The Perks of Being a Writer

There's a lot about writing that I don't love

The waiting

The rejection

Never knowing how good you are

But on days like today

When it's sunny

And warm

And the trees finally have leaves

And I can grab my puppy

And a book

And a blanket

And take in the sunshine

I'm pretty thankful to be a writer

Wrap Up: Good Book Edition

I posted this picture of my pup, blissed out during story time, in yesterday's Quick Review of The Raven Boys, but since it was after the jump I thought I'd repost it as today's Wrap Up photo.

This is Abby realizing that books are wonderful and much better for reading than snacking. A life-changing moment for any pup.

On to this week's posts!

Rachelle Gardner talks the benefits of having an agent and posts another terrifying reminder to BACK UP YOUR WORK

When "happily ever after" isn't the only option

James Gurney, author of the Dinotopia series, discusses how to build a map of your world

Think you're writing historical fiction? Maybe not.

How poets pay the bills

Free samples of the SCBWI Crystal Kite winners!

So fascinated/excited to hear about this new website that seeks to promote diversity in YA

Why a bigger advance might not be better

Some of K.M. Weiland's favorite writing websites

Preach it. Marie Lu on fighting the Imposter Syndrome.

One more thing.

Wrap Up: Red Velvet Cake Edition

Do I ever need a reason to post a picture of a gigantic slice of four-layer red velvet cake? No. Moving on...

Here are this week's posts!

Author Erin Bowman talks about outlining and compares her own writing to driving along in the dark with the headlights on high-beam (seconded)

The Writer's Lament! (and the agent's response)

David Sedaris' new book, the awesomely-titled Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls is out this week! He sat down with Esquire to talk about his new book  

The daily rituals of some of the world's best thinkers

A simple trick to make your characters more interesting

The former economics reporter in me knows it's first quarter earnings season! If you had to write a 1Q writing earnings report, how'd you do?

This story gave me a stomachache for the rest of the day: why you should back up your writing

One more thing.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Eight Things My Old Job Taught Me About Querying

Before I made the transition to writing full-time, I worked as the radio producer for a news show. It was a crazy, wild, interesting job where I learned a lot and never took lunch,* and after I left, I realized a lot of the skills gained at that job were super helpful in querying.

See, as the producer, I had a big role in deciding what we covered or who went on the air. Generally, I got between 50-100 emails a day, the vast majority of which were pitches for our show.** I had to decide, often in a glance, whether or not a pitch was right for me,*** and it gave me a weird insight into the kind of email onslaught that agents deal with on a regular basis.

Here are some of the best things I learned:

Wrap Up: Little Green Shoots Edition

Ugh, what a week (thanks, Onion, for summarizing this all so perfectly once again). Here's hoping that things calm down soon (and that the sun shows its face in Chicago someday). I mentioned this yesterday, but I was cheered up a lot when I noticed our big, beautiful maple tree was finally showing some little green buds. In just a few days, hopefully my view will be a lot more cheerful than its been for the last few months.

All right, let's get to this week's links:

Marie Lu on Prometheus and knowing your characters

My agent-sister Erin Bowman is celebrating the release of her hotly-anticipated novel, Taken! She spoke with YA Highway about how she transitioned from a designer to a writer and her thoughts on Taken's cover (also, GO BUY THE BOOK!)

Agent Mary Keely talks about writers who also blog, and how agents pay attention to bloggers

When characters age in a series, how should readers, librarians, and teachers respond?

Thought-provoking post from Rachelle Gardner: What would you do if you weren't afraid? She also gives self-pubbed authors 6 reasons to want a traditional publisher.

Kristin Nelson asks, is New Adult just another way to say Chick Lit?

Debut YA novelist Leah Konen has some great advice for aspiring YA writers

And finally, from Kristin Cashore, a lovely reminder from Mr. Rogers

Have a great, safe, sunny weekend, everyone!

Tea and Rain Clouds and a Puppy

It's rainy outside. I'm fighting a cold that keeps me awake all night and groggy all day. The news out of Boston--a city closer to my heart than perhaps any other--has left me sad and dazed and confused.

I try to keep this blog lighthearted and focused on publishing, but today and this week my mind has been too wrapped up in what's going on in the world. I've spent a lot of time drinking tea, reading books, hugging my puppy, saying prayers of thanks for friends who ran or watched the marathon but were spared, saying prayers of comfort for the families of the victims. Today I learned that one of the victims was the sister of someone I knew in college. It's hard to watch him standing with his mom and not feel like the whole world has turned upside down.

I debated whether to post this today. But ultimately, if writing has taught me anything, it's to pay attention to what I'm thinking and feeling and to be honest about that. Share it. Put it out in the world and hope that in some way, it touches another person.

And I know that these feelings are only temporary. I know Boston is a tough city and every time I hear someone on the news say the marathon won't ever be joyful again I think "Like hell it won't."

But in the meantime, it's tough. It's sad. It's strange. And so I drink cups of tea, read books, hug my puppy. Cry, pray, check in with friends and family. Try not to get overwhelmed by the news and remember, even on the days when it doesn't seem like it (maybe even especially on the days it doesn't seem like it): the world is a good place.

Wrap Up: Little Green Tomatoes Edition

Today was the first day in memory that I woke up from my alarm and not from the puppy whining or jumping up into bed with me* or throwing her toys on the ground (actually, she did wake me up after repeatedly body-slamming her teething rings onto the floor, but I managed to fall asleep again). It was an amazing feeling! Also, I forgot how to turn off my alarm.

For the past year, I've been growing this tomato plant in my apartment. It looks a little funny because it's grown upside down in a giant bucket hanging from the ceiling, and it's so big that it pretty much takes over the whole window. I've been coddling this plant for months now, watering it and lavishing attention on it, and despite a little tag that said it would grow tomatoes within two months, it wasn't until last weekend that I noticed finally, finally, the little yellow flowers had turned into very small, very green tomatoes.

Even though they are probably a loooong way from ending up on our dinner plates, it's lovely to see some signs of spring and growth and green on days when I look outside and see the weather equivalent of uuggghhh.


This week's links!

How to deal with editorial letters? Publishing Crawl has some tips

A bunch of good posts from Rachelle Gardner this week: Literary agents aren't extinct yet, busting publishing myths, and does potential matter?

From Nathan Bransford: In the future, will everyone be a publisher?

Every blogging writer (or every blogger) should read this post from Kristin Cashore about keeping your center while blogging

The wonderful Hyperbole and a Half book will be out this October!

Suzie Townsend talks about self-publishing, and the difficulties self-pubbed authors can face transitioning to traditional publishing

From Publetariat, an essay encouraging hopeful writers to go out and live life instead of spending time in writing classes

Phantom Tollbooth documentary out this summer!

One more thing.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

*No, she does not sleep in our bed. On mornings when the husband leaves the apartment before I'm up, we've learned that she whines less if he brings her into the bedroom, where it usually takes her .3 seconds before she leaps onto the bed (it's 4 1/2 feet off the ground, so this is actually pretty impressive).