Welcome to the first Top Picks Thursday of September! September is National Library Card Sign Up Month, so use your card, because September 6th is National Read a Book Day.
In awards news, author Marieke Lucas Rijneveld and translator Michele Hutchinson win the International Booker Prize.
Here in the USA, black women are topping bestseller lists, and the diverse, groundbreaking world of indigenous poetry reaches the mainstream.
Across the ocean, Kuwait relaxes book censorship laws after banning thousands of titles.
Victoria Strauss warns against scammers impersonating major publishing houses.
Arthur Klepchukov lists fiction writing contests worth your time in fall 2020.
CRAFT
We often focus on prose here, but if you are a screenwriter, Jeanne Veillette Bowerman talks about what it takes to launch your screenwriting career from outside of Hollywood.
Every so often, tropes need a refresher. Brian DeLeonard reboots the trope of elemental magic. And while it may not be magic, Helen Macdonald has advice on writing about nature.
Voice is one of the most elusive craft elements out there. Katharine Grubb tells us how to develop your writer voice. Often choice of perspective contributes to voice, so Nathan Bransford has everything you need to know about perspective.
The first phrases of a project can sometimes be the most fraught. Ellen Buikema walks us through creating a bible for characters and screenwriting, Janice Hardy has quick steps for writing a scene, and Heather Webb helps us struggle through the shitty first draft.
Getting the word-level details right is a later stage of the process, but just as important as getting the big-picture items right. Mary Kole compares melodramatic vs. dramatic writing, Geraldine Woods explores repetition as a powerful literary tool, and Stavros Halvatzis demystifies how powerful scenes really work.
Characters are the heart of our stories. Jacqueline Meyers discusses using real personality types to create better characters, Becca Puglisi urges us to identify our character’s primary attribute, Linda W. Yezak applies Isaac Newton’s law of physics to writing, and Laurie Schnebly Campbell investigates following your heroine beyond the hero’s journey.
We all make mistakes when writing, which is why editing is so important. Bonnie Randall looks at what we learn from the mistakes even the greats make, and PJ Parrish lists 5 easy fixes for your novel.
Dealing with the public can be scary for some authors. Ruth Harris explains how to right size Imposter Syndrome, and Melissa Donovan ponders how to handle writing mistakes in public.
Times are distracting, so Kristen Lamb reveal how to find our focus during crazy times, and John Gilstrap says to take a long view on research.
Writing is a responsibility, as well as fun. Brian Andrews discusses wearing the mantle of character, and Barbara O’Neal meditates on a writer’s sacred task to observe.
BUSINESS
Authors are looking to get published. Michelle Laurey lays out the most common reasons authors fail to publish their work, and Jane Friedman has a guide on how to find publishers.
Publishers are having printer issues. Alexandra Alter says that printing companies’ backlog is affecting the book industry, and Jim Milliot reports that printers confirm that capacity for trade titles is tight.
Emma Copley Eisenberg investigates: fact-checking is the core of nonfiction writing, so why do so many publishers refuse to do it?
Marketing is both ubiquitous and nebulous. Katharine Grubb lists 9 things she’s learned about book marketing, Andreas Wagner gives us book marketing tips from a first-time author, Penny Sansevieri has September observances to inspire your book marketing, Stephanie Merry shares 8 trends in book cover art, and Diana Urban brings us 15 ideas from authors and publishers on how to promote cookbooks.
Marketing is all about connecting to readers. Dan Blank discusses tapping into the power of podcasts by being a great guest and growing your platform, and the AskALLi Team has the ultimate guide to growing your email mailing list.
Blogs and social media are a potent way to reach your audience. Cristian Mihai discusses using eureka moments in your blog and Isaac Newton’s three rules of blogging, Lyn Wildwoon has 12 powerful Twitter marketing tools to grow your audience, Stacey Corrin lists 16 content promotion platforms to increase your blog’s traffic, and Kim Lochery asks: do you really need social media to be a successful blogger?
PODCASTS
In conversation with Mitzi Rapkin on First Draft, R.L. Maizes talks about internalizing the pain and feelings of animals.
On the History of Literature podcast with Jacke Wilson, the ecstasy of reading (and rereading) Anna Karenina.
Joanna Penn discusses changes in ebook publishing over the last decade and changes ahead with Len Edgerly of the Kindle Chronicles podcast.
THE UNIQUE SHELF
It’s always a bit embarrassing when someone points out a typo in your work. But at least no one has a Twitter stream devoted to your mistakes. Ben Lindbergh looks at the Twitter account that calls out the New York Times mistakes.
Malcolm Gladwell discusses Jack Reacher and the grand unified theory of thrillers.
Chris R. Morgan delves into the art of upsetting people: Jonathan Swift and the Marquis de Sade, patron saints of extremism.
Greece announces that it will restore the historic home of national poet Kostis Palamas.
R.F. Foster explores the humble confidence of Irish poet Seamus Heaney.
Bhavi Mandalia brings the unlikely story of how Arkady Strugatsky, an officer in the Soviet Army, became a key figure in Russian science fiction.
Wondering where to donate books during the pandemic? Elizabeth Allen explains how to donate books while staying safe during the pandemic.
Bored in quarantine? Kelly Jensen shares DIY craft kits for book lovers.
Oh, the places you’ll go. Dr. Suess has been licensed for Sketchers footwear.
That’s all for this week’s Top Picks Thursday! See you next week for more literary links!
The Author Chronicles 
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