Saturday Grab Bag: Mashup

Mashup:

Here are some great links on writing, the industry, and all things book related. Some are serious, and some are just downright hilarious. We highly recommend you read them!

• Chuck’s Essays – 6

– PURE. BRILLIANCE. This is showing, not telling, at its best. Author Chuck Palahniuk (who is awesome, btw) challenges all writers to stop using “thought” verbs; instead, writers should find other ways of getting across what a character thinks by showing them what that character is seeing. Seriously, read this; it just makes you itch to get back to writing!

• The Naipaul Test: Can You Tell an Author’s Sex?

– This is a test you’ll actually WANT to take! Let us know in the comments whether you guessed right or not (male writer? female?) – some of us LTWF girls were pretty bang-on, and some of us not so much.

• Out of Print Clothing

– Let’s face it – we all wear clothes (or at least, I hope you all do!) – so what better shirt to wear for writers and book lovers than a bookish t-shirt? This is the place to get the shirts that let you wear your love of literature! (Some of us LTWF girls have bought shirts from here!)

• Going Public

– Literary agent Kristin talks about the e-book sales being under-reported by publishers, and self-publishing.

• How to Tell if You’re a Writer

– This will make you laugh (or at least smile!) – so read this! Besides, who DOESN’T like these types of posts?

• Productivity & the Internet: Update on my Revamped Work Day Progess

– I love inkygirl (aka Debbie Ridpath Ohi) – and I love her cartoon strips (this one in particular made me laugh). Here she talks about her resolution to not go online for a set period of time everyday – and why the mornings just don’t work for her.

• Crits for Water

-Want to get your novel critiqued AND help a good cause? Writer Kat Brauer offers a critique of 250 words for every $1 you donate to her charity: water fundraiser! Plus, she has a HUGE line-up of agents and authors offering critiques! Be sure to stop buy–it’s running until June 30th!

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Quotes:

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“I have claimed that Escape is one of the main functions of fairy-stories, and since I do not disapprove of them, it is plain that I do not accept the tone of scorn or pity with which ‘Escape’ is now so often used. Why should a man be scorned if, finding himself in prison, he tries to get out and go home? Or if he cannot do so, he thinks and talks about other topics than jailers and prison-walls?”

— J.R.R. Tolkien

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Happy Saturday everyone! Let us know what you thought of the articles this week (or if you have any you want to share). Or just let us know what’s up!

😀

Saturday Grab Bag: Mashup

Mashup:

Here are some great links on writing, the industry, and all things book related. Some are serious, and some are just downright hilarious. We highly recommend you read them!

• KAT ZHANG SOLD HER NOVEL!

– In case you didn’t see the big announcement: our very own Kat sold HYBRID (and 2 sequels!!) to HarperCollins! Now go squee with her on her blog!

• Famous Authors and Their Typewriters

– Photographs of famous writers of the 20th century paired up with their tools of the trade.  From Sylvia Plath to Tennessee Williams to William Faulkner.

• Bookshelf Muse

– If you haven’t discovered this amazing resource yet, then go. NOW! This website will hook you up with words associated with emotions, settings, or symbolism. There’s the Emotion Thesaurus, and the collection of words range from amusement to to wounded/hurt. Or what about the Setting Thesaurus–find words linked to abandoned mine all the way down to zoo!

• Write Lots of Books or Build An Author Platform

– Two opposing camps in author marketing: promote yourself like crazy or write lots of books until they sell themselves.  Which one is more successful–it all boils down to which on you’re more comfortable doing.

• How Madeleine L’Engles Books Became Comics

– Do you love Madeleine L’Engle’s classic fantasy and science fiction novels as much as we do? And do you like graphic novels? Then you’ll be excited to hear A WRINKLE IN TIME is coming out in comic form for the book’s 50th anniversary!

• Periodic Table of Storytelling

– In a word: AMAZING. Be sure to look at this periodic table of storytelling tropes!

• Crits for Water

-Want to get your novel critiqued AND help a good cause? Writer Kat Brauer offers a critique of 250 words for every $1 you donate to her charity: water fundraiser! Plus, she has a HUGE line-up of agents and authors offering critiques–including our very own LTWF’s Sarah J. Maas, Kat Zhang, Vahini Naidoo, and Susan Dennard! Be sure to stop buy–it’s running for the next 3 months!

• And now for something completely different: Cuteness Overload

– Need to fill your cuteness quota for the day? Want a good “Aawwwww! How cute!”? This will be SURE to do it.

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Sooz's office. She likes plants and sunshine and clocks that tick loudly.

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Quotes:

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“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”

– Douglas Adams

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“Sometimes you wake up.  Sometimes the fall kills you.  And sometimes, when you fall, you fly.”

– Neil Gaiman

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Happy Saturday everyone! Let us know what’s up in the comments!

Saturday Grab Bag: Mashup

Mashup:

Here are some great links on writing, the industry, and all things book related. Some are serious, and some are just downright hilarious. We highly recommend you read them!

• Something Strange and Deadly

– BIG NEWS! Sooz’s debut, THE SPIRIT HUNTERS, now has a new name!

• April Query Day

– It’s that time again! Sooz is hosting QUERY DAY again over on her blog this coming Monday! For those who missed it last time, the way it works is that Sooz will put up a post asking for people to send in their queries – and after receiving 5 queries for April, she will close submissions and over the following weeks critique those 5 queries! So mark Monday on your calendars!

• “Tru Luv” Teen Romance: Pulling YA Down One Genre At A Time?

– You might not have known this, but a number of us at LTWF have been getting a bit frustrated with YA lately, and as this post so eloquently explains, it’s because of “tru luv”. This is a MUST READ for any YA readers/writers!

• Cover Lust

– I happen to be a huge suck for gorgeous book covers, so I created a Cover Lust tumblr blog devoted to wonderful book covers! (- Vanessa)

• Crits for Water

-Want to get your novel critiqued AND help a good cause? Writer Kat Brauer offers a critique of 250 words for every $1 you donate to her charity: water fundraiser! Plus, she has a HUGE line-up of agents and authors offering critiques! Be sure to stop buy–it’s running for the next 3 months!

• In Memoriam

– Last Saturday, Children’s fantasy author Diana Wynne Jones passed away. In honour of her (and since so many of us LTWF girls were fans), we’ve made HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE our Book of the Month for April.

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Quotes:

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“If you take myth and folklore, and these things that speak in symbols, they can be interpreted in so many ways that although the actual image is clear enough, the interpretation is infinitely blurred, a sort of enormous rainbow of every possible colour you could imagine.”

— 

Diana Wynne Jones

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Happy Saturday everyone! Let us know what’s up in the comments!

 

– I happen to be a huge suck for gorgeous book covers, so I created a Cover Lust tumblr blog devoted to wonderful book covers! (- Va

nessa)

• Cri

Saturday Grab Bag: Mashup

Mashup:

Here are some great links on writing, the industry, and all things book related. Some are serious, and some are just downright hilarious. We highly recommend you read them!

• The One On Lists

– Alexandra Bracken, YA author of BRIGHTLY WOVEN and the upcoming 2013 novel BLACK IS THE COLOR sheds some light on how publisher lists work – including how and why books are scheduled for different seasons. Very informative!

• The One About List Launch

– A continuation of Alex Bracken’s previous post – this time on what list launches are. Another great article!

• ‘Hunger Games’: Suzanne Collins talks Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss

– We’re pretty sure you’ve all heard by now that Jennifer Lawrence has been cast as Katniss for THE HUNGER GAMES movies (which all of us are THRILLED about!). But did you see the statement from Suzanne Collins over the casting of Lawrence? Cause it’s pretty awesome!

• The Death of the Slush Pile

– An article looking at the death of the publisher’s slush pile – and how vital the role of a literary agent is now.

• “One Man Disney Movie” Nick Pitera Disney Medley Music Video

– If there is one thing you should know about us LTWF girls, it’s that we love Disney – so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we absolutely loved this video!

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Quotes:

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“Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.”

— 

E. L. Doctorow

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What We’re Reading:

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Vanessa: WOEFIELD POULTRY COLLECTIVE by Susan Juby

Kat: HUNGER by Jackie Morse Kessler

Mandy: RULES by Cynthia Lord

Sarah: SUMMERS AT CASTLE AUBURN by Sharon Shinn

Vee: BLOWOUT by Susan Vaught

Savannah: A MOUNTAIN OF CRUMBS: A Memoir by Elena Gorokhova

Sammy: JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte

Susan: STARCROSSED by Josephine Angelini

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Reading any good books?  Share them (and any thoughts or cool links) in the comments! Happy weekend!

 

Saturday Grab Bag

Mashup:

Here are some great links on writing, the industry, and all things book related. Some are serious, and some are just downright hilarious. We highly recommend you read them!

• Where Are All The Daring Women’s Heroines?

– Seriously fantastic article on daring female characters and how there are plenty of brave, adventurous female role models for children; but how you won’t find adult equivalents very easily.

• YA vs. Adult: Do You Have The Voice?

– Not only is our very own Mandy Hubbard quoted in this article (yay Mandy!), but this is a great look at why not everyone can write for young adults. And how “crossover appeal” isn’t actually all that appealing.

• DNA Writers

– If you’ve followed our blog for a while, you probably know that we think C.A. Marshall is all kinds of wonderful. She’s started a group blog with some fellow NaNo writers. So while all of us LTWF contributors came together through our experiences on FictionPress, all the contributors at DNA Writers came together through NaNoWriMo!

• Famous Writers’ Small Writing Sheds and Off-the-Grid Huts

– A sweet article looking at writing huts! (Makes me want one of my own!)

• Literary Agent Natalie Fischer on Nailing Voice

– An interview with Julie Eshbaugh’s agent Natalie Fischer discussing how you know whether or not a voice is right for your manuscript. A great interview!

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Quotes:

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“Often, I get the feeling that the story is really happening somewhere and all I’m doing is trying to work out the best way to tell it.”

— Garth Nix

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Happy Saturday everyone! Share any thoughts or cool links in the comments!

 

Saturday Grab Bag – Mashup and Quotes

Help Japan:

All of us at LTWF are deeply saddened over the loss of lives and homes in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami. Our thoughts & prayers are with everyone affected.

If anyone is interested in helping out, there are many different relief funds. Here are just a few ways you can help out:

• Shelterbox in Japan – Author Maureen Johnson is trying to raise money for Shelterbox in Japan, and is even offering prizes as a means of encouraging people to donate. Anyone from anywhere in the world can donate to Shelterbox.

• GlobalLiving Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund – We found out about this through literary agent Sarah LaPolla on Twitter. The goal is to raise $150,000.

• Red Cross – Canada – The Canadian Red Cross has a Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund.

• Red Cross – U.S. – The American Red Cross also has a relief fund for Japan. You can donate through the website, or (if you’re in the US) you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.

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Mashup:

Here are some great links on writing, the industry, and all things book related. Some are serious, and some are just downright hilarious. We highly recommend you read them!

• The Lucky Last One

– Author Jaclyn Dolamore opens up to talk about what it felt like to be the last one in her group of writer friends to get an agent and sell a book. A very honest post – one you should definitely read.

• The Cat’s Out: Meet Lola and Cricket!

– You might remember that we had a little book called ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS as our Book of the Month for January. Well, we all thought the cover of the up-coming companion novel, LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR, has an adorable cover. So go check it out!

• Sex in YA: One Naive Mom’s Opinion

– A really, really interesting article about a mom’s reaction to sex in YA.

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Quotes:

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“When you write your first novel you don’t really know what you’re doing. There may be writers out there who are brilliant, incisive and in control from their first ‘Once upon a time’. I’m not one of them. Every once upon a time for me is another experience of white-water rafting in a leaky inner tube. And I have this theory that while the Story Council has its faults, it does have some idea that if books are going to get written, authors have to be able to write them.”

— Robin McKinley

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“My books happen. They tend to blast in from nowhere, seize me by the throat, and howl ‘Write me! Write me now!’ But they rarely stand still long enough for me to see what and who they are, before they hurtle away again. And so I spend a lot of time running after them, like a thrown rider after an escaped horse, saying ‘Wait for me! Wait for me!’ and waving my notebook in the air.”

— Robin McKinley

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Share any thoughts or cool links in the comments!

 

Saturday Grab Bag: Mashup and Quotes

Mashup:

Here are some great links on writing, the industry, and all things book related. Some are serious, and some are just downright hilarious. We highly recommend you read them!

• Four Thousand Words Jam

– Four Thousand Words Jam (FTWjam) is a brand new writing jam to get people writing out of their own comfort zones, and just get them writing (even when they’re stuck with writers block)! The jam is bi-monthly, and you have 48 hours to take the suggested theme/prompt and write 4k. The first FTWjam has started (theme is “Stop right there, evildoer!”) – so take a look and check it out!

• Three Questions to Ask When You Don’t Know Your Plot From Your Story

– Do you know what the difference is between your story and your plot? If you’re not sure what the difference is, James Killick can enlighten you. This is a great article – so be sure to read it!

• YA Mafia & Other Things You Don’t Need to Worry About

– There has been some talk in the book blogging and reviewing community, as well as in the writing community, the idea that there is a YA Mafia – that there are YA authors banned together ruining up the writing careers of those who leave them bad reviews. Author Justine Larbalestier argues that this is just pure myth.

• Save 50/50 Petition

– After nine decades, the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) has decided to quietly discontinue the 50 Books/50 Covers competition – a competition that had celebrated every year excellence in book design. But even though they didn’t annouce anything, people in the design and book industry have noticed it missing. If you have a chance and believe that book cover designers deserve to be recognized once again, please sign the petition.

• Presenting… Query Day!

– Our very own Susan Dennard is hosting Query Days at her blog! What exactly is Query Day, you ask? Once a month, Sooz will put up a post asking for people to send in their queries – and after receiving 10 queries, she will close submissions and over the following weeks critique those 10 queries! Think that sounds super awesome? Well, SO DO WE!

• How to Format a Manuscript + Now With Free Downloadable Checklist!

– The ever wonderful C.A. Marshall has made a very thorough guide to formatting your MS correctly!

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Quotes:

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“The great thing about fantasy is that you can drag dreams and longings and hopes and fears and strivings out of your subconscious and call them ‘magic’ or ‘dragons’ or ‘faeries’ and get to know them better. But then I write the stuff. Obviously I’m prejudiced.”
— Robin McKinley

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“The main thing is to WRITE. Some days it might be 2000 words. Some days you might tinker with two sentences until you get them just right. Both days belong in the writing life. Some days you may watch a ‘Doctor Who’ marathon or become immersed in a book that is so good you can’t stop reading. Some days you may be in love or in mourning. Those days belong in the writing life, too. Live them without guilt.”

— L.K Madigan

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In honour of L.K. Madigan, who passed away last week on February 23rd, 2011, we’ve made her novel THE MERMAID’S MIRROR our Book of the Month for March. And we’ve also included the quote above.

And in honour of Brian Jacques, author of the REDWALL series who passed away February 5th, The Story Girl is hosting the Redwall Nostalgia Challenge.

 

Saturday Grab Bag: Mashup

Mashup:

Here are some great links on writing, the industry, and all things book related. Some are serious, and some are just downright hilarious. We highly recommend you read them!

• Twitter: It’s Not You, It’s Me

– A writer’s letter to Twitter – a really great read if you’re on Twitter as well (or even if you’re thinking of using it).

• What is Dystopian Fiction?

– As someone who took a Utopian/Dystopian literature course a few years back, I’m thrilled that Dystopian fiction is trending in YA. In this article, Meagan Spooner talks about what makes dystopian fiction… well, dystopian. (I also loves that she brings up Thomas Moore’s Utopia, which I recommend you read).

• Lulu Title Scorer

– Think your title has what it takes? How likely is it that your title becomes a bestseller? Try out this title scorer!

• Your Mileage May Vary

– A wonderful post by author Libba Bray, responding to a message from a reader seeking advice for her future.

• What Happens When It IS You

– What it feels like to be on submission.

• 5 Things That Make A Writer

– Interesting article on what makes a writer.

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Quotes:

“If writers were good businessmen, they’d have too much sense to be writers.”
— Irvin S. Cobb

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“Be persistent. Editors change; tastes change; editorial markets change. Too many beginning writers give up too easily.”
— John Jakes

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“I don’t want to create responsible shows with lawyers in them. I want to invade people’s dreams.”
—Joss Whedon, writer/producer

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If you’ve come across any great links/quotes, share them in the comments!

 

The Return of the Saturday Grab Bag!

THAT’S RIGHT… IT’S THE RETURN OF THE

Hey all! It’s been a month since the last Saturday Grab Bag (can you believe it?), but it feels good to be putting them together again. I just wanted to include a quick little note saying thanks to everyone for all the wonderful congratulatory comments while I was away getting hitched – and that it feels GREAT to be back!

– Vanessa Di Gregorio (Campbell!)

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Mashup:

Here are some great links on writing, the industry, and all things book related. Some are serious, and some are just downright hilarious. We highly recommend you read them!

• How to Get 100% Full-Request Rate

– Warning: you will laugh hysterically. And you will laugh out loud. If there is one link you should click and read in this entire post, it is this one. And then you will know exactly how to get agents to fall over their feet to sign you.

• So You Want to Write a Novel

– A Youtube video that will make you laugh!

• ‘T’ Shirts

– Attention all typography lovers! These aren’t your ordinary t-shirts – these are t-shirts that pay homage to different typographies! You need to click this link to really see what I mean.

• Publishing 911

– And… more hilarity! A blog post featuring a ‘transcript’ between the Operator at Publishing 911, and the various callers. Read it: you’ll love it.

• James Frey’s Fiction Factory

– Okay okay. Time to get serious here, folks. You’ve probably already heard about this, but for those who haven’t, get ready to be appalled. Frey’s controversial publishing company, Full Fathom Five, is hiring authors – and taking advantage of them.

• Definitive List of Clichéd Dialogue

– Yes, that’s right. A list of clichéd dialogue. (And you know what… I’m totally guilty of some of those lines in my past works. Who knows… there might be some in my current WIP! Dun dun dunnn).

• One-Trick Pony

– This is a great post! And looks at something that most (if not all) writers worry about at some point; that you’re just a one-trick pony.

• 10 Ways to Create a Plot Twist

– I don’t know about you, but I’m a HUGE fan of lists; and this article delivers! Awesome post (complete with Star Wars reference, too!).

• I Value The Arts

– This was a special request from one of our readers in the UK. I Value The Arts is an online petition against the cutting of funding for the arts in the UK. So if you’re interested in joining the cause to protect the arts, you can register and show your support on this site.

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Quotes:

“Sure, it’s simple, writing for kids… Just as simple as bringing them up.”

— Ursula K. LeGuin

“This manuscript of yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don’t consider it rejected. Consider that you’ve addressed it ‘to the editor who can appreciate my work’ and it has simply come back stamped ‘Not at this address’. Just keep looking for the right address.”

— Barbara Kingsolver

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What We’re Reading:

Vanessa: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Sammy: The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Sarah: Changeless by Gail Carriger

Savannah: The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian

Julie: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Susan: World War Z by Max Brooks

Mandy: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Kat: Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Vee: Fury by Shirley Marr

Jenn: The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Biljana: Beowulf

 

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Happy first weekend of December! If you’ve come across any great links/quotes, share them in the comments! And let us know what you’re reading, too! (We love discussing books!)

 

Saturday Grab Bag: Mashup

Mashup:

Here are some great links on writing, the industry, and all things book related. Some are serious, and some are just downright hilarious. We highly recommend you read them!

• Children’s Author Eva Ibbotson dies at age 85

– Sad news in children’s publishing. R.I.P. Eva Ibbotson.

• Eva Ibbotson: Ogres, Aunts and Happy Endings

– Another article from The Guardian from a few weeks earlier where they talk to Eva Ibbotson and her writing.

• Editor Help for Jane Austen

– See, even Jane Austen wasn’t perfect.

• Pride, Prejudice and Poor Punctuation

– Another post about Austen. She is renowned as a pristine literary stylist; but her semicolons were not her own – instead she scattered dashes through her prose (among other things).

• Kids Lit vs. Adult Lit

– Here is another article about kids lit vs. adult lit. But this one is more about the lack of respect kids lit gets – how writers of kids lit aren’t respected as much, or thought highly of – and why people who look down on kids lit book and authors are wrong to do so. Loved this article.

• 100 Best First Lines From Novels

– We love opening lines. So here’s a list of the 100 best first lines according to The American Book Review.

• Coverspy

– We also love book covers. Coverspy is a tumblr of – you guessed it! – book covers. It’s a visual feast for your eyes!

Notes from the Twittersphere:

• Don’t put the first paragraph of your query in the subject of your email.
  – @WolfsonLiterary

• Don’t send pages from the middle of the book. The BEGINNING needs to grab me.
  – @ WolfsonLiterary

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Quotes:

“Some readers have found children’s literature to be a rack of hats: didactic, useful books that keep us warm or guard us against weather. I find children’s literature to be a world of snakes: seductive things that live in undergrowths and that may take us whole.”

— Seth Lerer, Children’s Literature: A Reader’s History from Aesop to Harry Potter

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What We’re Reading:

Vanessa: The Healing Wars Book 2: Blue Fire by Janice Hardy

Sammy: Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Sarah: Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld

Savannah: The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

Julie: Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis

Susan: Travels With My Aunt by Graham Greene

Mandy: Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

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If you’ve come across any great links/quotes, share them in the comments! And let us know what you’re reading, too! 😀