THE BIG NEWS THIS WEEK
Wesley Scroggins, associate professor at Missouri State University, petitions for the removal of several YA books, including SPEAK and TWENTY BOY SUMMER, from his local public school. You know. The one his children don't even attend.
Anyway. A #speakloudly campaign launched on Twitter and the blogosphere exploded. There are far too many posts to link here, but the Reclusive Bibliophile did a great job of gathering them, so I'll just mention a few that grabbed my attention:
- Laurie Halse Anderson's original call to action and follow up
- Authors Myra McEntire, Veronica Roth, M.G. Buehrline and Lindsay Roth Culli with a Christian rebuttal
- Author Michelle Hodkin with a look at the legal workings of book banning
- Truly, truly heartbreaking and brave stories from authors Cheryl Rainfield, CJ Redwine, Saundra Mitchell and Valerie Kemp.
- "Truth is not pornography. I believe that with all my heart," says agent Janet Reid.
- Author Jo Knowles examines the term "dirty book."
- God I love The Rejectionist, who offers Dr. Scroggins her editorial services - free of charge!
Meanwhile, don't forget: Banning happens all the time, and not just in small hill towns-- I'm Here, I'm Queer, What The Hell Do I Read? has more on the banning of a queer youth anthology in New Jersey.
THIS WEEK IN WRITING
- !!!!! Scrivener for Windows!!!!! It's coming soon!!!!
- How to write a better rant, at SheWrites (via @elizabethscraig)
- Agent Sarah LaPolla tells you how to write a paranormal bestseller without the paranormal.
- Publishers Weekly on the "cop out" of dead parents in YA.
- Author Maggie Stiefvater explains the difference between a good idea and its good execution.
- Two great posts from author Janice Hardy this week: Tying up loose ends and writing what your readers don't know.
- Big Other wants to know your writing rituals.
- Quick and easy reference for word count by genre from Colleen Lindsay at the Swivet.
- Author John Scalzi with one of this week's most popular blog posts, "Writing: Find the Time or Don't."
"Do you want to write or don’t you? If your answer is 'yes, but,' then here’s a small editing tip: what you’re doing is using six letters and two words to say 'no.' And that’s fine. Just don’t kid yourself as to what 'yes, but' means."
THIS WEEK IN READING
- Important post from author Maureen Johnson on the "crisis" of boy books.
“All I would ask you to consider is the fact that as a female writer, I was raised on a steady and unvaried diet of male writers. I read about impotence before I knew what menopause was.”
- On a related note, The Wall Street Journal presents "How to Raise Boys That Read." (Hint: not with gross-out books and video game bribes.)
- Laura Miller at Salon examines whether a character has to be likeable.
- Our friend Elana Johnson reveals her beautiful cover!
- Why The Hunger Games is not the new Twilight. (Warning: The comments, at least when I read the article, are like something out of a 1996 AOL chatroom.)
THIS WEEK IN GETTING PUBLISHED
- Author Kiersten White explains the O.B.S.E.S.S. method of professional waiting for writers.
- Do Twitter's Follow Fridays and Writer Wednesdays actually work? Author Jan O'Hara says no (and I totally agree).
- Querying? Don't compare your manuscript to the books mentioned in this article at Slate.
- Agent Rachelle Gardner offers eleven questions to help focus your pitch.
- Agent Mary Kole on resubmitting a revision.
THIS WEEK IN CONTESTS
Tons of giveaways associated with #speakloudly and Banned Books Week:
Also, don't forget that we're giving away copies of BLUE FIRE and A BLUE SO DARK!
THIS WEEK IN OTHER STUFF
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- Popwatch wants to know which YA books you think should become movies.
- Awesome pen records sound while you write.
- Does your will have a provision for your library? Boston.com looks at lost libraries. (via BookNinja)
- Two great posts at Forever Young Adult this week: Keeping the Romance Alive and some alternate endings for Mockingjay.
- New blog Entropificus will illustrate outfits from the awesome "What Claudia Wore" blog.
THIS WEEK IN THE RANDOM
Something truly, truly random (via @molly_oneill)
Have a great weekend!
Extra awesome this week!
ReplyDeleteAmazing like usual! Loved it.:D
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for the mention! Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThank you for doing this, I know how hard it to compile these links.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are AWESOME!!!
I love that panda!
ReplyDeleteThey banned SPEAK??
ReplyDeleteThat's awful. We studied that book for English 9. I really liked it. Can't look at rape the same way anymore. Especially since a high-profile case is on fire these last few weeks around the area I'm living in.
Another great round-up! Thanks for all the awesome links. :)
ReplyDelete