There are many fantastic writing resources to explore if you’re interested, whether you’re just getting started or looking to develop as a writer. I’ll update this page from time to time to add new resources!
HOUSTON RESOURCES:
NATIONAL WRITING ORGANIZATIONS:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
GENERAL WRITING ADVICE:
Marissa Meyer’s advice to aspiring writers
STAYING MOTIVATED & GETTING THE WORK DONE:
Post by P.J. Hoover on timed writing sessions
The Writing Barn hosts authors talking about Rejecting Rejection on their blog. Here’s the category archive link
Nova Ren Suma’s guest post series on “What was your turning point as a writer?” and her guest post series on “What inspires you?” and her guest post series on “The book of your heart”
WRITING ADVICE FROM BLANK PAGE TO PUBLISHED BOOK:
Marissa Meyer takes you through the journey of a book and it’s full of great advice
BRAINSTORMING & GETTING A WORKABLE CONCEPT:
Post about the essentials you need to start drafting
Post about brainstorming and getting “unstuck”
PLOTTING AND STORY STRUCTURE:
Post on giving your concept structure
CHARACTERS:
Links to come
SETTING/WORLDBUILDING:
Links to come
DRAFTING:
Links to come
REVISION:
Some great posts on how writers revise are:
Maggie Stiefvater’s post “From Rough to Final: A Dissection on Revision” that details a chapter revision on THE SCORPIO RACES, which led to her post “From Rough to Final: TEN Dissections” that collects links to posts by ten other authors on how they revise and her post “From Rough to Final, Continued” with two more authors on revision.
Beth Revis’ post “New Revision Rewriting Process”
A collection of author wisdom on revision
POLISHING/EDITING:
Links to come
RECOMMENDED BOOKS ON WRITING:
BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott
ON WRITING by Stephen King
PAPER HEARTS: SOME WRITING ADVICE by Beth Revis
SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder
SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS by Renni Browne & Dave King
STORY by Robert McKee
THE ART OF CHARACTER by David Corbett
THE EMOTION THESAURUS by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
WIRED FOR STORY by Lisa Cron
RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:
This Creative Life by Sara Zarr
WRITING WORKSHOPS:
These are some recommended workshops for writers who are past the beginner stage and need in-depth critique and instruction similar to MFA-level residencies.
Appalachian Writers’ Workshop in North Carolina
Djerassi Resident Artists Program Workshop Retreats in California
Madcap Retreats Workshops in various locations
The Writing Barn Presents Workshops in Texas
WRITING RESIDENCIES AND RETREATS:
If you’re looking to get away and have time and space to write, these are some recommended places.
To learn what a residency is like, check out this post on Nova Ren Suma’s blog
Djerassi Resident Artists Program in California
Madcap Retreats in various locations
The Writing Barn in Texas
Yaddo in New York
ONLINE LITERARY JOURNALS & MAGAZINES (YOUNG READERS):
See list on my “Just for Young Readers” page
ONLINE LITERARY JOURNALS & MAGAZINES (MATURE READERS):
Jess Capelle 