Well, here we are eventually. This is a belated recommended reading post due to what’s been an exceptionally busy February. I’ve had to take my own advice and pull back a bit, as other work has come and gone from here there and every-blinkin’-where.

The general busyness has meant I haven’t been able to read as much I’d have liked. So as you work your way down the page, you’ll notice a slightly shorter list than last month, but hopefully the links will be useful all the same.

Coming up on Write for Your Life

Despite the workload, there’s plentyin store for March on Write for Your Life.

This week there’ll be a nice and juicy midweek post, which tells you, in a very polite way, how to stay proud of your writing, even years later. All being well, that will be followed up next weekend by the second Write for Your Life podcast, where I’ll be chatting with Manuela Boyle, who’s already asked you about your writer’s toolbelt.

Also, this month Write for Your Life will have it’s own sister site, of sorts. Long frustrated by how hard it can be to find a central source for writing-based websites, I’ve decided to set up my own. It will work much like the design showcase sites you see, and you’ll be able to submit sites that you think should be on there, including your own.

More of all that later though. For now, here’s some recommended reading for February.

Write up your street

1. Getting into character: Fiction writing exercises | Writing Forward
   Three great exercises for getting to know and work with your characters. I particularly like the idea of having a chat with a character in email or instant messaging form. Potentially terrifying.
2. Rethinking creativity | Amy Sue Nathan
   I rather like watching this 20-minute video featuring Elizabeth Gilbert who wrote Eat, Pray, Love. I admit, I know nothing of the book, but she speaks well and has some interesting thoughts on the creative process.
3. The big secrets no one talks about | Men With Pens
   Thoughts on whether freelancers should be transparent about what they charge on their websites. Working full-time for a design company as I do, it doesn’t affect me as such, but I know it does many other writers and I found it interesting.
4. Does procrastination arouse you? | Someday Syndrome
   This post hit home for me as most of my novel was written to deadlines and I would frequently work right up to the wire. If you’re the same, this is worth a read.
5. Q&A: Literary Agent Michael Bourret | Editor Unleashed
   Only a short interview but interesting stuff nonetheless. I was particularly curious about the bit where he says writers need to be their own marketing machine.

So, that’s it. Only a short list, like I say. I’d also like to give an honourable mention to ‘Why it’s worth sticking with Twitter‘ from Confident Writing, which relates nicely to my post on how creative writers can use Twitter.

And lastly, to ‘Stick a chart in it‘, which contains a great writing reference halfway down and is generally a hoot of a post from start to finsh, by Nick Cernis of Todoodlist fame and Put Things Off.

Subscribe for free

Okay so hopefully you’ve had a good look round Write for Your Life. If you’ve enjoyed your stay, why not subscribe and get free updates delivered to your inbox? Why not indeed.