Writing and Editing Resources
This is a list of blogs and other writing and editing resources for independent authors. I hope you find it useful on your journey!
Great Author Blogs to Follow
Here are some of the blogs for authors (and by authors) I either follow myself or find myself sharing posts from on a regular basis.
The Creative Penn: thecreativepenn.com
Self-publisher and indie marketing pro Joanna Penn shares her knowledge generously and offers a star-studded backlist of audio and video interviews with industry movers and shakers.
You’ll find advice on writing, publishing, marketing, staying positive, and just about anything else relating to writing and self-publishing.
The Crimson League: crimsonleague.com
Fantasy author Victoria Grefer’s blog contains advice on fiction writing and thoughts on the book publishing industry at large.
Many of her posts focus on specific issues that novelists face, such as character development, plot, and pacing, and her attitude and good humor is refreshing.
Two Navy Guys and a Novel: davidbruns.com/two-navy-guys-a-novel
When David Bruns, a longtime client of mine, teamed up with other former Navy officer and friend J. R. Olson to write a military/political thriller, they decided to keep a blog about the experience.
This blog and Bruns’s own blog at www.davidbruns.com/blog offer a great look behind the publishing scenes.
Self-Publishing Podcast: selfpublishingpodcast.com
This is the place to go for straight talk about the publishing business, assuming you can handle the exuberance, wild energy, and profanity. Johnny, Sean, and Dave host guests from the full indie publishing spectrum, and even their tangents are often illuminating.
Writer Beware: accrispin.blogspot.com
Run by industry insiders and sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, this publishing watchdog site gives crucial advice on navigating publishing contracts, vetting agents, and avoiding scams. It’s an important resource for authors looking for information on how they can protect themselves.
Editor Blogs to Follow
For a peek behind the curtain, check out these blogs by editors of all kinds.
After Deadline: afterdeadline.blogs.nytimes.com
The full title is After Deadline: New York Times Newsroom Notes on Usage and Style, which pretty much sums it up, and it’s a great place to learn by example. It should definitely be on your radar for an occasional peruse.
An American Editor: americaneditor.wordpress.com
This is a great way to learn what it’s like for editors from the inside of the editing business. Richard Adin, humbly An American Editor, shares valuable stories, tips, and insights from many years of experience spent honing his craft.
The Editor’s Blog: theeditorsblog.net
Fiction editor Beth Hill gives frank talk on editing fiction, writing novels, and the nitty-gritty grammar questions other blogs are afraid to tackle.
Grammar Girl: quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl
Mignon Fogarty answers every grammar question you’ve ever had, as well as some you never thought to ask. Look to her for help with specific problems or peruse the archive of Quick and Dirty Tips to review word usage and grammar reminders at random.
LibroEditing: libroediting.com
Liz Broomfield at LibroEditing blogs about two topics especially helpful to newly publishing writers: language and Microsoft Word.
Tons of screenshots make it easy to figure out some of the less intuitive features of Word, and Liz’s ongoing All the Troublesome Pairs series demystifies pesky homonyms.
The Subversive Copy Editor: www.subversivecopyeditor.com/blog
Books on Writing, Editing, and Publishing:
Below is a list of my personal favorite books on becoming a better writer, a critical editor, and a smart publisher.
Laura Anderson, McGraw-Hill’s Proofreading Handbook, Second Edition (McGraw-Hill, 2006)
Authors who find themselves working with editors and proofreaders more often in their publishing journey may wish to learn a bit more about the details of the process.
This book is a great introduction to proofreading, including those mysterious proofreaders marks, and makes an interesting overview of this aspect of the publishing process.
Stephen King, On Writing (New York: Scribner, 2000)
Part memoir, part pep talk, On Writing is not just an important reminder of what it takes to be a professional writer, but also a fascinating look inside the mind of one of the most prominent authors of our time.
A self-affirmed pantser, King offers a different perspective on outlines than I do!
Sarah Kolb-Williams, How to Hire an Editor: The Indie Author’s Guide to Finding and Working with the Right Editor for Your Book (SKW Writing & Editing, 2014)
(I hope readers won’t mind that I added my own book to the mix: I was inspired to write the book when I realized how many of the same questions I was answering about the writing process, and I wanted to put something together that addressed questions and concerns about all aspects of hiring an editor.)
How to Hire an Editor lets new authors in on everything about the process of hiring an editor, from prepping a manuscript to finding someone with the right experience to maneuvering contracts and tracked changes.
Scott Norton, Developmental Editing: A Handbook for Freelancers, Authors, and Publishers (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2009)
Whether you want to get a feel for manuscript development from an editor’s perspective or just brush up on your organization skills, Scott Norton provides an excellent look at what developmental editors really do.
Norton includes examples of different approaches to developing different types of manuscripts, and his conversational tone makes reading a pleasure.
K.M. Weiland, Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story (PenForASword Publishing, 2013)
Weiland has written the closest thing to an instruction manual for writing a novel that I’ve seen so far. Topics include scene and chapter structure, story arc, conflict vs. tension, major events, and everything else you need to isolate problem areas in your manuscript and build them up, scene by powerful scene, into a tight, cohesive story.
Professional Organizations for Authors and Entrepreneurs
ALLi: The Alliance of Independent Authors: allianceindependentauthors.org
(affiliate link) This UK-based group provides two tiers of membership for authors with different degrees of experience in the publishing industry; a third tier includes service providers who are not necessarily authors themselves. Many of those service providers offer discounts to other members.
Freelancers Union: www.freelancersunion.org
Sara Horowitz founded the Freelancers Union to better working conditions for self-employed freelancers and independent contractors of all sorts, including writers and editors. Its members appear in a searchable database; toggle the occupation drop-down menu to “editors” and type in your search criteria: “copyediting,” “fantasy,” or whatever you’re looking for.
The Independent Book Publishers Association: www.ibpa-online.org
According to the IBPA’s website, it is the largest publishing trade association in the United States. With more than three thousand members, the association offers a robust database of editors and other service providers, as well as member-to-member deals and other benefits.
The National Association of Independent Writers and Editors: naiwe.com
The National Writers Union: nwu.org
The National Writers Union provides a directory of editor and author member blogs and websites, as well tons of union resources, including grievance assistance. Union chapters exist in thirteen major cities across the United States.
Author Bio:
Sarah Kolb-Williams is a writer, editor, and serial comma enthusiast from the Twin Cities. She is the author of How to Hire an Editor, available for Kindle and wherever e-books are sold.
Find Sarah on Twitter at @skolbwilliams or kolbwilliams.com/editing.
