This week I want to tell y'all again about a website that I briefly mentioned last March when we did a book blog featuring boy POV's. The site is GuysRead.com and it's a fantastic resource for (you guessed it) reading and boys. The site is the brainchild of the brilliant Jon Scieszka (The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Stupid Fairy Tales). Here's their mission statement:

Our mission is to motivate boys to read by connecting them with materials they will want to read, in ways they like to read.

1. Make some noise for boys.

We have literacy programs for adults and families. GUYS READ is our chance to call attention to boys’ literacy.

2. Expand our definition of reading.

Include boy-friendly nonfiction, humor, comics, graphic novels, action-adventure, magazines, websites, audiobooks, and newspapers in school reading. Let boys know that all these materials count as reading.

3. Give boys choice.

Motivate guys to want to read by letting them choose texts they will enjoy. Find out what they want. Let them choose from a new, wider range of reading.

4. Encourage male role models.

Men have to step up as role models of literacy. What we do is more important than all we might say.

5. Be realistic. Start small.

Boys aren’t believing that “Reading is wonderful.” Reading is often difficult and boring for them. Let’s start with “Here is one book/magazine/text you might like.”

6. Spread the GUYS READ word.

Encourage people to use the information and downloads on this site to set up their own chapters of GUYS READ, and get people thinking about boys and reading.

The site lives up to their goal by providing a wonderful list of boy-enticing materials for all levels. For example, the book section has categories such as: Monkeys and/or Apes, Classics that Actually Hold Up, For Little Guys, At least One Explosion, and Robots. It also has recommends great magazines, graphic novels, and audio books...to name a few. 

Why am I reporting all this to you? You should just click here and experience all the awesomeness yourself. Honestly, this is a great site for anyone who enjoys children's and YA lit. The fact that it's accessible to a "typical" male reader is just icing on the cake. 

First, I want to echo Talia's contribution to this week's blog theme of favorite YA Blogs. Alexandra Sokoloff's blog--and her ebooks on writing--are wonderful. I've been following for years, and I still learn something about the writing craft every time I head over there. You've got another fan here, Alexandra!

Another go-to blog for me is YA Highway. Guys, it just doesn't get any better than this. Book reviews, industry news, weekly digests, and amazing, amazing posts like this make this blog a must for writers at any level.

Check them out!

We're highlighting blogs we follow this week. I'm going to talk about a blog I've mentioned before, because there is just so much good information for writers there, that it's worth checking out again and again.  Plus, this blog gave me a crash course in plotting just when I needed it the most.

Author Alexandra Sokoloff has a wonderful blog called Screenwriting Tricks for Authors.  Scroll down the right side and you'll see a list of blog posts for writers.  Read those.  Now.  Seriously, I'll wait.

Okay, if you've read those you are probably itching to go plot your next book.  Or maybe you had an epiphany about your current work in progress.  I'm willing to bet that you came away with a better understanding of story structure and plot than you had when you popped in.

And when you're ready to put these things into practice there are work books- Screenwriting Tricks for Authors I and Writing Love:Screenwriting Tricks for Authors II.

I found this goldmine when I needed it most.  After one round of revision on Spies and Prejudice, I was sent back to the drawing board.  Yes, that means exactly what you think.  I needed to reimagine the plot and write most of the book again from scratch.  And I was terrified.

I embarked on a crash course in plotting and story structure, and the Dark Salon was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time.  I not only learned about how a story fit together from a theoretical standpoint, but I was given tools that I could use to put the lessons into practice right away.

In a weekend, I had completely replotted the main story arc of my book using the index card method (also a favorite of Katherine's). While writing, I incorporated plants and payoffs.   And she even had a checklist. (I know!!!).

This blog helped me put together a story that I could build from.  It got me excited about my book again.  It helped me find my way when I was lost in the trees of self-doubt.  It literally saved my book.

This week we're talking about blogs/bloggers/writers/websites we follow and I'm delighted to have a chance to talk about the Class of 2k12.  Now, full disclosure, I am a member of the Class, but this is not the reason I'm suggesting you read the blog or check out the website.

I'm suggesting you find out more about them because they are AWESOME.

There are twenty people in the class, all debut authors who write middle grade and young adult fiction.  We write historical novels, paranormal romance, horror, contemporary, Steampunk, humor.  We have two authors who write in verse.  We banded together as a marketing collective - we work together to schedule events, we shout about blog tours, we read and recommend each others books.  But it became much more than that, and I now consider these people my friends.  And there are some books in this bunch - oh, wow.  Definitely check them out.  Pick and choose.  Try something new.

However, it's not just the books that are amazing.  And not just the authors.  The blog is updated twice weekly - Tuesdays and Thursdays.  We all take turns.  And some amazing stuff comes out.  Stuff about the publishing business, about the fear of standing in front of a crowd and reading your own work, about writing and being and life.

Things like A.C. Gaughen's post titled Write Like a Girl - on the responsibility of YA authors to their audience.  Or J. Anderson Coats's answer to the question What Do You Do?  Or Danny Marks on getting the writing "bruise" in Punch Drunk Writing.  Or Library Love by Gina Rosati.  There's a lot of good stuff here.  Take the time to browse.  You never know what might inspire you.

We are so lucky to have instant access to encouragement, humor, insight, and coaching through our blogging community.  This week the Muses are linking to some of our favorite blog posts.  Enjoy!

Every turn in my current writing journey has revealed a new, and exciting, challenge. The most recent has been dealing with reviews.  I never anticipated the joy and angst of reading early reviews--especially while trying to keep my head in the next book.  That's why Beth Revis' blog post on "How to Deal with Negative Reviews" came at just the right time.  (Beth is, of course, the NY Times bestselling author of the ACROSS THE UNIVERSE series)  Here's my favorite part,


"There are what? 7 billion people in the world now? Statistically speaking, there has to be at least one person in the world who hates puppies, Harry Potter, chocolate, AND bacon. *shudders*  


My point? If there are people in the world who hate puppies, Harry Potter, chocolate, and/or bacon, then there are people in the world who hate your book. Put in that perspective, things aren't so bad, huh?"



Check out the whole post.  Very wise.  (And feel free to share some links in the comments to some of your favorite blog posts)