About This Writing Stuff...

This week, I'm grateful to Amanda Headlee, not just for her piece on self-editing, but for introducing me to the wonderful blog of writer Melissa McPhail.  Through Melissa's articles below, I found a kindred spirit whose methods mirror my own, specifically the concept of organically developing characters and of capturing scenes that pop into your head in advance of writing the story.  Melissa is almost completely in step with how I often prefer to write.

Additionally, Jody Hedlund examines the benefits of writing novellas.  Since I just submitted my first novella to my publisher last month, I found the timing of Jody's article impeccable.  From the Kill Zone, Jodie Renner explains the proper use of the hyphen while on Writer Unboxed, Erika Liodice talks audio books and Cathy Yardley discusses the importance of defining your genre.

It seems that I cannot post a collection of articles lately without mention of Amazon.  Franklin Foer thinks that their monopoly must be brought to a swift end and Barry Eisler responds.

All that, and a little more.  Enjoy!


Pantser or Plotter: 4 Steps to Writing Organically (and the Science Behind Why You Should) - Part I by Melissa McPhail

4 Steps to Writing Organically, Part II - Viewpoints, Mimicry, and Imagination by Melissa McPhail

How to Avoid Cliches (or the 4 Things You MUST Know Before Starting a Novel) by Melissa McPhail

I Am My Own Worst Editor, Because I Am a Perfectionist by Amanda Headlee

Amazon Must Be Stopped by Franklin Foer

Franklin Foer: "Stop Amazon, Keep Publishing Exactly As Its Always Been!" by Barry Eisler

Book Marketing The Old Way Versus The Way That Works Today--Part 1: Book Reviews by Beth Bacon

Self-Published Books Topped 450,000 in 2013 by IndieReader

The Growing Popularity of Novellas by Jody Hedlund

To Hyphenate or Not To Hyphenate? by Jodie Renner

9 Easy & Inexpensive Ways to Promote Your Audiobook by Erika Liodice

Why Genre Matters by Cathy Yardley