Quick Writing Link: Voice

Yay! Got through another work week. Is it just me, or has September been flying by? I feel like I haven't had much time to really get into my writing. Instead, I've been snatching a few minutes here and there.  But something is better than nothing!

In the past couple of weeks I discovered this gem on voice. If you haven't seen this post at Notes from the Slushpile, I highly recommend it: Finding your voice: A masterclass from SCBWI with Beverley Birch by Addy Farmer.

For other resources on voice, check out my V is for Voice post featured in the ABCs of writing middle grade fiction (see my sidebar).

Happy Friday!

Quick Writing Link: Word Choice

Don't you hate it when you're reading and a character you're trying to connect with uses words she wouldn't say or think? Jennifer Hubbard has a great post on word choice up today. She suggests that along with keeping in mind the character's personality and goals, you need to think about your goals as a writer - an interesting angle.

Quick Writing Link: The Ideal Middle Grade Reader

I loved this description of a middle grade reader from guest poster Suzanne Selfours over at Cynsations. It reminded me of why I love writing MG fiction. Like MG readers, I like to believe that everything (including mermaids, invisible creatures, books that talk) is possible in the world of stories. Occasionally, I do wonder if there is a monster lurking in the hallway late at night. And I'm wondering what my superpower is, since I'm sure I have one too.

Quick Writing Link: Plot, Structure and Creating an Experience for Your Readers

Today I came across three great posts at Laini Taylor's blog on plot, character motivation and conflict, and structuring a novel.

What I found especially helpful was a sidebar that included questions to ask yourself to help in creating an experience for your readers. I don't often think much about the reader when I'm writing, but perhaps I should.

Quick Writing Links: Writing Action, A Contest

Over at Musings of a Novelista, Karen Strong shares her thoughts on how The Hunger Games (one of my favourite books) provides great examples of strong action scenes. 

Dear Editor is having a contest for MG and YA authors. You could win a substantive edit of your manuscript - what an awesome prize!

Quick Writing Link: Do Cell phones & Texting Complicate Your Plot?

I've been thinking about the issue of technology in writing MG and YA fiction and today, I came across an excellent article on the topic. Check it out in the March/April issue of Women on Writing. There are some other great articles and interviews here too - the entire issue is devoted to YA writing!

Quick Writing Link: A Painful Perspective

I'd never thought of looking at my novel from the point of view of how much emotional pain the main character is feeling, but over on Fiction Notes, Darcy Pattison writes about how a pain scale might help with plotting.

I do think that if you can make your reader feel the pain that your characters are feeling, than your reader is going to be immersed in your story.

Quick Writing Link: Dear Editor

Editor and author Deborah Halverson's new Dear Editor site is a place for writers to ask questions about the writing process and the publishing industry. Great advice on how to write teen dialogue!