Build your team

So, you may already have an agent, but do you have a publicist? Last summer, I had a chance to meet Dana Kaye, a publicist, at the Writers Block Party (a gathering of Chicago Writer’s Association and In Print Writers). She talked about the services she and other publicists can provide to authors. Independent authors who don’t have marketing backgrounds certainly may want to consider hiring a publicist. Literary agent Carly Watters says traditionally published authors also might want to hire their own publicist to supplement whatever is being done by their publishers.

How much do you know about hiring an external publicist for your novel? | Carly Watters, Literary Agent

http://carlywatters.com/2015/03/16/external-publicist/

LoC honors

Two of my writing friends are Ojibwe. I’m sure they will be proud to learn an Ojibwe writer is being honored by the Library of Congress.
Ojibwe Author, Louise Erdrich, to Receive the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction
http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/ojibwe-author-louise-erdrich-to-receive-the-library-of-congress-prize-for-american-fiction/

Small packages

I’ve said it before. I love science fiction. And, much as I love scifi novels, I think I love short stories more. I used to buy every short story collection as soon as it came out in paperback. If you don’t think you like or could learn anything from scifi, this collection might convince you otherwise.

18 Perfect Short Stories That Pack More Of A Punch Than Most Novels
http://io9.com/18-perfect-short-stories-that-pack-more-of-a-punch-than-1692442650

What a character…

I love finding articles that describe types of people. It’s like finding a character waiting to be dropped into a situation. It may or may not be a main character, but lesser characters need some depth, too. Here’s an example that offers counterposed characters — good boss and bad boss. Could also be good or bad roomie, good or bad sibling. Consider the possibilities.

10 Signs Your Managers Are Controllers But Not Leaders
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/work/10-signs-your-managers-are-controllers-but-not-leaders.html?ref=tp&n=1