Sharing My Favs from Around the Web

Summer at Chez Dreiling has been a bit crazy with the College Kidlets and College Pets breezing in and out the door. Between the day job and the deadline, there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day. But I check Twitter periodically (O.K. frequently) and keep finding some real gems posted by those in the writing community. So I decided to share a few links to articles and blogs that I found illuminating.

• Con-templation. My uber fabulous agent Lucienne Diver shares great advice for authors about conferences. Originally posted in the SFW Bulletin, this one is geared to published authors, but even if you're unpublished, it's a good one to bookmark. http://varkat.livejournal.com/168146.html
• Strategies to Help Build Your Self-Esteem. This short article by Joe Wilner, entrepreneur and career coach, contains great advice about using your natural talents and developing new ones.
  http://www.dumblittleman.com/2010/07/strategies-to-help-build-your-self.html
• It is a Truth Universally Acknowledged (etc). A clever post by Moonrat on her blog Editorial Ass. It serves to remind us that some things in publishing never change. I'm a Jane Austen fan, so I really loved this one. http://editorialass.blogspot.com/2009/01/it-is-truth-universally-acknowledged.html
• Are You Sending the Right Message? A brilliant and honest look at the Top 3 bad habits that can hurt you when using social media. Check it out on Kristen Lamb's blog. http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/
• Productive Social Networking for Writers. My friend and fellow soon-to-be debut author Laurie B. London shares great tips for using social networking. Laurie's sister Rebecca J. Clark created this lovely blog Once Written, Twice Shy. I'm an extrovert and think the tips here are helpful to all writers.  http://shywriters.blogspot.com/2010/04/productive-social-networking-for.html
• The Perils of Publishing. Gerry Bartlett, the talented and funny author of The Real Vampire series, posted a series of free articles about publishing on her website.  http://www.gerrybartlett.com/index.html
• The Dirty Secret Truth About Talent and How to Grow It. Justine Lee Musk's blog Tribal Writer is always thought-provoking. She's definitely one to follow. http://tribalwriter.com/2010/03/17/talent-deep-practice-the-talent-code-mastery/
• Two Nerdy History Girls. If breeches and bonnets make your heart sing, you must check out this daily blog by Loretta Chase and Susan Holloway. http://twonerdyhistorygirls.blogspot.com/
• Slushpile Hell. Because I think everyone needs a good laugh, and this blog is sure to deliver. http://slushpilehell.tumblr.com/

May the Magic Romance Fairies be with You!
Vicky