101 Writing Links

This has been cut and pasted with permission from Michelle in Writing Links

I wouldn’t normally EVER cut and paste another persons work – however it seems my little blog has been discovered and added to a writing link. I am delighted and pleased to have ‘made the grade.’

Michelles site is full of information for writers – so please do go and visit. Please read the below ( from Michelles original post) and feel free to share!

What is this?

This is a  project aiming to interlink the writing blogosphere for -

1. the discovery of some excellent writing blogs and
2. a little “link lovin’”
3. which is a little help for all of the new writers out there who have similar blogs to this one,
4. and for inclusion in the Resource Guide Michelle is currently writing.

This Writing Blog Discovery Project (a meme) and the first Writing Links originally started off from the Juiced on Writing blog.

Here’s how it works.

• If you write a Writing blog take all of the links on this page and add yours to it (if not there already), and also think about adding a writing friend’s blog link to the list (tell them you’ve done it, so that they can then add their own entry on their blogs also), then publish a blog entry like mine. It’s like a wrapped surprise gift – explore the writing blog world by just clicking on a random link in the package.
• Make sure to explain what the project is… and the benefits to the project and yourself. Don’t copy everything here, make it personal. This is your way of gifting your readers with some further quality writing blogs.
• The blogs you’ve linked to will discover you (WordPress users are notified when someone links to them, as are many other blogging service users), and readers all over the net will discover your list of fabulous personal writing blog links and your own blog within.
• You will be notified when some other blog posts these entries – with your link in it (if you’re picking up references and bank-links) and in that way you can discover other great writing blogs also.
• I mentioned the “link lovin”’ also. The project will also gain you effortless one-way links all around the writing blogosphere. In internet marketing terms, that’s backlinks gold. Other blogs will be linking to you, as you will to them.
• As Michelle will be notified everytime the list is republished – with this blog’s link in it – then I will be made aware of additional entries onto it. She will check those links out, and add any new ones to her Resource Guide.
• Repetition of links in this list is accidental. Please try not to do that, as it holds no benefit.
• There are no expectations that all the blogs on this list will link back to you, or reblog this as their own entry. But if some do, then all the better for discovering more blogs and writers out there.
• Best of all, it’s a triple-win situation (me, you, and all our readers) and it’s definitely a growing and very cool Writing blog list.
• Add your new discoveries to your blogroll if you keep one. Simply republishing this list as a blog entry also benefits the writers on these blogs.
• Remember the blogs when it comes time to vote for your favourites. The Writer’s Digest holds an annual Writing website contest, as does the Writing White Papers blog (a link is in the list below).
• 
  

Some Minor Rules :

• These are all blogs with a focus on writing – that’s the one rule. Some are award winners, some are entirely personal, some are extremely popular, some are group blogs, some are part of a community of blogs, and some are just getting started. There are freelance writers, ebook writers, novelists, non-fiction authors, article writers, copywriters, published writers, professional writers, and non-published writers in this list. There are aspiring writers, writers who also have other interests, and there are writers who coach or teach about writing.
• Blogs from writers of all ethnicities, cultural and religious or sexual preferences are encouraged. I respect all values when talking writing. I’m sure you’ll do likewise.
• Most blogs on here should be current – with at least a blog entry from the past month. If your blog has gone into hiatus, please don’t add it here, unless the archives contain lots of useful information. An example can be found in the Miss Snark blog, which provides ample information even a year or so later.
• To link to your blog, try not to add it by writer name, if possible. A Blog name is preferable, just to add to the surprise for readers clicking on these links.
• The blog links you find below -  in this format, have all been browsed to personally, and are confirmed as belonging to writers with writing content. If you find any further questionable (adult content, spam links, store websites etc) additions of links in a list published after this original post,  the Juiced on Writing blog can not accept responsibility for these.
• You do have permission to republish this list, and add to it with further writing blog links, on your own blog. In fact, this is encouraged!

Here are the links (101):

Michelle have visited and enjoyed them all… I have gone to many and they are all fantastic – full of info and inspiration!

Writing Blogs from around the World : Juiced on Writing | Writing Career Coach | Nick Daws’ Writing Blog | The Ups, Downs and Sometimes Insane World of Freelance Writing | The Writer’s Roadmap | Grammar Girl | Cute Writing | Tumblemoose | The Writers Manifesto Blog | Murder & Magnolias | The Fictorium | Writer…Interrupted | Pix-N-Pens | Juiced on Writing | Girls Write Out | Novel Journey | Write Thinking | Confident Writing | A Life in Pages | Write to Done | Foxy Writer | Story Hack | Writing Journey | Advanced Fiction Writing | Scribereglyph | No Excuses, Just Write | Rantings and Ravings of an Insane Writer | A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing | Acme Authors | At Home, Writing | The Rejecter | A Writer’s Edge | Remarkable Communication | Men with Pens | Freelance Parent | The Golden Pencil | Ink in my Coffee | Inkthinker | All the Write Stuff | BK Birch’s Writers Blog | Chronicling the Novel | Freelance Writing Jobs | eWrite Life | Miss Snark | The Renegade Writer | Writing White Papers | Pub Rants | The Well-Fed Writer | Writer Beware Blogs! | Gotta Write Girl | PoeWar | Tip Booklets | 1WriteWay | Enriched by Words | To Breathe Underwater | Annie on Writing | The Interminable Writer | Just Another Writing Blog | Not Enough Words | Paperback Writer | Writing Time | Writer Dad | Pocket Full of Words | Tech for Writers | Writing with Zette | The First Book | Buzz Balls and Hype | Big Bad Book Blog | Diary of a Wordsmith | Freelance Writing Tips | Inky Girl | The Urban Muse | Mike’s Writing Workshop | Write to Travel | Something She Wrote | Wordcount | Write-From-Home | Writing the Cyber Highway | Write on Wednesday | Writer’s Roundabout | The Writer’s Technology Companion | Writer Unboxed | Backstory | Editorial Anonymous | Murder She Writes | SlushPile.Net | WOW – Women on Writing | Rejection is My Middle Name | Emerging Writers Network | Writing Power | Writing Hermit | Write Anything | Always Try a Little Harder | Pecked by Ducks | Bookends LLC – A Literary Agent | writerjenn | Daily Writing Tips | Freedom from the Mundane | The View from Here |

This Writing Blog Discovery Project (a meme) and the first Writing Links originally started off from the Juiced on Writing blog. The blog links above in this format, have all been browsed to, and are confirmed as belonging to writers with writing content. If you find any further questionable additions of links in a list published after this original list, the Juiced on Writing blog can not accept responsibility for these. Repetition of links in this list is accidental. Please try not to do that, as it holds no benefit.

You do have permission to republish this list, and add to it with further writing blog links, on your own blog. In fact, this is encouraged!

Proofreading Induced Coma

Has anyone ever experienced this?

Having created a plethora of short stories last year, I decided it was time to go back and edit my masterpieces; shaping them for entry into competitions or future publication. What seemed to be a few afternoons light work – for after all, my short stories – as I remembered them – were all wonderful, well rounded, full of intrigue and perfect grammar,turned into weeks of grueling hard labour.

What a shock it was to re-read and begin editing my work. Blow torches and chain saws seemed to be appropriate tools to swathe through the misspelling and bad grammar. Self doubt began to creep into my heart and I began to wonder if I aught to even continue the path of writing. I began to slip into a proofreading coma, finding any other excuse or job , NOT to continue with my editing work. Truth be known, I am writing this as a partial excuse not to complete my editing!

Happily, I have continued on and would like to share some thoughts on editing and proofreading your own work; hoping it may assist you in the future.

Catalogue it.

With each piece of work you create, ensure you catalogue it for future reference immediately. Some use a spreadsheet to record details, however I not only save my stories in different files (Science Fiction, romance etc), but I use tags when I publish my work on my blog. Word count is very handy, should you need to find a piece of a specific length quickly. Genre is a given – though try to be specific (eg -Historic Romance, ChicLit). Give your first drafts a rating ( 1 – 5 or 1 – 10 on the quality of the story in your eyes) and date it ( so that you can easily identify your work from 2007 compared to 2008). All of this will make searching for a specific piece much less tedious; especially if you are time poor.

Go beyond the spell checker

Spell checker doesn’t pick up every misspelling; in fact many words form valid – though contextually confusing – words which in a rushed proofread, your brain does not pick up.

Read Aloud

When you proofread silently – that is skimming your work with your eyes, you tend to miss possible mistakes as your brain rushes ahead only searching for specific things . Although a little tedious, if you read aloud, there is no way your mouth can keep up with your brain. By slowing down the process, you are able to hear your mistakes and contextually incorrect words. If you are concerned about tenses, reading aloud tends to pick up inconstancies here as well.

Get Quality Feedback

Ask someone you trust to give good feedback, to read through your work and either use “track changes” – or a red pen to highlight the mistakes. Although great for the ego, your partner ( or your mum) saying “its very nice”, won’t help your growth as a writer.

Print it out

I attempt not to print out unnecessary sheets, however, proofreading is difficult on the screen. Use recycled paper if necessary – but grab a red marker and a drink and go and sit near a sunny window to read through your work. The change of setting and medium will refocus your mind and allow your brain to reset itself to search for mistakes and suggest improvements.

Sleep on it.

Unless you have a pressing deadline, getting some time away from the piece or a good nights rest, will improve your editing ability. Fresh eyes will see errors and new opportunities to round out characters and situations.

I found a clever poem on spell checkers and thought you’d enjoy it as a round up to my article.  Ode to a SpellChecker

Happy editing and proofreading – may your eyes remain wide open and your brain alert!