I try not to get too caught up in reading blogs because I feel that my time would be better spent doing my own writing. But I confess that there are a few I can’t resist. One I enjoy on a regular basis is Barbara O’Connor’s blog at http://greetings-from-nowhere.blogspot.com. The name comes from the title of one of her books. If you tune in on “Writing Tip Tuesday,” you can pick up some great writing suggestions. Other days, you can enjoy her musings on books she’s reading, car racing, and antiquing. Her postings are always good fun.
I also look forward to reading Jane Yolen’s journal, not blog. As she explains on the site, “This journal is not to be a classic blog, in other words it’s not interactive. It will not have photos either. Or links. Nor do I expect to write in it every day. And I don’t want to have to moderate the thing.” Journal? Blog? Either way it’s a good read partly because...well, she is Jane Yolen, and what writer would not want to achieve even a fraction of her success? Of course, reading her journal entries makes it very clear why she has enjoyed such success. Reading about her current projects leaves me breathless and shames me into plopping myself down at the computer to write. And if the sheer volume of the work she gets done in a day makes you think she is all work and no play, a little more reading will quickly dispel that idea. She also writes about her travels and spending time with friends and family, entries that make it clear that she enjoys a well-rounded life. Need a good kick in the pants to get you to sit down and write? Read Yolen’s journal at http://www.janeyolen.com/journal.html.
A newer blog that I’ve been enjoying lately is Kidlit Central News, a community blog at http://community.livejournal.com/kidlitcentral. It features interviews, writing tips, publishing news, and reviews. Although the blog is by and about Midwest writers, it’s information that writers from any part of the country can use. Maybe I’m just biased on this one because the September 8 entry is an interview with me about writing biographies.
What am I working on when I’m not reading blogs? Right now, the first three chapters and a synopsis of my mystery are making the publishing rounds, and I'm working on a ghost story for younger readers. Although it’s a ghost story, it’s more fun than scary. I'm also working on a biography about an early aviator. It's too soon to mention her name because I'm superstitious about talking about a project in advance. Also, I’m looking forward to an Iowa SCBWI novel retreat I’ll be attending. It will be a small group, which means lots of individual attention, and it will include a critique of my mystery. Working on a ghost story and a biography does not measure up to the number of projects that Jane Yolen is able to juggle, but it’s a start. |
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