In the last few years, I’ve gotten involved in a few writing groups. Each seems to serve a different purpose in my writing life.
If you’re going it alone, and finding it a struggle, you may want to create a group of your own. Here are three simple questions to start with.

The Benefit of Starting a Creative Circle – 99U
http://99u.com/workbook/27613/the-benefit-of-starting-a-creative-circle

My friends know I don’t read Stephen King. I got through one of his early books and it scared me too much to read any more. No, I’m not a wimp. He’s just such a good writer. (And yes, my friends tell me there are a few less scary ones I should try.)
But my first exposure to his work means I’m happy to consider following his rules. This isn’t a new list, but it’s a good one.

Stephen King’s Top 20 Rules for Writers

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/stephen-kings-top-20-rules-for-writers/

“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson was by far one of my favorite school reading assignments. It’s certainly the only one I can remember rereading just for fun.
I’ll be putting a few of these Shirley Jackson Award winners on my to-read list.

2013 Shirley Jackson Award Winners Announced | Tor.com

http://www.tor.com/blogs/2014/07/2013-shirley-jackson-award-winners-announced

School is a character — for good or ill — in plenty of stories. A few come to mind — A Separate Peace, Catcher in the Rye, Dead Poets Society, Ender’s Game. There are Starfleet Academy and Hogwarts and Matt Forbeck’s Monster Academy. Then there’s the unschoolers of Carpe Diem, Illinois by Kristin Oakley.
Regardless of your audience, school and its variations might be worth exploring. Here’s a different take on a school.

A School That Ditches All the Rules, But Not the Rigor | MindShift

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/07/a-school-that-ditches-all-the-rules-but-not-the-rigor-game-based-school-playmaker/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140713

Most writers I know have want to see their books on library shelves. So these Pew Research surprises are worth knowing.

7 surprises about libraries in our surveys | Pew Research Center

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/30/7-surprises-about-libraries-in-our-surveys/