Blogs to follow

There are so many wonderful blogs out there, it’s hard to figure out which ones you should be following constantly. For the sake of space, I’ve listed a few essentials. Since I write YA, you’ll see a theme, but overall these are gems and if you already follow all of these, well, great minds think alike.

http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.com/ is the first blog I followed. Kate Kaynak is the author of Minder ( a Ganzfield novel). Her blog is witty, sweet, full of great advice and she does lots of contests–first query contest I ever entered!

http://www.yahighway.com/ A blog run by six YA authors, full of fun insight, roadtrips and industry news.

http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/ This would be the second blog I followed! This blog is known for its monthly Mystery Agent contest. Every month is a new agent which means a new chance of winning!  You can read through old contests (lots of pitch/loglines and first words) and see what stories caught the agents attention and why. VERY HELPFUL.

http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/ This is a treasured resource among writers. Need help describing a specific setting? Or need some sensory words to liven up that scene? Tired of always using the word angry? This blog has it all. BRILLIANT

http://queryshark.blogspot.com/ Even if you think you are uberly awesome at writing a query, you still need to follow Janet Reid’s advice. She dissects query after query, and considering she’s a super agent, I suggest you listen : ) 

http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com/ Run by Suzie Townsend and Joanna Stampfel-Volpe. Early this year they started First Page shooter where they give you their advice/thoughts on the first 250 words of your MS. Follow their guidelines on the site to submit.

http://www.querytracker.blogspot.com/ I love Query Tracker. I’ve met some wonderful writers from the forums, use the tracker for submissions and follow the blog for all the advice I desperately need. Remember the plot post I linked? Yup, that’s from them. Told you they rock.

http://pubrants.blogspot.com/ mused by agent Kristin Nelson. I had the pleasure of doing one of her first pages workshops. She’s blunt and honest. I often go here to read through the archives on everything from writing pitch’s to what-not-to-do writing tactics.

http://caseylmccormick.blogspot.com/ Literary Rambles–another gem. When you’re ready to start searching for an agent Casey has done a wonderful job of collecting all the info you need.

http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/ Inspired Kathy is the queen of blog hops and giveaways. If you need to gain more followers or meet some other writers, join one of the hops she posts.

http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/ I just recently found this one, run by the Authoress. She also runs a secret agent contest : ) And the famous Baker’s Dozen where agents actually bid on your ms!

And that’s it! There are so many more out there. I didn’t even dive into the writer blogs. If you have any great blogs you follow that aren’t listed, please share!