While Mythic Scribes is geared towards fantasy writing, I’m a big believer in studying writing from many different angles. For that reason, I’m always on the lookout for great writing advice from authors in other genres.
Today I’m going to feature nine of the blogs that I turn to for inspiration. Each of these blogs offers great insight from experienced, talented authors. While there are many quality writing blogs out there, these are nine of the best.
In no particular order, here are 9 amazing blogs for writers:
1. The Bookshelf Muse
Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have created a useful resources for writers. Not only does The Bookshelf Muse offer helpful articles, but it also features online thesauri on topics such as settings, physical attributes and character traits. I also recommend their book, The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression, which is available from Amazon.
Here are some of their recent articles that I enjoyed:
- Adapting Story Structure for Any Project (Lydia Sharp)
- Increasing Your Book’s Momentum (Laura Carlson)
- Surprising Emotions: How Will Your Character React? (David Farland)
2. Courage 2 Create
Fiction writer and professional blogger Ollin Morales offers valuable inspiration and writing tips. I especially love how Ollin shares his own challenges in writing and in life.
I recommend checking out the following posts:
- Where to Begin Your Story
- 11 Ways To Get Over Feeling Guilty About Following Your Passion
- 10 Tricks To Motivate Yourself To Write–Right NOW
3. L.B. Gale
Fantasy author L.B. Gale not only shares constructive writing advice, but also engaging commentary on popular culture. If you are a fan of science fiction or fantasy entertainment, you will appreciate what she has to offer:
- How the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy Can Avoid the Failures of the Prequel Trilogy
- There Are Two Kinds of Writers
- A Guide to Naming Characters
4. The Artist’s Road
Professional storyteller Patrick Ross brings a wealth of life-experience to the table in this unique blog. He has a lot of insight into creativity and the writing life, which makes this blog a must-read for all aspiring writers:
- The Balance Between Authenticity and Creativity
- Is Kickstarter the Answer for Aspiring Authors?
- Is it Wrong to Imagine Success?
5. Jeff Goins, Writer
I first discovered Jeff Goins through his posts on Problogger. He has a lot of valuable things to say about writing, success, and blogging. In my opinion, Jeff is one of the most inspirational guys in the world of writing:
- The One Fear That Will Destroy Your Art
- The Difference Between Good Writers and Bad Writers
- The Reason Your Marketing Is Utterly Failing
6. Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors
www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com
Historical and speculative fiction author K.M. Weiland offers a wealth of advice on the craft of writing. She routinely delves into the nuts and bolts of story structure and character and development in a way that is entertaining and accessible:
- Why Story Beginnings and Endings Must Be Linked
- The Necessity of Conflict
- 5 Steps to Dazzling Minor Characters
7. The Creative Penn
Thriller and non-fiction author Joanna Penn (J.F. Penn) is an expert on publishing, marketing, and writing. I have found her perspectives on social media and the ebook revolution to be enlightening:
- How To Get Amazon’s Top Customer Reviewers To Review Your Book
- Why Amazon’s KDP Select Is God’s Gift to Authors
- How To Sell Books With Social Media
8. Writer Unboxed
Writer Unboxed has been one of my favorite blogs for a while now. Founded by Therese Walsh and Kathleen Bolton, the blog features a myriad of writers from different genres. This is an excellent site to visit for daily advice and motivation:
- Transformational Journeys—Working With Archetypes (Robin LaFevers)
- Heroes and Villains (Sophie Masson)
- The Antihero – Writing a Dark Character that Readers will Love (Antonio del Drago)
9. The Other Side of the Story
Fantasy and science fiction author Janice Hardy is a teacher at heart, and she enjoys taking her readers through the writing process. She regularly critiques writing submissions from her readers, which she uses as teaching examples. I recommend starting with the following articles:
- Look! It’s An Idea: Going From Premise to Plot
- Know Before You Go: Should You Know Your Genre First?
- Theme Me Up: How to Develop Your Theme
BONUS: The Roundtable Podcast
Although it’s not a blog, I must mention one more site that I rely on for inspiration: The Roundtable Podcast. Hosted by Dave Robison and Brion Humphrey, this podcast helps writers to nurture their ideas and get the creative juices flowing.
You can listen to my interview on The Roundtable Podcast here:
Your Favorite Writing Blogs?
Now that you’ve seen my favorites, it’s time for you to share. What are your favorite blogs for writers?
Also, are you a regular reader of any of the blogs on my list? If so, what keeps you coming back?
See Also:
