Great Links for Writers

While perusing the blogosphere the last few days, I’ve stumbled upon some great links for writers that I just have to share!

One of my favorite bloggers, The Literary Mom, continues to offer up posts with useful information about the writing industry. In particular, she wrote a great piece that explores the pros and cons of hitting the “Publish” button on a blog post. There are consequences to consider on both sides of the spectrum.  Read her thoughts here: Fiction Writers: Why Hitting The Publish Button on a Post Isn’t Always a Good Thing.  While visiting, check out her recent interview with YA author Melanie Card. Both questions and answers are thoughtful and very enlightening.  Read it here.

As I continue to explore ways to build my platform, Darla McDavid, featured a great new place to extend my online presence with her very informative post on a site called About.me.  It takes self-promotion and networking to a new level as it works a bit differently from facebook and twitter.  Social networking can be a bit overwhelming and About.me seems like a nice alternative or simple addition to our already very busy online lives!  Check out her post: Build Your Writer’s Platform with About.me.

The site I’ve been perusing the most over the last week is World Literary Cafe.  I first came across it while playing on Twitter and it has turned out to be a phenomenal source of networking connections.  I’ve barely scratched the surface of all it has to offer, but it essentially brings authors, bloggers, and readers together.  There are pay it forward programs, beta reader match-ups, read/review groups and forums, promotion workshops, features on upcoming books from new writers, and loads of news and events in the writing community.  This network is amazing!

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It seems I can’t even make it a week on my adjusted blog schedule.  Here we are on an “off” day and I can’t stay silent!  Hope you all enjoy the links!

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c.b. 2012

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Snappy Blog Awards

Earlier this week, I was lucky enough to receive two blog awards from a couple of bloggers I really admire.  I’m always so honored when fellow bloggers are kind enough to recognize my blog.  Thank you to The Flying Yenta for the 7×7 Link Award and redjim99 of notyetthere for The Versatile Blogger Award.  I would highly recommend visiting both sites, for they are wholly unique and always offer an interesting read.  The Flying Yenta is a talented writer who just had one of her stories accepted for publication, (Congratulations!) and over on notyetthere, you’ll find  wonderful recent post that documents a climb up the Manchester Clock Tower.

  

This is my third time receiving The Versatile Blogger Award, (it never gets old!), so I’m going to combine the requirements of acceptance with the 7×7.  However, you can see my Versatile Blogger acceptance requirements by reading, A Nice Surprise.

Share something about yourself that others don’t know.

I drive a stick shift and I’m proud of the fact that I can.  It’s a dying art.

Link seven posts from your blog that you think are worthy.

It was tough trying to figure out which seven posts are worthy, so I decided to go with the posts that triggered the biggest conversations among readers.  These are the Top Seven most commented posts on my blog and therefore the most worthy:

The Best Souvenirs Are Free

Wreck This Journal: Letting Go

Project Art Journal

Freshly Pressed Shocked Syndrome

I Write Like . . .

Wreck This Journal: Be Unpredictable

Wreck This Journal: Freedom

Bonus: Let Me Live is a story I posted last week and the reader response was well beyond what I expected, so to me that makes it worthy of a bonus slot.

Nominate seven other bloggers that deserve the award and haven’t received it yet.

The Literary Mom

I just recently stumbled upon this blog and every time I visit, I think to myself, “Why couldn’t I have found this months ago?”  She is currently writing a fantastic series of posts about the fine art of query letters and crafting that pesky synopsis.  Her advice offers simple, common sense solutions to the slew of problems we all face when trying land an agent.

Sky Diaries

My day isn’t complete until I’ve read a post on Sky Diaries.  This honest and inspiring blog documents the ups and downs of what it is to be a writer.  She isn’t afraid to admit the defeats and she celebrates the victories with the brightest light imaginable.

Once Upon A Grain of Sand

This delightful blog has some of the best inspiration when it comes to craft projects and life in general.  The atmosphere is bright with whimsical paintings, home decor projects, and most recently a beautiful bead and wire pendant.  I love her spirit of experimenting without fear of failure.

Kate’s Bookshelf

Kate has it all – books, haikus, photography, and flash fiction!  Her love of books and the beauty of her writing makes her blog one of my favorites.  In particular, her haikus offer a unique perspective on the world around us as do her amazing photographs.

Stir

Every day brings a beautiful photograph and a lingering thought that stays with me throughout the day.  Visit this artistic blog for amazing moments of color, nature, inspiration, and wordsmithing.

The Gratitude Garden

This is probably the most positive blog out there!  Each day there is something to be thankful for and this fantastic blogger lists her daily moments of gratitude.  In turn, she encourages others to leave reasons to be thankful.  I love the reminder to see my day through the lens of gratitude.

Peach Farm Studio

Ever wonder what a typewriter is thinking?  A series of delightful typewriter messages is what first brought me to this creative blog.  When the typewriter isn’t dispensing wisdom, Peach Farm always reminds me that inspiration is everywhere.

To accept your 7×7 Link Award:

• Thank who nominated you and include a link
• List something others don’t know about you
• Choose seven links on your blog that you think are worthy
• Nominate 7 bloggers who have not received the award and include links
• Notify the bloggers you have nominated

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c.b. 2012

Paying it Forward . . . Blogs I Love

It’s been a while since I stopped to recognize some blogs I enjoy on a daily basis.  In the months since I last paid it forward, I’ve been lucky enough to find some fantastic bloggers who brighten my day with poetry, beautiful photographs, and thoughtful posts about the writing process.

Wendy L Young – I’ve mentioned this blog before, but never beyond a quick link.  Wendy is a talented writer with a great sense of humor.  Its been fascinating to follow her as she published her first novel, traveled through the maze of e-book publishing, and now with her most recent endeavor of a new novel.

Write Up My Life – This blog is one of my absolute favorites.  Julie Hedlund is a talented writer who loves to inspire other writers.  She offers fantastic links, observations, and tools of the trade that I find extremely helpful.  On top of that, she writes beautiful poetry and a weekly Sunday Gratitude List that always lifts my spirits.

1 Mere Mortal – This blog has some incredibly beautiful poetry.  New posts are frequent and consistently amazing.

Write Am I – This blogger is a writer to the core.  I look forward to her posts about the struggles and triumphs of an emerging writer.  She has a great sense of humor and determined soul I find very inspiring.  Furthermore, she recently got her first publishing credit with a brilliant short story.  Visit her site for the link!

Simple Relevance – This is a recent discovery and one I wish I found a long time ago.  Cindy Archer posts spectacular photographs, shares wonderful craft projects, and writes lovely posts about what truly matters in life.  Heartfelt and honest, her blog is a beautiful place to go each day.

c.b. 2011