Smith writes books for young children through young adults, and is a New York Times bestselling author. Her blog, Cynsations, is one of the most popular for writers of children's literature
I spent a glorious hour roaming around Smith's well-planned website. One page contains links to dozens of articles on the agenting and query process, and links to agent interviews. No matter what genre you write, this information is valuable.
She has collected numerous links to interviews with editors, and tips on publishing, contests and conferences. And there are even more links on the writer's page; articles like 30 Days to Stronger Characters, How to Write Dialogue, and The Art of Revising a Novel.
A few of her excellent blog posts:
Giving and receiving critique is difficult, but most writers find it's a way to give back. How to dish it out, and how to take it.
Have you ever wondered what style and voice mean? Maybe you're puzzled when a review mentions an author's "fresh voice". Smith explains it all.
Want a peek into an author's life? Check out Why I Write, and A Day in the Writer's Life, and Rituals.
Sometimes we're afraid to write what is on our minds. Sometimes being a woman affects what we write as well. Check out Smith's post on Writing, Fear, and Gender.
Make sure you spend some time on Cynthia Leitich Smith's website. I'm sure I only scratched the surface.
Question for you: what makes you afraid to write? Is it the subject matter, your abilities, a fear of success?
Just read Cynthia's Why I Write post. Wow. Beautifully-composed and concise look into her feelings toward her craft. Her comparison of writing to being in love struck a chord with me, especially tying in the concepts of either aching or soaring high. Well-worth the quick read. What a lovely way she chose to describe her writer's passion!
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely have to look that one up. She offers so many resources, it'll take me a while to get to them all!
ReplyDelete~Debbie