It is with a heavy heart that I write this, my final post for Fantasy-Faction. After much deliberation and consideration, I’ve come to the realization that in order to properly re-prioritize my life, a few things simply have to come to an end. I held out here as long as I could, y’all, but I finally realized—I need all the moments I can get to do the things that are really important, and sadly, writing these articles is just too much of a drain on my time.
I did not want to leave you all empty-handed, though, so I put together a list of resources that I have found useful in my writing endeavors.
For grammar and usage questions:
The go-to gal for all things grammar-related is, of course, Grammar Girl. Her site is highly user-friendly, and I always find her answers clear and concise. Also, if you don’t subscribe to her podcasts, I highly recommend them.
The Purdue University OWL website is a terrific place for detailed usage and grammar answers, plus it’s highly useful if you need to cite sources in non-fiction work. Very user-friendly, too.
For advice on craft:
Storyfix.com is a fantastic resource for any questions on structure. Larry Brooks is an engaging writer and speaker, and he takes a highly analytical approach to writing fiction. If you have trouble with pacing and structure, take a look at Larry’s site.
Author Kristen Lamb also writes about craft, and she’s also known in indie author circles as a bit of a social media guru. Her advice is worth checking out.
For advice on publishing, self and otherwise:
A great champion of the self-publishing movement is Nathan Bransford, a former literary agent who is now an author of children’s books and an editor at CNET. His blog, both past and present, is full of advice and inspiration for up and coming authors.
Of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention some of the heroes of the self-publishing movement:
Joe Konrath
Dean Wesley Smit
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Passive Guy
All of these blogs are worth paying attention to, whether you’re seeking a traditional contract, self-publishing, or pursuing some kind of hybrid business model.
And of course, you can always search my past articles here for advice.
Thank you all for the great discourse over the last year and a half. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a contributor at Fantasy-Faction, and I wish all of you the absolute best in your future writing endeavors.
