Editor Blogs that I follow and you should to

'Editor Girl' by Jimmie Robinson. Yes, editors are superheroes and they have their phrase.
~ 'By the Red Pen, we rise!'

It’s Sunday, which means it’s time to share my favorite blogs from my Google Reader. This week I’m on editing mode, so I decided to pick an editor’s blog to showcase. Turns out it was a harder task than I originally thought. Editors and agents are toughest to filter as they tackle pretty much the same areas. Agents talk about their work and their criteria, while editors talk about their field. The content is quite narrowed down thematically with more touching points. The deal with writers is that they talk not only about writing, editing and promotion, but about the genre they are in, fellow writers, their personal tale on the road to publication; basically add a certain autobiographical touch and a broad list of topics.

What all of the above BS means, is that I will probably repeat myself, when tackling agent or editor’s blogs. Therefore, I decided to group the three editor’s blogs that I almost religiously follow.

Behler Blog [run by editor Lynn Price]: It’s almost sacrilegious to me, if you don’t follow this blog. I admit that I’m blinded by Price’s humor. Lynn is hilarious. No point denying it. Also not denying that her tongue-in-cheek discussion – which switches to a serious, professional and spot-on advice – keeps me coming and coming. Thematically, Lynn discusses the editor’s side of the publishing, particularly a small press’ editor. More often than not, however, Lynn feels that certain etiquette should be taught to her writer audience and what she teaches makes sense. So one blog: not-holier-than-thou advice and awesome conversations between Lynn and her beagle [margaritas may or may not be involved].

Edittorrent [run by editing duo Theresa & Alicia]: I visit this blog, because Theresa and Alicia tackle the technical side, the actual editing that you expect an editor to do [because editors supposedly edit, but somehow there is this complex hierarchy in the publishing industry that confuses me as to which is responsible for what]. Many blogs discuss the business that propels the industry: contracts, etiquette, distribution, querying etc. Most cases advice and opinions wildly differ, until a writer loses the ghost of his sanity. Edittorrent provides an in-depth analytical look at establishing settings in different ways, narrative, passive and active voice, sentence craft, dialog [as in how to fill information in-between the character’s lines], signal words, appositives [yeah, I had to look that one up, too] and many more. It’s highly useful as they explain what you do anyway and how to become aware of how to control.

Editorial Anonymous [run by uh, Anonymous]: I’m going to specify that said blog is aimed at children book writers, so some of the content is geared towards them [useless to you]. However, that being said I enjoy this blog, because the editor has a personal touch. He/she does not write winding posts with too many points [that often confuse], instead rounds up several questions from his/her readers and answers them in a short and understandable manner. It’s a sort of “Dear Shirley” blog, but again useful because the main thing about the publishing industry is that no one gets there the same way. The specificity of the questions and how relative they are to you is what makes use to you. It becomes quite easy to browse the blog and find those gold nuggets you are looking for.

[Blog Spot] TalkYoUniverse run by Juliette Wade

I'm largely back to semi-regular posting or at least I do hope I am. I'm coming back with a bit of blog pimpage. While I indulged the radio silence I discovered a fantastic blog for fantasy and science fiction writers. TalkToYoUniverse is run by Juliette Wade and here is her official introduction:

Analog SF author Juliette Wade's blog for lovers of science fiction and fantasy who want to talk to an expert about questions of language and culture (linguistics and anthropology): in the real world, in published fiction, or in worlds and universes of their own creation.

What I do enjoy about TalkToYoUniverse is that it delivers unlike other blogs [including mine]. Juliette is easy to approach on Twitter or in her comments, which is always a plus. The predominant content deals with worldbuilding topics [emphasis on culture, diversity and consistency], language and also a great deal about properly using various elements [pronouns, POV and dialogue among others].

What makes TalkToYoUniverse stand out from the crowd? The in-depth analysis of all the above. The Internet brims with blogs that scratch the surface [mine included at some points] and it's a rarity to find that extra fat on any subject regarding writing. It's cliched, but Juliette gives added value by not only informing you what you already know, but also using it as a platform to develop a lot more intricate ideas.

For all those who enjoy process pron, you will love TalkToYoUniverse as Juliette usually goes for a meticulous description of her own methods. This way she avoids this-is-how-it's-done manuals, which more or less make us all cringe one way or another.

Right now, the most interesting feature is the Wednesday Worldbuilding Workshop, which apart from the alliterating goodness, offers some pretty in-depth and critical look into a writer's 500 word long excerpt. To be honest, to me 500 words seemed insufficient for such a task, but you need to see the first post in this workshop to see what exactly can be taken from these 500 words and how an experienced eye makes the difference.

You back? Great, I bet that you know why you need to have TalkToYoUniverse in your RSS.

[Blog Spot] 'I Should Be Writing' run by Mur Lafferty

It's been a while, since I've done a Blog Spot post. They are pretty much the direction of this blog, promoting the websites that aid in my writing and why they can be beneficial for yours. I am aiming for a weekly post every Sunday, starting now.

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This Sunday I've picked "I Should Be Writing" a podcast for writers run by Mur Lafferty. I was introduced to Mur's own brand of awesomeness on Twitter through my friend @ghostfinder, who has been following this podcast since it's first episode. That is in on itself a feat, because the show is currently at episode #173. That is what I call dedication.

"I Should Be Writing" opens with a fun song by John Anealio, which will make you smile as it hits close to home [I'm talking about procrastination, people]. Then there is a short segment called the State of Mur, where Mur shares what she has accomplished and what she struggles with or has overcome. After this, the episode has a two part structure.

In the first part Mur tackles an aspect of writing, be it characterization, worldbuilding or software. The second part is where things get interesting as Mur interviews an author, who writes and has published in the speculative genre. What I love about these interviews is that Mur tries to encompass everything about writing. What the author's routine is, the publishing industry and the author's experience, general geek talk and advice.

Yes, episodes may vary from 30 minutes to an hour. I generally don't listen to podcasts. I'm a bit ADD to pay close attention so the length of some of the episodes are a test for my will, but they are so worth it. Mur has a pleasant voice and it's a pleasure to listen to her and she gets it. She knows and if you are serious about this whole writing deal, then she's worth your time.

A few more details. While discussing a wide range of topics "I Should Be Writing" focuses more on the craft and the advice is geared towards speculative fiction writes.

[Blog Spot] 'The BubbleCow Blog'

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Writing is a vocation. Publishing is a business. While writing is strictly individual and a force, which can’t be subjugated to a general set of rules, publishing, similar to other businesses, has its ways, hidden tricks and guidelines to separate the successful from the unfortunate ones.

By rule of thumb, writers are not perceived as the savvy entrepreneurs with predatory instincts and if you’re a novice writer with ambitions to break into the business and stay published, you have vague assumptions about the complexity, with which the industry functions. The need for blogs with more business oriented content has arisen and the Internet has provided.

As with all good finds in my Google Reader, The BubbleCow Blog was accidental and I can’t even recall, where I must have clicked to arrive at his website, but I never regret the day. I am not a techie. Even though I belong to the generation, which hails technology, I’m lost as far as utilizing technology to my side and how modern media can help me create a better buzz.

Gary Smailes co-founded BubbleCow, a literary consultancy, providing professional help for writers. Although he is in the children’s book segment of the industry, the wide-ranged advice and information he provides free through The BubbleCow Blog is universal. His posts are on the shorter side, but are to the point and there is no word wasted. What I personally find most useful include the video tutorials about various software programs and the blog optimization tips on increasing subscribers and visitors.

Perhaps, what I enjoyed most was the free five-day e-mail tutorial on Book Proposals, which is a tricky and daunting task for most writers in early publication stages. I’d suggest to follow the official @BubbleCow feed for more linked articles.

[Blog Spot] "Help! I Need a Publisher!"

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After you’ve covered the essentials, read the books editors, agents and authors hold as staples in publishing, I suggest visiting “Help, I Need a Publisher!” owned by Nicola Morgan. This is the proverbial well of online wisdom. At least as far as my experience is concerned. Nicola is a crabbit old bat [self-proclaimed] and is here to save you from the mediocrity or the atrocities posted around as advice for writers, looking publication and let’s be honest, we all want to be published and done so right.

Nicola Morgan’s mission statement:

Nicola Morgan is proud to be the first Google result for "Crabbit Old Bat" and offers crabbitly honest expertise to writers with talent and a burning need to be published.

And she couldn’t be more accurate. Morgan knows what she is talking about. She is brutally honest and just plain brutal, when it comes to debriefing about the industry. If you think you are ready to hunt down that agent and sign that three book deal contract, then I suggest you get through the “Help, I need a publisher!” experience. It was a wake-up call for me. I knew from following authors that getting published is hard and this was solidified once again with Morgan’s insight.

Nicola is a thriller writer, which to a SFF genre writer may not sound like the best resource out there. However, this boot-wearing, chocolate-adoring and wine-loving Scottish woman has a gift to understand how publishing is a business and as such it functions for high return on investment. Her advice is mostly oriented towards making a presentable asset that any agent and then publisher would like to employ. However, she also acknowledges the fact that this is a game of chance and that writing is an individual undertaking and how no novel is the same as another. Her content is divided between highly reinforced rules about the etiquette during the publishing seeking stage [query, cover letters and how to avoid FAIL moments] and insight on the act of writing, which lets the writer’s individuality and ability manifest.

New commenters are always welcome and despite opening pen2publication [consulting agency] and scoring a book deal on writing a guide for writers, Nicola remains by her blog and dishes out priceless advice. “Help, I Need a Publisher!” is a must-follow.

[Blog Spot] Arin i Asolde

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It's Wednesday. The week reaches it's second busiest height for me, so I am going to spare my profound* thoughts on all that is writing, publishing and artsy. Instead, every Wednesday I will showcase** one blog, dedicated to making your journey as an under-appreciated starving artist*** a touch more sensible and comfortable. First stop in this sparkling, citrus fresh feature is:

[ARIN I ASOLDE]

This is a fairly obscure blog. The owner does not do much to spread the word. At least I have not encountered her attempts to put the blog out there. I am not sure how I stumbled across this one, but this is a keeper. The archives go back to 2003 with several posts a day and almost complete calender. Whatever thinking outside the box, attention to detail, worldbuilding and skill involved in creating a work I have, I owe it to reading Limyaael's**** fantasy rants.

You want characterization? Perhaps not making a cookie cutter character? Perhaps giving your villain a motivation apart from being 'evil' for evil's sake? Characters clashing? No, problem. Her rants will give you a brand new perspective. Maybe, you are having trouble with the world. You want a rocking new race? Nonhumans? A culture, which is dazzling? No worries, it's all there and you will learn to question whether our given set of constants [seasons, 24 hour day, expressions] applies and whether you need to tweak it.

History, magic and its application outside cool battles, dynamics, culture, politics, long winded series, gender, protagonists, secondary characters, empathy, subgenres and rants on people, who do it wrong and examples of people, who do it right. It's almost like attending writing classes and if you really want to write fantasy, the this is the way to go. Also, it pretty much applies to other subgenres such as steampunk, urban fantasy and science fiction, where aliens and world traveling comes in the picture.

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* - I wish, but let's pretend I am a well of Wisdom
** - In a short and composed manner
*** - Which abbreviated oddly spells USA {weird, much?}
**** - For the record, she is an English graduate student [possibly with a Ph.D by now] and she has written an impressive amounts of books, though I am not sure whether she is published or not. The woman is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, encased in a Rubic's Cube.