Writing and Publishing FAQs

People often write to ask me about writing and publishing. I plan to address more questions in my musings, but here’s some general help.

There are so many wonderful resources out there for writers. Holly Black’s post on writing is a great place to start. Speculative fiction writers might also want to take a look at Jeff Vandermeer’s WONDERBOOK and the book’s website. Brandon Sanderson has YouTube videos that some writers really find helpful. Patricia Wrede’s blog, which she has updated regularly for years, has so much usual information. Another resource for speculative fiction writers — SFWA’s blog posts on the craft of writing. If you’re interested in writing for children and teens, definitely take a look at Cheryl Klein’s The Magic Words. If you want some general resources on writing fiction, try Janet Burroway’s Imaginative Writing and Writing Fiction. If you’re ready to revise, you’ll probably find Sandra Scofield’s The Last Draft helpful.

If you want to learn more about the business of writing, explore Jane Friedman’s site. You could also pick up her book The Business of Being a Writer. Writers for children and teens should definitely check out the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators, while speculative fiction writers could take a look at Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association’s site. Both organizations offers many business resources. In addition, Harold Underdown’s The Purple Crayon has industry news for children’s writers, as does Cynthia Leitich Smith’s site. Dhonielle Clayton and Zoraida Córdova’s Deadline City is a fabulous podcast, which contains information about publishing and writing. Other great podcasts about writing and publishing for children and teens are Book Friends Forever with Alvina Ling and Grace Lin and Literaticast with Jennifer Laughran.

If you’re a child or teen writer, and you want to know how and where to submit your work, the “NewPages Young Writers Guide” is definitely the site to visit.

Just for fun

Do you love journals? Susan Taylor Brown makes them. Definitely check out her YouTube channel.

I also love sculpture, and was lucky enough to be gifted a small piece of Leslie Fry’s work.

Page illustration by Jess Polanshek.