This week’s list is a little shorter than usual, as many advice sites have either taken time off or are running “best of” columns. But if you’re getting ready to make your new year writing resolutions, there’s plenty of advice on today’s list for how to do that.
I subscribe to more than 150 writing advice sites and gather the best posts for you every single Sunday. You can see all the previous writing advice of the week posts here and subscribe to the RSS feed for this writing advice series here (direct Feedly signup link).
Productivity, mood management, and battling the demons inside
2023 Get Started Right Writing Challenge: Day 1 by Robert Lee Brewer
Get your writing goals started right in 2023 with the first ever Get Started Right Writing Challenge. For the first day of this seven-day writing challenge, make a list. Also — bookmark this site and come back every day this week for a new activity to do to help you start your writing year strong. Robert Lee Brewer is senior editor of Writer’s Digest. Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer. Follow Writer’s Digest via their RSS feed (direct Feedly signup link), on Twitter at @WritersDigest and on Facebook at @writersdigest.
Start The Year With Creative Clarity by Dan Blank
Get a free ten-page PDF of the “clarity cards” creative planning process here. It’s a five-step way to find more time and energy to make writing a priority in your life. Dan Blank is a marketing expert who’s worked with thousands of writers and creators over the past ten years. At We Grow Media, Blank offers one-on-one marketing consulting to help authors grow their platforms, create meaningful connections with readers, and prepare for big book launches.
Writers’ Resolutions by Susan Koehler
Looking for some suggestions for writing resolutions for 2023? Here’s a nice short list of ideas. Susan Koehler is the author of two middle grade novels as well as several teacher resources and nonfiction books for children. Visit her website at SusanKoehlerWrites.com to learn more. The Florida Writers Association is a great resource for writers, with a very active advice blog. Follow the Florida Writers Association via their RSS feed (direct Feedly link here), on Facebook at Florida Writers Association and on Twitter at @FloridaWriters1.
Other motivational advice this week:
- How To Become A Writer In 2023: 10 Steps To Jumpstart Your Writing Life by Joe Bunting for The Write Practice
- Is Your Story Idea Worth Writing About? by David Farland for MyStoryDoctor
- Setting New Year’s Goals For Your Writing–Tips, Ideas, And Why It’s Fun And Helpful by Mary Carroll Moore for How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
- What Separates A Good Writer From A Great Writer? by Eldred “Bob” Bird for Writers In The Storm
- Video: Write A Book That Serves The World (This Works Great For Procrastinators!) by Lauren Sapala for Lauren Sapala
- Writing Prompts Unlock Freedom And Creativity by Janna Lopez for BookBaby Blog
The art and craft of writing
Video: Deconstruction by J.p. Beaubien
How to disassemble tropes, clichés, character archetypes, and even entire genres! J.P. Beaubien’s current project is a book series named Aeon Legion. Follow him on Facebook at @authorJPBeaubien and on Twitter at @JosephPBeaubien. Terrible Writing Advice is a very popular YouTube channel where J.P. Beaubien offers only the most sincere and genuine writing advice delivered with absolutely no sarcasm at all.
Podcast: Cosmic Horror by Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, And Wes Matlock
In this episode, the Mythcreants gang talks about cosmic horror: what it is, how to use it, and whether it’s best as a spice or the full meal. Oren Ashkenazi is the speculative fiction manuscript editor, Chris Winkle is the founder and editor-in-chief, and Wes Matlock is a content editor at Mythcreants. Mythcreants is my all-time favorite writing advice site. Get their RSS feed here (direct Feedly signup link) or follow them on Twitter @Mythcreants and on Facebook at @mythcreants.
Other writing advice this week:
- 3 Critical Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Draft (Or Revise!) A Novel by Susan Defreitas for Jane Friedman
- Breaking Down Point Of View — Which One Is Right For You? by Michael James for A Writer’s Path
- Critiquing: Giving And Getting The Gold by Josh Langston for A Writer’s Path
- Details, Details: How To Write A Rich Setting For Your Story by Donna Jo Stone for Almost An Author
- Video: Do This To Turn Your Stories Into Page-Turners! by Stavros Halvatzis for Get Writing
- Emotion: The Core Of Story Intimacy In What We Write by Diann Mills for The Write Conversation
- Five Things Pixar Teaches About Cause And Effect by Stephanie Dethlefs for DIY MFA
- How Many Povs Should I Have In My Ensemble Story? by Chris Winkle for Mythcreants
- How To Revise For Deep POV by Lisa Hall-Wilson for Lisa Hall-Wilson
- Rising Action: Definition And Examples Of This Dramatic Structure Element by Joe Bunting for The Write Practice
- Video: Smart Characters – Terrible Writing Advice by Terrible Writing Advice for Terrible Writing Advice
- What Is A Throughline In Writing? by Chris Winkle for Mythcreants
- When Should I Start Editing? by Jeanette The Writer for DIY MFA
- Podcast: Whiplash: Why The Villain Has A Point by Melanie Hill And Valerie Francis for Story Nerd
- Writing: What’s In A Character Name? by Linda S. Clare for Linda S. Clare
The business side of writing
What Do You Need To Quit? by Joanna Penn And Orna Ross
Winners never quit — but doing the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. How do you know the difference? In this episode, the hosts discuss Quit: The Power of Knowing When To Walk Away by Annie Duke and give examples of what they have quit around writing, book marketing, and more. Joanna Penn has been sharing writing and publishing advice since 2008 at The Creative Penn and is the author of Successful Self-Publishing and many other writing and publishing advice books. She also has one of my favorite writing advice podcasts, and you can subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. The Creative Penn offers articles, videos, books, tools, and courses for independent authors.
Business Musings: Advertising: The Year In Review Part 6 by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
2022 was the year that advertising stopped working. But it’s not a crisis — it’s a turning point, says this post. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch writes bestselling science fiction and fantasy, award-winning mysteries, acclaimed mainstream fiction, controversial nonfiction, and the occasional romance. At KrisWrites.com, Rusch offers her thoughts about the publishing industry and other topics.
Video: The Challenges New Authors Face by Mark Dawson And James Blatch
Avery Maxwell published her first book in June 2020 and just two years later is making five-figures per month as a romance author. In this episode, she shares how she achieved this success with advertising, lots of hard work, and great stories. Mark Dawson is a USA Today bestselling author who teaches courses about book production and marketing. Check out his website at MarkJDawson.com. James Blatch writes military thrillers. For more, check out his website, JamesBlatch.com. On the Self Publishing Formula show, Mark Dawson and James Blatch talk about building a career as a self-published author.
Podcast: My 2023 Creative And Business Goals by Joanna Penn
In this podcast, Penn talks about her plans for the year — writing plans, publishing plans, marketing plans, and what she’s doing with AI. Definitely worth a listen if you want a detailed, inside look at a writer’s planning process. Joanna Penn has been sharing writing and publishing advice since 2008 at The Creative Penn and is the author of Successful Self-Publishing and many other writing and publishing advice books. She also has one of my favorite writing advice podcasts, and you can subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. The Creative Penn offers articles, videos, books, tools, and courses for independent authors.
Other business advice this week:
- Is An Editor Worth The Money? by Tiffany Yates Martin for Jane Friedman
- When Your Book Doesn’t Sell by Terry Whalin for Almost An Author
- 11 Fearless Predictions For The World Of Storytelling In 2023 by David Villalva for David Villalva
- Podcast: Become An Amazon Marketing Ninja by Penny Sansevieri for Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
- Podcast: Make The Most Of A Discounted Kindle Book by Penny Sansevieri for Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
- How To Optimize Your Facebook Author Page To Sell Books by Clayton Noblit for Written Word Media
- 13 Things You Should Not Say To An Agent Or Editor In A Pitch Or Query Letter by Robert Lee Brewer for Writer’s Digest
- The Writer’s Tactical Plan by C. S. Lakin for Live Write ThriveSundayadvice
- Video: How To Launch A Book Successfully With Julie Broad by Chandler Bolt for Self Publishing School
- 3 Tips To Powerful Social Media Marketing by Karen Cioffi for Writers On The Move
Am I missing any writing advice sites? Email me at maria@metastellar.com or leave a note in the comments below.
MetaStellar editor and publisher Maria Korolov is a science fiction novelist, writing stories set in a future virtual world. And, during the day, she is an award-winning freelance technology journalist who covers artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and enterprise virtual reality. See her Amazon author page here and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and check out her latest videos on the Maria Korolov YouTube channel. Email her at maria@metastellar.com. She is also the editor and publisher of Hypergrid Business, one of the top global sites covering virtual reality.