Blogiversary Gift: 15 of Our Favorite Blogs

Writers’ Rumpus is 2 years old this week! Our first post, Let the Writers’ Rumpus Start!, went live on June 11, 2013. Since then, we’ve had:

205 Posts by 25 bloggers, both regulars and guests
19,000+ Visits from 54 different countries
2500+ Comments
1500+ followers (join us!)

Our most popular post this past year with 2000+ recorded views was You Can Judge a Book by Its Title, and Other Wisdom from the Submission Pile, a guest post by Rob Broder, Publisher of Ripple Grove Press.

Our most popular post of all time with 2400+ recorded views is still Why thirty-two pages?, Joyce Audy Zarin’s illustrated explanation about the length of picture books.

But enough statistics. We have a Blogiversary gift for you: 15 of our favorite writing blogs. These are who and what we read when we’re not posting here, the blogs we turn to again and again for knowledge, news, inspiration, and insight. Enjoy! And share your favorites in the comments.

 

For Picture Book Writers and Illustrators

12 x 12 Picture Books This yearly challenge to draft 12 picture books in 12 months, started by Julie Hedlund in 2012, includes access to two agents each month, and posts by featured authors.

Illustration Friday A weekly challenge to create an illustration that explores a theme. The challenge and its blog is not specifically for picture book illustrators, but it’s a great portfolio-builder and good practice in meeting a deadline.

Picture Book Builders What goes into building a great picture book? Join the discussion here. Book reviews, news, and posts by 8 regular bloggers and guests.

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast Julie Danielson, published author and writer for Kirkus Reviews, shares her love of picture books with a lot of great interviews and illustrations. Over 1300 posts.

Writing for Kids While Raising Them Picture book author Tara Lazar hosts the annual PiBoIdMo challenge each November, and also has great guests, giveaways, and a ton of great reference posts.

 

For Middle Grade and Young Adult Writers

The Hub Literary blog of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Reviews of new teen fiction, some reviews written by teens. Provides a rolling update of what’s being published in YA.

Kristen Lamb’s Blog Kristen’s main focus is advising writers on navigating social media and building a platform, but there are plenty of posts about craft, inspiration, hacks for getting yourself to write, and other writer-related topics. Not specific to MG or YA, but helpful for longer works.

Writeonsisters Writing craft, writer’s life, book reviews. “straight up with no bull.” Not specifically for MG and YA, but a wealth of valuable posts for those who write longer works in any genre.

 

For All Ages of Children’s Books and their Creators

KidLit 411 Something for every writer and illustrator from board books through young adult. Articles on craft, critique, marketing, querying; interviews with agents, authors, illustrators, and editors; resources and links–if it’s related to creating kidlit, you’ll find it here.

Let’s Get Busy Podcasts hosted by The Busy Librarian, Matthew Winner. Over 150 audio interviews with kidlit authors and illustrators, with more every week. “A ‘Must-Listen’ for any book creator or fan of kidlit.”

Nerdy Book Club Amazing appreciation of reading & kidlit, with daily posts and frequent reviews of books of all ages, from picture books through young adult. Shows what people love about kidlit from the reader’s perspective.

Watch. Read. Connect. Children’s librarian Mr. Schu serves up interviews of children’s authors and especially book trailers (like Josh Funk’s!). A great place to learn about different authors.

 

Blogs about Publishing, Querying, and Submitting

Miss Snark’s First Victim Query critiques, Secret (Literary) Agent contests, and all-around support for aspiring authors submitting their work.

Query Shark How to avoid common errors when writing query letters to agents and editors, and a chance to submit your own query for critique by the Query Shark.

Sub It Club Support group for all of us who are getting our work out there. Topics like critiquing, agents, contests, editors, revising, querying—all the hard work behind finding a home for your writing or illustration.

Writer’s Digest Guide to Literary Agents Editor and author Chuck Sambuchino blogs about agents: pitching, querying, and new agents building their lists. He also hosts guests, including our own Kris Asselin and Paul Czajak.

Writing and Illustrating Kathy Temean brings news of note about writing and illustrating for children: new agents, contests, events, opportunities, interviews.

Did I say 15? Oops. Well more is more, right?

Keep the gift going! Share your favorite blogs about kidlit in the comments.

Most images from Pixabay. Flying books from Shutterstock.