Web Tools for Writers

So, how's that NaNoWriMo going for you? Needing a little pick me up yet? Here are some sites for a writerly kick in the pants.

31 Ways to find Inspiration for Your Writing
This is pretty self explanatory. Check it out.

7 Can't Miss Ways to Kick-Start the Writing Habit
Okay, so this on isn't really a site; it's a blog post but it's highly informational.

LooseStitch
Share outlines for your pieces with writing partners and editors with this totally free collaboration tool.

The Book Marketing Network

Join this network to find publishers, agents and marketers, check out the network blog, join groups and view photos or videos.

Coffee House for Writers

An online coffeehouse offering writers a safe space for finding encouragement, taking online workshops, talking about books, and learning about the writing and publishing industries.

Character Questionnaire

A fun and clever way for developing your characters.

Got any other favorites? Feel free to share in the comment section.

Haters Gonna Hate

At some point, every writer looks at their manuscript
with through hate-colored glasses.

Whewie! There's a whole lot of fallout from the Trump election. I'm seeing lots of ranting raves and outright hatred on Facebook and Twitter. Seems like a silly waste of time and energy to me. It's pretty easy to look down your nose at someone else and tell them to stop the hatred.

But it's quite another thing to have to say it to yourself in regards to your writing.

Come on. Admit it. We've all been there. Those first draft blues where at some point, everything you write seems like a steaming pile of literary manure. You hate the characters, the plot, your dog. I'm nearing the end of a manuscript now and I'm despising the wretched thing.

And that's a very good place to be.

No, not in a heap of poo. In a critical mood. Here's the deal . . . great writers are always critical of their own work because they crave to be better.

That uneasy feeling about what you've written, that loathing of your lack of skill, that's what will drive you to strive for excellence. So go ahead and hate on your rough drafts -- and use that passion to polish it into a magnificent piece of art.

The Wattys 2016

Looking for a fantastic free read to curl up with this autumn? You're in luck, because over at Wattpad, they just announced the winners of the world's largest online writing contest, The Wattys.

Sidenote: Just in case you don't know what Wattpad is, it's a community of storytellers where users post written works to be read by the world for free.

Now then, there are 10 top winners in each of the following categories for your reading pleasure. Categories are:

People's Choice
These winners were chosen by readers of Wattpad who tweeted their faves on voting day.

HQ Love
This award recognizes stories most adored by Wattpad staff.

New Voices
Gifted writers new to the scene.

Collector's Edition
Stories that were most often added to readers' libraries of favorites.

Talk of the Town
Books with a lot of buzz about them.

Hidden Gems
Stories that haven't gotten a lot of attention -- yet. This brings promising stories to readers' attention.

Trailblazers
Extraordinary tales that show risks with the writing.

Visual Storytelling
Those that include graphics in some way, shape, or form.

Which category interests you the most? Pop over to The Wattys and discover some new free reads. You might find a new favorite author.

Three Writerly Lessons from the Presidential Election

Today's a historic day. Finally, after a never-ending campaign eternity, we will have some resolution as to who will usher our country into the zombie apocalypse: a puffy oompaloompa who looks like he's been dipped in orange Kool-Aid, or a screechy criminal with a serious hacking issue (both computer and lung-wise).

But enough of my offensive opinions. Despite all the vitriol slathered around by pretty much everyone, there are some writerly lessons to be learned from this election season . . .

Sometimes You Gotta Fight
Newsflash: critique buddies and editors at publishing houses are not God. While it is wise to carefully consider changes to your manuscript, sometimes you need to dig in your heels and stand up for what you wrote and say why. Respectfully, of course.

Be Prepared Before You Go Public
How about that first debate? Or the second? Did you even make it to the third? Debates require preparation beforehand, and so does your story. Before you sit down to write a rough draft, know the beginning from the end. Have a plan of how you're going to get from point A to B. Do some research on the era, the area, or anything else that requires fact-checking. And for goodness sake, before you show your work to an editor or agent, go over the thing with a fine-toothed comb.

Watch Your Tone
No one likes to hear a ranting politician. No one wants to hear you sniping about a bad review or an editor or agent you feel snubbed you. The publishing industry is a small universe. Be careful about what venom you spew because it could come back to poison your career.

Take these lessons to heart and you'll be well on your way to getting yourself elected to the publishing realm. But besides that, are you doing your part to make history today? If you haven't voted yet, what are you waiting for? Do your civic duty, little cowboy and go vote.

First Draft Manifest ~ An Infographic

Yep . . . it's all yours. Share it. Steal it. Whatever.

Surviving a Horrific Review

Some people are going to "get" your writing and adore it. Others, not so much. And a few will shout from the rooftops that a three-year-old with a lisp and flippers for arms could write better than you. Why is that?

Because art is subjective.

It's easy to get all mopey-faced when a review rips to shreds the manuscript you slaved over. It feels like a kidney punch. And with the advent of social media and review sites galore, it happens more and more because everyone is a critic. But this is part of the writerly game, folks. How are you going to cope with it? Here are a few suggestions . . .

5 Ways to Survive a Vicious Review

Change your perspective.
A bad review is still a review. Yes, it could keep some readers from buying your book, but if it does, would you really have wanted those readers to buy it in the first place? Probably not, because it likely wouldn't have been their cup of tea either.

Focus on your next project.
I'm all about denial. If you're busy focused on your next manuscript, you won't have time to get super upset about a past one.

High-five yourself for being in such great company.
You're not the only one who's gotten a stinko review. Misery loves company, so here are some negative remarks flung at some of the greats . . .

“It was one of the most boring and shallow books that I have ever read.” —review of the American classic The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Not nearly enough consistency and far to [sic] little plot.”—review of Harry Potter And the Half Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

“If I were you, I’d peruse it briefly at your neighborhood library before putting hard-earned money out.” —review of children’s classic A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Re-read your good reviews.

Say no to the negativity by staking your tent in the positive ones. 

Revisit why you write.

Is the goal of your writing to please everybody all the time? I'm guessing not, and if it is then you have set yourself up for some whoop-butt failure. Anchor yourself in your core values of why you decided to write in the first place.

Bad reviews are going to happen. Know that. Own that. Then let it go.

Plot Originality is Overrated

You can’t wait for inspiration. 

You have to go after it with a club. 

~ Jack London

There's a theory floating out there in Literary Land that there are only so many plots to go around, that every story is just a variation on one of the basic six, seven, eight, nine, or even twenty plot lines. There will never be any more than that because they all boil down to one of those already in existence.

How does that make you feel? 

Constricted? 

Freaked out? 

Like balling up your writerly towel and tossing it into the corner?

Cheer up. It's not that bad, because here's the deal . . . you can use one of those basic plots and write a wangbanger of a story that's completely awesome. You don't have to be original with your basic plot structure. Plot originality is not only overrated, it has a way of instilling paralyzing fear into newbie writers. If you can let go of the stress of re-creating the wheel every time you sit down to write a story, your words will flow more freely. 

Yeah, I hear your screechy voice right about now. "But Michelle! You call this advice? What kind of hippy-dippy whacked-out mind-bending drugs are you taking? Why would anyone want to buy my story if my story is exactly like oodles already out there?"

Settle down. I guarantee you it won't be exactly like anything that's been written before. How do I know that? Because you're the one writing it. It will be in your voice, with your distinct combination of words and rhythm. The story Cinderella has been written a bajillion times, but if you create a novel based on that plot line, it will be unique because you did it. And here's the kicker -- you don't have to try to sound like yourself because you are yourself. It's natural. It just happens.

So don't get all knotted up over figuring out the most exotic plot that's ever been penned. Your voice is what will make your story a rarity.