Friday Interesting Links

Writing/Inspiration

Interesting map of mythical animals:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/preshaa/3847027500/sizes/l/

Why are you writing? This article talks about choices and not driving yourself into a hole economically just to write. Seeing as I'm a stay at home writer, reading these kinds of assessments helps me evaluate and confirm.
http://www.bizzia.com/articles/making-money-vs-doing-what-you-love/

A look at character development:
http://editorunleashed.com/2009/08/14/makin-it-real-character-development/

A tight look at the alpha hero:
http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/01/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-3/

Five "easy" steps to being a writer:
http://www.deadlinedames.com/?p=1576

And because you should be interested in life after that first sale, whether or not you're already there, here's a sobering note about deadlines:
http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/2009/09/uber-late-manuscripts/

Promotion/Submitting

Evaluation of book trailers for marketing:
http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/08/why-a-video-will-help-sell-your-book/

And a step by step on making a book trailer:
http://brendacoulter.blogspot.com/2007/06/promoting-your-novel-how-to-make-book.html

Warning plus suggestions for self-promotion:
http://efictionbookclub.wordpress.com/2009/08/16/how-to-fail-at-self-promotion/

Interesting perspective on series potential mentioned in queries followed by a rebuttal to some of the assumptions within
http://editorialanonymous.blogspot.com/2009/08/series-potential-seriously.html
http://lisamantchev.livejournal.com/324539.html

Looking at how people find agents
http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2009/08/your-lucky-break.html

Personalizing your queries:
http://techtigger.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/when-queries-attack/

Fascinating analysis of the cover art for the top 5 Amazon books:
http://publishsmarts.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/if-looks-could-sell/

Social

How to use Twitter:
http://www.inkygirl.com/twitter-guide-for-writers-part-1/
http://www.inkygirl.com/twitter-guide-for-writers-part-2/

How to network and have fun as an introvert:
http://jezebel.com/5351050/but-im-too-shy-to-network

Crafts

Handy guide, especially since I don't know most of the basic stitches by name, though I came up with a very useful variation once when I tried to understand a friend's directions over the phone ;).
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=930

Reading

An interesting look at the history of a "good" novel and why that seems to be drawing adult readers to YA now.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203706604574377163804387216.html

An author's take on the full costs of publishing piracy:
http://shilohwalker.com/piracy.htm

Science

This could just as well as be considered social, but this article raises an interesting, and potentially traumatic, question. And the implications of the conclusion are huge if you consider whether political appearance should be held above the wishes of those who volunteer. I know I'm being obscure, but read it and you'll understand why. I don't want you to prejudge the question.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/opinion/01krauss.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Don't you hate the thought of knowing when you're going to die? This galaxy has only 2 billion years left if the model is correct:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17728-milky-ways-twin-caught-dismembering-neighbour.html