Vera Nazarian recently compiled a list of her personal indispensable person resources online. I like the way she puts it:
I know that all of us have their favorite regular online spots, and tend to visit them over and over… What follows is my own personal list of indispensable person-resources
as is obvious from my title, I am taking my lead from Vera rather than following her example. We’re talking online here, so from my perspective (the beginning writer with a teensy smattering of “success”) blog and individual is largely inseparable. My angle here is: which blogs would I have killed for to know about their existence when I took my first steps down writer road? now, I did consider the usual suspect big blogs but you know what? I’d still back — and do prefer — my selection against them any day.
A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing
Joe Konrath created this blog with one purpose — to share his experiences, opinions and experimentations with authors newer than himself. It’s an invaluable resource, stretching much wider than writing only, looking at publishing, marketing, the internet’s tools, etc. Konrath is frank, honest and often funny. He doesn’t pretend to lay down the gospel, he’s sharing what worked for him and encourages people to discuss and even disagree with him. He’s still learning, still experimenting, open to suggestions for better ways than his. There’s a free downloadable compilation of his early blog posts here.
Of course, it is possible you will think Konrath is the anti-christ…
Writer Beware
Writer Beware might as well be points #1-#12 on a list like this. From posting notices on scams, investigating dodgy behavior by suspect publishing individuals/ companies and explaning — in English — rights, contracts, clauses, copyright, etc (they do this based on the topic at hand, it’s a cumulative process). Basically, they put in English all those publishing stuff most veterans try to explain in Klingon. WB can’t help you write, but they will help you to navigate the swamp without getting eaten by the publishing crocs.
Sherwood Smith
I’ve always been one of those people who learn best when I enjoy the act of learning. Sherwood’s blog isn’t just about the variety of opinions you can find there (articulate, well-reasoned, broad spectrum, thank christ little to no impulse to flames — what a fantastic group of commenters!), it’s her ability to collect said commenters, ask interesting questions and elicit the most fascinating discussions. And all in an environment where my impression is that people feel “safe” to have an opinion, where opinions are valued even if they don’t synch with the majority, where the leading hand is that of a guide, not a dominatrix.
This blog is one where you can just enjoy yourself.
SF Novelists
A group of published novelists, a different one blogging every day on a topic of choice. I’m up and down on the individual blogs, but it’s a quick scan to see whether today’s topic will interest me or not. And it’s pretty hard to beat such a wide collection of people bringing their opinions and expertise into one place. The variety of topics is refreshingly diverse.
Nathan Bransford
Hands down, bar none, Nathan Bransford is the best agent who blogs.
Arguably, along with Writer Beware, the single most valuable blog any new writer could hope to read to learn everything they want to know about publishing and writing. And entertaining as hell.
Kristin Nelson
Literary agent Nelson’s short, blunt near daily posts almost always focus on questions writers ask, or something happening somewhere in publishing. Patient, always willing to demystify the query process, the publishing biz, agent jargon, etc.
Dear Author
The Jaynes bring the kind of hypercritical scrutiny that only the deepest passion for their books and writers can bring. More than just a review site, the Jaynes are clued in to book matters and never, as in never, shy about giving an opinion. Think of this as the crucial fan perspective every wannabe writer needs to know about.
Informative. Opinionated. Passionate. Entertaining — what more do you want in a blog?
The Written Nerd/ Bookseller Chick
Two of the first blogs I started reading, I always group them together in my mind. Both are bookdealers and they used to be wonderfully complimentary to one another. Less so now that BS Chick is no longer working the floor, and she blogs very seldomly now although still interesting. Written Nerd is the self-proclaimed poster girl for indie bookstores. Bookdealers speak to and touch the people you want to buy your books every. single. day. They are partners, one of the most crucial cogs, in the enterprise that is your career. What do people want to read? What do people like? Why aren’t more books selling? What’s going on? stop asking other writers and talk to the people who actually stand on the floor all day.
Booksquare
Kassia Krozser alone can best describe this blog:
The primary voice of Booksquare is Kassia Krozser. She is a kind-hearted, gentle soul with a wealth of patience for the foibles of humani–wait, that’s not true at all. Kassia has never had an opinion she didn’t wish to express, nor has she ever been shy about telling the emperor that his clothes are, well, transparent. This is her way of expressing love, and she lavishes all of her adoration on the publishing industry because, like a child who needs firm, corrective guidance, publishers and writers need Booksquare.
Suffice to say that she’s never wrong. And when she is, her mother shows up in the comments section to show who’s really the smart one in the family.
it is a very good blog for opinions, links and commentary on the book and publishing world.
Alexander van Elsas
yes, a blog on media and internet tech.
Social Media is here. The tools of the internet are here. It is possible to exert enough willpower and fixate adamantly enough on whichever fictionalized past utopia you prefer and thereby the future itself will be prevented from coming to pass. Or, you can look at these things for what they are:
Opportunity. Tools. An untapped realm of possibility. Instruments. Slaves created to service human desire. Fact is, I would not have been able to participate nor connect in the small way that I have to the book&writer world were it not for these tools. So, yes, I’m a fan.
I chose van Elsas because I like the philosophical slant his blog often leans to, he’s not just your typical early adopter type running afer the pretty colors and gushing on the shiny but actually *cue gasp* explains #@$%. Good linking action too.
The Onion
High quality journalism: Thoughtful articles. Riveting audio. Opinion articles by the experts. Video documentaries of topical matters. The Onion is the web’s most essential read.
so, what’s everyone else’s favourite online reads?
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