Welcome to the first Top Picks Thursday of September! As a parent-writer, I am celebrating the return of school, so I have time to write again!
The KidLit Cares community is helping Harvey victims, and you can join in.
Piracy is something all of us worry about. WriteHacked shares 3 piracy protection tactics for writers.
CRAFT
Kathryn Craft discusses what happens when you run out of novels.
We all get deluged with writing advice, but sometimes it’s not good advice. Jeff Lyons says don’t believe these writing myths.
One thing that’s not a myth is that there are pansters and plotters and never the two shall meet. Except…Tracy Hahn-Burkett has outlining for pantsers.
Janice Hardy is everywhere this week, and the topic is conflict. After all, conflict is what drives your plot. She also shares with us 5 ways to create strong internal conflict, and 6 ways your setting can create conflict.
Characters keep readers turning the pages. Codey Amprim dissects the character of the paladin, and K.M. Weiland has a double-header explaining the problem of head-hopping POV and why doubt is the key to flat character arcs.
Some writers like to revise and edit, some do not. Daphne Gray-Grant explores how to spend less time rewriting, Melissa Donovan discusses the role of beta readers in the revision process, and James J. Murray demystifies hyphens and dashes.
When working on our careers, writers want to work more effectively and avoid mistakes that throw us off course. Daphne Gray-Grant explains how to make writing from home more effective, Alycia W. Morales has 5 practical ways to meet your daily word count, Jami Gold urges us to find our writing strengths, and Anne R. Allen shares 7 new writer mistakes that make writers vulnerable to scams.
BUSINESS
You get one chance to make a first impression. Does your book title make the right impression on potential readers? Sarah Bolme has some tips for choosing your book title.
While Janet Reid bemoans receiving an intrusive mass-marketing email from a writer, Amy Collins points out times when mass mailing is a good first step, as long as you know what to do AFTER the mass email.
Sending out queries? Janet Reid has some ideas on how best to track your queries.
Marketing is tough, and getting reviews is especially tough. Janet Reid shares a few ways you can ask for reviews without being obnoxious.
Sure, email lists are good for marketing, but Molly Greene examines the newest trend: chatbots to get your book information out there. Other online marketing tools can be helpful, too. Scott La Counte investigates Instagram for authors, and Dana Kaye explains Facebook Pixel and how it can boost book sales.
THE UNIQUE SHELF
Hilary Mitchell shares 18 stunning words from other languages you need in your life.
So, PJ Parrish wants to know: do you write in the nude?
Tasha Brandstatter tells us how to make rain gutter bookshelves.
That’s all for this week’s Top Picks Thursday! See you next week!
The Author Chronicles 
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