CornerScribe

Blog and book recommendations

I thought it might be fun to talk about some of the interesting things I’ve been reading in the hope that some of you will find them interesting as well.

What WD missed I really enjoy Paperback Writer, and this is a terrific post. She lists some great sites that WD didn’t include in their “best” listing this year. I can see a few (or more) of these ending up on my Google Reader. I used to read every issue of Writer’s Digest, but I haven’t in a long time. For a while I’d at least thumb through it at the bookstore, but it’s been so long since I’ve found much useful, I don’t bother doing that any more either. Is there a really good writer’s magazine out there anywhere?

Morning Writing Ritual. I haven’t been reading Freelance Switch long, but there are some good articles there. This one describes how, and why, to create a morning writing ritual. Since I’m not a morning person, I may pass, but if you are…

Voice. This is another blog I haven’t been reading long, but I really like it. In this post, she talks about the necessity of developing your own voice. Unfortunately, no one can really tell you how to do that, can they? She’s right; write and write and write some more. Eventually, your voice will come through.

Call for Submission. Here’s a new horror ‘zine, and their request for submissions. By the way, they actually pay!

Top 100, from Crof at Writing Fiction. I love this one, and I just found his blog the other day. I love the fact that he’s willing to take a book that’s accepted as “literature” and say what he thinks. I’ve read a few myself and wondered how such a piece of crap ever got published, let alone considered “great.”

Here are a few that jumped out at me.

• The HistorianThey have to be kidding. It was one of two choices for 2005. I’m not saying it’s a bad book; I enjoyed it actually. I enjoyed it in the way a kid enjoys a dinner made up of chips and ice cream. The book doesn’t really have much substance, and the plot is predictable as well. Fun, but not a great book. Lord help us if if was one of the best.
• DaVinci Code. Again, a fun read. One of the best? Probably not. It has some great plot twists though!
• Handmaid’s Tale Okay, that one definitely belongs on a”best” list. If you haven’t read it, you absolutely must get a copy. This is one of my favorites.