Writing and Reading Links

It’s rough out there if you write middle grade…
Booksellers Assess a Changing Tween Scene :: Publishers Weekly

“If you want readers, be a good date.”
Be A Good Date :: Austin Kleon

“You have a story in your head—if you didn’t, you wouldn’t be here. So how do you turn it from an idea into a polished, professional, un-put-down-able work that people will love to read?”
There’s always a choice: Revision techniques to make your writing stronger :: Good Story Company

“Sometimes writers think they’re writing an omniscient POV, but they’re actually filtering the scene through multiple characters’ minds and stringing together a series of perspectives in a confusing way.”
How to bridge characters’ thoughts in an omniscient POV :: Nathan Bransford

“It’s not always easy being a writer. A lot of people don’t get what I do. Many confess they’d love to write a children’s book. What they mean is that they don’t think it’s that difficult and so they’d love to be, not writers, but the authors of published books. It’s the product they’re after—the bright, glossy picture books, the cute middle grade jackets with smiley kid faces on them. Who wouldn’t want their names on books for young readers?”
Reality, Fiction, and Why I Keep on Writing :: Uma Krishnaswami

“The goal of a comp title is to communicate what is at the heart of your story, where your novel fits in the market, and who your ideal reader is.”
The Secret to Good Comp Titles :: Erin Bowman

“I love writing my newsletter. I love tweeting (especially after a glass of wine or two). But I can’t deny a growing sense that very little of this writing matters. And that it might even be harmful to my long-term goals.”
Getting too good at the wrong thing :: Nat Eliason’s Essays

On the fence about buying the audiobook version of MIRACULOUS? Listen for free to the first ten minutes to get a sense of the story.