Resources

We’ve all got our favourite things and resources we like. My most often-read blogs are listed on your right. But as for all that other stuff…well, here’s an insight into my psyche. (Ha!)

Enjoy!
Jean

(This is, by all means, not an exhaustive list.)

Here are a few of my favourite things that can be found online, but a few others that have snuck in here.

BOOKS

The First Five Pages: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile
by Noah Lukeman
~ I like this book because it is affordable, useable and useful. He is unlike many nonfiction writers–he gets to the point and gets out. The exercises are doable and do improve your writing. Plus, I haven’t had this much ‘hard fun’ writing since, well, ever.
(Buy it on Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com: The First Five Pages: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile, Amazon.ca)

Creating Unforgettable Characters
by Linda Seger
~ This book got me thinking about my characters in a whole new way. Her suggestions will help you round out that character’s backstory as well as the elusive ‘who are they’. I based my character development worksheets on some of the things I learned from this book. (Worksheets are at the bottom of this page.)
(Buy it on Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com: Creating Unforgettable Characters, Amazon.ca)

How to Write a Damn Good Novel II
by James N. Frey
~ This is a writing basics, gone up one level.
(Buy it on Chapters, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com: How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II: Advanced Techniques For Dramatic Storytelling, Amazon.ca)

** You can check out what I’ve read recently by clicking on the category ‘book reviews‘ or checking out my Goodreads bookshelf.

POEMS

The Cinnamon Peeler
by Michael Ondaatje
~ Not just because he rocks. The imagery just sticks with me. The simplicity yet the complexity. It is erotic, yet innocent. I just love it. Read it, I can’t describe it.

WEBSITES

AgentQuery.com
~ Great for researching an agent, discussing writing with other writers, as well as joining free online chats with agents and authors.

CTV.ca
~Because I don’t have satellite or cable.

Dictionary.com
~You can sign up for their word of the day to be delivered to your inbox. A great, painless way to learn new words and beef up your vocab. Plus, you can use their online dictionary, thesaurus and encyclopedia.

Literary Agent Blogs: I have a few of my favourites listed in my blogroll on the right. Just about every agent or agency blogs these days–they are a great way to get a feel for what agents and agencies are like, what you should be doing as an aspiring writer as well as helping you figure out what is really going on in the world of publishing.

Genre Descriptions: If you aren’t sure where your work fits into genre-wise, this is hands down the best list of descriptions that I’ve come across.

Online Classes: Excellent and economical. Given by published writers and totally online. New classes being offered all the time. Don’t let the fact that they are romance writers turn you off if you write in other genres–the lessons are usually across genres.

Writing Tips: These are some writing tips that I’ve found helpful and have shared on my blog.

Writer Beware: How to identify a scammer posing as a legitimate agent, publisher or editor.

Preditors and Editors: Another way to identify scammers in the writing business. Other great tidbits as well.

NaNoWriMo.org
~During the month of November, join over a 100,000 people and write your own novel (50,000 words or more). There are discussion boards and weekly pep talk emails to help keep you going.

MAGAZINES
I’m not a huge mag reader, but here are three that I either subscribe to or don’t mind too much.

Writer’s Digest
~ A must-have subscription for any aspiring writer. Tips, interviews, agent info, contests, conference info and much, much more. If you don’t have it, get it. Seriously.

Chatelaine
~ This magazine continues to surprise me. I did an independent study in university about their advertisements over a thirty year span, expecting them to portray women as the homemaker stereotype. To my surprise, it was very much not like that! They showed women as strong and juggling home life and work. I was impressed as was the feminist inside. I currently subscribe to this magazine, and find most of their articles to be strong, current, relevant and meaningful–not many women’s magazines are able to achieve that for me. Plus, their website has music that you can stream. Check out divas. It rocks. Literally.

Self
~ This magazine will get you off your butt and moving. They have a good website that has exercise activities and other self-improvement stuff. They have challenges ever few months that are a lot of fun. Plus, if you require motivation, you can keep track of your fitness online (during challenges) and have them send you pestering emails. No more excuses. Oh, except that the cat ate all my shoe laces again. That one still counts.

BLOGS

This link will take you to my blog. If you look on the left hand side, I have a list of blog links that I like to peruse.

WORKSHEETS

I’ve been making some worksheets for myself here and there and thought I’d share them.

Who is this Character? Brainstorm and fill out the worksheet to get a better idea of your character’s social, ethnic, religious, and educational background as well as a few occupational questions to help round out that character and why they act and talk the way they do (or don’t). PDF version, good for printing out. Word version, good for filling out on your computer. Feel free to share them.

Character Core: Consistencies and Idiosyncrasies Worksheet Brainstorm and fill out the worksheet to learn more about your character’s characteristics and qualities as well as related characteristics and idiosyncrasies. It will help you round out that hard to pin down character. PDF version, good for printing out. Word version, good for filling out on your computer. Oh, and I added an example with these versions, just in case you haven’t the foggiest clue in regards to what I am yammering on about. Feel free to share the worksheet.