On the hunt for new writing resources to inspire your work? Check out these 5 excellent options.
For as much time as I spend writing, I spend almost as much time reading about writing. I’m a total nerd for finding exciting new writing resources and can’t wait to share my bounty with others.
Unfortunately, when you read about writing as much as I do, you start to run out of unique websites and podcasts to serve as your inspiration. You start seeing the same suggestions on every list online and have to do more and more digging if you want to shake up your resource list a bit.
So are you, like me, on the constant lookout for new ways to take your writing up a notch and get you jazzed about your next novel? If so, here’s a quick little list of my 5 favorite unique resources for aspiring authors.
TV Tropes. This website is awesome. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a trope is a commonly recurring device in fiction. For instance, in romance novels the enemies-turned-lovers bit is a trope. Beauty meets the beast is a trope. Even the famed meet-cute is a trope!
TV Tropes is a great resource for aspiring authors because it lists and breaks down popular tropes in fiction. I use this website as a way to gather ideas for my next plot outlines, better understand the books I’m reading, and even come up with new ways to flip popular tropes on their heads to keep my readers guessing. Give this resource a read, but be careful: you might get sucked into reading about tropes for hours at a time!
The Writing Gals. When it comes to self-publishing, these four ladies are living the dream. They are all sweet romance authors who make a full-time income off of putting their work on Amazon. They have an incredible YouTube page where they teach their viewers all the tips and tricks that have gotten them so much success. They discuss interesting and useful topics like writing to market, how to approach the editing process, and advice they would give their younger selves. Check out this resource right away. I promise it will be your new addiction.
Social Media. Typically, we think of social media as a way to relax, unwind, and maybe pine over our college roommate’s vacation pics. But for writers and readers, this can be a great resource for promoting your writing, finding new favorite authors, and connecting with other fans. Facebook, in particular, seems to be a haven for sweet romance writers/readers like me. Many authors have pages devoted to their work (myself included) where you can occasionally find giveaways, sneak peeks, and much more.
Grammar Girl Podcast. This next resource is less about promoting your writing and more about refining your craft. In reality, Grammar Girl is Mignon Fogarty, a former faculty member of University of Nevada, Reno and all-around English language guru. Her truly excellent podcast provides quick lessons on grammar, brief histories of common language concepts, and occasional interviews with industry experts. I love this podcast because you can easily squeeze in a daily lesson without giving up too much of your own precious writing time.
Helping Writers Become Authors Podcast. I love this podcast and cannot say enough good about it. K.M. Weiland, acclaimed writer of both fiction and writing guides, helps her listeners to transform their novels and get them ready for publication. With this fun niche resource, you can dive into interesting topics like developing character arcs, alternatives to the Hero’s Journey, and improving dialogue. Weiland posts new podcasts frequently, so there is always something new to keep you listening.
So what do you think? Have you checked out any of these unique writing resources before? Be sure to let me know! And if you’re looking for more writing inspo, be sure to follow my website here. I talk about my own writing practices, like in this recent piece on crafting great settings.
xoxo
Brittni
