Urban Fantasy

What is urban fantasy anyway? 

http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2013/04/03/urban-fantasy/

Writing in Scenes

Author Nancy Kress shows how to write your novel scene by scene. 

http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2013/04/nancy-kress-on-how-to-get-out-of-slush.html

Writing Contests

Here are some hints to increase your chances of winning a writing contest. 

http://amwritingblog.com/wordpress/archives/16801

First Page Problems

What are some ways your book opening can go astray? 

http://www.darcypattison.com/first-drafts/5-ways-first-pages-go-wrong/

New YA Imprint

Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is launching Blink, a new YA imprint for the general, not Christian, trade. 

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/56712-zondervan-launches-new-ya-imprint.html

Blogging for Fiction Writers

Is it worthwhile to spend the time on keeping up a blog if you write fiction only? 

http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-changing-nature-of-blogging-for.html

Nonfiction Books and Articles

If you've written an article on a subject, can you adapt it to a book? 

http://kidlit.com/2013/04/08/nonfiction-book-or-article/

Curriculum Guides

Teachers love when they can reference curriculum guides to help further classroom discussions and activities. 

http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/curriculum-guides-for-books/

Authentic Teen Voice

In order to write young adult characters, you need to truly understand teens. 

http://ingridsnotes.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/crafting-teen-characters-with-respect-and-authenticity-part-1/
http://ingridsnotes.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/crafting-teen-characters-with-respect-and-authenticity-part-2/

Dialogue Tips

Make your dialogue work for you.

http://writerunboxed.com/2012/10/16/10-tips-for-writing-impactful-dialogue/

Submitting via Email

Agent Jill Corcoran tells all you need to know about submitting a manuscript digitally. 

http://jillcorcoran.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-sub-queries-full-ms-in-digital.html

Submissions

Acquiring a manuscript is about more than the quality of the work.

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2013/03/all-gears-have-to-work-with-submission.html

Dialect

The pros and cons of having your characters speak in dialect. 

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-pros-and-cons-of-dialect-in-writing.html

Author Visits

Teacher and author, Shaunda Kennedy Wenger, gives hints for successful school visits.

http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2013/03/author-visits-that-impress-and-inspire.html

Common Writing Mistakes

Even if you have the greatest story, you still need to watch out for these common mistakes. 

http://www.lindsayburoker.com/editing/common-mistakes-writers-make-by-editor-claudette-cruz/

Teen POV

To make your teen characters realistic, you have to understand the teenage point of view. 

http://writeitsideways.com/writing-from-an-authentic-teen-viewpoint/

Character Emotion

Four tips to give your characters more emotional depth. 

http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2013/03/four-things-you-need-to-understand.html

Children's Nonfiction Comes of Age

Editor Lionel Bender discusses changes in the world of children's nonfiction. 

http://publishingperspectives.com/2013/03/childrens-nonfiction-publishing-comes-of-age/

Why Do Agents Give Up On Projects?

Usually the reason an agent drops a project has nothing to do with its quality. 

http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/when-an-agent-gives-up-on-a-project/

Luck

How much of your journey toward publication depend on luck?

http://scene13ers.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/publishing-how-much-is-luck/

YA Trends

News from Bologna 2013 is that young adult novels are trending toward contemporary realism.

http://www.weheartya.com/2013/03/trending-toward-contemporary.html

Overdone Beginnings

Here are some way-to-common openings for your novel. 

http://paranormalpointofview.blogspot.com/2013/03/things-that-are-overdone.html

Book to Movie

If you think your book would make a good movie, you (or your agent) need the help of a film agent. 

http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/think-you-oughta-be-in-pictures/

Read Your Manuscript Aloud

Even for novels, a great way to work on revisions is to read your manuscript aloud. 

http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/03/how-to-revise-your-novel-through-a-read-aloud-and-critique-workshop/

When an Agent Gives Up

What does it mean if your agent won't send out your manuscript anymore? 

http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/when-an-agent-gives-up-on-a-project/

Poetic Tools

Use these poetic tools to convey emotion in your manuscript. 

http://ingridsnotes.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/engaging-the-heart-poetic-tools-for-writing-emotion-part-1/
http://ingridsnotes.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/engaging-the-heart-poetic-tools-for-writing-emotion-part-2/