In Reference to Writing

Here are some of the latest tips and tricks of the writing/publishing trade that may be helpful to some of you:

ON WRITING

Author and freelance editor Kristen Lamb offers up "4 Writing Crutches that Insult the Reader's Intelligence."

Harry Bingham, of the U.K. based Writer's Workshop, tells you "Why Most of What You’ve Read About Characterization is Untrue."

Writing a police procedural? Author and former cop Lee Lofland gives you tips on how to approach officers to help with questions about your work-in-progress.

Carol Topp, certified public accountant and author of an upcoming book, Business Tips and Taxes for Writers, has a two-part article (here and here) on what writers need to know about taxes.

April Hamilton, author of The Indie Author Guide: Publishing Strategies Anyone Can Use, lists 6 dialogue traps you should avoid like the plague (hint: think cliché).

Writer/blogger Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen wants to help you overcome rejection and discouragement, and her 5 Tips should help.

ON PUBLISHING

It's the Wild West in publishing right now, making it difficult for everyone, including authors, to know how best to proceed with their careers. Making things even harder is a new trend among agents to set themselves up as publishers, a controversy author Courtney Milan tried to address on her blog. David Gaughran added to that his own Roadmap for Writers.

After reading those postings, you may think things couldn't get worse, but this cautionary tale of a scam artist who targeted one writer shows otherwise.

If you're not rattled enough, The Passive Voice lectures you on why Your Agent Isn't Your Mommy.  (Depressed now? Go back and re-read Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen's blog.)

ON MARKETING AND PUBLICITY

Editor Alan Rinzler explains the "new author platform" vs. the tired old model and what you need to know to succeed. Author and neuroscience graduate student Livia Blackburne adds that many writers haven't created an effective platform, but rather a never-ending writing conference.

You may have had it hammered into your thoughts that if you're an author, you need to be involved with social media. But Rachel Kovacs warns you about 10 ways to kill your writing career using social media.

Unless you're James Patterson or someone who sells millions of books, you're going to have to learn about self-promotion. Former literary agent Nathan Bransford explains why it "sucks," but that you have to suck up and do it anyway.

Comments

[Livia Blackburne]

Thanks for the shoutout!