Top Picks Thursday! For Writers & Readers 07-11-2019

Welcome to this week’s Top Picks Thursday! I am in the mid-summer doldrums, but the writing world continues to turn out great links for everyone.

This week, Marie Ponsot, poet of love, divorce, and family, died at 98.

Looking for something to read during lazy summer days? Jessica Stillman lists 20 books TED speakers think everyone should read, and Darius Foroux has 12 books that will improve your self-knowledge.

You can of course find these books at a library. Jane Friedman examines how public libraries can help authors increase both discoverability and earnings.

It’s the end of an era. James Scott Bell says a heartfelt goodbye to Mad Magazine.

CRAFT

For ghostwriters, there’s a new trend in town—wealthy teens using ghostwriters to write their YA books. For poets, Brian Jud shows how to make money from your poetry.

Sandra Peckinpah urges using a notebook to make sense of life and keep ideas, Fae Rowen discusses how to use your young adult voice best, and Janice Hardy shows how to write an opening scene that hooks readers.

Jane Friedman looks at how to use context when a story demands more than plot, Janice Hardy talks about making the most of the worst that can happen in your plot, Jami Gold wonders if you can have too many story and character goals, The Writer’s Ally lays out the best way to use conflict and tension in your narrative, while Jami Gold asks if our stories need more conflict, and Tamar Sloan discusses the psychology of a layered story.

Characters pull readers into the story. Sophie Masson examines the pleasures and pitfalls of writing multi-POV narrative, Mary Kole shows how to avoid long sentences in colloquial writing, Roz Morris has tips to captivate readers with dialogue, Amy Jones delves into gaslighting and writing villains who make your spine tingle, and Carter Wilson gives us 5 tips to write violence that doesn’t turn readers off.

Justin Attas reveals pitfalls to avoid when you are trying too hard to make your story “unique”, Vie Herlocker explores how showing instead of telling leaves room for the reader’s experience, and Donald Maass discusses the role of the legendary in stories.

Editing is vital to every story. Nat Russo explains the importance of stepping away, Diana Hurwitz advises giving your book a listen when editing, Shaunta Grimes looks at how long a book should be, and Anne R. Allen shows how to declutter that novel.

Writing can be mentally and physically challenging. Ally Nathaniel asks: is writing a book a real priority for you?; Shanna Swendson guides us to put a stop to procrastination today, andDr. Brent Wells shares 4 questions you need to answer to improve your writing health.

BUSINESS

Networking is valuable in any business. John Peragine shares 10 tips for effective networking at a writer’s conference. Networking also allows you to pick up clients, but Daphne Gray-Grant warns to make sure you are not undercharging your writing. And as Jessica Thiefels points out, networking can help build a creative business around your book.

Laurisa Reyes lists ways to give your self-published books its best shot, Andrea Reider has the basics of book design, and R.J. Crayton shares the author’s guide to Fiverr.

If you are going traditional, check out Janet Reid’s query format refresher course. No matter how you publish, you’ll want to know how to write good jacket copy (Nathan Bransford), writing your novel’s blurb (Staci Troilo), and learning what a comp title is and why comps matter (Penny Sansevieri).

Most writers have their own websites these days. Judith Briles gives us a checklist to do our website due diligence, David Gaughran walks us through moving from MailChimp to MailerLite, Sandra Beckwith has 9 ways to use reader reviews in book marketing, and Stephanie Chandler shares 10 ways to boost sales on your website.

Blogs are one way writers communicate with their fans these days, and other social media sites also provide links with their audience. Amy Shojai shows how to make your blog work for books and author brand, Cristian Mihai advises bloggers to write like themselves, and Marcie Bridges reminds us that on many social media sites, it’s all about the hashtags.

THE UNIQUE SHELF

Get out the popcorn. Neil Gaiman’s beloved comic Sandman will finally be a Netfix show.

Bookstores come together in an effort to help refugees. #BookstoresAgainstBorders has raised more than $30,000 to aid refugees to date.

The U.S. gives a collection of Liberian literary and historical documents to the Liberian National Museum.

Dana Schwartz lists 21 phrases you use without realizing you’re quoting Shakespeare.

Come celebrate Walt Whitman’s biennial with the Morgan Library & Museum.

Stories are told in many media. Electric Literature examines 6 video games that feel like reading a novel.

In history for fantasy writers, E.L. Skip Knox introduces us to the cowboys of Europe.

That’s all for this week’s Top Picks Thursday! Join us next week for more literary links!