Skip to main content

4 Great Websites for Novelists

I researched for hours when I started my novel writing journey last year. There were four places I found myself visiting over and over again. I thought I would share the sites in case it helps another writer or novelist-to-be.

1. Jane Friedman is an expert in many areas of publishing. She hosts author interviews and her site is helpful for anyone pursuing traditional or indie publishing.

2. Manuscript Wishlist or #MSWL This is a fun place to explore the wish lists of publishers and agents. You may search your genre and see what publishing professionals are looking for. If I feel blocked about the next idea before starting a new book I will scroll through and see if it inspires an idea. If you write or have written an MS that someone has wished for, you can mention MSWL in your query.

3. Sub It Club This is a site run by picture book author Heather Ayris Burnell. I'm a member of the Facebook group connected with it. The blog supports those who are in the submission process. She also posts regular updates of contests and Twitter pitch-fests.

4. The Creative Penn Author Joanna Penn runs this site. She is a successful self/indie published author and has written books about publishing and marketing. She also has a podcast. There is a huge amount of helpful information on her site.

If you have a site that has helped you, feel free to shout it out in the comments section.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Nonfiction vs. Fiction...What to Write Next

My computer at my new writing desk. Over the past few weeks I have been typing out every book idea that pops into my head. There have been some fiction ideas, a premise for a sequel to Sarah Starting Over , some nonfiction pitches and a few log-lines for memoirs. They are currently living on a word document called "book ideas." It's been a struggle choosing just one idea to develop right now. I've recently finished a romance that I co-wrote with my writing partner  Amber Roshay . That will make three romances written in just over a year. It's been a whirlwind of learning to craft love stories. And I have a lot more to learn about writing good fiction. Joanna Penn  is an author of both fiction and nonfiction. Her assertion is that writing nonfiction is a palette cleanser after writing fiction, and that notion really clicked with me. I've also been inspired because I am reading a memoir,  Meghan Daum's "Life Would Be Perfect if I Lived in That...

Jennifer Weiser: Author Spotlight + Recipe

Jennifer Weiser, author of the YA paranormal dystopian novel, The Touched shares her insights on writing. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, she's also shared a festive pie recipe. I'm thrilled to host this delightful writer on my blog today!     What is your process for plotting out your novel? I actually don’t have one. As much as I’ve tried to plot before writing, I just can’t seem to do it. I tend to take an idea and run with it, allowing the story and plot to unfold as I type. What is your greatest challenge as a writer? Greatest challenge…hmm, that’s a great question! I suppose my greatest challenge as a writer would be not being able to plot out a story before I sit down to write it. I imagine if I could, I would be able to write more and faster. Do you write in one genre or multiple genres? Why? I’ve only ever written one book that wasn’t YA. And even then it felt off and odd to me to write a genre that was out of my element. To me, writing YA i...

My Friend Amber Roshay's Book: Reaching Prague

Amber and I met in college. Our common interests have included college theatre department rebellion, living abroad, creative urban dwelling and writing. She's one of the most talented writers I've encountered. Her writing is compelling, emotionally raw, it's simply spell-binding. She's just published her novel, Reaching Prague and will soon have her second title, How the fat girl got thin published. If you're in the market for a sweet spring read, check out the synopsis and the link to her website below: Reaching Prague is a darkly psychological tale of adultery set in contemporary Prague. Betrayed by her husband, Sarah Billings flees to Prague in an effort to cope his duplicity and to figure out the rest of her life. In Prague she meets Mikul, a handsome bar owner with mafia ties, who at first seems to be exactly what she needs. Soon they are conducting an illicit affair filled with erotic tension, painful awakenings and looming violence. Slo...