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Monthly Archives

April 2019

The Ten Greatest Blogs On Writing of the DECADE

The Ten Greatest Blogs On Writing of the DECADE

written by Bryan Hutchinson

As we inch closer to the end of the decade, I want to take a moment to celebrate the best of the best, the absolute cream of the crop, the ten greatest blogs On Writing of the decade!

top ten writing blogs

In some extraordinary way, each of the following blogs represents what writing is all about and each has gone to extraordinary levels of generosity sharing their knowledge, something which is so needed today. Not only do I want to congratulate the bloggers, but I want to congratulate you too because without writers in the trenches (like all of us!) there would be no need for such great blogs.

You’ll notice as I list these blogs that I include personal experiences I’ve had with most of them, this is because after spending time as a reader, a student, and as a fellow blogger, I have developed relationships with these bloggers and it would be unfair of me to say these relationships haven’t influenced me. I think it is important for blog authors to create personal connections with their readers, so it deserves to be an influencing factor when selecting the best of the best.

(I also do an annual Top 50, but this isn’t related to that.)

Without further ado, here are the ten GREATEST blogs ON WRITING of the decade:

1) Goins Writer

Jeff is my personal favorite blogger. But he’s not just my personal favorite, he’s the favorite of thousands upon thousands of other writers and authors. Jeff’s also a good friend, we met nearly ten years ago and Jeff helped me launch this blog you’re reading, Positive Writer. Many of you found your way here thanks to Jeff sending you over at some time or another. With that said, Goins Writer is not the best of the best because he’s a friend, it’s because he’s one of the most personable, gracious, and kind people online and he takes those wonderful characteristics and uses them to share his vast knowledge of writing with you and me. He’s a coach’s coach. If you’ve been under a rock and have not discovered Jeff’s blog yet, then it is an honor for me to introduce you to my good buddy, Jeff Goins.

2) Jerry B. Jenkins

Jerry is the author of more than 190 books with sales of more than 70 million copies, and yet he takes the time to write one of the very best writing blogs online! Jerry’s a great guy, who is known for being incredibly personable and generous. In fact, a few years ago when I asked Jerry to read my book, Writer’s Doubt, I wasn’t expecting him to actually say yes due to his busy schedule and other commitments, but he made the time and to my amazement, and tremendous gratitude, he loved it. The more I’ve read Jerry’s blog and followed him over the years, I realize he’s the real deal. It’s not about doing anything for himself, it’s about what he can do for you, the writer who is doing everything in your power to be the best writer you can be. Visit Jerry B. Jenkins.

3) Write to Done

Mary Jaksch, the Chief Editor of Write to Done, has created one of the most extraordinary blogs for writers. I love visiting Write to Done, it’s filled with valuable lessons for writers at all levels and in all genres. I met Mary in 2012 when Write to Done selected Positive Writer as one of their top ten writing blogs, since then I’ve grown to admire her work more and more, and from time to time we’ve competed via one promotion or another and she always seems to win! Write to Done is a must to bookmark!

4) The Write Practice

I don’t even know where to begin with Joe Bunting’s website, The Write Practice, it’s boundless. Joe Bunting, the founder of TWP, provides services every writer needs to take advantage of. Each blog post is a lesson and an exercise for writers to improve in their craft. I’ve admired Joe and his work for years and in 2014 we met up in Paris, France. Be sure to visit The Write Practice.

bryan hutchinson joe bunting Paris France

Bryan Hutchinson and Joe Bunting, Pont des Arts bridge, Paris, France. Photo by Joan Hutchinson.

5) Helping Writers Become Authors

This is a fantastic blog by the wonderful K.M. Weiland. If you’re a fiction author, this is the blog to read daily! We’ve worked on a few book promotions together over the years and I can tell you she’s an absolute joy. I highly recommend following her on Facebook as she posts some great questions for writers on a regular basis and the comments are just as fun as the questions! Visit Helping Writers Become Authors.

6) Jennifer Blanchard

Jennifer has enough energy for the entire web! She’s a very positive, go-getting writer and is one of the few bloggers who still posts new articles frequently. She’s a lot of fun to work with and her lessons on her blog are just as entertaining as they are instructive and inspiring. Visit Jennifer Blanchard.

7) The Magic Violinist

Kate Foley, AKA The Magic Violist is a contributor on Positive Writer and The Write Practice. Her first post on Positive Writer took off like a rocket and went viral with over 10,000 shares. In my humble opinion, she’s a prodigy. I cannot recommend her blog enough, she conducts interviews, writes book reviews, and shares valuable lessons she’s learned about the craft. She’s the real deal. Visit The Magic Violinist.

8) What is a Plot (Ninja Writers)

I have a not so secret admiration for blogger Shaunta Grimes. She came on the scene just a few short years ago and writers everywhere fell in love with her wit and her mastery of the craft. She’s one of the few bloggers who’ve made the move from amateur to professional in such a short time. Her blog is a gem, don’t miss it! Shaunta is also a writing champion on Medium. Visit What is a Plot.

9) The Write Life

The Write Life is a brilliant blog made up of several outstanding bloggers who share their love of the craft and what they’ve learned. I’ve had the privilege of working with a few of their contributors so I know firsthand the talent that makes up The Write Life. Whatever your interest in writing, this is the blog you’ll want to keep bookmarked and ready to refer to and learn from. Visit The Write Life.

10) Writers Helping Writers

I love Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi’s blog, Writers Helping Writers! These two are constantly publishing new insights and lessons, and all of their posts are unique and helpful. Angela and Becca bring their personal touch to every word they publish, so trust me, this is deserving of making anyone’s top ten list, so make sure you stop by and subscribe! You’ll be happy you did. Visit Writers Helping Writers.

—-~~–~~—-

There are so many wonderful blogs that could make the top ten of any true writer’s list, but alas there’s only room for ten and these fantastic blogs all overwhelmingly deserve being here.

39 Great Books on Writing

39 Great Books on Writing

written by Bryan Hutchinson

Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.

 

―Stephen King, On Writing

Only Stephen King can put the truth into perspective quite like that. He kind of scares me, but then he scares most people. Stephen scares us by telling the truth, and as we all know, there’s nothing scarier than honesty.

In this post you’ll find a list of books I’ve put together on writing. If you want to tell your truth, then there are books on this list that will help you do that.

Consider reading:

Serious Writers Never Quit: They Find The Way

The list:

1439156816  On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft  Stephen King

1

0385480016  Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life  Anne Lamott

2

0684854295 Ernest Hemingway on Writing  Ernest Hemingway

3

1877741094  Zen in the Art of Writing: Essays on Creativity  Ray Bradbury

4

0060919884  The Writing Life  Annie Dillard

5

1585421472  The Artist’s Way  Julia Cameron

6

1936891026  The War of Art  Steven Pressfield

7

0062200445  Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True  Elizabeth Berg

8

1590302613  Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within  Natalie Goldberg

9

B004KAB7FI  Pen on Fire  Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

10

193290736X  The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers  Christopher E. Vogler

11

0060891548  On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction  William Knowlton Zinsser

12

0966517695  The Book on Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Well  Paula LaRocque

13

0451627210  100 Ways to Improve Your Writing  Gary Provost

14

0615420826  Second Sight: An Editor’s Talks on Writing  Cheryl B. Klein

15

1585420093  The Right to Write: Invitation and Initiation.. Writing Life  Julia Cameron

16

B003H4QZOG  Write Good or Die  Scott Nicholson

17

1466256826  How to Speak and Write Correctly  Joseph Devlin

18

B005IURTJC  Write On!  Dan Mulvey

19

0028636945  The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Well  Laurie E. Rozakis

20

0470546646  English Grammar For Dummies  Geraldine Woods

21

0767903099  Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wickedly Effective Prose  Constance Hale

22

006184053X  How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One  Stanley Eugene Fish

23

0143036351  Why I Write  George Orwell

24

0553347756  Wild Mind: Living the Writer’s Life  Natalie Goldberg

25

 The Elements of Style Strunk and White

26

0874771641  Becoming a Writer  Dorothea Thompson Brande

27

0933377509 Writing the Memoir: From Truth to Art, Second Edit     Judith Barrington

28

1889715638  More Writer’s First Aid: Getting the Writing Done  Kristi Holl

29

0380715430  The Mother Tongue – English And How It Got That Way  Bill Bryson

30

0316014990 Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer  Roy Peter Clark

31

1450530001  Writing Lessons Learned: A Book Of Inspiration For Writers  Hope Wilbanks

32

0805070850  Writers on Writing: Collected Essays from The New York Times  The New York Times

33

B000X1N440  Eats, Shoots  &  Leaves  Lynne Truss

34

1582970874  Write from Life  Meg Files

35

0399533958  Manuscript Makeover  Elizabeth Lyon

36

1582975213  The Little Red Writing Book  Brandon Royal

37

1582974926  Keys to Great Writing  Stephen Wilbers

38

0805074678  The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear  Ralph Keyes

39

A few more for the road:

0988523108  APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur-How to Publish a Book  Guy Kawasaki

 

If You Want to Write Brenda Ueland

The No Plot? No Problem! Chris Baty

Structuring Your Novel K. M. Weiland

Sometimes the Magic Works Terry Brooks

You Are a Writer Jeff Goins

Writer’s Doubt: The #1 Enemy of Writing Bryan Hutchinson

Add your favorite books on writing in the comments.

9 of the BEST Quotes on Writing Ever!

9 of the BEST Quotes on Writing Ever!

written by Bryan Hutchinson

Today’s post is a fun post, a collection of quotes on writing I have been sharing on the Positive Writer Facebook Page over the last few weeks and I thought you’d enjoy them as well! These are 9 of my favorites.

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the water is turned on. ―Louis L'Amour Click To Tweet

If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word. ―Margaret Atwood Click To Tweet

Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way. ―Ray Bradbury Click To Tweet

I believe myself that a good writer doesn't really need to be told anything except to keep at it. ―Chinua Achebe Click To Tweet

A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit. ―Richard Bach Click To Tweet

I write entirely to find out what I am thinking, what I am looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear. ―Joan Didion Click To Tweet

You fail only if you stop writing. ―Ray Bradbury Click To Tweet

Writing is its own reward. ―Henry Miller Click To Tweet

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you. ―Maya Angelou Click To Tweet

I hope you enjoyed these!

What’s your favorite quote about writing? Share it in the comments.

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