Okay, I know, I know, this isn’t a real blog today. I can’t help it. I’m swamped and I’m about to write a pivotal scene in FEAR NO EVIL and I just don’t have an ounce of creative energy left to think of a blog. I started two blogs–one about linear writing, another about women who kill–but they’re blah and just going to have to wait for another day.
My muse is working overtime on only one story right now.
So this is easy: I love reading blogs. I have many listed on my website but I’m sort of behind adding new ones.
I’ve found myself going back to some blogs repeatedly, and being disappointed if there isn’t new content. I tend to “blog” in the early mornings (drinking coffee–the muse still sleeping), or in the late evenings when I need to unwind. Here are a few I visit almost daily:
Crime Rant
Gregg Olsen and Matt Phelps are true crime writers who share a blog that I find absolutely fascinating, lively and fun. I mean, they started nearly a year after us here at Murder She Writes and they get upwards of 100 comments a day! They’re a little controversial (hence the comments) and they tackle weighty subjects with both a touch of needed comic relief. But more than that, they are compassionate about victims and they know their stuff. (Full Disclosure: I’m Gregg’s mentor through ITW and read his fantastic debut novel, A WICKED SNOW. You’ll be hearing more about Gregg early next year . . . )
Tess Gerritsen
One of my all-time favorite writers has one of my favorite blogs. She tells it like it is in publishing as a NYT bestseller–but you don’t have to be a NYT bestseller to learn from her. I’ve found her comments and advice invaluable, but more than that, I realized that I am not alone in my neurosis. Though if fabulous, brilliant writers like Tess Gerritsen get nervous or anxious about their work, what hope is there for the rest of us?
Steve Huff’s Crime Blog
I discovered Steve through Crime Rant. There’s one huge problem with Steve’s blog. It’s the biggest time suck (for me) on the Internet. Sort of like Crime Library. (Funny, he used to be a columnist for them!) Seriously, though, I hit his page almost every night to see what’s up in the world of crime, and I find myself reading for way, way too long. Just grabbing his link detoured me for fifteen minutes . . . if you are interested in true crime, particularly continuing cases or historical cases, check out his site. He does the research himself, and you won’t be reading most of this information elsewhere.
First Offenders
Like us over here at MSW, First Offenders are relatively new crime fiction writers who bonded. Well, they met in person first. Over drinks. At a conference. In a bar. Yeah. But their blog is fun, brief, and I usually smile. I need to smile more. And I met Lori at RT last year and she’s hilarious, so of course I need to stop by her blog and check out her musings! It’s just icing on the cake that I like Alison, Karen and Jeff’s posts too.
A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing
Joe is an interesting fellow with a lot of good ideas even if I don’t agree with him on everything. But what I love about his blog is that it’s ALWAYS fun and interesting. It makes me think. There’s a lot of stuff about marketing and promotion, but more important, Joe talks about books and the business. I enjoy it.
Buzz, Balls and Hype
MJ Rose’s blog is primarily for writers about the business. Always informative, always interesting, and she has some great guest bloggers like Jason Pinter (an editor at Crown who is also a debut author) and Josie Brown, a former advertising/marketing guru. Well, she’s still an advertising/marketing guru but that’s not how she makes her money anymore, I don’t think. This is a serious blog for serious writers who need to understand how the publishing world works. And while some of my experiences are different, I still think it’s a great use of blog reading time.
Pub Rants
Kristin Nelson is an agent. I met her at National and she is as nice in person as she seems online. She’s not my agent, but she still has great advice for aspiring writers. And I’ve learned a few things as well! Yeah, I like Miss Snark too and she gives great advice, but I don’t read her as often because of time. And, frankly, I don’t need as much advice as I used to! But Kristin helps me keep up on the business from a newbie’s perspective so that when I give workshops on query letters, for example, I can pull out some of her comments which are invaluable.
So there it is. The blogs I hit nearly every day. Of course, I also hit Murder She Writes, Romancing the Blog and Fog City Divas daily, but that’s obvious, right? I have a vested interest in them. And there are a few author blogs I enjoy and hit at least weekly. They’re listed on my personal blog
What’s your favorite morning stop in the blogoshpere?