Friday Fridge Clean-out: Links for Writers, August 1, 2014 Edition

Image by Eric Crowley vie Flickr/Creative Commons

> At Writer Unboxed, Karen Gillespie, on what did and didn't happen when her essay got into the opinion pages at the New York Times.

> How could I not be impressed with a 14-year-old one-day novelist who writes a clever and helpful blog about writing titled Every Stinkin' Page?

> These 11 tips for writing a scene, from John August, originally intended for screenwriters, are helpful for all writers.

> LitReactor's primer on punctuation when writing dialogue, is a handy and comprehensive reference.

> Chuck Wendig with 25 pointers on word choice (warning: his own word choices are often--what's the right word? how about, naughty?)

> Sometimes, you get a rejection and feel sure no one even read your submission. Recently, one literary journal admitted as much (sorry, no time to read, but here's your rejection anyway!). Naturally, there was unhappy chatter,  there was a dust-up, a (sort of) defense, an analysis of the fallout. 

> Student brag box: Patrice Gopo has a lovely piece of segmented nonfiction prose in Rock and Sling. I hope you enjoy reading Marking the Color Trail (weddings, race, red dresses, crossing cultures, young love, Africa, India, and more!)

> Finally, wouldn't these make great (ahem) book titles?

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fridge Clean-Out: Links for Writers, March 22, 2013 Edition

> Jody Hedlund breaks down why writers need not feel a hot plume of shame when their work is being critiqued.

> Take that, adverbs. Stephen King hates you.

> A guest post on Gulf Coast journal's blog takes a different look at submission "tips".

> Last month, many venues marked the 50th anniversary of the suicide of poet Sylvia Plath; including Paste Magazine, which offered 27 of her quotes, combined with some of her original ink drawings.

> At JenningsWire, a bunch of strategies for selling books in 2013. The good, the unusual, the practical, the works. Long and loaded with links and analysis.

> Though the book give-away is over, scroll through the comments at this post for helpful advice on combining writing with life, at Writer With a Day Job.

> Though originally intended for screenwriters and directors, Ryan Rivard's pared-down "How to Write a Scene in 11 Steps" seems on-point for any writer.  I'd never heard anyone call a rough first draft a "scribble version" before. I like it.

> Finally -- agree, disagree, prevaricate -- or just nod along with the comment that notes how much fun John Scalzi can be when he's irritated. And he must have been irritated in a big way when he put together this screed for anyone who might ask him to write something for free.