One Missed Deadline. Five Great Writing Blogs
by Elizabeth Solar
So, I had put the final touches on last Friday’s blog post. It being Friday after 1pm, and a ferry ride in my future, I disappeared by blog piece.
While trying to combine the word doc ending with the Mac ‘Notes’ body, I ended up with just three concluding sentences. And no option for ‘Recently Deleted Notes.” Not really much to do about that, especially with an Uber waiting.
When I notified my esteemed writing tribe about my predicament, one optimistic soul volunteered. “No worries. Think of it as an exercise in memory recall.” As if my memory is any better than my powers of organization.
I did what any responsible writer would do: I left my computer at home and hopped that ferry to bask in the magic that is Martha’s Vineyard. Now, fully refreshed, somewhat tanned and ready to get back to work, I find Monday mornings provide some of the same productivity land mines as Friday afternoons.
All of this is my long-winded way of saying I have not come empty-handed. There are incredible writing blogs out there – and they often meet their deadlines -- so, let’s introduce you to five blogs I recommend.
The Creative Penn focuses on self-publishing, marketing and writing. Joanna Penn, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author is the force behind the blog. Additionally, she has written 21 books for writers. Besides being a speaker and an entrepreneur, she runs Curl Up Press and hosts The Creative Penn Podcast.
DIYMFA serves as a do-it-yourself community and an equivalent of a Master of Fine Arts in writing without the expense. It centers on writing with focus, reading with purpose, building your writing community, and how to discover the writing tools available online and off.
Gabriela Pereira is a force. She has not only contributed to Acts of Revision, but has been a guest on my podcast, Embark. As the founder of the site, Pereira posts on everything from playwriting to surviving rejection, travel writing, and many other writing topics. Check out the “writer igniter” that generates writing prompts.
Authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi created Writers Helping Writers for new writers, seasoned writers, editors, and writing teachers. Get advice on technique and strategy, as well as “Navigating the Changing Face of Book Promotion with Smart, Effective Strategies” and “How to Stop Self-Doubt from Holding You Back from Writing.
As a grateful member, I have to put Grub Street on this list. Grub Street is a non-profit creative writing center in Boston. Through various workshops, seminars, events and programs they support writers at all stages and provide ‘an innovative, rigorous, and welcoming community for writers who together create their best work, find audience, and elevate the literary arts for all.’ In all, 53 instructors and 22 students have successfully published their books.
The Write Practice offers writing prompts and provides a platform for writers to provide feedback on what you write. Joe Bunting started The Write Practice to help writers become better through practice. From time to time, he holds writing contests and challenges, like the 100-Day Book Challenge.
I am spending the rest of the afternoon examining the Bermuda Triangle that is my filing system to retrieve that post. Maybe I’ll even write a few pages of story. In the meantime, I leave you to enjoy some great writing and excellent posts.
