The online writing community is very tight-knit and supportive….probably because the writing life can be so isolating. Most of us have someone in this community who we find especially inspiring and helpful.
There are many writing friends who are supportive on a daily basis–I couldn’t name them all here or the blog might crash. Some writers always comment on my blog (and I read and appreciate every comment I get), some are always there for me on Twitter, RTing the links I share. There are some writers who read my blog on Facebook on Networked Blogs and like my posts there. Some writers are folks I know in person–they give me career advice (which is incredibly appreciated, since it can be hard to know what direction to go in as a writer.)
Then there are writers who provide me with inspiration and writing advice. I subscribe to some incredible blogs–a few of those blogs that I could even set up Twitter to automatically tweet everything they post…because their posts are always good.
because the information there is invaluable for writers. Her main blog is Wordplay and she also posts on a rotation at the AuthorCulture blog. She writes fiction, short stories, and nonfiction–her books can be found here. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Katie has just finished a ten-part series on story structure that covered everything from the inciting incident (place the inciting incident in the first 25% of the book and pull the protagonist into that incident) to the midpoint (“it must act as a personal catalyst upon the main character”) to the resolution (“the resolution should give the reader a concrete example of how the character’s journey has changed him.”)
And this was just used as an example. Go to K.M. Weiland’s blog to find posts on backstory, dialogue, pacing, and more.
As a thank you for her resource for writers at Wordplay and to follow the rules of the Random Act of Kindness Blitz, I’m sending her a bookstore gift certificate so she can spend a little time relaxing with a book.
Becca and Angela designed this blitz to encourage us to recognize other writers–they urge us to “send them an email, give them a shout out, or show your appreciation in another way. “
Becca and Angela have a special RAOK gift waiting for my blog readers as well, so hop on over to The Bookshelf Muse to pick it up.
Who has helped you on your journey to publication or provided helpful resources or encouragement for you? Have you discovered K.M. Weiland’s blog? Which blogs do you find especially helpful for writers?
A great post, Elizabeth. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And thanks for telling us about Katie.
Elizabeth-Love your blog and for that you have been RAOK blitzed! Thank you for all of your inspiration and information. I couldn’t have written my first book without you. Check out my blitz on you at my blog.
This is wonderful! I didn’t know about the blitz even though I follow The Writer’s Muse (tsk). Great post with valuable links for writers. Thank you!
Elizabeth – What a lovely idea! And thank you for introducing us to Katie; what a resource she must be to you. As to who’s helped me along? Um, you. Really.
Jill–Thanks so much for coming by. Hope you’ll check out the Wordplay blog!
Teresa–What an honor! Thanks so much for featuring me. :)
You of course. :)
Wow. I seriously don’t know what to say. Thank you so, so much, Elizabeth! I respect and learn from you all the time, so I’m actually pretty much just floored by this. You made my day!
I love K.M’s posts on structure. Always so helpful. Great choice!
omg! YES!!! Katie is awesome. I’ve followed her since the beginning. I like to think of her as our version of that guy who used to paint on PBS? W/the ‘fro? Uhh! What was his name?
Anyway, I hear that little guitar, and I think yeeaaah… :D LOL!
Yay for KM! <3
It is such a pleasure to see writers supporting other writers in a truly positive way! Elizabeth, you are a blessing I will now give myself every morning. Thank you for the help that you give so freely. Your posts have certainly helped me, and I see that I am not alone in this regard! I usually write academic nonfiction–mostly music criticism and history–and it is rare that critics and historians support each other in a positive way. For some, the battle becomes more important than the reward. That is why your posts are just so refreshing! You really care about your “fellow” writers!
My music specialty resides in the 19th century–most especially the music of Franz Liszt and Robert Schumann. Two of music’s top critics, Alan Walker and Michael Saffle, helped me along with publishing and research leads. Although I write nonfiction, it was Stephen King who pushed me toward writing as a profession. I met him at a hotel bar in D.C. a number of years ago. He is brilliant and incredibly down to earth! No airs at all. I’ve often found that writers most of us would find intimidating are actually very willing to help others. And that’s a wonderful thing!
What a great choice. I love Katie’s posts.
Hi Elizabeth! Great post.
I don’t know Katie – I’ll pop off to meet her in a minute!
When I first stumbled into this bloggy-verse I found your blog early on. I was so impressed! You had it all together – you were always so kind and helpful. When you posted a comment on my blog and followed it, I was beyond thrilled! Thanks so much for that boost in confidence to a newbie :)
Susan–We could spend hours just going through Katie’s blog. Really…tons of stuff there.
Margot–You’re too sweet! Thanks for saying so. :)
Laura–Fantastic posts, aren’t they?
LTM–I can’t remember his name, but I remember him talking about “little trees” all the time. :) Great guy. Yes, Katie helps to boil down all these lit concepts for us to make them easier to follow–just like the PBS artist!
Patti–Me too!
Journaling Woman–You’re too sweet! And thank you for all the support you give me. :) It means a lot.
K.M. Weiland–Thanks for all you do! It’s appreciated.
Susanne–Thanks!
The “Random Acts” was a great idea! I’ve had so many authors online help me in my journey that I couldn’t even begin to name them all.
Oh, what a great choice! Katie’s blog really is an online treasure trove. Thanks for sharing the love, Elizabeth!
Becca @ The Bookshelf Muse
What a lovely idea. I have received so much craft help from three romance writers (and I haven’t written romance to date but I have a series in planning).
Lani Diane Rich http://storywonk.com/
Samatha Graves
http://www.samanthagraves.com/
and
Jennifer Crusie http://www.jennycrusie.com/
all seem to be willing and eager to share their wisdom in a way that any writer can use it. Thanks for the opportunity to recognize them.
Alex–And you’ve helped a tremendous number, yourself!
Becca–Isn’t it? Thanks for the idea for the blogfest, Becca!
J. Hall-Swadley–Thanks so much for saying so! So sweet of you. I’m so glad that you’ve found a positive vibe here–and it’s evident all through the writer blogiverse. :) I haven’t run into as many academic bloggers, although I read the Scholarly Kitchen blog and find it very interesting. Maybe competition isn’t as evident in the fiction community because there are so *many* topics we could cover because we’re making things up. :)
You make a great point, too, about writers being approachable, perhaps when we don’t think they *would* be. Who would think that critics and King would be so supportive?! It just goes to show that many writers are happy to help others along their path…because we’ve all been there.
Jemi–I’m so glad you found my blog–and that I’ve found yours! You’re always so warm and supportive on both your blog and through your comments here. Thanks so much for that!
P.A.–Thanks so much for sharing these links and introducing us to more resources for writers!
Oh, Katie is an amazing choice! Her posts are not only informative, but they’re easy to follow. She breaks things down in a way that totally makes sense.
Hooray for RAOK!
Hooray for RAOK!
I first discovered K.M. Weiland through her blog and then ordered her ebook that describes how to outline a novel. As a beginning novelist, I have found her book to be a great place to start when it comes to working on story structure.
I have learned so much from Katie. She is a rock star. Great choice.
Julie–She does a great job of breaking it all down for us.
Miriam–Absolutely!
Susan–It’s a great resource for writers!
Great choice :) K.M. Weiland has been so helpful to me and my writing! Love her blog :)
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