There Are No Rules - Best of Twitter

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 11/13/09)

Jane — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:41:15 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit each Sunday for the week's best Tweets. If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments. Always welcome your suggestions on improving this weekly feature.

Best of Best

Great post from an agent about why books are rejected
@BubbleCow

@RachelleGardner on when/how a book becomes profitable. Best thing I've read all week.
@ChuckSambuchino

3 Common Mistakes an editor is seeing in manuscripts
@ElizabethSCraig

Great post about what an agent looks for in a query letter
@BubbleCow

Annie Dillard's take-no-prisoners approach to writing (via @ContraryMag @catchingdays)
@DebraMarrs

Problem: Query letters have a lack of conflict
@inkyelbows

Stand Alone

Poets: build audience online and via live performances. Digitize everything, and think beyond text. Print = archive/souvenir/premium.
@glecharles

Nothing against the book, but too many poets see it as end game. Solo poetry books don't sell; think bigger.
@glecharles

Poets should be all over digital publishing: eChapbooks, podcasts, video, Kinetic Typography. Save "the book" for when you're dead.
@glecharles

If you want to know what you get done in a day, log not only your writing, but your procrastination tools, too. Amazing.
@Vanessaftw

Don't query me right after finishing the 1st draft of your novel. Or, you know, don't tell me that in your query.
@Ginger_Clark

Yes, it's true we [agents] Google you to see who you are. If you say you have a web presence, please provide specific URLs.
@sjaejones

Don't TELL me your ms is thrilling, suspenseful, and the absolute best. SHOW me within the query.
@MarleneStriner

Writers: Pretty much anything you do to get our attn in your query, besides a terrific blurb, is wasted effort.
@rachellegardner

Wasn't one of the ten commandments, "Thy e-mail font size shall be 10 or 12?" No? Moses, seriously, get on it.
@NathanBransford

Fiction = good. Novel = good. "Fiction novel" = redundant.
@NathanBransford

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

What to know about comparing your book to another book/author in a query
@NathanBransford

"Stop thinking like an employee and start thinking like an entrepreneur" by @MoriahJovan (For everyone in publishing.)
@glecharles

Manuscript length and word count, the eternal question.
@Kid_Lit

Craft & Technique

The Most Important Sentence: How to Write a Killer Opening
@BubbleCow

Nanowrimo Tip 13: Pace Charts
@thecreativepenn

Publishing Biz, Trends, Future of Publishing

A really savvy and balanced post by Joe Esposito about Google and the publishing ecosystem
@MikeShatzkin

Three anonymous agents helped me create a blog post at lunch this week, tho that wasn't their intent. Thanks.
@MikeShatzkin

My first post at HuffPo about the difficulty publishers are having "moving the needle"
@NathanBransford

Twitter & Social Media

*Updated*: Twitter Chats For Writers
@inkyelbows

Resources/Tools

Great writing links from @Le_Shack
@thecreativepenn

100 useful links for ebook lovers
@victoriastrauss

New at #FollowReader: Friday Hot Links + Overheard on Twitter
@sgoodin

How to quickly turn an RSS feed into a widget. My latest O'Reilly Answers post.
@jwikert

Looking for more?

Join us for the next Writer's Digest Editors' Intensive (Dec 12-13) and get an editor's critique on your first 50 pages during 30-minute appointment

List of Tweeps most often included in weekly Best Tweets for Writers (always under development)

Follow Writer's Digest editors on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @brianklems @robertleebrewer @alicepope
@kmnickell @jessicastrawser @chucksambuchino

Become a fan at our Facebook page

Join our online community, kind of like Facebook for writers
(1,500 members and growing)

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 11/6/09)

Jane — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:55:20 GMT

3 Questions To Better Understand Your Novel
@FictionMatters

3 Storytelling Exercises That Can Get You Published
@BubbleCow

Writing the perfect scene by Randy Ingermanson.
Thought-provoking article.
@mystorywriter

Stand Alone

Dear Querier, an agent is not going to steal your idea. In fact the only way to market your book is to share it.
@mattwagner

Fiction Writers, don't apologize for lack of credentials or degrees. The writing is all.
@MarleneStringer

21% of fiction book purchases in 2008 were based on online awareness. --Bowker Online
@FSBAssociates

Why do indie authors feel the need to vehemently defend their approach? Most readers don't care who the publisher is. Focus!
@glecharles

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

How long should you wait to hear [from an agent] about your book?
@BubbleCow

Craft & Technique

For fiction writers: First or Third? And How To Choose.
@KimsCraftBlog

How to create a satisfying ending by @annastanisz
@mystorywriter

Writers, should you outline or not? Yes.
@jamesscottbell

Publishing Biz, Trends, Future of Publishing

What Can Publishers [and Authors] Learn from @CoryDoctorow by Richard Curtis
@jafurtado

Sci-fi collective, including Ursula K Le Guin, skips publishers, goes DTC via Kindle, Sony, own website via @thebookseller
@glecharles

John Grisham interview [Today show video] on writing and the future of publishing
@benwhiting

What literature needs is not better publbishers, or agents, but CURATORS
@agnieszkasshoes

Marketing/Promotion

Valuable advice for authors on use of Twitter for book marketing
@BookBuzzr

The Savvy Author's Guide to Podcasting
(guest post by @EmApocalyptic)
@mariaschneider

8 Tips on Creating An Army Of People To Market Your Book
@tonyeldridge

Resources/Tools

Fantastic info for writers interested in residencies/retreats/grants via @alexisgrant @thecreativepenn

The Writing Life

WSJ: prominent novelists describe their writing process
@shelhorowitz

John Irving: "If I were 27 and trying to publish my 1st novel.. I might be tempted to shoot myself." (video)
@WritersDigest

From Writer's Digest (or linking to Writer's Digest)

Download free story-building worksheets here--great for NaNoWriMo writers!
@kmnickell

5 Ways to Start Your Memoir on the Right Foot
@WritersDigest

Successful Queries: Agent Joanna Stampfel-Volpe and "Sway"
@WritersDigest

Looking for more?

Join us for the next Writer's Digest Editors' Intensive (Dec 12-13) and get an editor's critique on your first 50 pages during 30-minute appointment
List of Tweeps most often included in weekly Best Tweets for Writers (always under development)
Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @brianklems @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell @jessicastrawser
Become a fan at our Facebook page
Join our online community, kind of like Facebook for writers
(1,500 members and growing)

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 10/30/09)

Jane — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:08:56 GMT

List of Tweeps most often included in weekly Best Tweets for Writers (always under development)
Writer's Digest list of publishers on Twitter (let us know who we missed)
Writer's Digest list of agents on Twitter (let us know who we missed)

Best of Best

The top 5 Secrets to Getting a [nonfiction] Book Deal
(by editor Alan Rinzler)
@mariaschneider

Rights and copyright are often confused. Writer Beware attempts to clarify.
@victoriastrauss

Good post on word counts for novels [by an agent]
@KimsCraftBlog

100 online lectures that will make you a better writer
@motsjustes

Stand Alone

Allow backstory to come out as visually as possible, in small bits, throughout the story on an as-needed basis.
@RachelleGardner

Never, never, NEVER query if you are not ready to send requested partial that very same day. Or even full ms.
@RachelleGardner

REMEMBER NaNoWriMo only gives you a skimpy first draft - it takes months of editing to make it publishable!
@eelkat

Authors: there really is no need, AT ALL, to call my office after I request your partial MS to ask about "format." Really. NO NEED.
@ginger_clark

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

Types and meaning of rejection letters
@inkyelbows

An agent's perspective on accepting a manuscript.
@jjdanz

Craft & Technique

A Dozen Ways to Create an Opening Scene
@CPatrickSchulze

"Doorways of no return" are the key to solid story structure.
@jamesscottbell

Good short guide to 3-act structure with helpful definitions + links
@dbschlosser

How to Create a Pageturner
@BubbleCow

10 proven ways to create tension in your stories
@ajbarnett

An editor weighs in on what "well-written" means in #publishing
@ElizabethSCraig

Great video with GREAT advice for all writers (Vonnegut)
@BubbleCow

Publishing Biz, Trends, Future of Publishing

The Day Publishing All Changed
@ftoolan

Forget Everything You've Heard About Book Publishing
@fastcompany

Book reviews don't sell books anymore
@fastcompany

Nice post from an agent about what happens when your book goes out of print
@BubbleCow

Marketing/Promotion

The Five Steps to Beginning a Social Media Strategy: "A strong social media presence takes time."
@DigiBookWorld

Using Social Media to Build Your Author Brand
@MichaelHyatt

Free report: The Truth About Book Marketing
@copyblogger

Pimp My Novel answers marketing questions from a [trade book] sales view
@srjohannes

Self-Publishing and E-Publishing

Good thoughts on design + formatting using word processors in "From Word to Kindle"
@dbschlosser
[Note from Jane: Most impressive step-by-step I've seen on topic]

How to sell all copies of your self-pub book & *still* lose money
(& how to not)
@indieauthor

Blogging

A good post from an agent about writer blogs and websites
@BubbleCow

Great blog post about turning your blog into a book, from @alexisgrant
@QuipsAndTips

Twitter on Twitter

15 (More) Twitter Users Shaping Future of Publishing
@bookoven

Twitter Chats for Authors & Publishers
@highspot

Resources and Tools

Thinking of buying an e-reader but confused by options? Here's a cheat sheet by @HarryMccracken
@inkyelbows

Fun

Does your book title have what it takes to be a bestseller?
[Lulu's Titlescorer]
@david_hewson

From Writer's Digest (or linking to Writer's Digest)

A Pitch vs. A Synopsis: The Difference
@eelkat

How to write a novel using the Web (great list of tools from @mashable)

Looking for more?

Join us for the next Writer's Digest Editors' Intensive (Dec 12-13) and get an editor's critique on your first 50 pages during 30-minute appointment
Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @brianklems @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell @jessicastrawser
Become a fan at our Facebook page
Join our online community, kind of like Facebook for writers
(1,200 members and growing)

How Twitter Is Helpful for Aspiring Writers

Jane — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:05:17 GMT

At this weekend's Editors' Intensive, Alice Pope & I were trying to explain how Twitter works and how it can be helpful for writers.

There were many skeptics in the audience. So I posed the question to my friends/followers on Twitter: How has Twitter helped you as a writer?

I love the responses I received, so I'm sharing with all. Thank you for your generous tips—and if you have more to say beyond 140 characters, you have the comments to elaborate!

Twitter's let me meet writers, editors, & agents I might not have, & helped me understand all aspects of the business better.
@littlefluffycat

Contacts, sources and community - it's a digital moveable feast
@FictionMatters

I've met editors, agents, big authors, up & coming authors, spread the word about my blog, made wonderful friends!
@RachelJameson

The connection/interaction to other writers, editors, even agents has been hugely enlightening.
@jdistraction

Twitter helped me meet ppl I wouldn't have had access to otherwise. Casual format makes asking questions less intimidating.
@RocchiJulia

Twitter has helped me connect with other writers like me. We encourage each other--writing is no longer a lonely occupation.
@TboneJenkins

Twitter has helped me learn more about specific agents and enabled me to make a better decision on if they're right for me.
@HeatherMcCorkle

Twitter also keeps me updated on the writing industry & has helped me meet great writers I wouldn't have otherwise met.
@HeatherMcCorkle

Met many writers and authors I never would have met on Twitter.
@lafreya1

How has Twitter helped? Connected to writers, pubs, opportunities, promotion - gotten more readers on blog, my novel, etc
@tericoyne

Twitter helped me find an excellent guide in southern Austria on a research trip for my next historical novel.
@KarenEssex

Twitter helps me observe the minds of literary agents! I've discovered those not living in New York are almost normal, almost!
@kenkanten

Inspiration: microfiction and poetry at my fingertips, showing how much can be conveyed in 25 words.
@amgamble

Networking in a telecommuting industry. Editing for concise: make cuts and preserve meaning. Best clipping service ever.
@amgamble

Writing community with support and very imp. info re: today's publishing world.
@jessrosenbooks

Twitter gives affirmation of what I know and information about what I don't. Networking allows pub. & unpub. to come together.
@jessrosenbooks

I agree with everything @jessrosenbooks says about writers & twitter. Support, info & encouragement is incredible, even for a rookie :)
@CafeNirvana

I am learning a lot from twitter friends and people who share info through twitter. And I'm getting to know fantastic people.
@mariblaser

Twitter has taught me about platforms, promotion, community, and audience.
@alittlesandy

I've had hot scoops from tweeters in other countries, I've met ace journos i never would have otherwise ... I've been filming a Lisbon city guide using nothing more than my phone, mostly twitter, no printed research, guides etc.
@UKtraveleditor

Twitter helps me connect with fellow writers in a fun and collegiate way
@Debs1

Networking, research, discovering new things, calling attn to my blog has been ESSENTIAL to my work flow.
@jenzug

Learned of an online auction, bid for crit from my dream editor, won, got crit & a request for full!
@AuntBirdseed

Still learning Twitter, but like the opportunity to follow info on specific subjects from lots of sources in one place.
@meredithrmorgan

From @DavidRozansky:

I have acquired more than a dozen potential new authors for our house via Twitter pitches.

Linking to articles via Twitter has increased blog traffic by 900%.

Twitter keeps tabs on rival publishing houses & client bookstores.

By following industry experts, knowledge of books industry grows exponentially.

Links to books on Twitter results in increased book sales.

I've built platform of 2,600 Twitter followers in only 5 months, no gimmicks.

I run #scifichat, a weekly scifi books group discussion, Fri. 2-4 pm.

Twitter gives me ideas for books and marketing before competition.

Through Twitter, I am first to learn of trends and news in the books industry.

The best thing-I make friends with fab people in the industry, like yourself!

Leave your tips and thoughts in the comments!

Don't forget:

Follow Writer's Digest and our editors on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @brianklems @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell @mfaconfidential
Become a fan at our Facebook page

Best Tweets Returns Mid-October

Jane — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:02:45 GMT

Due to Writer's Digest events & other travel (my birthday travel & my mother's birthday travel), Best Tweets is on hiatus until the week ending October 16. Those who have been sending recommendations: I still have them on tap and will see if they're still appropriate for the next round-up.

Thankfully, after this hiatus, I expect Best Tweets to continue uninterrupted until the December holidays.

In the meantime:

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @brianklems @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page

Below: Jane sprouts a birthday flower from her head.

How to Succeed in Today's Publishing Industry (Takeaways from Conference)

Jane — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:33:06 GMT

By noon on Saturday, attendees were commenting that they'd already gotten their money's worth. I consider that a big win!

If you missed the event, you can still get some valuable takeaways:

Meryl Evans has compiled Tweets from the event, which I've made available for printing and download on Scribd.
You can also read this fabulous recap from an attendee: 8 Gatejumper Tips Heard at the Writer's Digest Conference.

And most remarkably, Meryl Evans sent me a note to help attendees make sense of what to do next! See below. My big thanks to her generosity.

—

So You Went to the Writer's Digest Conference. What Are You Going to Do Now?
by Meryl Evans

In the Writer's Digest Conference blog, Robert Lee Brewer reported on something he overheard:

So, earlier today, in the hallway, I overheard one writer speaking to another. She said, "I don't have the time to handle all this."

I was not surprised to hear this kind of statement at a conference on publishing and marketing and communicating and podcasting and basically everything we've been going over since Friday. But, of course, I started thinking about how successful writers should be, at least, trying.

Well, after a long pause, she continued speaking to the other (very good listener) writer, "But I have to make the time if I'm serious about making this work."

The writer caught on. Not all of us think about how we're going to make the most of a conference. Or we feel overwhelmed that it paralyzes us preventing us from taking action. We bring home all the notes we took filing them away only to never see them again. Then the least we can hope for is that our brains remembered a few key points while we wrote or typed them and apply them.

Review Your Notes
Take five or ten minutes to look over your notes. You can handle that, right? As you review your notes, pick one to three things you want to use. Post them in your to do list or whatever you use on a regular basis so you can remember and practice. Give yourself a deadline—you're a writer, you can handle it. Check off each item as you do them.

Got 'em all done? Great. Now, go back to your notes to cross them off. Pick one to three more things to try. Repeat.

That wasn't so bad, was it? Turning loads of notes into a couple of doable tasks makes a difference.

Write One Article
You probably walked away from the conference with a few article ideas. Rather than trying to do it all, I pick one topic and write the article within a couple of days after returning home. You can make it a blog entry, an article for your publication, whatever. In writing the article, those ideas will stick with you. Plus, you gain a bonus of sharing that with others.

When you finish the article, revisit the other article ideas and what you can do with them. Rather than feeling spread thin with all your article ideas, you focus on one article at a time while putting the rest away for later. You've captured the ideas on paper or on your laptop. They won't disappear. Well, unless you delete them, lose them or trash them.

Key Points from WD Conference
You can find great tweets from the conference by searching Twitter for WDC09. Here are some highlights worth remembering, captured from tweets and the blog so you don't have to read it all:

Christina Katz: Platform is everything you do with your expertise. So many tools are available; must prioritize, maximize your time. Do you see yourself as the producer of your writing career and take 100% responsibility for your success?
Jane Friedman: Platform comes first! Book second. Without a strong platform and topic—creating demand—your book will have a difficult time finding its place in the market. Any changes publishers want to make to the book is what they believe will help increase book sales. They basically want what's economically best for your book—and that's ultimately a good thing.
Scott Sigler and Seth Harwood: Once you show you can move (sell) books, publishers will take notice. That's why giving away your first book online for free and building up an audience is essential to getting publishers—who have ignored you for years—to wake up and realize your talent and value. "You are the best person to sell your book," says Hardwood.
Alice Rosengard: Sees organization as a common problem with nonfiction proposals.
David Mathison (Be the Media) keys: Have a direct relationship with your audience. Control your rights. Repurpose your content.
Chris Brogan: The best way to get a book published is to not try to get a book published. The whole trick about promoting is to not talk about yourself. Learn to talk about other people. Twitter is not about talking; it's about listening.
Agent Miriam Kriss: A lot of "overnight successes" are 10 years in the making.
Agent Panel (Jessica Sinsheimer, Regina Brooks and Michelle Humphrey): Difference between freelanced editing and traditional editor is the latter cares, has a vested interest in the book. Professionally edited, professionally typeset, professionally designed are critical for success via POD.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 9/11/09)

Jane — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:53:56 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit each Friday or Saturday (or Sunday!) for the week's best Tweets. If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments. Always welcome your suggestions on improving this weekly feature.

Best of Best

Great post: "When should I consider spending my own money on having an outside marketing person work with me?"
@BubbleCow

Should You Self-Publish?
@selfpubreview

This is good re: self pub "myths" RT @AlanBaxter: @jimchines talks self-publishing
@thecreativepenn

Marketing tips for authors round-up from @TonyEldridge
@thecreativepenn

Stand Alone

It's becoming more and more common for unpubbed fiction writers to query before the book is complete. don't even think about it.
@BookEndsJessica

Authors: I'm not a fan of prologues--I view them as unnecessary. I really don't see the point of a preface AND a prologue.
@ginger_clark

It's usually the book that's the problem, not the query, so emailing to ask me how to fix the query won't help. Sorry.
@agentgame

What should you be doing while you're waiting for responses to your queries? Writing your next book.
@agentgame

To authors offering a review copy of your book to book bloggers, personalize your pitch based on their reviews & review guidelines.
@GenreReviewer

If "seem" is in the first sentence of your novel, cut it right now. I want to read about things that ARE, not SEEM.
@kate_mckean

If in your query u sound difficult to work w/ I'll pass. Even if I like the plot. & when u respond rudely, I think "bullet dodged!"
@jessregel

Keep in mind that that phrase "fiction novel" is a hot button for most editors and agents. They hate it!
@rachellegardner

A well-written, thoroughly researched conventional query is more likely to stand out in the slush than an “unconventional” one.
@bostonbookgirl

What if you started your query letter with a rhetorical question? Would that interest agents? (Uh, no.)
@DaphneUn

Writing a nonfiction book proposal? Can you identify your idea in 25 words or less? If not, keep trying.
@promptedtowrite

If you go into querying thinking of literary agents as your opponents, you're more likely to fail to get one.
@agentgame

Don't try to pitch/query agents via their blog, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc., unless they specifically ask for it.
@agentgame

"...*mentioning* strong feelings [in your writing] only cheapens them." —Josip Novakovich
@KMWeiland

"If your metaphors explicitly draw attention to themselves, your prose will appear labored and mannered." —Josip Novakovich
@KMWeiland

"You don't find the meaning of life, you create it. A successful writer, is a self-fulfilled one."
@RyanJVanSeters

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

If an agent doesn't follow up about a manuscript there is a 9/10 chance we're not going to read it [from an editor]
@asuen1

What makes your literary agent worry? Great tips for writers, with/without an agent!
@inkyelbows

How close is that book deal?
@BubbleCow

Puncturing another writers' myth: "You have to know someone."
@victoriastrauss

How Much Editing Can An Agent Do? Asks @RachelleGardner
@BookBuzzr

Crime novelist's tips on getting published
@sarahw

Craft & Technique

Stephen King’s Top 7 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer (via @featureBlend)
@Flipbooks

13 writing tips by Chuck Palahniuk
@mystorywriter

Do you know the REAL reason not to use passive voice?
@p2p_editor

5 Grammar Mistakes that Make You Sound Like a Chimp
@Copyblogger

Publishing Biz, Trends, Future of Publishing

What numbers mean when we talk about how many books an author "sells." Outstanding writing/publishing insights
@dbschlosser

Fascinating study of the monetary advances that book authors receive before their books are published.
@BookBuzzr

Re-thinking the Publisher/Author Partnership via @PubPerspectives [Bob Miller from HarperStudio]
@thecreativepenn

Good WSJ article on rise of plotted commercial novel/fall of Modernist literary novel
@SJDriscoll

Harlequin revenues up 8.7%, to $225.5M in 1st 1/2 ...
Nearly 1/3 of purchases R #author-driven.
@DigiBookWorld

Who cares if Steve Jobs is lying about eBooks? Publishers aren't ready for the iPod of eReaders yet
@glecharles

Scribd says it wants to shake up bookselling: now it’s starting to look like the document-sharing startup might succeed.
@Personanondata

Marketing/Promotion

Why You Should Help Your Publisher Sell Your Book (via @RachelleGardner)
@BookBuzzr

Have You Prepared Your Book’s Marketing Plan? via @rogercparker
@thecreativepenn

Terrific post from @LoisKelly What marketers can learn from screenwriters.
@AndreaJarrell

10 Ways Freelance Writers Can Make More Money via @UrbanMuseWriter
@thecreativepenn

Piracy vs Obscurity
@thecreativepenn

"Helpful is always a powerful way to compete." via @chrisbrogan
@mariaschneider

Self-Publishing and E-Publishing

The business of digital publishing [via @booksquare]
@KFZuzulo

Blogging

26 Free eBooks For Bloggers
@TrendTracker

Resources and Tools

The Editor Unleashed 25 Best Writing Blogs
@mariaschneider

40 Freelance Writing Blogs
@flipbooks

31 podcasts that keep freelance professionals informed
@LStudios

Excellent List of Writing Critique Groups
@BubbleCow

Thought you’d like to share this tool with your readers (writing prompt tool)
@ProcrastWriter

The Writing Life / Philosophical / Inspirational

My Ten-Year Overnight Success via @bakerkline ~ inspiring to keep one writing through the droughts.
@mystorywriter

Want to be a better writer? Read!
@alittlesandy

Fun

The Last Remaining Ways to Get a Book Deal via @gawker
@thecreativepenn

Just for fun: I stumbled upon a book of The Writer magazine issues from 1892-93! U can download @ end of Alcott post.
@WritingSpirit

Looking for more?

Join us for the Writer's Digest Conference (Sept 18-20) in New York City, which focuses on how to use the newest tools to get published and market/promote your work.
Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @brianklems @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page

Best Tweets Returns Next Week

Jane — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:51:52 GMT

It has been nearly 2 weeks since my last curated Twitter list—my apologies for the hiatus. This feature will resume at the end of next week.

For those of you who have sent tips and additions for Best Tweets, my appreciation. I have your recommendations safely reserved.

If you have a Best Tweet to suggest, especially any I've missed between August 21 and September 4, you're welcome to DM me via Twitter or send me an e-mail. (Go here for my e-mail address if you don't have it already.)

Best Tweets Returns Next Week

Jane — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:47:43 GMT

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 8/21/09)

Jane — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:48:49 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit each Friday or Saturday (or Sunday!) for the week's best Tweets. If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments. Always welcome suggestions on improving this weekly feature.

Note: A bit shorter list this week, as I leave for vacation tomorrow—and next week's roundup might be a little later than usual.

Best of Best

7 Reasons Why Your Manuscript Got Rejected
@inkyelbows

Interesting post about the publishing industry -- the books that get published
@BubbleCow

Interview with creative writing instructor Robert McKee
@GuyKawasaki

Good advice for ebook authors trying to establish their niche market
@mousehand

Stand Alone

If you're not yet published, you cannot sell a novel based on a proposal. It must be complete.
@rachellegardner

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

What Agents Hate: Literary Reps vent about their Chapter 1 turn-offs.
@BrianKlems

Good advice from an agent about what you should do before you sign
@BubbleCow

Craft & Technique

How to cut your manuscript by 20% by @storyfix
@benwhiting

Great post about how to tighten your manuscript - essential reading
@BubbleCow

To Rewrite or Not to Rewrite? That is the Flowchart.
@JeremiahTolbert

A TON of novel writing advice from Crawford Kilian
@EZF_TopAuthors

Lawrence Block on writing: Just write: might not change lives, but might get somebody through a bad time. Great story
@dbschlosser

20 rules for writing detective stories - S.S. Van Dine, 1928. One of those "Oh yes of course" articles!
@dbschlosser

Publishing Biz, Trends, Future of Publishing

Why free ebooks should be part of the writing plot by @doctorow Worry about obscurity, not piracy
@dbschlosser

Nice to see a literary agent telling it like it is about publisher outrage regarding the Google Book Search settlement
@timoreilly

Marketing/Promotion

Good article on marketing for writers for weekly. Credit goes to @gregpincus
@merylkevans

Great article from a writer looking to find out more about 'writer platforms'
@BubbleCow

How will the future of books impact marketing? Agent @chipmacgregor answers
@benwhiting

Self-Publishing and E-Publishing

Financial Post: "Self-publishing becoming an attractive business model"
@filedby

Blogging

Excellent post from publisher Michael Hyatt on how to blog successfully
@BubbleCow

Twitter / Social Media

Here are 7 Twitter people every author should follow
@AuthorTech

100 Useful Twitter Feeds for Book Lovers
@torbooks

100 Twitter feeds to help you sharpen your writing skills!
[Writer's Digest makes the list]
@Bookgal

The social media sites, rated for networking value by @mariaschneider
@benwhiting

Resources and Tools

ScreenJelly is quick & easy screencasting for the masses. Check it out & think of the potential uses. (Thnx to @LaurieP)
@jwikert

4 Digital Tools for Writers
@thecreativepenn

The Writing Life / Philosophical / Inspirational

Mark Charan Newton: "Some Interesting Things I Never Knew About Being A #Writer"
@filedby

For weekend: RT @kylejameson @lydiabreakfast
I'm in love
@merylkevans

Looking for more?

Join us for the Writer's Digest Conference (Sept 18-20) in New York City, which focuses on how to use the newest tools to get published and market/promote your work.
Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @brianklems @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 8/14/09)

Jane — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:12:34 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit each Friday or Saturday (or Sunday!) for the week's best Tweets. If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments. Always welcome suggestions on improving this weekly feature.

Check out these freshly launched personal blogs from the people who work at Writer's Digest:

The Sound and Furry (by Writer's Market customer service maven and children's writer Nancy Parish)

My Name Is Not Bob (by Writer's Market editor Robert Brewer)

Best of Best

The myth of "just an author": it's not true today and I doubt it ever was
@NathanBransford

Amazing insight on easily overlooked mistakes writers make (from Pat Holt)
@AprilParent

Why "self-publishing" doesn't mean anything anymore. Enter "cloud-publishing"?
@bookoven

The 10 Rock Solid Elements of Effective Online Marketing (useful for authors too!)
@thecreativepenn

Considering writing your first book? 5 tips before you start
@kristycolley

Stand Alone

Please don't refer me to your website or attachment for your sample pages. I won't read. Put them in the body of the email.
@MarleneStringer

Be widely read in your genre. Seriously--it shows when you aren't.
@bostonbookgirl

Main reason I say NO to queries is the story & the writing don't impress. Problem is the book, not the query.
@RachelleGardner

Authors: putting "requested material" on your envelope doesn't fool me, OK?
@ginger_clark

Please. No more follow-up questions and/or angry e-mails after queries. Please. Please please please
@NathanBransford

Editing tip of the day. Cut mundane dialogue unless it has meaning, like characters' awkwardness, tentativeness.
@LisaRomeo

There's no such thing as "mainstream", just big and small niches. Profitable publishing comes from knowing where your niche is.
@glecharles

You'd be amazed at how quickly an experienced editor or agent can assess your writing skill. Often, 1 paragraph.
@RachelleGardner

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

How to create a pitch for your story
@benwhiting

WHEN NO BECOMES YES: YA Author's candid story
@Danoosha

Questions to ask yourself before seeking publication: What's my category/genre? (via @moonrat)
@thecreativepenn

Here's some good advice about the real role of an agent
@BubbleCow

What not to say in your query via agent @RachelleGardner
(hard truth)
@JohnUpChurch

Friends/family or God telling you to write a book? Don't put it in yourr query!
@RachelleGardner

Good advice from an agent. My favourite: Q: The number one reason for rejecting a book? A: Because it isn't very good.
@BubbleCow

When agents stop reading your query letter
@thecreativepenn

If you're unpublished, it's too soon to have a breakout novel. You need a break-in novel.
@bubblecow

On writing/publishing blogs -- I love pimpmynovel.blogspot.com because it's funny. Thank Thor.
@OnLocustStreet

Craft & Technique

Why your story isn't getting published by @bhurley
@motsjustes

Three Key Questions to Ramp Up Your Story’s Mojo
@cleshastaten

Avoid stating the obvious
@motsjustes

Good post for fiction writers on how to identify dragging narrative
@DanielLiterary

An editor offers some good advice on using powerful verbs in your writing
@BubbleCow

Here's something to think about when creating characters: birth order
@PamCallow

Publishing Biz, Trends, Future of Publishing

Explosive ebook growth continues and that means big strategic challenges are just around the corner.
@MikeShatzkin

The Eleven Axioms of 21st Century Book Publishing ("A book's function dictates its file container.")
@mikecane

"Let's face it - the whole chain bookstore, publishing house, agent, author thing is bankrupt." Huff Post
@TMatlack

If you haven't read it, anyone working in bookselling or book publishing (and likely any author) should think about this
@draccah

Sell 7000 copies and you are a literary success (via @moonrat)
@thecreativepenn

Article Writing Isn't Dead (via @thewritermama)
@thecreativepenn

Steampunk: What it is, why I came to like it, and why I think it’ll stick around
@torbooks

Marketing/Promotion

"No matter who your editor is... the best, most passionate promoter of a book is going to be its author."
@glecharles

27 ways to breathe life into your 'about' page
@indieauthor

Interesting article discussing the power of videos in selling your book [by a veteran of NY publishing]
@BubbleCow

Self-Publishing and E-Publishing

Authors are brands: @eoinpurcell blogs that self-publishing attracts star authors, too
@dbschlosser

Covey: 2 months from a manuscript to self-pub book vs. a year with a traditional publisher
@dbschlosser

Wall Street Journal: No Agent? Publish Yourself Video
@Stecyk

Enjoying this a lot » How to Write a Good eBook – You Know, the Kind that Doesn’t Suck
@namenick

Blogging

Seriously, not just for librarians: 100 Terrific Tips & Tools for Blogging Librarians
@UrbanMuseWriter

The 7 Deadly Sins of Blogging
@flipbooks

6 Secrets to Writing Memorable Taglines
@flipbooks

26 Places to Find Free Multimedia for Your Blog (via @mashable)
@thecreativepenn

Twitter / Social Media

My tips for social networking in 15 minutes a day
@RachelleGardner

5 Reasons Every Book Editor Should Be on Twitter
@jcheiffetz

Google Reader is one of the four primary social media tools every writer should be using
@glecharles

Love @zephoria's rant about study saying 40% of twitter is "pointless babble." She notes, you could say same of talking
@timoreilly

Resources and Tools

Free novel-writing software - a review
@motsjustes

The Basic Grammar eBook: free if you subscribe to feed
@BubbleCow

Comprehensive book publishing glossary
@NathanBransford

85 Resources for Fiction Writing
@BubbleCow

Great list of 15 Must-Read Blogs for Writers, from @UrbanMuseWriter
@QuipsAndTips

The Writing Life / Philosophical / Inspirational

Writers: Don’t rely upon publication for career satisfaction. Advice from Anne Lamott
@DebraMarrs

toni morrison on writing today
@reetamac

Learning from one of the world's most popular writers: Quips & Tips From J.K. Rowling
@QuipsAndTips

Looking for more?

Join us for the Writer's Digest Conference (Sept 18-20) in New York City, which focuses on how to use the newest tools to get published and market/promote your work.
Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 8/7/09)

Jane — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 02:29:56 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit each Friday or Saturday (or Sunday!) for the week's best Tweets. (If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments, or if you want more of a particular category of Tweet, also comment.)

Best of Best

Having a freezer pop + reading Jenny Crusie's post about turning points
@nomadshan

Samantha Ettus (@samanthaettus) interviews Larry Kirshbaum and Jane Friedman on the state of the publishing industry
@CreateSpace

A good post from an agent highlighting the difference between 'crafting' and 'writing' a novel
@BubbleCow

An agent offers some thoughts on the 'reality of royalties'. Makes interesting reading
@BubbleCow

Stand Alone

The best writers benefit from editing; the less-accomplished require it. -John E. McIntyre
@DebraMarrs

Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you’re doomed. RAY BRADBURY
@advicetowriters

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

Fiction proposals Q&A with an agent
@merylkevans

Book 'em, Dano – Ten fully arrest-able query gaffs
@tumblemoose

How to write a simple, compelling query letter
@Kid_Lit

Do You Run Your Writing As A Business? Pub Rants (If you're serious about it, it IS a business.)
@LatinoBookNews

A great examination of Authonomy and what it does and doesn't do (editor's note: Authonomy has led to book deals, contrary to article's author)
@BubbleCow

Not sure what type of article to pitch to magazines? Here are 11 types of feature articles
@QuipsAndTips

Craft & Technique

Helpful writing tips from a former journalist
@ElizabethSCraig

Fiction writers: Here are few tips and tricks to writing strong, believable dialogue.
@noveldoctor

This blog post offers a good little guide to 'plotting' a novel
@BubbleCow

Why you should embrace your editor's revision ideas
@ElizabethSCraig

Publishing Biz, Trends, Future of Publishing

Interesting piece by a bookseller on the complex issue of returns (comments are interesting too)
@victoriastrauss

Nice post looking at the breakdown of costs when selling a book
@BubbleCow

What does it say about publishing if it cant sustain a trade publication (Publishers Weekly)?
@Danoosha

Will the spirit of Billy Mays #savepublishing? [GREAT article by @RonHogan!
@psamuelson01

Declining Editing Staff Leads to Rise in Errors
@writingislife

The ISBN is Dead. (At least maybe in its current form)
@Personanondata

@chipmacgregor on the Google Settlement and why it is a good thing for authors
@benwhiting

More Bits of Destruction for the Publishing business (recommend reading all three parts)
@rww

Marketing/Promotion

Win a $1300 book marketing prize package from top book marketing experts in the business
@tonyeldridge

The 10 New Rules of PR (you must think like your targets, be found, motivate action)
@brascoebooks

Reflections on a blog book tour by @AlanBaxter
@thecreativepenn

40 Writer Uses for LinkedIn
@merylkevans

Self-Publishing and E-Publishing

WSJ on Four Options for Creating Your Own Recipe Book
@PublishersLunch

Blogging

How to Build Compelling Content By Leaving Readers Wanting More
@flipbooks

How To Think About Your Blog Like A TV Programmer (smart tips for promoting w/o being obnoxious)
@bradrourke

Twitter on Twitter

How Twitter works and why people in publishing should consider using it (practical, hype-free tips)
@yodiwan

The Writing Life / Philosophical / Inspirational

13 Tips for Actually Getting Some Writing Done
@gretchenrubin

The Unsung Villains of Writing
@benwhiting

How to increase your influence 10x
@copyblogger

Looking for more?

Join us for the Writer's Digest Conference (Sept 18-20) in New York City, which focuses on how to use the newest tools to get published and market/promote your work.
Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 7/31/09)

Jane — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:58:28 GMT

Today's writing must-read: a literary agent on word count - #pubtip via @bubblecow via @bjmuntain
@dbschlosser

One agent (@BookEndsJessica) muses on the impact of the recession on the publishing world
@BubbleCow

The pros and cons of hiring a professional publicist
@AuthorsNews

Wicked Clever Writing Advice from @mlvalentine - Looking for Publishing Advice? Why Offline Might be Better
@jesshartley

Online tools to help you publish your own book from @techradar
@TXBirder

Stand Alone

If you don't have publishing credits, don't say so. No need to draw attention. That you finished a novel is enough.
@jodimeadows

Querying a novel starting with a dream sequence is almost a guaranteed pass.
@MarleneStringer

When you bemoan lack of quality in publishing, do you realize you're biting the hand that may someday feed you?
@rachellegardner

Don't tell me your book targets young adults and adults. that's rare. who does it target more--where should it go in the store
@BookEndsJessica

If ms takes more than 5pp to hook me, it's not going to hook an editor. Don't say it gets good after first 50pp."
@MarleneStringer

Narrative nonfiction definition: nonfiction that illuminates through story (memoir, history, true crime, etc.)
@NathanBransford

Most FREE advocates and "Print is dead" pundits have no skin in the game; self-promoters with no responsibility for revenue or employees.
@glecharles

Distribution is primary value-add a publisher offers. Everything else is available to writers w/o an intermediary.
@glecharles

Authors: you do not have to account for *every* *single* *step* in a character action - reader will fill in basic blanks.
@papertyger

WRITING THE BLOCKBUSTER NOVEL: Zuckerman advocates Follett's method of "illuminating 1 character's interior in any given scene or chapter."
@KFZuzulo

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

Exclusives STINK!
@Janet_Reid

Getting the Call = what happens when the editor say YES!
@asuen1

This post contains six of the best tips for writers you may ever read (from agent @RachelleGardner)
@BubbleCow

What I Wish I Had Known Before Writing My First Book
@thecreativepenn

Craft & Technique

Self-Editing One Step at a Time: How to Identify Dragging Narrative
@BubbleCow

In it for the long haul—writing series do's and don'ts
@motsjustes

How to keep your characters' dialogue internally consistent
@benwhiting

3 tips to make your writing exciting and irresistible at the sentence level!
@Kid_Lit

How to structure a story collection, by @bookfox
@motsjustes

Publishing News/Trends & The Future of Publishing

"Old Media, New Media and Where the Rubber Meets the Road" via @jafurtado (Smart, hype-free commentary.)
@glecharles

Quality Control: It Matters (for ebooks as well) via @booksquare
@thecreativepenn

Cursor, my model for the future of [some] publishing, described in current Publishers Weekly feature story
@R_Nash

Ira Glass: It's a great time for journalism (It is. "Death" is for the lazy and uninspired.)
@UtneReader

Marketing/Promotion

Great piece about authors & their readers on Twitter
@JoeFinder

5 steps to make your own author podcast
@thecreativepenn

Great post on getting the most out of Linked In
@BubbleCow

Good tips from @ZimblerMiller on creating an effective online video
@BookMarketer

Self-Publishing and E-Publishing

Is Social Publishing simply Vanity Publishing 2.0?
@glecharles

My experience thus far with the Publetariat Vault
@selfpubreview

Self-publishing advice - Q&A interview
@bizauthor

Blogging

13 Idea-Starters for Stuck Bloggers (from @MichaelHyatt)
@DebraMarrs

10 Cool WordPress Themes for Writers
@mariaschneider

Inspiration: 45 great blog taglines
@GuyKawasaki

Twitter on Twitter

For great posts on writing, wherever they might be found: @BubbleCow
(recommended by @motsjustes)

Online & Offline Resources/Tools

Lots of good writing and publishing links from @Le_Shack
@thecreativepenn

Five Books to Help You Write a Memoir
@alittlesandy

18 Web Sites and Blogs That Will Improve Your Writing Skills
@YourWritingDept

The Writing Life / Philosophical / Inspirational

Here's a fine resource about value of good editors
@clreese

Looking for more?

Join us for the Writer's Digest Conference (Sept 18-20) in New York City, which focuses on how to use the newest tools to get published and market/promote your work.
Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 7/24/09)

Jane — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:24:24 GMT

Reading 67 Overlooked Freelance Writing Niches
Great ideas!
@UrbanMuseWriter

100 Inspirational Posts to Make You a Better Writer
@flipbooks

Good post with a list of 25 book blogs [and how to pitch bloggers]
@BubbleCow

Top book marketing posts from @TonyEldridge
@thecreativepenn

Stand Alone

Some people write great books but not killer queries; I give the sample pages more weight than the letter.
@rachellegardner

A good memoir requires all the writing ability of fiction, and all the platform & marketing of nonfiction.
@RachelleGardner

DON'T say “the book gets exciting in chap 5” or “the pace picks up toward the end.” Make it shine from page 1.
@rachellegardner

do not put in a query that you are still editing and revising. it's so much better if you are done and at work on the next thing
@BookEndsJessica

Writers, please research your genres for word count. I can' t sell a 39K word romance, nor a 165K mystery.
@MarleneStringer

Begging in a query is a real turnoff. "Please give me a chance!"
@RachelleGardner

Requests for fulls/partials, but no agent yet? Go back and work on craft & story. Take your time, get help.
@RachelleGardner

the sign of a really good writer isn't the first draft, but how well revisions are handled.
@BookEndsJessica

"Plot, in fact, is yearning challenged and thwarted," by Robert Olen Butler. Wish I had said that. Sublime.
@plotwhisperer

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

Free e-book of interest to writers: How to Write a Great Query Letter by Noah Lukeman
@kdwashburn

Some great advice for writers [from an agent]! Reading for Research
@kdwashburn

5 Must-Have Qualities to Become a Top Freelancer (via @designcoyote @DesignerDepot)
@flipbooks

Anatomy of a good query letter
@NathanBransford

Care and Feeding of Editors [for freelancers]
@writingislife

Redlines and Deadlines explains what happens to a manuscript after it's sold
@Rachel_Brady

Outstanding perspective on writing from book cover designer via @eoinpurcell
@dbschlosser

GREAT post on how to write a good plot summary for a book pitch
@BubbleCow

Therese Walsh shares The Secret of getting published
@inkyelbows

Unmissable advice from an agent who says you MUST wait 30 days before chasing a query
@BubbleCow

Craft & Technique

Bestselling thriller author John Gilstrap discusses the power of the 1st page
@JoeMoore_writer

Fiction writers, the seven "shoulds" of subplot
@thewritermama

Read this because it's a VERY smart piece about writing.
@susanorlean

5 laws of the novelist
@motsjustes

An editor offers some very useful tips on how to improve your writing style
@BubbleCow

Author Holly Lisle's advice on how to create a character.
(Great guidelines, not rules)
@Writepop

Novel writing: "Six core competencies" (from Men with Pens).
@KimsCraftBlog

What fairy tales can teach us about writing
@ElizabethSCraig

How to Add Hooks That Reel Readers In
@nicoledenae

16 steps to plotting a thriller
@ElizabethSCraig

How to write your first novel
@jpan_es

Avoid these dialogue disasters
@motsjustes

How a great story works - By concealing its purpose in entertainment, luring us to the experience
@dbschlosser

Publishing News/Trends & The Future of Publishing

Are 40% of books pulped? via @moonrat (and why the hell is it allowed?)
@thecreativepenn

A publisher weighs in on delaying publication of an ebook. Interesting discussion ensues.
@writingislife

A review of the ebook timing discussion started by @draccah with my opinions to follow in a subsequent post
@MikeShatzkin

Financial Times editor says most news websites will charge within a year (@guardian)
@draccah

Ebooks are just another container; publishers need to focus on readers because that's who's in control
@glecharles

reading Mark Potts' brilliant Turing Test that every newspaper Web site should - but doesn't - pass
@twliterary

Printcasting: Web site anyone can put together a magazine with their own blog posts or articles and items from others
@Personanondata

Writer burns bridge.
@merylkevans

Marketing/Promotion

The Top 7 Things Every Aspiring Author's Website Must Have
@JordanMcCollum

Writers & Social Media Fans - Controlling Online Participation is Part of Your Job!
@AnnaDeStefano

How to market fiction
@Bookgal

"Bottom line – value is the one business model that never fails. Even for novelists and bloggers."
@glecharles

Smart marketing strategies from a YA author who used to work in the Random House Sales Dept.
@mariaschneider

Authors: YOU are IT when it comes to yr work, sez media guru Bernoff. decide yr objectives & tools.
@BeyondTheBook

It really is easy to Podcast your writing
@tumblemoose

Top 10 Tips to Help Authors Promote Their Books
@cherylktardif

How to Write a Better Title in Ten Minutes
@michelelinn

"What Makes a Story Work" by @chrisbrogan
@kdwashburn

Blogging

Tips for Choosing the Best WordPress Theme for Your Blog
@QuipsAndTips

How to comment on blogs to promote your book
@Bookgal

Twitter on Twitter

15 Kick-Ass Re-Tweet Tips for Writers
@flipbooks

10 Stunning (And Useful) Stats About Twitter
(interesting summary)
@iamkhayyam

Five reasons why no one likes you on Twitter (#6: You think there are concrete rules to using it.)
@MackCollier

Why I love Twitter: It's like a #writing conference that never ever ends! And has all the best information, too!
@DavidRozansky

My #followfriday pick is @MichelleRafter because she really *gets* how writers can leverage blogs & social media.
@UrbanMuseWriter

If you're into freelance writing make sure to check out: @contentrich @LFormichelli @dianaburrell for great tips!
@suite101

If I could follow only one person it would be @jafurtado. He tweets the most informative links abt publishing.
@dearauthor

Online & Offline Resources/Tools

50 Places that Hire Freelance Writers
@DebNg

10 Websites for Book Lovers
@Larryferlazzo

Boston writing careers 101: What are the best web sites for writers?
@Paragraph_Soul

Just found a nice little on-line newsletter with some good articles. Vision: A Resource for Writers
@alittlesandy

The Writing Life / Philosophical / Inspirational

Writing a novel should be fun though it's hard. While there are guides, it's all up to you.
@dbschlosser

Writers: Take the 1000 A Day Challenge
@inkyelbows

My new Writing Tips newletter on how to handle criticism
@JoeFinder

Posted to my blog: Frank McCourt, A Teacher’s Brush with The Teacher Man
@debramarrs

6 Talks to Make You Reassess What You're Doing With Your Life
@PasteMagazine

Looking for more?

Join us for the Writer's Digest Conference (Sept 18-20) in New York City, which focuses on how to use the newest tools to get published and market/promote your work.
Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 7/17/09)

Jane — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:26:39 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit each Friday or Saturday for the week's best Tweets. (If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments, or if you want more of a particular category of Tweet, also comment.)

Best of Best

Why do agents turn down good books? Outstanding summary
@jamesscottbell

The Top 10 Blogs for Writers
@MattPenna

43 Helpful and Terrific Blogs for Writers
@DebNg

Conference Prep/Networking In A Bottle--AND What You Can Do If You're Staying Home!
@AnnaDeStefano

Platform 201 for Busy Writers: @glecharles writes about finding 1,000 true fans
@dbschlosser

Stand Alone

Don't respond to a query rejection by saying you know you can sell me on your book over the phone. Convince me with your writing.
@agentgame

Tired of seeing coffee, dreams, weather, beds, alarm clocks, screaming in first paragraph. Everyone does this. Don't be that writer.
@kate_mckean

Please don't spend time in your query telling me how much movie potential your book has.
@agentgame

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

Agent offers insight in to publishing trends. This is great insider knowledge
@BubbleCow

New blog by publishing house salesperson - great information for writers
@lilleypress

Lessons authors can learn from NY Times bestseller @scottsigler
@thecreativepenn

An agent explains why it sometimes takes them so long to reply and why this is not always a bad thing
@BubbleCow

An agent [Janet Reid] keeps track of rejections and the reasons why
@BubbleCow

Interesting post talks about the an author who secured a traditional book deal after good sales on the Kindle
@BubbleCow

Nunn's List of Publishing mistakes
@LianaBrooks

Appreciating Rejection Letters - Great post by Betsy Lerner re: an author she rejected.
@inkyelbows

Book publishing imprints; AgentQuery: "New favorite industry blog"
@yodiwan

Must Have Contract Clauses from GenReality
@thecreativepenn

Craft & Technique

Some of the best writing advice on the web: Terry Rossio's columns
@ToniMcGeeCausey

Footsteps to a Novel - Great piece by @Marfisk about the steps in planning & writing a novel.
@inkyelbows

"Many writers misuse flashbacks"
@motsjustes

10 Tips for Kicking Ass as a Freelance Writer by Copyblogger
@flipbooks

Ursula K. Le Guin On Rules of Writing
@dhemery

An editor offers some very useful tips on how to improve your writing style
@BubbleCow

Publishing News/Trends & The Future of Publishing

Enjoyed @andrewsavikas 's latest blog post, "Content is a Service Biz" (Reminds me: "Buying the hole, not the drill!")
@jwikert

Change must happen. Richard Nash; minority getting advances now "we should not weep for them, most were overpaid anyway"
@Personanondata

Good summary of the erupting ebook pricing debate
@BubbleCow

Marketing/Promotion

4 Reasons Why Every Author Should Use LinkedIn
@ThomasUmstattd

Blogging

This post offer great advice for anyone looking to set up their own blog
@BubbleCow

Twitter on Twitter

"The Top 5 Reasons Why This Writer Is Staying With Twitter."
@jeanfischer1

Online & Offline Resources/Tools

Check out: 10,000 free online resources 4 writers
@indieauthor

8 Fantastic Blogs for Freelance Writers from @smtwngrl
@QuipsAndTips

21 JOB Sites for Writers
@technicalwriter

I'm starting to think that Scrivener might be the best thing that's ever wormed its way into my writing toolbox
@SeanPratt

The Writing Life / Philosophical / Inspirational

“Don’t Try” - Charles Bukowski’s Advice for Creative People
@copyblogger

Reading shapes writers: advice to read as widely as possible
@dbschlosser

The Five Ps of Writing
@alittlesandy

Fun

I just took "Which Crazy Writer Are You?" Try it!
[Note to readers: I scored as Oscar Wilde.]
@jennsbookshelf

Looking for more?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page
Sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter. After signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.
Next week on July 23: Live online class with Jane on query letters—offering critiques.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 7/10/09)

Jane — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:38:12 GMT

Do Self-Publishing Services Take Advantage of Writers?
(via @selfpubreview)
@thecreativepenn

10 Places to Find Freelance Writing Jobs (via @debng)
@Mediabistro

A MUST read blog post about book sales - quality stuff
@BubbleCow

Want to be a working writer? New blog post about the business of staying published
@AnnaDeStefano

Knowing Characters by using the Proust Questionnaire
@Le_Shack

65 Useful Blog Posts for Brand New (and some veteran) Freelance Writers
@FreelanceWJ

Stand Alone

When you don't get your calls returned, that doesn't mean you are unimportant - usually it means the other person is poorly organized or doesn't return calls well. The lesson to be learned: Don't let others shape your view of yourself.
@sanderssays

Writers and Bloggers: Finding the time (to write) is not the issue as much as finding the will to do it. -Dave Barry
@DebraMarrs

At ThrillerFest, had intellectual tussle about next 'big thing' w/agent Miriam Kriss. She says 'steampunk.' If u have any, send it her way.
@KFZuzulo

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

What Agents Want: The Same Thing, Only Different
@debbimack

What *every* author should know about Bookscan!
@Bookgal

Podcast: author @sethharwood on podcasting to print publishing success
@thecreativepenn

Excellent wisdom on writing children's books [from editor at Arthur A. Levine]
@merylkevans

Craft & Technique

How not to start a story (via JA Konrath)
@mariaschneider

10 Tips for Creative Writers by Dennis G. Jerz
@BellaVidaLetty

The Art vs. Craft Gap: a Writer’s Paradox (via @WriteToDone)
@thecreativepenn

A Writer's Number One Mistake
@GodsAngel1

Conflict—start something
@motsjustes

How writing disagreements differs from real-life confrontations by @ElizabethSCraig
@dbschlosser

Snappy, informative post by @VictoriaMixon: all you need to know about writing a novel in 1000 words.
@careyamy

Some ways to figure out the emotional heart of your story
@chavelaque

Editing plastic fake-lip whistles out of your manuscript -- great writing analogy/advice by @ElizabethSCraig
@dbschlosser

Advice on pacing your book's plot
@BubbleCow

A very interesting article on getting your first draft done: First Draft Secrets: Five Simple Steps
@rumberg

Publishing News/Trends & The Future of Publishing

Free is wrong for writers; Freemium might not be
@glecharles

The Book Buying Industry is a Mess
@selfpubreview

A very long, but interesting & thoughtful look at the future of print books
@wordywoman

Marketing/Promotion

Why Every Author Needs a Powerful Online Presence by @MichaelHyatt
@AuthorTech

Three steps to building an author platform: Get around, get connected, get online.
@glecharles

Interesting post offering six methods to help promote your novel
@BubbleCow

Good author resource from Berrett-Koehler on managing and using Amazon
@janetgoldstein

Do's and Don'ts of promotional emails, for authors and publishers--good post from Shelftalker blog
@victoriastrauss

Just posted: Marketing is a service, a breakthrough point of view
@sanderssays

Blogging

8 Blog Tips from Tim Ferriss
@BubbleCow

Self-Publishing

Self publishing is not Print On Demand (via @BubbleCow) BUT POD is a fantastic option for people!
@thecreativepenn

Twitter on Twitter

How I Tweet — FAQ by @chrisbrogan. A really awesome guide for Twitter etiquette.
@Mediabistro

Online & Offline Resources/Tools

Resources for the Beginning Novelist
@alittlesandy

The Writing Life / Philosophical / Inspirational

"Eat, Pray, Love" author muses on creativity. Captivating.
@PowerJourneys

Silencing the Voice That Says You're a Fraud (WSJ --a must read for writers!)
@danyelsmith

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Twitter: Food for the Muse

Jane — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:49:07 GMT

Today's guest post is from monthly contributor Darrelyn Saloom. Follow Darrelyn on Twitter. (That's her not-naked Twitter profile pic above.)

Are there more writers than social media marketing gurus, naked people, or insatiable sex addicts on Twitter? Well, marketing gurus may have us beat. But, at least, there are a few worth following for interesting tweets. But writers do seem to outnumber the naked, insatiable sex addicts, though I continue to marvel when opening an e-mail, and someone’s nipples stare back at me. So-and-so is now following you on Twitter. Really? Then put on some clothes!

My hometown friends are dressed and interesting and have a variety of careers. But for my friend Deirdre, a boxer, they don’t do cartwheels from the mailbox when the Southern Review or Glimmer Train arrives. Or shiver at news of an author’s interview or book signing. Too much talk of writing and my best girlfriends zone out on me. Even my beloved husband rolls his eyes. (He will accompany me to an out-of-town book event, though I’m usually dropped off, front of the bookstore, side of the street.)

So Twitter has become a refuge of sorts, a place to connect with enthusiastic readers and writers. And professionals who appreciate writers enough to post helpful articles and tips. Every week, Jane Friedman compiles Best Tweets for Writers. Every week! Daily, she and others post valuable advice about the business of writing and publishing, a treasure-trove of information.

Information that (before Twitter) was not available to me. I’m too busy scavenging time for my husband, my aged mother, running a household, caring for grown children and grandchildren, two cats and a dog, collaborating with the boxer, Deirdre Gogarty, on her remarkable life journey, editing a novel for a client, and then (if supper is cooked and the house is clean) squeezing out time for my own writing. So, yes—like you—I’m busy!

But as writers we must find ways to feed The Muse. And other than the boxer (she and I spend hours discussing writers and writing), Twitter cooks up The Muse food I need. So, what do I mean by Muse food? Well, let’s look at a sample menu: Poetry. Reading poetry is one of the best ways to stir inspiration. Read poetry and weep, laugh, marvel—and feed. Narrative Magazine floats by in a tweet. I click, I read, I’m inspired. Always. And there are poets aplenty on Twitter, posting astute lyrical treats (@TheDarkEngine).

Still hungry? Feast on comics artist @elizafrye, illustrator/author @CarinBerger, collaborating authors @deberryandgrant, photographer/filmmaker/physician @DocMacaStat, passionate blogger @CodyDaigle, travel writer @holeinthedonut, or bask in the intellect of @DaveWiner. And so many others who stream by, tweeting works of art, brilliant insights and observations, or posting links to their own inspirations, sated and sharing their food.

On Twitter, I’ve befriended published authors such as Andrea Gillies, a gifted writer, who lives on a remote peninsula in northern Scotland. Her memoir Keeper opened my eyes to the hardships and horrors of caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s. And she did so with such gut-wrenching honesty and beauty (and humor), it forever changed me. Made me hold my loved ones stronger; pet my cats and dog longer, and cease taking for granted my memory.

So, for the naysayers, who would argue that Twitter is too time-consuming; that the time spent reading and posting tweets is wasted; I understand your thinking. It’s what I thought at first. But I’m here to tell you that the opposite has proven true for me; because Twitter cooks up a daily banquet, which feeds The Muse, who lives in that inner world of cravings. For me it’s the world of shivers and cartwheels and tweets.

And like anything else in life, Twitter returns whatever you give. If you are positive and kind, that’s what you’ll find. For the life of me, I don’t understand why so many celebrities (and authors) only follow a few people, who are already their friends. In my opinion, they are missing out on a world of cuisine. After all, things didn’t work out so well for Narcissus who only peered into the pool at his own reflection.

If you’d like to share your Twitter experiences, leave a comment below. I’d love to read what impact Twitter has had on The Muse in you.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 7/3/09)

Jane — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:03:49 GMT

17 Reasons book manuscripts are rejected
@cassidylewis

Ten Marketing Questions Authors are Asking (excellent) via @chipmacgregor
@thecreativepenn

The media comments on self-published books (via @MoriahJovan) [for everyone who wonders why the self-pub stigma continues]
@thecreativepenn

Publishers will turn into sports teams, trading lists the way teams trade players. Another aspect of verticalization.
@MikeShatzkin

Do family businesses have some advantages over their competitors in our changing industry? I think so.
@MikeShatzkin

13 Lessons Learned Launching an eBook
@problogger

Do Twitter and Blogs Really Drive Book Sales? (via @charabbott )
@thecreativepenn

Stand Alone

Friday self-editing tip: make sure your dialogue is appropriate for characters given educational backgrounds, upbringing & context
@IPublishPress

When agents/editors refer to EDITING, they rarely mean typos & punctuation. Usually it's more content/structure.
@RachelleGardner

When you open your query with a question to which my answer is NO, you've pretty much killed it.
@RachelleGardner

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

Ten things editors look for in non-fiction
(Or....collaborate with a big name!)
@RachelleGardner

Great discussion about agents and eeking out a living as a novelist in the 21st century
@JonathanEvison

More Thoughts on Re-Pitching Agents
@BubbleCow

Authors: 6 Other Things to Do with Your Book Idea (via @TSCB )
@thecreativepenn

Literary agent @ChipMacGregor answers the really “Basic, Basic, Basic Questions” about getting published. Excellent!
@MichaelHyatt

Author's job: come to the agent with a publishable book [get a trusted editor] from @RachelleGardner
@dbschlosser

PSA about vampires (what you should know if your novel has vampires, zombies, faeries, pixies, or Dick Cheney)
@NathanBransford

4 Other Ways to Get a Literary Agent
@ScifiWatch

Craft & Technique

How to Write About Plights Without Falling Prey to “Plight Syndrome”
@collazoprojects

Starting sentences w/participles confusing the actual function of participles
@dbschlosser

THE secret to great writing: Show or tell
@BubbleCow

How music can help your writing
@benwhiting

Ten Things to Help You with Titles
@thecreativepenn

As an author, who should you be writing for? Chances are, your audience.
@GreenleafBookGr

Finding plot and character inspiration from the Bible
@benwhiting

Why Stories are the Writer’s Elemental Tool from @WriteToDone
@TXBirder

Publishing News/Trends & The Future of Publishing

The rise of the e-book first, print book later publisher. The new e-book publishing landscape.
@PublishersWkly

Mike Shatzkin's smart, thoughtful look at the evolving role of literary agents
@twliterary

"'Free' is just a way to destroy your competitor, but it doesn’t make a business sustainable." (writers: read this one)
@glecharles

If you read only one article this week/month, make sure it's this one. [Is scientific publishing about to be disrupted?]
@jwikert

Martha Stewart web initiatives versus Penguin's. There is emerging opportunity but Big 6 will miss it.
@MikeShatzkin

"It was highly edited, full of personality ... Proof that you don’t need to have everything, just the right things."
@glecharles

@realjohngreen's case for lower advances, higher royalties, and more frequent payments to authors
@mitaliperkins

Publishers as judges of best Internet content?
@stefaniecpeters

Agents need to be more flexible on e-rights: Agents must be more flexible when selling
@TheBookseller

Michael Hyatt, the Tweeting CEO [of Thomas Nelson]
@PublishersLunch

Great article if you haven't seen it: Clive Thompson on the future of reading-not publishing-in a digital world.
@GreenleafBookGr

Most newspapers will disappear in the next 5-10 years, along with the vast majority of websites and wannabe writers.
@glecharles

Proliferation of ebook devices, platforms, reader softwares, and retailers making you dizzy? It's GREAT for publishers
@MikeShatzkin

Marketing/Promotion

Developing a Platform For Nonfiction Writers
@tonyeldridge

Need help finding the perfect name for your author website? Here are 6 free tools to help.
@AuthorTech

10 Secrets of the Best Social Media Users
@AlexKaris

7 Ways to Build Your Author Brand Online by @MichaelHyatt
@AuthorTech

Marketing a Book @chrisbrogan starts marketing his
@thecreativepenn

What is the purpose of a book cover? Seth Godin’s answer may surprise you
@MichaelHyatt

19 management chores for your online presence you COULD do every day by @chrisbrogan
@Mediabistro

Blogging

I’m watching Tim Ferris video, “How to Build a High-Traffic Blog Without Killing Yourself.” It’s excellent.
@MichaelHyatt

Blog to Book: An Elegant Execution from The New Yorker
@selfpubreview

6 great lessons to blogging brought to you by Copyblogger & Winnie the Pooh
@flipbooks

Jennifer Fulwiler guest posts on agent @RachelleGardner 's blog: How to Build Traffic on Your Blog.
@GreenleafBookGr

Awesome demonstration of blogging authentically
@pamslim

E-books and e-publishing

How to Write an Ebook that Sells in 2009 by Copyblogger
@JDEbberly

So you want to write an ebook? 30 tips for success
(via @dmscott)
@thecreativepenn

Self-Publishing

Ready to get your book into bookstores? Here are some great tips (via Publishers Weekly)
@Bookgal

Self publishing carnival of great links (Thanks @BryceBeattie )
@thecreativepenn

Twitter on Twitter

Mashable compares 19 different Twitter apps. It includes ratings and the “hit feature” for each
@MichaelHyatt

Twitter directory of industry people you might want to follow [very good and manageable list of agents, editors, publishers]
@susanwrites

Online & Offline Resources/Tools

Just discovered "Smashing Magazine." Check out their "50 Free Resources to Improve Your Writing Skills"
@jwikert

50+ writer uses for twitter
@merylkevans

Authors who share
@motsjustes

Here's something to bookmark on your iPhone: iKnow's 100 Best Reference Tools for your iPhone
@jwikert

Ten Books for Mothers Who Write
@alittlesandy

The Writing Life / Philosophical

11 Types of Bad Writing Advice RT @paperbackjack: Everything you know is wrong
@nicoledenae

The Full-Time Writing Life: If It Doesn't Kill You 1st, It'll Kill You 2nd
@jeffvandermeer

10 Ways to Lose 10 Pounds from Julia Cameron's Writing Diet
@QuipsAndTips

Steve Almond explains why he never says no to ANY writing assignment. No matter what.
@roncharles

Fun

10 Ways to Take a Bad Author Photo
@saltpublishing

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 6/26/09)

Jane — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:29:05 GMT

Why New Novelists Are Kinda Old, or, Hey, Publishing is Slow
by @scalzi
@dbschlosser

Book publicist reveals one key thing publishers look for before considering your book
@BookWritingTips

The Seven Deadly Writing Sins
@nicoledenae

Where will we be in five years?
@chipmacgregor

Giving ebooks away for free increases print book sales
@bradvertrees

If you only read one marketing post ever, read this one - 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly
@tferriss

Writing Roads: Authentic Trumps Agreeable
@KFZuzulo

36 Free EBooks for Writers by @PacificBlue
@BookBuzzr

Stand Alone

Writing tip 21: Agonize over your 1st story only after you’ve written your 10th, your 10th after your 20th.
@barryintokyo

I have a number of valuable business contacts that I 'found' on Twitter. It is a serious tool in day-to-day business life.
@MichaelHyatt

A poet once said that handwriting connects the pulse of the heart, down the arm, to the fingers, to the pen, to the page. #writechat
@debramarrs

Q. What exactly is a pitch? A. Think of it as back-cover text of your book. Whatzitbout? Whozitfor? Whoyou? Whycare?
@DavidRozansky

No need to note your "copyright" on manuscript. Legally unnecessary (is © as soon as you write it down) and looks amateurish.
@papertyger

No need to "design" your manuscript w/clip art & unusual fonts. The point is the text, not a fancy title page.
@papertyger

Overheard: Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook are merging together: "YouTwitFace.com"
@human3rror

"If you want to build an online community it can't be about you." Says @calilewis
@ThomasUmstattd

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

A behind-the-scenes look at the process of choosing a bestseller - Inside publishing!
@kimmerieweiss

How hard is getting published anyway? (via @jackiebarbosa )
@thecreativepenn

Why your book does NOT have to be the next big thing to sell (from agent Rachelle Gardner)
@BubbleCow

How to pitch your book (to agents/editors) with a single email
@BubbleCow

Two things to read: 7 things learned in writing a novel and a successful query
@JohnUpChurch

All aspiring writers need to read this right now
@lilithsaintcrow

Researching Literary Agents = a step by step guide!
@asuen1

Should you self-publish?
@jakonrath

Why I chose to self publish
@zoewinters

App-onomics: How To Succeed In Publishing
@thecreativepenn

Real Simple’s Life Lessons Writing Essay Contest
@WriteSuccess

Craft & Technique

Ernest Hemingway’s Top 9 Words of Wisdom
@dbschlosser

Learn writing from the masters
@motsjustes

John Grisham studied structures of bestsellers to create page-turners
@tferriss

Against the Wind: How Not to Write a Boring Story - Great writing tips from @RGregoryBrowne!
@EmeryRoad

When to cut something out of your manuscript
@Kid_Lit

Joss Whedon on Writing Strong Female Characters
@ThinkandAct

What is left unspoken between your characters?
@gregpincus

Check out this week's Fix-It Friday revision tip from @sarazarr
@sharigreen

8 ways to make your protagonist more memorable
@benwhiting

Looking for good advice on how to start that novel? We enjoyed this (from Holly Lisle)
@SilverWoodBooks

Passionate comma placement by @blognerd
@motsjustes

Publishing News, Trends, Opinions

Essay about the pitfalls of memoir (LA Times)
@roncharles

Tired of the cynicism in self-publishing
@selfpubreview

Marketing/Promotion

How I Sold My Book by Giving it Away. Excellent piece by crime writer @SethHarwood
@openculture

Essential reading for writers: You MUST help sell your book (from agent Rachelle Gardner)
@BubbleCow

The author as performer
@GuyKawasaki

Astoundingly useful research about readers using authors' websites
@dbschlosser

27 Things to do Before a Conference from @chrisbrogan - fab!
@Bookgal

listen up - @JeremiahTolbert comments on the curious science of what makes a story podcastable
@papertyger

The 6 levels of engagement in online communication (mindless to existential)
@copyblogger

How to create a pen name by @procrastwriter
@motsjustes

50 things under $50 to promote your book!
@Bookgal

Twitter on Twitter

10 Ways Twitter Can Help Writers
@inkyelbows

My 140conf talk: Twitter as a Publishing Medium (video and transcript)
@timoreilly

Twitterature: 19 Year-Olds Score Twitter Book Deal
@mashable

Online & Offline Resources/Tools

The Write Network - Collected blog articles about writing
@iainbroome

Enjoying all the great info and advice for writers here
@SilverWoodBooks

List of ebook websites for publishing and reading
[Comprehensive look at digital publishing retailers, content, readers, and options]
@thecreativepenn

The Writing Life / Philosophical

Great perspective from @austinkleon in "How Should Creative Writing Be Taught?"
@zoewesthof

"Watch How I Spend My First 20 Minutes Online Every Morning" says Problogger
@MeghnaK

"Use talismans for inspired writing" (I keep a pile of bills within view)
@KFZuzulo

Space apart your email collection to get some work done.
@sanderssays

don't forget why we do it
@papertyger

Achieving the dream
@nicoledenae

3 P's of writing
@motsjustes

Fun

McSweeney's spoof--college class syallbus: Writing for Nonreaders in the Postprint Era
@latta

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 6/19/09)

Jane — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:26:00 GMT

Ask the editor: Do publishers have rules about POV?
@LatinoBookNews

Check out Jim Shepard on writing: "I don't think you realize how hard this is for me." [in Oprah's magazine]
@Sirenland

How to find something great to read
@GuyKawasaki

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

Terrific advice on hiring a literary agent from @MichaelHyatt
@RachelleGardner

Should you go to a writers conference? Easy list of pros and cons!
@Kid_Lit

Who says $1 a word freelance markets are dead? The latest FundsforWriters newsletter from @hopeclark
@milehighfool

The Editorial Process [with a traditional publisher]
@BubbleCow

Should You Self Publish Your book? ~~VERY Good Article
@everywriter

What not to edit
@motsjustes

Craft & Technique

Essay on compelling story telling
@lilleypress

The dangers of starting with dialogue - from @NathanBransford
@benwhiting

The importance of good characters in your novel
@BubbleCow

10 Myths of Writer’s Workshop [particularly for educators]
@MeghnaK

Letting your characters rule the story
@benwhiting

How to write a novel when you have no plot. Hint: it involves bumper stickers.
@kragtbakker

Publishing News, Trends, Opinions

How the Lit Fic Crowd Can Make Digital Publishing Legitimate
@thecreativepenn

Kindle and book business: this is the best analysis I've seen recently.
@thecreativepenn

There’s a rich and vibrant world at the opposite end of mediocrity, and it represents the real future of publishing
@glecharles

What if people steal my book? Karmic rights management (via @thebookwright )
@thecreativepenn

Marketing/Promotion

6 Things Readers Want from Your Author Website
(smart tips; focus on the fundamentals)
@dbschlosser

Advanced platform strategy from Chris Brogan and here
@thewritermama

Twitter on Twitter

"I don’t want, or know how, to develop a strategy for my authenticity. Apparently, I will not be a successful tweeter."
@RonHogan

Online & Offline Resources/Tools

The Economist's writing style guide is fantastic.
@thesolowriter

Five Good Books About Genre Writing by Actual Authors
@jharmonwriter

The Writing Life / Philosophical

Excellent article about not letting your day job kill your writing life
@kellyaharmon

Love this by Seth Godin, YOU MATTER, reminds me of my 2009 mantra, Make Good Things Happen
@thewritermama

For tomorrow: Get up on the right side of bed. A new routine that'll change ur life.
@sanderssays

Fun

This week, "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," a sad, lovely piece from my writing teacher Sandra Tsing Loh
@lindseyleej

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 6/12/09)

Jane — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:43:36 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit each Saturday for the week's best Tweets. (If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments, or if you want more of a particular category of Tweet, also comment.)

Best of Best

Adorable AND valuable - 5 Things Sesame Street Can Teach You About Breakthrough Blogging
@Mediabistro

Just compiled a writing advice database of past posts
@NathanBransford (literary agent)

Writing revision checklist for fiction
@NathanBransford

Love this post: Top Ten Things I Know About Editing
@BubbleCow

20 Must-Read Blogs For Freelance Writers
@dnzWriting

Stand Alone (no links)

Better than great sales or bestseller lists are letters from readers saying your book reflects their lives & makes them feel relevant.
@amymackinnon

Idea: Use a Facebook Fan page or group to give away knowledge and tools. Be a resource. <LOVECAT think: Knowledge networking>
@timbursch

"It's nearly always better to resist the urge to explain."
—Renni Browne and Dave King
@KMWeiland

Social networking is about building relationships BEFORE you ask people to represent you, buy your work or offer you a contract.
@DebraMarrs

"Tell almost the whole story."
—ANNE SEXTON
@AdviceToWriters

"There’s nobody out there waiting for it, and nobody’s going to scold you if you don’t do it."
—LYNNE SHARON SCHWARTZ
@AdviceToWriters

@thecreativepenn and @mariaschneider routinely dig up great things on the web for writers, and are worth following.
@KimsCraftBlog

Writing Tip: Make your writing reader-centric: always answer the implicit or explicit "What's in it for me?" question.
@expertwriter

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

Should I send a revision to agents currently looking at my work? You know you've had the urge
@Kid_Lit

Should you query now or wait to meet an agent at a conference? @RachelleGardner gives some insight
@JohnUpChurch

7 reasons manuscripts are rejected & how you can avoid it
@janetlaneauthor

E-Publishing reality
@thecreativepenn

Done writing? Tips for hiring an editor
@motsjustes

Publishing Comparisons (POD vs. POD)
@thecreativepenn

Considering a pen name? The pros and cons.
@motsjustes

Craft & Technique

Weekend Writing tip: Plan Through Character
(includes worksheet)
@AnnaDeStefano

On Genre-Based Critique Groups: Helpful but Not Mandatory
@Becky_Levine

Some lunchtime reading for any writers out there: "Writing: The power of three"
@Kimota

Plotting by Elimination
@benwhiting

Podcast with lively discussion about editing.
@ljsellers

Great writing podcast by three authors (one writes fantasy, the other horror, the other webcomics)
@gregbas

Setting as a Character - agent Maass on writing mythic significance into the landscape
@dbschlosser

"Just say no to dialect, y'all"
@motsjustes

Keeping your dialogue lively by @RGregoryBrowne
@benwhiting

Learn about point of view in fiction writing
@motsjustes

... a new talk, on plotting and springing surprises in novels (by Arthur A. Levine editor)
@chavelaque

Publishing News, Trends, Opinions

TIME: Amazon defining the future of publishing
@KFZuzulo

Marketing/Promotion

Author Christina Katz @thewritermama with platform ideas and mistakes
@janecandid

Building an Author Platform (Video)
@thecreativepenn

A pain free method of self-promotion
@TXBirder

Twitter on Twitter

Some deep insights into twitter in this post by @cheeky_geeky. Really thought-provoking.
@timoreilly

USA Today on the art of writing on Twitter (and Facebook):
@jwikert

Why Writers Should Use Twitter
@alexisgrant

Note to writers: Twitter may be a better platform than a blog.
@jamesscottbell

The grand unveiling: The Smashwords Writer's Digest ad, written by your tweets (and yes, winners inside the ad)
@markcoker

Online & Offline Resources/Tools

Five sites to get free books
@BubbleCow

The 50 Best Books on Writing Fiction
@BubbleCow

Sunday writers links (Thx @le_shack !)
@thecreativepenn

Detect Plagiarism on the Web by @CathyStucker
@BookMarketer

The Writing Life / Philosophical

Writers: Are you indispensable?
@milehighfool

How to be a more successful writer - by thinking like an entrepreneur.
@barryeisler

Just blogged about 3 things John Cleese taught me on unleashing creativity at will
@sanderssays

"Listen Up, Old School Journalists" (via RecessionWire)
@mariaschneider

Fun

Actual student comments in writing workshop from McSweeney's -hilarious!
@WritersGroup

NY Times map of publishing industry natural selection of logos
@ficwriter

The Top 15 Bad Romance Novel Opening Lines (giggle!)
@thecreativepenn

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 6/5/09)

Jane — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:24:41 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit every Friday for the week's best Tweets. (If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments, or if you want more of a particular category of Tweet, also comment.)

Best of Best

Essential for writer: Interview with HarperCollins editor,
part 1 & part 2
@BubbleCow

One-Pass Manuscript Revision: From First Draft to Last in One Cycle [HollyLisle.com]
@mmSeason

Everything you need to know about writing successfully by stephen king
@JodiCleghorn

A Forgotten Key to Blogging Success
@TXBirder

i love this post by @JeremiahTolbert:
5 Writing Lessons I Learned from Pixar
@papertyger

Stand Alone (no links)

Ideas are like falling love. First drafts like marriage (commitment!) Revision is marriage counseling. Make it work!
@jamesscottbell

"Don't be a writer. Writing is an escape from something. You be a scientist." —Sinclair Lewis
@YourWritingDept

AGENT OBVIOUS TIP OF THE DAY: Have your material ready to go *before* you query.
@laurieabkemeier

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

What not to say to editors and agents (by CEO of Thomas Nelson)
@heatheragoodman

Advice from an agent on how to pitch your memoir
@BubbleCow

Just posted a blog entry: Top 10 query mistakes (from agent)
@michellebrower

One man's (agent's) thoughts on submission etiquette
@ChrisRichman

How to create an instant best-seller
@janetlaneauthor

What it takes to get published, here is the magic formula. (Thanks to @johnkremer)
@DavidRozansky

4 traits of successful children’s book writers
@tumblemoose

Craft & Technique

Writing the 1st novel
@motsjustes

Writing refresher: The worst punctuation crimes
@mediadivadesign

Breaking your dialogue up more naturally - by @RGregoryBrowne
@benwhiting

Using outlines in fiction or not, or both
@TheCharmQuark

What your first 5 pages say about your entire book
@motsjustes

How to be a good critiquer
@nicoledenae

Every scene needs to accomplish something. Give your characters a goal
@motsjustes

Marketing/Promotion

Great post everyone should read: 9 Ways People Respond to Your Content Online (by @UpbeatNow)
@Mediabistro

Podcast: Iggy Pintado on How Authors Can Use Connection
@thecreativepenn

Author 2.0 Model explained - make money from free products
@thecreativepenn

How to find the right focus for your blog. Ask yourself these 3 questions
@benwhiting

Online & Offline Resources/Tools

As promised, 5 More Must-Follow Bloggers for Aspiring Writers:
@milehighfool

Common Errors in English
@MeghnaK

Philosophical / The Writing Life

Should creative writing be taught? from New Yorker
@MeghnaK

How Dreaming at Night Inspires Famous Writers
@MeghnaK

To Succeed at Writing, Develop a Thick Skin
@jharmonwriter

The Cycle of Creativity and How to Ride It
@nicoledenae

Characteristics of productive writers [short version: do it]
@motsjustes

Reading about writing never creates a good author, from @JackwRegan
@househomeauthor

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 5/29/09)

Jane — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:47:29 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit every Friday for the week's best Tweets. (If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments.)

Apologies for the lag this week—catching up from our BEA event. Look for a recap with photos in the next few days.

Best of Best

54 Tips For Writers, From Writers
@MeghnaK

Five Novelists' Web Sites That Offer Great Writing Advice
@jharmonwriter

Amy Tan (TED): The Ted Commandments
@Krizanovich

Cory Doctorow: Writing in the Age of Distraction
@dbschlosser

Stand Alone (no links)

"Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable." —Francis Bacon
@wayne1009

Be suspicious if your editor only corrects grammar, typos. The less you're outraged, the less it'll sell. Editing equals improving. @gyokusai

"Writing has got to be an act of discovery. I write to find out what I'm thinking about." —Edward Albee
@UpWritePress

To get ahead, at the very least, write out at night your next day's objectives. Writing focuses your energies to accomplish your tasks.
@yourdaytoshine

In writing fiction, finding "facts" to fit your narrative = recipe for success. In real life, not so much.
@dbschlosser

Your editors are like coaches: they know audience & reject writing for good reasons, even if you don't know specifics. —T. Whalin
@QuipsAndTips

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

Why writers should avoid content aggregators such as Helium:
@milehighfool

Reality check from author: Getting published is just the beginning
@KFZuzulo

Tips for the editor/agent appts
@heatheragoodman

The Five Traits of a Successful Writer
@saithota

Ask the editor: Do publishers have rules about POV?
@kdwashburn

Wed writing exercise: historical figures in fiction, by the Donald Maass Literary Agency
@motsjustes

Craft & Technique

The key to prolific writing? Genre.
@motsjustes

How to salvage writing disasters by @quipsandtips
@motsjustes

How Screenwriting Broke My Writer's Block
@jharmonwriter

I wrote a guest post called Embracing a Million Crappy Words
@beagooddad

Tips for writing a killer opening line, via @mariaschneider
@motsjustes

To drop the F bomb or hold it in reserve: choosing when to cuss in your writing
@dbschlosser

"If the character does not change in the course of the writing, it is not fiction. It is information."
@jshelley78

One of the challenges of writing is ... writing. 13 Tips For Actually Getting Some Writing Done
@musicasmessage

Summarized Dialogue: The many uses in fiction and memoir.
@KimsCraftBlog

The yin and yang of characterization in writing
@dbschlosser

Marketing/Promotion

The author's own story. Marketing, conversations and lies.
@paperbackjack

How you can use eBooks and the Kindle to market your writing from @jakonrath
@benwhiting

Twitter on Twitter

Literary Tweets: 100+ of the Best Authors on Twitter
(via @tweetmeme)
@DebraMarrs

Check out "Best of Writing on Twitter"
@MeghnaK

News, Trends, Opinions

Why AmazonEncore matters (via @BubbleCow)
@thecreativepenn

Richard Curtis on changes to copyright due in 2013
@bookmarketology

"Demise of Writing Greatly Exaggerated" -- a teen is not deterred from pursuing her dream job
@motsjustes

Online & Offline Resources/Tools

@michellerafter reviews 10 great virtual hangouts for freelance writers
@milehighfool

Free Online Writing Courses (via @BubbleCow)
@thecreativepenn

101 Best Websites for Writers: Our 2009 list from the May/June mag issue.
@WritersDigest

Wired's Ebook reader buying guide - good roundup of current state of art.
@thecreativepenn

Random Writing Prompt Generators
@MeghnaK

Philosophical

Do we Miss Authorial Omniscience?
@idtheory

How writing saved me from myself
@joanna_haugen

"to cast a spell [on the reader]–possess them, manipulate them, coerce them into turning another page"
@jshelley78

Writers Reveal the Book the Changed their Lives
@blogofinnocence

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 5/22/09)

Jane — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:40:46 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit every Friday for the week's best Tweets. (If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments.)

Stand Alone (no links)

"What if...?" + Problem = Concept. Concept + Character = Plot. Plot + Character Change = Story.
@jamesscottbell

Getting Published, Agents/Editors

Tortured Trilogies
(Why do all fantasy novels seem to come as trilogies?)
@cjlitagency

Useful description of what and how an author gets paid
(Thanks to Moonrat)
@DaphneUn

Why pre-pub website is important
@indieauthor

To self-publish or not: This is a fine list of the considerations.
@selfpubreview

Where to Find a Self-Published Book Editor
@selfpubreview

Craft & Technique

How Do You Learn to Write? Great advice from multi-pubbed authors in my blog comments.
@RachelleGardner

If you are writing profiles, the interview is key
@thewritermama

Writers, do you belong to a book club? Here's how it can improve your writing skills!
@quipsandtips

Best kept secret of enduring characters: quintessentialism
@dbschlosser

The Elegant Art of Writing Less
@michele_menard

Until you write the end you will not truly know the beginning.
@dbschlosser

Great recap of a conversation about revision
@gregpincus

Marketing/Promotion

Author @SherryThomas describes the symbiotic relationship between libraries & readers & how it seeds sales
@jane_l

Build Your Author Platform With Online Forums
@BookMarketer

Author discovers that dropping price on his Kindle book pushes it up the bestseller list
@jennifertribe

Twitter on Twitter

Nonfiction Tweets: 70+ Authors to Follow on Twitter
@mashable

The Twitter Scorecard--for book publishers. Which houses are tweeting and who's getting the followers?
@PublishersWkly

Twitter Scorecard from @publisherswkly updated and more thorough is posted at O'Reilly
@mikehatora

Exhaustive list of publishers & authors on Twitter
@KrisUnderwood

Twitter is changing how publishers do business, 140 characters at a time.
@PublishersWkly

Trends & Opinions

Kudos to Harlequin for driving innovation, loving their writers & readers
@LibreDigital

With books, as with just about everything else, the "good old days" never really existed
@victoriastrauss

The top 50 women in publishing share passionate advice
@HarperCollinsCa

Online Publishers: Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow
@ReadWriteWeb

What I learned from my MFA in Writing Poetry
@PeakePoetics

Resources/Tools

Email out of control? You might want to read my “Yes, You Can Stay on Top of Email.”
@MichaelHyatt

Philosophical

Is fiction necessary for our survival as a species? Fascinating article on salon.com
@lawritersgroup

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 5/15/09)

Jane — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:36:15 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit every Friday for the week's best Tweets. (If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments.)

Best Tweet

Great discussion on social media for book marketing
@joeljmiller

Others

Read @yodiwan on the level of professionalism publishers like to see from bloggers, even amateurs
@RonHogan

When will we evolve past “books”?
@jwikert

The future of publishing link list
@The_Rumpus

Do you ever just get overwhelmed by all this change going on?
Why I won't any more.
@thewritermama

Great blog post about whether a writer should post material, such as first chapters, online.
@KimsCraftBlog

Eight tips about writing, by Flannery O'Connor
@gretchenrubin

NYT on digital book piracy
@Joypress

Mistaking action for plot
@thecreativepenn

Print reference publishing in the age of the internet
@PublishersWkly

A contrary take on Anne Lamott's shitty first drafts. RT @MeghnaK: How Good is Your First Draft?
@motsjustes

How to "Trigger" your best writing
@paperbackjack

I am loving Roy Peter Clarks' writing skills podcasts (iTunes link).
@vickytnz

My new Locus column on extremely geeky writing techniques: (via @doctorow) excellent!
@thecreativepenn

Sketching villains - forget the diabolical laughter and read this (PDF download)
@janetlaneauthor

Embracing the Rewrite: A guest post by writer & all-around cool chick @annabdavid
@mariaschneider

great post by Sol Stein on writing character, story, & dialogue:
@heatheragoodman

Tackling character in Fiction: behaviors, desire, sympathy, action, contradiction.
@KimsCraftBlog

"Editorial Ass" has excellent posts on advice for authors going the big press route. (Yes, you need an agent.)
@KimsCraftBlog

Learn about the craft and business of writing on our podcast
@writersinthesky

good post on POV
@heatheragoodman

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 5/8/09)

Jane — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:44:38 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit every Friday for the week's best Tweets. (If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments.)

Best Tweet

10 Common Writing Mistakes @DanielLiterary

Others

The Renegade Writer Blog » Connecting with Editors on Social Media" @meghnaK

@JeremiahTolbert with 5 lies writers believe about editors @Jay_Lake

A Meditation on Writing Life with Wallace, Pamuk, and Updike
@technicalwriter

Baring It All: Personal Essays Are Tough @stephauteri

@techreview weighs in on how to save media (must-read) @glecharles

Book promotion is more about creating relationships than saying buy my book, buy my book. And much more fun as well. @JohnKremer

Writing as an identity @NathanBransford

Anne Lamott is one of my favorite writers! Here's her tips for writing authentically @quipsandtips

How your day job helps your writing + paradox of choice in plot + coincidence in plot

How do you pick which writing conference to attend? @Becky_Levine

A must watch for all writers sick of doing things for free. @iainbroome

Wonderful recap on the Google Book Settlement extension by Victoria Strauss. Lots of good links.
@Jmstro

Have a look: Free E-book! The Inspired Query Letter @tumblemoose

Who Gives You Permission to Write? @MeghnaK

Steve Weber, author/publisher (@weberbooks) tells his experiences with Amazon, by @paulkbiba
@publishingtalk

Alan Rinzler has three more book proposal critiques up. Very useful for would be authors. @jmstro

The blog Novel Journey has a great interview with Donald Maass, literary agent and author of "The Fire in Fiction" @kmnickell

Independent UK: Has the tipping point finally arrived for digital publishing? @ColleenLindsay

Smashwords: Sramana Mitra Interview: How Authors Can Build their Personal Franchise @filedby

Free Smashwords Book Marketing Guide updated and expanded. Adds new tips for authors. @markcoker

"If publishing remains as firmly tethered to traditional media for its reviews/legitimacy, it will tip the wrong way." @thebookmaven @RonHogan

What experience does your book provide? Marketing expert Sage Cohen's advice @thewritermama

Top Ten Tips For Creating BUZZ With Facebook Events!! @MariSmith

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @robertleebrewer @alicepope @kmnickell
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 5/1/09)

Jane — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:58:43 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit every Friday for the week's best Tweets. (If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments.)

Best Tweet

All you authors still wondering what a "platform" is and why you need one ... be sure to read @MichaelHyatt post
@jwikert

Others

Literary agent Ashley Grayson on the Google Books settlement. If you are in publishing, GO READ IT.
@ZeppelinBooks

Essential Blogging Question: How Can You Help Your Readers Today?
@gabrielleadams

Interesting way to write a novel piece by piece as blog posts.
@mariaschneider

Amazon Acquires Stanza: What Does It All Mean?
@readerville

Seth Godin's Advice for Authors
@WeberBooks

Interesting find during query research. From this month's issue of The Writer: "Always send in simultaneous submissions."
@milehighfool

How to turn your real life story into a novel. A Q&A with writer Susan Shapiro.
@mariaschneider

10 TWITTER Tools for Writers
@technicalwriter

A blog that contains info on creative writing contests.
@WriteSuccess

Editor/Author Rakesh Satyal on finding time to write.
@NathanBransford

I not only RT-ed but bookmarked this 39-step primer on writing.
@kate_mckean

Agents talk about publishing, queries, and writing (from Poets & Writers) @heatheragoodman

The 12 1/2 Writing Rules You'll Ever Need (awesome!!! Let's get started!)
@theelfinpoet

Why Does Persistence Pay in Life? The Mathematical Proof
@technicalwriter

Five things publishers (and agents) hate
@Bookgal

Why serious bloggers should avoid Google AdSense by @Human3rror
@MichaelHyatt

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (4/24/09)

Jane — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:04:18 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments. From now on, I will run this feature on Fridays only.

Just a couple today … people must be enjoying the good weather.

How to create a really memorable voice, for memoir or fiction.
@KimsCraftBlog

Writer's First Aid: Fear, perfection, and more.
@EmeryRoad

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (4/23/09)

Jane — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:07:40 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to.
If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments.

Most valuable Tweet of the day:

100 Creative Writing Blogs (From February, but I just found it!)
@nicoledenae

The rest:

Off to teach dialogue to creative nonfiction workshop. See my post from last fall on this subject. @KimsCraftBlog

Further on creative nonfiction/memoir: See my post on tense problems in memoir. @KimsCraftBlog

Do you really know where the emphasis is in your writing? Wordle.net creates beautiful word clouds. @tnisly

Contrary to all the advice I've ever been given, on NOT calling yourself a writer. @motsjustes

Put character flaws and conflict in opposition for dynamic writing, from @FictionMatters

Currently reading: (Writing Fiction) Dialogue in fiction @theseventhl

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (4/22/09)

Jane — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:16:48 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to.
If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments.

Note: I partly decided to undertake this Twitter round-up to show writers why they might be interested in Twitter. I hope that the point has been made.

After this Friday, I'll check in every week with only the most remarkable Tweets I saw over a 7-day period. (That is: I need some time to contribute other content for this blog!)

Most valuable Tweet of the day:

49 ways to profit from content marketing @dmnguys

The rest:

5 Things to Do Before You Create Your Freelance Business Web site @FreelanceSw

Write or Die: Electric shock mode! @MichelleLDevon

The tweet is a merciless editor; list of authors on Twitter. (From latest Poets & Writers) @AlanKercinik

Editing: a gratifying & horrifying experience. @suvudu

Stupid gun mistakes every writer makes @AnthonyGOReilly

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (4/21/09)

Jane — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:08:48 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. If I missed a great Tweet today, leave it in the Comments.

Most valuable Tweet of the day:

Hilari Bell has posted her tips on how to pitch a novel @xenabelle

The rest:

Ripe for Writers: Love is that sound molecules make before bonding; can you hear it as your ink sticks to the page? @JoshuaPayton

Three Techniques to Avoid Being a Boring Writer @MeghnaK

Hooking Them From the Start @RGregoryBrowne

50 Trigger Words and Phrases for Powerful Multimedia Content — Copyblogger @MeghnaK

Vonnegut's 4th rule of #writing by @FictionMatters @motsjustes

5 Authors on Twitter Who Are Getting it Right @mariaschneider

Use an enneagram for character development @motsjustes

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (4/20/09)

Jane — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:24:45 GMT

Note on Twitter tools: See this great analysis of Tweetdeck vs. Seesmic.

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. If I missed a great Tweet today, leave it in the Comments. Today's post includes items from the weekend.

Most valuable Tweet of the day:
I can honestly say it was something Writer's Digest noticed (but this isn't from our site):

Inside look at a NYT bestselling author's royalty statement: (if you're writing for $$, you'll be disappointed) @WritersDigest

The rest:

Excellent blog entry on knowing when to quit @laurenbarnholdt

Ebooks and the future. Fascinating WSJ article @VonAllan

"The Renegade Writer Blog: The Freelance Writer’s Bill of Rights" @MeghnaK

2 new books on writing programs, reviewed in the NY Times @motsjustes

Writing at arm's length: exercises for getting distance from your subject matter @paperbackjack

Red Room: "Tips for Authors Doing Radio Interviews" @filedby

The whys and hows of editing @motsjustes

12 steps to better book publishing. Good PW article. Authors should read as well. @JohnKremer

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (4/17/09)

Jane — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:28:41 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. If interested in where I found the Tweet, I've indicated the Twitter user. If I missed a great Tweet today, leave it in the Comments.

Today was #queryday; use Twitter search sites (like this one) to track the conversation related to queries (between writers and agents). I have not included any of that conversation here, except for a link to a funny image.

Most valuable Tweet of the day:

Do fiction writers need to build a platform?
@thewritermama

The rest:

Beyond Strunk and White: 5 more of the best books for modern writers
@SterlingBooks

I've posted this before, but it really bears a reposting today. #queryday
@danielliterary

Has anyone mentioned the anti-Strunk/White article? It's spot-on.
(50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice)
@atrubek

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Tools to Manage Twitter Volume (But They Don't Really #&%@* Work!!)

Jane — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:42:59 GMT

I am being driven insane by the lack of effective Twitter utilities/software. Here's what I've found so far, and my experience. (A part of me hopes that I'm not using these tools correctly and someone can point out my lack of brains.)

Tweetdeck
At first I loved TweetDeck (Adobe Air software); it has great customization, column layout, and the ability to create groups. BUT:

If I modify any of my customized groups, I suddenly lose 99% of unseen Tweets in that group. And sometimes Tweetdeck just doesn't display all the Tweets that I haven't seen. It just randomly picks up at some point in the past.
The information stream keeps stopping because "rate limit exceeded." Then I have to wait 20-30 minutes for new Tweets. (This is a limitation of Twitter, though. I think. I don't have this problem on Seesmic, mentioned below.)
I can only login under one account, which is problematic for anyone who manages a personal account plus a professional account.
After a few hours, the application gets slower ... and slower ... and slower.

Twhirl
I tried Twhirl (another Adobe Air application) for 2 minutes, then stopped when I realized I couldn't create groups or create multiple columns to view simultaneously. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this.)

HootSuite
HootSuite is browser-based, and allows you to manage/view multiple accounts at once, but doesn't appear to have any kind of meaningful filter or grouping capabilities.

Seesmic
Yet another Adobe Air application, Seesmic is new and buggy, but is still almost better than Tweetdeck. The big problem is that it's sluggish and painful to use after a couple hours. It is column-based like TweetDeck, AND (hallelujah) allows you to manage multiple accounts at once—each Tweet is labeled with the account it's coming through. The group-making function isn't quite there yet: You can only add people to your group by finding a Tweet and clicking on the user to add—rather than going through a checklist of all the people you follow, like you can on Tweetdeck. (Someone tell me if I'm wrong on this.)

Given that Oprah is featuring Twitter on her show today, Twitter will only become more overloaded in the weeks ahead. So, if and when I deliver you the "best tweets for writers," I have to add the caveat that they were the best tweets I could find, given the limitations with the current utilities. It frustrates me that there's valuable information and conversations on Twitter, but I can't possibly find it and manage it without having reliable applications to filter, save, and archive the information that hasn't been "seen." So far, nothing is up to the task, though maybe Seesmic, once it's developed further, will be my tool of choice.

What tools do you use to keep it all under control?
What tools help you make the most efficient use of your Tweeting time?

Best Tweets for Writers (4/16/09)

Jane — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:10:15 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. (We'll see how long I can last.) If interested in where I found the Tweet, I've indicated the Twitter user.

Most valuable Tweet of the day:

6 Reasons Why No One Likes You Online: "If you... view your potential community as a group of people to monetize, then your efforts are doomed." @glecharles

The rest:

On writers groups, especially in San Francisco @motsjustes

What Makes This Paragraph so Great? @kdwashburn

Metaphors & similes affect tone; be careful of images they leave in head @KimsCraftBlog

101 writing links for writers and authors @thecreativepenn

"Will Your Article Idea Fly? Here’s How to Find Out"-The Renegade Writer Blog @MeghnaK

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (4/15/09)

Jane — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:07:50 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. (We'll see how long I can last.) If interested in where I found the Tweet, I've indicated the Twitter user.

Most valuable Tweet of the day:

Three essentials of breakthrough content marketing
@copyblogger

The rest:

Twelve ways to ignite your writing - Anthill Magazine @ArticlesFYI

Avoid self-publishing mistakes @ForDummies

Glossary of REAL publishing terms (hilarious!) @bookwalter

Why is it so hard to write sex scenes? @thecreativepenn

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (4/14/09)

Jane — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:06:48 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. (We'll see how long I can last.) If interested in where I found the Tweet, I've indicated the Twitter user.

Most valuable Tweet of the day:

If Only I'd Known: Writing Advice to My Younger Self: Excellent writing tips for the beginning writer
@ShaunaSweeney

The rest:

Sometimes, thinking small is the most effective way to make your readers care. @FictionMatters

In Defense of Twitter and Its #Failings @AlicePope

Will Kenyon's Little Corner of the Universe: "The Publishing Industry is Dead! Long Live the Publishing Industry!" @filedby

Great MARKETPLACE report on ebook readers @LibreDigital

Friday's post on Gary Lutz's "The Sentence Is a Lonely Place" @motsjustes

Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?

Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
Become a fan at our Facebook page
On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.

Best Tweets for Writers (4/13/09)

Jane — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:23:37 GMT

I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. (We'll see how long I can last.) If interested in where I found the Tweet, I've indicated the Twitter user.

Most valuable Tweet of the day:

5 Things I’ve Learned From Making Me 2.0 a Bestseller
@danschawbel

The rest:

Tech solutions for writing. Save and store your work online with Dropbox.
@motsjustes @ShaunaSweeney

Tech solutions for writing. Need to write? ... JDarkRoom for PC users, Scivner or WriteRoom for Macs
@motsjustes @gempari

13 plot points to check during revision
@motsjustes

Three Grammar Rules You Can (And Should) Break
@weblittlepieces

Think the business side of writing/publishing is not important? Excellent discussion.
@tweetstogo

Intriguing options to help you avoid the many distractions from writing that are available on your computer.
@benwhiting

Here are 5 ways to make your writing more memorable ... b/c the more memorable you are, the more you'll sell!
@quipsandtips