifacts which can be downloaded or viewed in virtual reality.
BuzzFeed‘s Kimberley Dadds gives us 22 novels that are crying out to be turned into films. Do you have any favorites that you’d like to see made into a film?
That’s it for this week’s Top Picks Thursday. See you in August!
Share this:
Like this:
Related
Posted in Agents, Blogging, Character, Marketing, Pitching, Query, Reading, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Writing Life, Top Picks Thursday, Twitter, Writing Business, Writing Craft | Tags: 10 good grammar resources, 16 ways to make your setting a character in its own right, 2 approaches to fast drafting, 22 novels that are crying out to be turned into films, 30 feminist children's books that every child should read, 43 embarrassing grammar mistakes even smart people make, 5 ways to incorporate multiple languages into your fantasy novel, 8 female-penned YA science fiction novels, Adventures in YA Publishing, Alison Flood, Anne R. Allen, Annie Neugebauer, best free book marketing sites, Beth Bacon, blog commenting: building a community, BNTEENblog, Bob Hostetler, Bonnie Randall, Book Baby, breaking into ghostwriting, BuzzFeed, can poetry change your life?, Candace Ganger, categories and keywords, changes to Facebook and Twitter, Christina DesMarais, creating a reader friendly website, creating the setting and building the world, Dario Ciriello, Darren Croucher, David Gaughran, Dawn Field, Debbie Young, detour ahead: obstacle or opportunity, Drew Chial, eventually you have to bring order to the story stuff, Fiction University, find the center of your book, Frances Caballo, Grace Wynter, Gwendolyn Huber, how hard selling can hurt your brand, how to get your self-published books into book stores, how to make powerful pitches to large publications, how to write a creative brief so your graphic designer creates an amazing book cover, how to write characters that don't all feel the same, Indies Unlimited, internal conflict and your characters, J. Thomas Ross, Jacob Warwick, James Scott Bell, Jami Gold, Jane Austin's great house launches an urgent appeal to stay open, Jane Friedman, Janet Reid, Janice Hardy, Jennifer Slattery, Jodi Hedlund, Jordan Dane, journalists and the First Amendment, Judith Briles, K.M. Weiland, Kathryn Craft, Kerry Gans, key resources & tips for dictating your next book, Kimberley Dadds, Kristen Lamb, Kyla Bagnall, Laura Drake, Louis Menand, Lysa Grant, marketng fatigue, Matt Q. McGovern, Melinda Clayton, Melissa Donovan, Nadya Lyapunova, Nancy Keim Comley, National Geographic, Nicole Dieker, number one marketing rule, Open Culture, plotting for pantsers, Polly Tyer, promoting Young Adult novels on social media, Rachel Grate, reader targeting, Ryan Holiday, Sarah Gibbens, science and reading, self-publishing a debut literary novel: the actions & costs & results, Selfpublishing Review, SHOULD you create your own audio book?, Steve Laube, Tabatha Leggett, take your houseplants for a walk day, taking a love inventory of your characters, text by Hippocrates found in remote Egyptian monastery, The Author Chronicles, the Book Designer, The British Museum has created 3D models of the Rosetta Stone and over 200 other artifacts, The Guardian, the reason shame is the beating heart of all great stories, The Script Lab, thought triggers: the Chekhov's gun of writing tricks, three ways authors can keep research details from boring their readers, Top Picks Thursday, using ergonomics to design the optimal workstation, what happens in the agency after a writer sends in a proposal, when your idea is had by someone else, why speculative fiction matters, Wordpress plugins I can't live without, write like baseball, writers block and depression, writing queries that get read, your contact page