For Writers

Writing Tips & Links

• From my writing blog, Writing it Out
  
  • Simple Rules to Grammar
  • Show vs. Tell
  • How to Find Critique Partners
  • How to Revise on a Deadline
  • How to Revise When You Have Time

• From my group dystopian blog, The League of Extraordinary Writers
  
  • How to Hook Readers with Your First Chapter
  • Creating Setting in a Dystopian World

  ---

  Writing Resources

• I am a big fan of conferences and networking with other authors, as well as relying on other authors for beta reading. Some websites that help you connect with other authors include:
  • Verla Kay
  • Absolute Write
  • …and don’t be afraid of starting your own blog, or attending conferences such as those held by the following societies for writers:

• Societies for Writers
  
  • SCBWI: Any writer for children or teens should look into this professional organization, the provides professional information and a sense of community
  • SCBWI-Carolinas: This is my branch of SCBWI—a great group of writers!
  • SFWA: The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America is a group of professional genre writers.
  • The Elevensies: This group of debut 2011 authors shares information and peeks into the writer’s life.

• Other helpful writing links:
  
  • Query Tracker
    • I used this site extensively in my hunt for an agent. It has great information on agents, a wonderful method of keeping track of submissions, and more. My query can be found there, as well as other success stories.
  • Miss Snark’s First Victim
    • This blog, run by a writer, often holds “Secret Agent” contests, where submissions of sample pages are read by agents and prizes include submission to the agent. This blog definitely helped hone my writing, as I reveal in an interview with the author.
  • Literary Rambles
    • Casey McCormick compiles detailed information on agents and features them regularly on her blog. She also features success stories, information on writing, and tips. A great resource for those researching agents.