Links on the Web

I can’t hog the web — there are just too many great sites out there! I update these constantly, so be sure to check back. And, if you want me to add your blog, please contact me, and I’ll see what I can do!

YA Fiction and Writing Blogs:

Let the Words Flow ~ A great place for writing advice, writing tips, and writing comfort. (Did I mention I’m a contributor?)

writers, dogs, and germans* ~ This was my very first blog about (I think you can guess). It’s still online, though I’ve stopped updating.

Coffey. Tea. And Literary ~The agency that reps me! These ladies are très fabulous. Be sure to check it out — or else.

Super Mom Writes ~ One of my best writing buddies. She’s a powerhouse of writing advice, mommy advice, and positive energy.

YA Highway ~ Learn writing craft with a specific emphasize on YA fiction — and connect with other YA writers while you’re there.

GotYA ~ Another great source for YA community and YA writing tips.

Bookends, LLC ~ An amazing agent and agency. She constantly offers invaluable craft & industry advice — don’t miss this one.

Miss Snark’s First Victim ~ If somehow you haven’t heard of Authoress or her amazing Secret Agent contests, then you must be living beneath a rock. Go here. Now.

Nathan Bransford ~ Probably the most well-known (former) agent on the web. His blog is a veritable smörgåsbord of writing information.

Query Shark ~ If you can’t handle her bite, then don’t go here. There’s writer blood in the water. But don’t worry — she won’t bite without permission.

Pub Rants ~ From the technical parts of the publishing world to straight out rants, this is an invaluable resource.

Rants & Rambles ~ Another celebrity agent made famous by her great advice, friendly tone, and professional approach.

Getting Past the Gatekeeper ~ A great place to go when you need basic advice on the publishing world. From query letters to offers of rep to major no-nos, she covers it all.

Kidlit ~ The place to go for information on the kidlit world — from picture books to YA.

Shrinking Violet Promotions ~ For those shy introverts out there (er, me included), this blog will hold your hand and guide you through the terrifying world of marketing.

Writer Unboxed ~ With a ton of big shot authors and agents sharing their advice, this is a blog you don’t want to miss.

Write For Your Life ~ Fun writing tips (not just for novelists) plus sage writerly advice. Don’t miss.

Edittorrent ~ From beginner advice to way-over-my-ahead lessons on writing craft, this blog is a must for every writer’s toolbox.

KT Literary ~ From query help to explanations of the industry, Daphne Unfeasible and her amazing shoes cover it all.

Merit Badger ~ The best, cutest, most awesomest merit badges in the world. Why? Because they’re for writers and readers. Inside jokes abound.

Bookshelf Muse ~ With an emotion thesaurus, a setting thesaurus, and a slew of other Writer Stuff, this is a must-browse for any novelist.

Writer Friends:

Holly Dodson	Katharine Brauer
Ian Tregillis	Sarah J. Maas
Amanda Plavich	Regan Leigh
Kat Brauer	Laura Ann Dunks
Biljana Likic	Jennifer Fitzgerald
Julie Eshbaugh	Kat Zhang
Mandy Hubbard	Samantha Bina
Savannah J. Foley	Katharine Owens
Vahini Naidoo	Meredith McCardle
Fleur Bradley	Andi Stenger
Leigh Bardugo	Caitlin Darrell
Jessica Corra	Erin Bowman
Marie Lu	Jodi Meadows

Writing Workshops:

Holly Lisle

I can never recommend her courses enough! How To Think Sideways and How to Revise Your Novel were game-changers for me. They will teach you how to approach your writing, how to improve your writing, and above all, how to stay to true to your Muse!

Margie Lawson

Her Deep Editing Analysis will really make you think about showing versus telling, and even better, you’ll be able to turn your own manuscript into a much stronger story with her techniques.

Alice Anderson

The wonderful teacher who taught me website creation. I highly recommend her WordPress Workshop!

Writing Communities:

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

A well-respected, long-standing community for published authors of sci-fi and fantasy. These are the peeps who vote for the Nebula Awards!

Romance Writers of America

A fabulous community for the fledgling and experienced writers alike. Workshops, mentors, newsletters, and so much more are available to its members.

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

Another great community for writers — I just love their monthly newsletter!

YALitChat

If you write young adult fiction, then you’ll definitely want to check this group out. It’s a place for other writers and industry professionals to meet, share their work, and spread publishing news.

SheWrites

Another great group of writers. Some members are journalists, others are authors, others are copywriters, others blog, and the list goes on and on! What we all have in common is that we’re women!

Savvy Authors

One of the best societies to join — the membership is affordable and the benefits are enormous! So many workshops, so many tools, and such a great, supportive community.

Cata University

A plethora of writing resources — full of articles, tips, and other writers.

Writing Research:

 Internet Archive

This website has a gagillion texts, videos, recordings, pictures, etc., and they’re all free! This site is a must for historical research since thousands of primary sources (a.k.a. eyewitness accounts) are available for download.

Costumer’s Manifest0

The place to go if you need to know what your heroine/hero wore back in the day.

Nonverbal Dictionary

A great tool for finding realistic action tags and unique ways to describe them.

Writing Realistic Injuries

My characters tend to suffer — like a lot. But since my own experience with life-threatening injuries is pretty slim, I found this site to be incredibly helpful!

Food Timeline

Need to know what foods existed when? This is a great resource for historical (or fantastical) fiction-writers.

Cliché and Expression Origins

Want to know if you’re using a cliché correctly? Need to know if an idiom existed yet for your historical novel? Then definitely head here.