Writers’ Roundup: August 20

Friday means links!

• Author Dani Shapiro on the importance of alone time, and finding the balance between thinking about life and actually living it.

• Short but super post from The Mobile Lawyer about how travel inspires memory. A must-read for travel memoirists.

• Six steps to a prettier blog — without a designer. Awesome tips from Marian Schembari, the social-media-for-authors thug who had an uber-popular Q&A here a few weeks ago.

• How to ensure 75 percent of agents will request your material. I’m wary of magic bullets, but this one is practical. From Writer’s Digest.

• Absolutely love this from Chris Brogan: What are you waiting for? Don’t wait. Plan. Brogan also had an insightful post this week about how he writes with his co-author.

• One of my favorite YA authors, Julie Kraut, tells a hilarious story about traveling in Africa. Watch the video. You’ll laugh.

• At Marianne Elliott’s blog, 10 tips for long-haul travel, zen-peacekeeper style.

Be sure to check back here Monday for an interview with an author who wrote more than a dozen books — more than a dozen! — before she was finally published.

Writers’ Roundup: August 13

It’s Friday the 13th! Lucky, right?

• How Hollywood affected Eat, Pray, Love‘s book sales. So that’s why I want my book to be made into a movie.

• Awesome interview at The Art of Non-Conformity with a former lawyer who’s traveling solo. Let her inspire you!

• Writers have a lot of excuses for not using social media. Soon-to-be author Jody Hedlund tells us how to overcome them.

• Who are your favorite undderrated writers? From The Guardian’s book blog.

• Read, Write, Web brings us five reasons ebooks are better than paper books, and another five why paper books are better than ebooks. Which camp are you in?

• Mashable runs a solid article on how freelancers might use social media in the future. Only thing is, the title sucks. It should be called: How Freelancers Should Use Social Media NOW.

• Social Media Examiner offers a fabulous primer on Facebook for businesses. Great for newbies.

Have a great weekend!

Writers’ Roundup: August 6

You know the drill… Time for links!

• Should you write for free? (I say no.) The Traveling Philosopher weighs in on what he calls the devaluation of words at the Huffington Post.

• If you’re still not sure you should use Twitter (haven’t I convinced you already?), literary agent Janet Reid offers yet another reason. I nag, I know. Because I want you to succeed!

• Author Mary Carroll Moore blogs about writing retreats and what happens when you’re alone with your creativity.

• Outspoken Media explains why both individuals and brands should be outspoken online. Right on target.

• The cold, hard truth about making a living at writing, from literary agent Chip MacGregor. Hm. So I have a low way to go.

On a side note, I’m running my first-ever social media giveaway for a client this month. And it’s a damn good giveaway, which is why I’m telling you about it — a trip to Iceland! To enter, simply “like” Overland Experts’ Facebook page or follow us on Twitter and RT our giveaway tweet. Enter, travel friends! Here are the contest details.

Have a great weekend!

Writers’ Roundup: July 30

I could care less what Chelsea Clinton wears at her wedding this weekend. What I DO care about are great links from this week on writing and social media. Enjoy.

• Super helpful interview from MediaBistro’s GalleyCat with author Rachel Shukert on her new travel memoir. Her ideas are good enough to copy.

• Speaking of authors with great ideas, this woman published her memoir on Scribd. Jane Friedman interviews her about how she did it.

• A guest at Lisa Romeo’s blog writes about how personal essay writers think.

• Mashable reminds us how social media can make us more productive.

On Monday we’ve got an interview with the author of The Art of Solo Travel about e-book publishing and, of course, traveling solo. Don’t miss it!

Writers’ Roundup: July 16

My favorite links from this week:

• Guest post at Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents: 4 ways to overcome writer’s block and write from anywhere.

• One author’s journey on Twitter, at The Huffington Post.

• Penelope Trunk presents a new way to write a book review.

• This goes well with the blogging series I’ve run during the last two weeks: Chris Brogan on blogs as attractive engines.

• Hilarious: NYC newbie crowdsources his dating life. Don’t forget to click over to his website and watch the video.

• In an interview with MediaBistro’s GalleyCat, CEO of BookTour.com offers some great book-promotion tips.

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Happy weekend!

Writers’ Roundup: July 9

My favorite links from this week:

• Journalist David Farley tells MediaBistro’s GalleyCat how he turned his travel reporting into a book deal. Travel memoir folks, listen to this one.

• Eleven important elements of a novel or memoir, from literary agent Michael Larsen.

• When backstory helps your writing — and when it hinders it. Solid advice from author Mary Carroll Moore.

• Chris Brogan on the importance of Confidence and Conviction. Always a good reminder. I’m a big believer that this can make or break you.

• At The Art of Non-Conformity, a beginner’s guide to travel hacking. In other words, how to travel cheaply.

• Another one from GalleyCat: The Best Book Club Resources on Twitter.

• A post at The Fearless Journalist about personal freedom verses loneliness: Free to be lonely. Made me think.

• Oh! Almost forgot to add: I’m at Marianne Elliott’s blog this week talking about building a writing community.

Check back here Monday for Part II of Blogging 101!

Writers’ Roundup: July 2

Wow, lots less time to go through my Google Reader this week now that I have clients! But it’s a good trade. Here’s what I’ve got for you:

• At The Huffington Post, a publicist asks, Does Twitter sell books? Why, yes. Yes it does.

• Punky Brewster is coming out with a memoir! Well, the woman who played her is, anyhow. Who else will buy this?

• Heads-up, adventure travelers: Mashable profiles a new travel networking site called GlobeTrooper.

• Soon-to-be-author Jody Hedlund gives us an inside look at advanced reading copies.

• At Little House on the Southern Prairie, Emily’s got a post I love: If you want to quit your job, you CAN find a way.

• The Big Catch-22 for Memoir Writers, from Writer’s Digest. I just ordered this month’s issue, which focuses on memoir.

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Happy holiday weekend!!

Writers’ Roundup: June 25

Just finished yet another revision of the manuscript! It changed and improved more dramatically this time than ever before. Super excited.

My favorite links from this week:

• How a career break can help you find your next job, from Briefcase to Backpack.

• Advice from a literary agent on how to pick competitive titles for your book proposal.

• Love this from writer Lisa Romeo: Do you write young or old? And does it matter?

• Chris Brogan offers this simple formula for better blogging. Take his advice.

• Editorial Ass(istant) explains why the first page of your manuscript is so dang important.

• A fabulous list of books about writing memoir, from literary agent Rachelle Gardner.

What’d I miss?

Writers’ Roundup: June 18

Busy, busy week! My favorite links:

• What’s the best way for writers to deal with contradictory feedback? Literary agent Rachelle Gardner weighs in.

• If you’re new to Twitter, Marian Schembari is giving away free profile critiques. She’s good. Take advantage.

• “Hating your book isn’t a sign that it’s time to move on — it means you’re almost there.” Insight from YA writer Natalie Whipple.

• Five lies unpublished writers tell themselves, at Guide to Literary Agents. I take issue with #5 — I think we have to believe we’re better than the next person (in a not-so-cocky way) to succeed.

• Anybody else write in the books they read? I do! I do!

• MediaBistro’s Galleycat brings us a journalist who says, “Writing a book is the way to take your career to the next level.” Do it.

Happy reading!

Writers’ Roundup: June 11

As usual, my favorite links from the week! Pretty eclectic mix today:

• Advice on asking questions from a reporter-turned-stock-analyst. I love the art of asking questions, and Andrea James is right on the mark.

• A hilarious yet so-true post at Dating Detox on the pros and cons of being single and in a relationship. I agree with Meg that it’d be nice to have a permanent bag-watcher in the airport.

• At Letters Home, Simone Gorrindo has a piece I bet a lot of travelers can relate to, about how travel brings us to places deep within our memory, helping us find our personal narratives.

• Climbing a Tree, Uncovering a Duck: Writers on Writing, from The Millions. Because writers can’t get enough of our own analogies.

• If you haven’t seen this proposal video, you’re missing an opportunity for a good laugh and a good cry.

Happy weekend!