THE BIG NEWS THIS WEEK
The internet was abuzz about a disturbing book promoting pedophilia for sale on Amazon. Controversy and boycotts ensued. Amazon at first refused to remove the book, then changed its mind. The Book Smugglers have a good discussion about the freedom of speech issues inherent to this issue.
THIS WEEK IN WRITING
- Author Doyce Testerman on procrastination and why you don't need Neil Gaiman's effing gazebo.
- It's easy to say "real writers don't give up" and much harder to make that reality. Read Ellen Hopkins' heart-wrenching post about author Albert Borris's refusal to give up.
- Lost your writing mojo? Author Veronica Rossi has great advice on getting it back.
- Writers' curses and how to break them, by author C. Hope Clark.
- In writing, as in architecture, form follows function, according to author Jaimie Lynne Teekell.
- Author Scott Tracey explains how crit partners are like Goldilocks.
- Very cool tools: The Brainstormer and Dragon Dictation, both available online or as an app. (from GalleyCat via Alice Pope)
- Agent Joanna Volpe on why you shouldn't use realistic teen dialogue.
- Author Kristen Lippert-Martin presents "The Writer's Prayer."
- For the menfolk: You might want to, um, take care of the boys when using a laptop. (via @thejeanmartha)
THIS WEEK IN READING
- NPR reports on the effort to make Quidditch an official NCAA sport.
- The Class of 2K11 launches their group blog.
- Our girl Pam Harris guest posted at author Elizabeth Scott's blog about LGBTQ YA.
- Trying to decide where to apply for college? Check out the HuffPo's list of the most beautiful campus libraries.
- Reading may steal function from other parts of your brain (via Molly O'Neill)
- "20 Obsolete Words That Should Make a Comeback," from the Matador Network.
THIS WEEK IN PUBLISHING
- Author Michelle Hodkin has the secret to getting published.
- What to do when an agent requests your MS or offers you rep, by author Susan Dennard.
- Is contemporary YA a difficult market? Mary Kole explains.
- Agent Sarah Davies sees the YA paranormal market as being more difficult (and elaborates on other current market pressures).
- Rachelle Gardner discusses the parts of contracts that agents most often negotiate.
- Gone? Nathan Bransford is gone?!? *sobs and rending of garments across the publishing land* Even his week of Harry Potter-themed posts can't make us feel better. Much, anyway.
- Know Thy Genre, admonishes Meredith Barnes at FinePrint.
- Also at FinePrint: Suzie Townsend's going on query hiatus starting Monday, Nov 15.
- Agents Kathleen Ortiz and Liz Jote join forces for Neo Agents, a new podcast series. You can listen on iTunes or the internet. Very cool idea!
THIS WEEK IN OTHER STUFF
- GalleyCat tabulates the 20 most popular authors on Facebook.
- Think authors profit from book banning? Think again, says author Sarah Ockler.
- The WSJ covers James Frey's YA factory (via Sarah Enni)
- The importance of downtime and sacred spaces (like the shower!) by Scott Belsky at 99 Percent.
THIS WEEK IN CONTESTS
- Crescent Moon Press is launching a YA line - and your book could be their premiere!
- YA Highway's Amanda Hannah has jumped into the query pool with her super cute MG that I love and she's keeping herself afloat with a contest- write the best haiku and win your choice of books!
THIS WEEK IN THE RANDOM
"56 Worst/Best Analogies Of High School Students" made me snort coffee up my nose. Seriously. Examples:
Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.
The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t.
He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant and she was the East River.
The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.
Her eyes were shining like two marbles that someone dropped in mucus and then held up to catch the light.
She was as unhappy as when someone puts your cake out in the rain, and all the sweet green icing flows down and then you lose the recipe, and on top of that you can’t sing worth a damn.
The mashup to end all mashups:
The Beatles, Joan Jett, House of Pain, Cypress Hill and Rage Against the Machine
And of course: The Hillywood parody of "Eclipse." (via the KOrtizzle)
Have a great weekend!
Lol, I really liked the analogies.
ReplyDeleteThanks once again for the links!
OMG the analogies. . . I can't breathe! Those are so awesome :D
ReplyDeleteYou rock. Like always.
ReplyDeleteOmg, the Hillywood Show is amazing. How do they pack so much talent into those tiny bodies?
ReplyDeleteLooking for excuses to use the phrase "scrotal hyperthermia!"
ReplyDeleteThe analogies! The one about Second Tall Man was really good.
Amused by the fact that Edwards is played by a "jacob" lol.
Thanks so much for the shout-out! And you have officially made my Friday with those analogies. :)
ReplyDelete*HUGGLES*
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much for the shoutout. <3
Thank you for the shout out. And I LOVE the Hillywood Show.
ReplyDeleteSuzallo in the hizou!!!! I'm rather a fan of my alma mater library. >.>
ReplyDeleteFanstasmic round-up!
omg...those analogies.
ReplyDelete"The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t." <--am I the only one who finds this GENIUS??
that analogy list gets circulated a lot as a list of "actual analogies by high school students," but it's actually from a washington post style invitational contest where people created and submitted terrible analogies. no high school students were harmed. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat links, have been having fun reading through these :)
ReplyDeleteRach
Great Post. I found several fun places to visit.
ReplyDelete