Welcome to the mid-month Top Picks Thursday! A bit hard to believe we are already halfway through May, but we are.
In a time where literally every aspect of our lives has moved into our homes, Meg LaTorre discusses how to juggle writing and parenting.
Hillel Italie explores why Octavia Butler’s prescient sci-fi resonates years after her death.
Katie Yee takes a look at the winners of this year’s Pulitzer Prizes.
Michael McClure, famed Beat poet who helped launch the San Francisco Renaissance, died at age 87.
For poetry lovers, Gabriella Smith lists free and cheap live poetry events you can watch online.
CRAFT
Sometimes knowing what genre you are writing in is difficult. S.L. Huang delves into what makes a book more thriller than sci-fi?
If you are looking to build a freelance career, Kristy Stevenson shares 8 freelancing writing tips for regional publications.
We all have our own writing process, and Susan DeFreitas discusses developing your writing process by making it captivating.
Once we’re writing, there’s lots of craft elements we need to master. Melodie Campbell shows us how to survive the chaos point in your manuscript, Jami Gold tells us how to improve our story with action beats, and Katherine Grubb has 8 ways you may be bungling dialogue.
In addition, Julie Carrick Dalton dissects the earned plot twist, Fae Rowan describes how small decisions can have a huge story impact, and Janice Hardy has a two-fer with 5 ways to kick your writing up a notch, and the difference between painting a scene vs. dramatizing a scene.
Characters draw readers into the story, but they also do so much more. Nathan Bransford says to give your protagonist a mini-quest before the main plot kicks off, Tiffany Yates Martin reminds us to give our characters agency, Melissa Bowersock talks choosing a character name, Stavros Halvatzis examines great character description in stories, and Sara Letourneau explores how a protagonist’s motivations influence story themes.
After we write, we edit. Roz Morris explains how to prepare for comments on your book manuscript, Ann H. Gabhart shows us how to edit your word count after spewing words in early drafts, and Terry Odell lays out how to track your story.
Furthermore, Joanna Penn shares her technique for the first round of self-edits, Julie Glover writes in defense of editing as you go, and Jennie Nash says the secret to more efficient revision is pattern recognition.
Writers are influenced by everything in this world. Jessica Strawser shares 5 key lessons writers can learn from other artists, and Donald Maass reflects on the meaning of meaning.
BUSINESS
Looking to self-publish? Apple Books for Author launches with a PC version, and David Gaughran discusses what that means, Rafal Reyzer explains how font choices affects the minds of readers, and the AskALLi Team shows how to sell books on your author website.
Laurisa White Reyes says successful self-publishing starts with a great book, Lisa Tener discusses how to proceed and succeed in the future of publishing, and Melinda VanLone explores how much a book cover should cost.
Corrine Segal reports that the pandemic is giving rise to a new movement to organize labor in publishing, while Ruth Comerford tells us that small presses in the UK and Ireland fear being “wiped out” by autumn.
Kathey Meis examines how reading habits have changed during the quarantine—and how you can turn that into an opportunity.
Agent Janet Reid explores when it’s time to cut off exclusives to agents and spread your work more widely, while Joyce Sweeney gives advice from an author turned agent.
Marketing is online now more than it ever was. K.B. Jensen lays out how to throw a virtual book launch using Facebook Live, Sandra Beckwith shares 4 features that give you more control, Nick Stephens lists 5 types of email you should send to your subscribers (and why), and Cristian Mihai reminds us that our words matter, and gives us 5 tips to help you write like yourself.
THE UNIQUE SHELF
Writers are shaped by the times the live in. Abigail Santamaria examines how a pandemic and nuclear threats shaped Madeline L’Engle’s writing and worldview.
Heloise Wood looks to history to see what kind of books will thrive in this pandemic era.
Reading is vital to many people for many reasons. Livia Gershon shows how reading got farm women through the Great Depression, Aaron Robertson shares the reading habits of major 20th century authors, and Emily Temple has compiled the 50 best contemporary novels under 200 pages for those who have little time to read.
Crime novels have all sorts of awful marriages in them, so Kimberly McCreight went in search of the elusive “good marriage” in crime fiction.
Wondering if your favorite museum will survive the pandemic? James Gardner discusses how the Louvre has survived wars, uprising, and yes, a plague.
In “A Letter from Officer Clemmons,” Francois Clemmons writes a letter to Mr. Rogers on friendship, the neighborhood, and gratitude.
That’s all for this week’s Top Picks Thursday! Stay healthy, and we’ll see you next week for more writerly links.
Posted in Agents, Blogging, Book Launch, Character, Creativity, Description, Editing, Marketing, Plot, Process, Reading, Revision, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Writing Community, The Writing Life, Theme, Top Picks Thursday, Writing Business, Writing Craft | Tags: 10 Minute Novelist, 4 Facebook features for more control, 5 lessons writers can learn from artists, 5 tips to help you write like yourself, 5 types of email you should send to your subscribers, 50 best contemporary novels under 200 pages, 8 freelancing tips for regional publications, 8 ways you may be bungling dialogue, a letter to Mr. Rogers, Aaron Robertson, Abigail Santamaria, ACFW, advice from and author turned agent, Ann H. Gabhart, Anne R. Allen, Apple Books for Authors launches for PC, art of blogging, AskALLi Team, BBC, Becca Puglisi, Blogging Wizard, Build Book Buzz, captivating writing process, Career Authors, character agency, choosing a font, choosing character names, Corinne Segal, Crime Reads, Cristian Mihai, cut off exclusives to agents, David Gaughran, Detroit News, differences between painting a scene and dramatizing a scene, DIYMFA, Donald Maass, editing as you go, Electric Literature, elusive good marriage in crime fiction, Emily Temple, Facebook Live virtual book launch, Fae Rowen, first round of self-editing, five ways to kick your writing up a notch, Francois Clemmons, free and cheap live poetry events online, future of publishing, Gabrielle Smith, great character description, Gwendolyn Huber, Heloise Wood, Hillel Italie, how much should a book cover cost, how reading habits have changed during quarantine, Indies Unlimited, IngramSpark, J. Thomas Ross, James Gardner, Jami Gold action beats, Jane Friedman, Janet Reid, Janice Hardy, Jennie Nash, Jessica Strawser, Joanna Penn, Joyce Sweeney, JSTOR, juggling writing and parenting, Julie Carrick Dalton, Julie Glover, K.B. Jensen, Katherine Grubb, Kathy Meis, Katie Yee, Kerry Gans, Kimberly McCreight, Kristy Stevenson, Laurisa White Reyes, Lisa Tener, LitHub, Livia Gershon, Matt Q. McGovern, Meg LaTorre, Melinda VanLone, Melissa Bowersock, Melodie Campbell, Michael McClure died, movement to organize publishing, Nail Your Novel, Nancy Keim Comley, Nathan Bransford, Nick Stephens, Octavia Butler's prescient sci-fi, pandemic and nuclear threats shaped Madeleine L'Engle's writing, pattern recognition for more efficient revision, preparing for comments on your manuscript, protagonists motivations influence theme, Rafal Reyzer, reading got farm women through the Depression, reading habits of major 20th century authors, Roz Morris, Ruth Comerford, Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle, Sandra Beckwith, Sara Letourneau, Self-Publishing Advice, selling books on your author website, SL Huang, small decisions make huge story impact, start book with a mini-quest, Stavros Halvatzis, successful self-publishing, survive the chaos point in your manuscript, Susan DeFreitas, Terry Odell, The Author Chronicles, the Book Designer, The Book Seller, The Creative Penn, the earned plot twist, the Louvre survived a plague before, the meaning of meaning, Tiffany Yates Martin, tips to cut word count, Top Picks Thursday, tracking your story, UK and Irish small presses fear being wiped out, Vanity Fair, what kind of books will thrive in pandemic era, when is book more thriller than sci-fi, winner of Pulitzer Prize, Writer Unboxed, Writer's Digest, Writers Helping Writers, Writers In the Storm, your words matter
The Author Chronicles 
Welcome to the mid-month Top Picks Thursday! A bit hard to believe we are already halfway through May, but we are.
In a time where literally every aspect of our lives has moved into our homes, Meg LaTorre discusses how to juggle writing and parenting.
Hillel Italie explores why Octavia Butler’s prescient sci-fi resonates years after her death.
Katie Yee takes a look at the winners of this year’s Pulitzer Prizes.
Michael McClure, famed Beat poet who helped launch the San Francisco Renaissance, died at age 87.
For poetry lovers, Gabriella Smith lists free and cheap live poetry events you can watch online.
CRAFT
Sometimes knowing what genre you are writing in is difficult. S.L. Huang delves into what makes a book more thriller than sci-fi?
If you are looking to build a freelance career, Kristy Stevenson shares 8 freelancing writing tips for regional publications.
We all have our own writing process, and Susan DeFreitas discusses developing your writing process by making it captivating.
Once we’re writing, there’s lots of craft elements we need to master. Melodie Campbell shows us how to survive the chaos point in your manuscript, Jami Gold tells us how to improve our story with action beats, and Katherine Grubb has 8 ways you may be bungling dialogue.
In addition, Julie Carrick Dalton dissects the earned plot twist, Fae Rowan describes how small decisions can have a huge story impact, and Janice Hardy has a two-fer with 5 ways to kick your writing up a notch, and the difference between painting a scene vs. dramatizing a scene.
Characters draw readers into the story, but they also do so much more. Nathan Bransford says to give your protagonist a mini-quest before the main plot kicks off, Tiffany Yates Martin reminds us to give our characters agency, Melissa Bowersock talks choosing a character name, Stavros Halvatzis examines great character description in stories, and Sara Letourneau explores how a protagonist’s motivations influence story themes.
After we write, we edit. Roz Morris explains how to prepare for comments on your book manuscript, Ann H. Gabhart shows us how to edit your word count after spewing words in early drafts, and Terry Odell lays out how to track your story.
Furthermore, Joanna Penn shares her technique for the first round of self-edits, Julie Glover writes in defense of editing as you go, and Jennie Nash says the secret to more efficient revision is pattern recognition.
Writers are influenced by everything in this world. Jessica Strawser shares 5 key lessons writers can learn from other artists, and Donald Maass reflects on the meaning of meaning.
BUSINESS
Looking to self-publish? Apple Books for Author launches with a PC version, and David Gaughran discusses what that means, Rafal Reyzer explains how font choices affects the minds of readers, and the AskALLi Team shows how to sell books on your author website.
Laurisa White Reyes says successful self-publishing starts with a great book, Lisa Tener discusses how to proceed and succeed in the future of publishing, and Melinda VanLone explores how much a book cover should cost.
Corrine Segal reports that the pandemic is giving rise to a new movement to organize labor in publishing, while Ruth Comerford tells us that small presses in the UK and Ireland fear being “wiped out” by autumn.
Kathey Meis examines how reading habits have changed during the quarantine—and how you can turn that into an opportunity.
Agent Janet Reid explores when it’s time to cut off exclusives to agents and spread your work more widely, while Joyce Sweeney gives advice from an author turned agent.
Marketing is online now more than it ever was. K.B. Jensen lays out how to throw a virtual book launch using Facebook Live, Sandra Beckwith shares 4 features that give you more control, Nick Stephens lists 5 types of email you should send to your subscribers (and why), and Cristian Mihai reminds us that our words matter, and gives us 5 tips to help you write like yourself.
THE UNIQUE SHELF
Writers are shaped by the times the live in. Abigail Santamaria examines how a pandemic and nuclear threats shaped Madeline L’Engle’s writing and worldview.
Heloise Wood looks to history to see what kind of books will thrive in this pandemic era.
Reading is vital to many people for many reasons. Livia Gershon shows how reading got farm women through the Great Depression, Aaron Robertson shares the reading habits of major 20th century authors, and Emily Temple has compiled the 50 best contemporary novels under 200 pages for those who have little time to read.
Crime novels have all sorts of awful marriages in them, so Kimberly McCreight went in search of the elusive “good marriage” in crime fiction.
Wondering if your favorite museum will survive the pandemic? James Gardner discusses how the Louvre has survived wars, uprising, and yes, a plague.
In “A Letter from Officer Clemmons,” Francois Clemmons writes a letter to Mr. Rogers on friendship, the neighborhood, and gratitude.
That’s all for this week’s Top Picks Thursday! Stay healthy, and we’ll see you next week for more writerly links.
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Posted in Agents, Blogging, Book Launch, Character, Creativity, Description, Editing, Marketing, Plot, Process, Reading, Revision, Self-publishing, Social Media, The Writing Community, The Writing Life, Theme, Top Picks Thursday, Writing Business, Writing Craft | Tags: 10 Minute Novelist, 4 Facebook features for more control, 5 lessons writers can learn from artists, 5 tips to help you write like yourself, 5 types of email you should send to your subscribers, 50 best contemporary novels under 200 pages, 8 freelancing tips for regional publications, 8 ways you may be bungling dialogue, a letter to Mr. Rogers, Aaron Robertson, Abigail Santamaria, ACFW, advice from and author turned agent, Ann H. Gabhart, Anne R. Allen, Apple Books for Authors launches for PC, art of blogging, AskALLi Team, BBC, Becca Puglisi, Blogging Wizard, Build Book Buzz, captivating writing process, Career Authors, character agency, choosing a font, choosing character names, Corinne Segal, Crime Reads, Cristian Mihai, cut off exclusives to agents, David Gaughran, Detroit News, differences between painting a scene and dramatizing a scene, DIYMFA, Donald Maass, editing as you go, Electric Literature, elusive good marriage in crime fiction, Emily Temple, Facebook Live virtual book launch, Fae Rowen, first round of self-editing, five ways to kick your writing up a notch, Francois Clemmons, free and cheap live poetry events online, future of publishing, Gabrielle Smith, great character description, Gwendolyn Huber, Heloise Wood, Hillel Italie, how much should a book cover cost, how reading habits have changed during quarantine, Indies Unlimited, IngramSpark, J. Thomas Ross, James Gardner, Jami Gold action beats, Jane Friedman, Janet Reid, Janice Hardy, Jennie Nash, Jessica Strawser, Joanna Penn, Joyce Sweeney, JSTOR, juggling writing and parenting, Julie Carrick Dalton, Julie Glover, K.B. Jensen, Katherine Grubb, Kathy Meis, Katie Yee, Kerry Gans, Kimberly McCreight, Kristy Stevenson, Laurisa White Reyes, Lisa Tener, LitHub, Livia Gershon, Matt Q. McGovern, Meg LaTorre, Melinda VanLone, Melissa Bowersock, Melodie Campbell, Michael McClure died, movement to organize publishing, Nail Your Novel, Nancy Keim Comley, Nathan Bransford, Nick Stephens, Octavia Butler's prescient sci-fi, pandemic and nuclear threats shaped Madeleine L'Engle's writing, pattern recognition for more efficient revision, preparing for comments on your manuscript, protagonists motivations influence theme, Rafal Reyzer, reading got farm women through the Depression, reading habits of major 20th century authors, Roz Morris, Ruth Comerford, Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle, Sandra Beckwith, Sara Letourneau, Self-Publishing Advice, selling books on your author website, SL Huang, small decisions make huge story impact, start book with a mini-quest, Stavros Halvatzis, successful self-publishing, survive the chaos point in your manuscript, Susan DeFreitas, Terry Odell, The Author Chronicles, the Book Designer, The Book Seller, The Creative Penn, the earned plot twist, the Louvre survived a plague before, the meaning of meaning, Tiffany Yates Martin, tips to cut word count, Top Picks Thursday, tracking your story, UK and Irish small presses fear being wiped out, Vanity Fair, what kind of books will thrive in pandemic era, when is book more thriller than sci-fi, winner of Pulitzer Prize, Writer Unboxed, Writer's Digest, Writers Helping Writers, Writers In the Storm, your words matter