Translate:
Subject Index Links
Larger Words = More Articles
#Conversations
#mainstreetwriters
#SocialEra
#TraditionalPublishing
#WritersLife
A book's beginning
Accountability Groups for writers
active imagination
Activism and Peace Work
Adrian G Hilder
advice
Advice for Authors
Advice for Writers
Alan Rinzler
Alexander M Zoltai
alien
aliens
ALLi
Alliance of Independent Authors
Alternative Facts
Amazon
Amazon Publishing
American Library Association
Andre Norton
Anne Enright
Annie Dillard
Apple
art
artist
Arts
Ask The Author
Aspiring Writers
Australia
author
Author's Advice
Author's Guild
Author's Resources
Author's Voice
Author Advice
Author Blogs
Author Earnings
author interview
Author Interviews
author platform
Author Platforms
author promotion
authors
Author Scams
Authors Finding Readers
Author Solutions
Authors reasons
Baha'i
Baha'u'llah
Bahá'í Faith
Banned Books
Banned Books Week
Barnes & Noble
Barry Eisler
Begin a book
Beginning a book
Beginning to write a book
Behind The Scenes
Best Friend
bestseller
BestsellerBound
Bestsellers
Bestselling Authors
Beta Readers
Be the Gateway
Bibliotherapy
Big Five
Big Six
blog
blog comments
Blog Conversations
Blog Discussions
Blogger
Bloggers
blogging
Blogosphere
Blog Poll
blog post
blog posts
Blog Post Series
blogroll
blogs
blog statistics
blog stats
Blog Survey
Blog Visitors
blues
book
Book Banning
Book Blogs
Book Covers
Book Depository
book design
Book Designers
Book distribution
Book Island
book marketing
Book Piracy
book promotion
Book Publishing
Book Recommendations
book review
Book Reviews
Book Riot
books
Book Sales
Booksellers
book series
Bookshops
Bookstores
Boring books
Brain Pickings
C. J. Cherryh
Canterbury Tales
Carl Jung
Center for Story-Based Strategy
Challenging books
characters
Charles Dickens
children
Children's Books
Choosing what to read
Climate Change
Coleman Barks
Collective Unconscious
communication
Consciousness
copyright
Corporate Control
Corporate World
Corporations
Cory Doctorow
crazy
CreateSpace
creative
creative writing
creativity
crisis
criticism
critique
Critique Group
Dan Blank
Darcia Helle
David Gaughran
Dean Wesley Smith
death
debut novel
depression
Developmental Editor
Diana Krall
Diaspora
Dictionaries
Dictionary
Difficult Books
Digital Books
Digital Book World
Digital Publishing
digital rights management
Discoverability
Discussion about libraries
Discussions about age and writing
Does age make you write differently?
Don Quixote
Doris Lessing
Dragon
dreams
DRM
E-book
E-books
E-readers
E. M. Forster
Earth
Eat Pray Love
ebook
ebooks
editing
Editing for Writers
editor
editors
Education
Education for Writers
Elif Shafak
Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabeth S. Craig
Emily Dickinson
Engaging an Audience
England
English Grammar
English language
Environmental disaster
Erin McKean
Erma Bombeck
Ernest Hemingway
Espresso Book Machine
Etymologies
etymology
Evolution of Grammar
Facebook
facebook fiction
Fahrenheit 451
Failure
faith
Famous Authors
Fantasy
FastPencil
favorite author
feedback
feelings
fiction
fictional dream
Fiction Writing
fictive dream
Finding Readers
First Book
Flash Fiction
Forbes
Forest Avenue Press
Francine Prose
Francis Ford Coppola
Frankfurt Book Fair
Frank Herbert
free book
free books
freedom
Free E-books
Free Ebooks
Free Education
Freelance Writers
freelance writing
Freelancing
Free Novel
Free Online Courses
free software
Friday Fantasy
G+
Games
Gaming
Gatekeepers
Gene Doucette
genre
Genre fiction
George Orwell
Getting writing help
Glimmer Train
global
global crisis
global peace
God
GoodReads
Google
Google Plus
Grammar
Grammar Nazi
grammar nerd
grief
Hachette
Haley Whitehall
Harnessing the Power of Narrative for Social Change
Harry Potter
Healing
Help for writers
Help with Writing
Hermann Hesse
Hindustan Contessa
Historical fiction
How do you begin a book?
How do you choose what to read?
How should I begin a book?
how to choose what to read
how to write
How writers write
Hugh Howey
humanity
humor
iAuthor
iBooks
illiteracy
Illiterate
imagination
Improve Your Grammar
independent authors
Independent Book Publishers Association
Independent Publishers
Indie Author
Indie Authors
Indie Books
Indie Publishing
Indie Writers
Ingram
Innovation
International Literacy Day
International Writing Program
Internet
interview
Iowa City
Israel
Is Your Soul In Here?
J. A. Konrath
J.K. Rowling
J. R. R. Tolkien
James Joyce
James Patterson
Jamie
Jammers Inaka
Jane Friedman
Jane Watson
Jessica Bell
Joanna Penn
Joe Konrath
Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
Joel Friedlander
John C. Gardner
John Gardner
Johnpaul Mahofski
Jonah Berger
Jung
justice
Kickstarter
kids
Kindle
Kindle Unlimited
Kinds of readers
Kitely
knowledge
Kobo
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Kurt Vonnegut
language
Language challenges
language difficulties
Laura Stanfill
learning
Learning How To Write
Learning to write
Legacy Publishers
Legacy Publishing
Leo Babauta
Leonard Balsera
Librarian
Librarians
Libraries
library
library classifications
library memories
Library of Congress
library pages
LibraryThing
LibreOffice
Lindsay Buroker
LinkedIn
Literacy
literary
literary community
Literary Fiction
Literature
Little Free Libraries
Little Free Library
LitWorld
Local Library
Lord of the Rings
Lynn Biederstadt
Magic
Main Street Writers Movement
making money as a writer
Margaret Atwood
Maria Popova
Mark Coker
Mark Twain
Massachusetts
Max E. Stone
meaning
means of communication
metaphor
metaphysical
metaphysics
methods of writing
microfiction
micro fiction
Mind
Mobile Reading
MOOC
Most common words in English
muse
music
Music video
My Next Book
mystery
Myth
Nail Your Novel
NaNoWriMo
National Novel Writing Month
Neil Gaiman
networking
New Blog Post Series
New York Public Library
New York Times
Nicholas Sparks
Nilofer Merchant
Nook
No Shelf Required
Notebooks
Notes from An Alien
Nova Sparks
novel
novels
Older Authors
Older Writers
Online Etymology Dictionary
opinion
Opinion poll
Original Stories
Orna Ross
Oxford Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford University Press
Paddy O'Reilly
Paulo Coelho
peace
Pearson
PEN American Center
Penguin Random House
PEN International
perfection
Personal Unconscious
Pew Research Center
Philosophy
Picking your next read
Pink Floyd
Piracy
planning
Plasma Cosmology
playing for change
plot
Poem
Poems
poet
poetry
Poets & Writers
poll
Polls
Porter Anderson
post
Poverty
Print Books
Print Books and E-books
Print Books vs E-books
Print on demand
Print readers
Project Gutenberg
promote
promote your writing
Promoting Books
promotion
Proper Grammar
psychology
publication
Public library
publish
publisher
Publishers
Publishers Weekly
publishing
publishing advice
Publishing Perspectives
Publishing Survey
Publishing Tips
Pulitzer Prize
Rachelle Gardner
Random House
Ray Bradbury
Re-blog
read
Read An E-book Week
reader
Reader's Poll
reader categories
reader category
Reader Comments
reader opinion
reader opinions
Readers
readership
reading
Reading Aloud
Reading challenges
Reading level
Reading Like A Writer
reading methods
Reading Poll
reading styles
Reading Survey
reading techniques
Reading To Children
Reality
Reasons for writing
Rebekah Webb
Reedsy
religion
Resources for Writers
responsibility
review
reviewer
reviews
Roleplaying
Roz Morris
Rules of Writing
Rumi
Salon
Sarah Kay
Sci-Fi
science
science fiction
Scott Turow
Scrivener
Second Life
Self-Editing
Self-Help Books
self-publish
self-published
Self-Published Author
Self-Published Authors
Self-Published Writer
Self-published Writers
self-publisher
Self-Publishers
self-publishing
Selfpublish
Selfpublished
Selfpublisher
Selfpublishing
Selling Books
Selling E-books
Serious Writing
Seth Godin
Shakespeare
Share your ideas
Shoghí Effendí
Short Stories
Short story
Short Tales
Simone Benedict
singer
Sir Ken Robinson
Slate
Small Presses
Smashwords
social media
Social network
social networking
Social Networks
social responsibility
soul
space
Special Blog Posts
Speculative fiction
spirit
Spoilers
Star Trek
Stealing Books
Stephen King
Steven King
stories
Storium
story
Story Bazaar
Storytellers
Storytelling
Strange Fantasies
Studying Grammar
Success
Successful Authors
survey
Surveys
Survey Says
Suw Charman-Anderson
SyFy
TechCrunch
Ted Talks
Telling Stories
Tennessee
The Alliance of Independent Authors
The Atlantic
The Book Designer
The Bookseller
The Curator
The Danger of A Single Story
The Guardian
The Hobbit
The Hot Sheet
The Lord of the Rings
The Millions
The Muse
The New Yorker
The New York Times
The Paris Review
Thesaurus
The State of Writing
The Writing Life
Thought
Tips for Writers
Tobias Buckell
Todd Bol
to make common
Toni Morrison
Tony Riches
Top Books
top posts
Top Tags
Traditionally Published Authors
Traditional Publisher
Traditional Publishers
traditional publishing
Truth
Truth in Fiction
Twitter
types of readers
Types of reading Styles
Typographical Errors
typos
UNESCO
United Kingdom
United Nations
Unity
Unleashing The Idea Virus
Unpublished Scenes
Ursula K. Le Guin
Various Stories
Various Tales
video
Virginia Quarterly Review
Virtual reality
virtual world
Virtual Worlds
Visual Thesaurus
Wattpad
What's the first step in beginning a book?
What About All The Authors Whose Books Don’t Sell Very Many Copies?
What Age Brings to Writing
What an author should do
What Are Words
What do you read?
What Should I Write
What’s The “Best” Way To Learn “Proper” Grammar?
When does a book begin?
Why Do Certain People Become Writers?
why writers write
Willa Cather
William Gibson
word
Wordery
word histories
word history
Word Meanings
Wordnik
words
Words are My Matter
Word Usage
world
World Book Day
World peace
World Read Aloud Day
Worldreader
World Wide Words
write
writer
writer's advice
Writer's Block
Writer's Digest
Writer's Life
Writer's Poll
Writer's Prompts
Writer's Survey
writer's tips
writer's voice
Writer Resources
writers
Writers' Groups
Writers' support groups
Writers and Money
writers discussion group
Writers Finding Readers
writers methods
writers on writing
Writers reasons
Writers Residencies
Writers Resources
Writers Tools
Writer Unboxed
writing
writing a book
writing advice
Writing Aids
Writing and Editing
Writing A Novel
writing blogs
writing challenge
Writing Challenge ~ Use The 1200 Most Common Words To Write A Story…
Writing Contests
Writing Courses
Writing for Money
Writing Groups
writing habits
writing help
Writing Maxims
Writing Poll
Writing Process
Writing Prompts
Writing Resources
Writing Rules
Writing Sites
writing software
Writing style
Writing Success
Writing Survey
writing tips
Writing Tools
YouTube
`Abdu'l-Bahá
Search here with your own keywords…
————————————————————
Special Pages . . .
Blogroll
- ! Alex's First Writing Site ~ FarShore Publications
- ! Awesome Author Friend Jane Watson
- ! Awesome Paddy O'Reilly Award-Winning Writer
- ! BahaiTeachings.org All About Humanity’s Evolution
- ! Course of Mirrors Ashen
- ! E-book Endeavors Lindsay Buroker
- ! Finding Time to Write Thinking, writing, thinking about writing…
- ! French Toast Girl the art and illustration of élena nazzaro
- ! Global Voices Citizen Media
- ! Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity Building capacity for discourses about the betterment of society
- ! Jasmine Arch Author and Writers’ Group Admin
- ! Jerry J. Davis Virtual Author Friend
- ! Lady P PenPusher Poet
- ! Letters to the Living essays, reflections, and poems on life’s “big issues”
- ! Lynn Biederstadt – Author Sky Diaries
- ! Once written… Awesome Poet Friend
- ! Philippa Rees Quite Serious Fun
- ! R. Jean Bell Author and Writers’ Group Admin
- ! Shout With Emaginette Anna Simpson’s Blog
- ! The Passive Voice David Vandagriff
- ! The Writing Desk Tony Riches
- ! Tribalmystic people, places, and things that have extraordinary stories
- ! Untold People, Living Stories Andréana Lefton
- ! Zen and The Art of Tightrope Walking Trying to stay in balance…
- * : Martina Sevecke-Pohlen Founder of the publishing house Wieken
- * Book Designer Joel Friedlander, proprietor of Marin Bookworks
- * C. J. Cherryh My Favorite Fiction Author
- * Jane Friedman Being Human at Electric Speed
- * Julie Christine Round Author Friend from LibraryThing
World News
- Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 810
- NSM-20: ‘Inconsistencies’ plague US assessment on Israel’s Gaza war conduct
- Lawrence Wong set to take centre stage as Singapore’s new prime minister
- US university ties to weapons contractors under scrutiny amid war in Gaza
- Key takeaways as ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen testifies in New York trial
- Fury’s father bloodied in clash with Usyk’s entourage
- How significant is Russia’s new military offensive in northeastern Ukraine?
- Hezbollah says will keep fighting if Israel presses on with assault on Gaza
- US students use graduation to stand with Palestine
- Top US Senator Bob Menendez’s corruption trial begins
Global Voices
- Young voters share their expectations ahead of South African elections
- Southeast Asian media groups cite need for press freedom in dealing with extreme weather events
- Nigerian students who stammer face barriers and stigmatization in schools
- Taliban bids on sports in Afghanistan to gain legitimacy at home and abroad
- Online resistance against Nicaragua‘s ‘Peace Law’
- Right wing victory in North Macedonia presidential and parliamentary elections
- Floods and flooding ‘will be part of our lives,’ says Brazilian architect and urbanist
- The Global Coalition for Language Rights: A space for language justice
- Locals in Aruba protest unsustainable growth of hotel and tourism industry
- Government bid to ban ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ protest song approved by appeals court
Bahá’í World News
- United Arab Emirates: Youth cultivate community spirit in new garden
- United Kingdom: Restoration project honors enduring impact of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s message of peace
- In Conversation: Podcast explores dynamic relationships between worship and service
- “A solace to humankind”: Bahá’ís of India mark centenary at Lotus Temple
- Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Work begins on building systems and exterior surfaces
- CSW: The critical role of institutions in promoting gender equality
- Bahá’ís of Iran: Iran’s government must end “crime against humanity of persecution,” says Human Rights Watch
- Youth: BIC highlights essential role of youth in social transformation
- In Conversation: Exploring contributions of the Bahá’í International Community to the betterment of the world
- Chile Bahá’í Radio: National sound archive of Mapuche culture comes to life
Headphones Recommended for The Following Videos
Hi Alexander, you raised some interesting questions! I first started my writing blog because I wanted to take my writing more seriously and I wanted to post excerpts of my writing. I then thought no one would want to read just excerpts of my writing, so inspired by other writers blogs, I started posting about writing as well, hopefully more tips and how-to’s. As I will hopefully learn more about writing as I research and write about writing. I still intend to post my writing, as I think you can have a happy balance between the two, and gives variety and interest to your readers (I’m hoping!).
As for daily writing on your blog helping you to improve your writing, I think it depends what kind of writing you are posting. If you are writing how-to articles and articles like you have put on here today, then I don’t think it will help your fiction writing skills. Although it would help your article writing skills, and would help if you’re wanting to write for magazines and get published that way. If you want to improve your fiction writing skills, then I think it would help to write short pieces of fiction, like the 100 word Drabbles, to improve your actual fiction writing skills. You could do that as part of a daily Writing Journal that you don’t necessarily have to put on your blog, the choice is yours. Though it’s nice to receive feedback, and see how well you’re doing with your writing, and where you might need to improve.
That’s just my opinion!
LikeLike
And, that’s exactly what comments on a blog are all about, sharing opinions so our knowledge can grow :-)
I think a balance of types of posts is absolutely cool. I’m, like I said in the post, alternating interviews with my own ramblings and I’ll soon host a Blog Tour stop-over. And, like you, I’ll eventually get around to posting some of my own stuff (though, folks can get it free here and here…)
As far as blog-writing not fulfilling practice in fiction-writing, I must, in a general way, agree. But…
On a more Meta-Writerly plane, any writing is writing-practice and exercising in a typical bloggy-way can, at a deep level, still aid wielding the fiction pen.
But, to echo you: That’s just my opinion!
LikeLike
I only started my blog six weeks ago. One of the reasons I began blogging was, as you put it, “to build my writing muscles.” The writing I get “paid” to do is marketing/copywriting and really, that’s just not enough sometimes–not enough to keep me writng all day–and not fulfilling when I can’t write about what I want to write about. One of the other reasons I wanted to blog is to learn more about the whole social media/blogging scene–learning by doing. What I’ve discovered is that blogging is not a chore–it’s really fun. (Though some days when I know I need to post, sorting through a topic can be a chore–other days my fingers fly!) I am reading more blogs that ever before, “meeting” other bloggers through their blogs and comments. And because of my “genre”, I’m on a lot more web sites–which is honing my research skills. All of this has helped my writing. Some blogs are extremely well-written, some not so much, but it’s fascinating to me that there are so many people with so much to say!
LikeLike
Freedom,
It’s heartening to hear how much blogging is helping you :-)
As far as that topic challenge, I’ve had readers give me ideas, which I dutifully put in my potential topics list; but, I usually just sit down at the computer and wait for my Muse to tell me what to write…
Your comment is chock-full of reasons to blog :-)
LikeLike
Too many obligations…real life gets in the way. If i didn’t have a full time job and a house full of people blogging daily would most likely be an option. For now, i blog when i can. :)
LikeLike
Gwen,
From reading your magnificent blog, you obviously have the “writer’s touch”…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey, folks, click on Gwen’s name up at the top of her comment to go to her blog!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blogging when you can is Way better than not blogging at all–IMHO…
LikeLike
Since my first foray into fiction is a humorous mystery, my humor blogs are like money in the bank. My blog posts are inspiration expressed in words. I have a written body of work that I can draw on when needed. Even more, blogging let’s me hone my technique. I see such a huge improvement since a year ago when I started blogging. I take comfort in having that safety net as I breathe that same sparkle into my fiction.
LikeLike
Whoot!!
So, is this an example of what I Hmmmed about in the post–a “genre-blog”?
Whatever your blog is, it’s my daily infusion of smiles and giggles :-)
Really great to see how you’re clearly benefiting from blogging!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey folks, check out my interview with Karla–the post right below this one………
LikeLike
Karla Telega, that is a most excellent idea! One could even do that in reverse with a novel. In any novel there are unwritten backstories, minor characters, and events happening off stage. That may be the best way to promote a book. Of course, you’d have to introduce it as an aside to the novel.
I’m pinning this note to my cork board. Home run, KT.
LikeLike
Thanks for visiting my blog, Alexander! I’ve just added you to my blog roll also.
LikeLike
Stacy! So nice having you visit!! So, now we’re joined at the blogs :-)
LikeLike
I’ve been blogging, off and on, one place and another, for years. My blogging — topics and scheduling — is always fluid. I try to post five or six times a week, but if I don’t feel like it for a week or two, I won’t. It’s an adjunct to my regular writing. Sometimes it’s a spinoff, sometimes it’s inspiration. I’m not an advocate of the write-every-day meme, even for my novels. By most writers’ standards, I’m lazy. I could push myself harder, but I don’t work well under pressure, especially if you intend to write well.
By the way, your mention of writer interviews made me think you should have included in your poll something like: what would you least like to read on this blog. For me, that would be writer interviews.
LikeLike
Ugh, bad editing. “…I don’t work well under pressure, especially if you intend to write well.” Should have been …under pressure. Most people don’t, especially if they intend to write well.
LikeLike
Hey, I’m constantly on guard against editing faux-pas, but for some reason on a blog I slip up far too often… ‘Course, I don’t have an editor on this blog :-)
I hope you noticed in the post that I left breathing space for writers like you??
It’s always hard to say everybody should do whatever. Especially, with writers. I think “most” writers should probably try to write every day; except the ones who shouldn’t :-)
As far as writer interviews, I will be having them roughly ever other day for a bit here. It won’t become anything like the norm–more like an occasional splurge. Sure hope you stick around and continue reading the other posts………
LikeLike
“I think “most” writers should probably try to write every day; except the ones who shouldn’t :-)”
Glad to see you take a firm stand. Can’t stand fence-straddlers. :-)
LikeLike
Whoot :-)
LikeLike
Another great post, Alexander! I am a genre writer and I also have a genre-blog focusing on writing. However, talking about writing and my experiences writing makes me switch gears from the historical fiction mindset. Forcing myself to stick to the post a day challenge has improved my historical fiction writing. All writers, but in my opinion genre writers in particular, struggle with getting burnt out because they tend to stay in their rut for so long. Stretching my writing abilities has helped me avoid that disaster lately.
LikeLike
Dear Haley,
How wonderful to have a resounding confirmation of one of the suggestions from this post…
I’ve also been “Stretching my writing abilities” and intend to do even more stretching with this blog.
Maybe I should create a new poll with more options for folks to choose………
LikeLike
I think another poll with more options is a great idea!
LikeLike
Well, ok then. As soon as I get through the current series of writer interviews I’ll start thinking about a new poll.
Speaking about writer interviews, did you get my list of questions for your interview??
LikeLike
Yes I got your list of questions. I’ve been busy lately. I should have it done sometime today and will send it back to you. Then sometime in the future I get to interview you. That was the deal :)
LikeLike
I got your interview answers!!
Working on when to schedule your interview………
Yes, that is the deal. One day you get to interview me :-)
LikeLike
Pingback: Self-Publishing: Carnival of the Indies Issue #5 — The Book Designer
Pingback: Top 15 Posts ~ Reading, Writing, Publishing « Notes from An Alien
Pingback: Bloggers Are Self-Publishers « Notes from An Alien
Pingback: Can A Blog Be Considered “Social Media”? « Notes from An Alien
Pingback: Top 42 Posts & Pages on Reading, Writing, and Publishing « Notes from An Alien
Another great, thought-provoking article! and I’m looking forward to the interviews with both you and Haley.
LikeLike
Dear Selena,
You weren’t apparently aware that this post was written in 2011—though the post that got you here was today :-)
All the interviews are right here :-)
LikeLike
o my stars…..well it is still current! You are so prolific!
LikeLike