The Resources I Recommend to Writers, Part 2

If you haven't read my first post outlining the top four resources I recommend to writers, read it here! I made a list of so many useful resources that I've decided to write another blog post outlining another four (there's also a bonus resource at the end).

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

This podcast is chock-full of advice for emerging writers who aim to get their work published. Bianca Marais, author of The Witches of Moonshyne Manor, interviews prestigious authors, agents, editors, and booksellers, sharing nuggets of wisdom and concrete tips for all aspects of the writing process, from outlining, to picking the best book comps to include in agent query letters. On the rare, sunny weeks in Laramie when the wind isn't blowing at 50mph and leaving my house isn't physically painful, I put in my headphones and walk around the local parks binge-listening to this podcast. My favourite segment is Books with Hooks—listeners submit their query letters and first five pages which are then dissected on the podcast by P.S. Literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra. Fun fact: CeCe represents my writing partner, Laura Leffler, and sold her first book to Hyperion Avenue!

Google Sheets Productivity Tracker

I can't believe it took me so long to convert to the Google ecosystem, but now, I'm completely hooked. My writing partners and I have found Google Docs to be the most generative way to provide asynchronous feedback on each other's work. And it's not just that; I also use Google Sheets to track my daily word count. There are few things more gratifying in my writing life to see that number climb from zero to tens of thousands. It's proof that I'm actively creating, carving out time to make tangible progress on my novel.

Laura Leffler's Substack, This Debut Life

When I was querying agents and submitting my work, I eagerly sought out other people's experiences. I scoured the internet for blog posts and Reddit discussion forums, looking not just for success stories, but also (perhaps more importantly, to check my expectations) tales of challenges and setbacks. Unfortunately for new writers, many published authors tend to gloss over their struggles and instead portray the narrative that it was all easy breezy for them. Dream agent, check. Big 5 publisher, check. The reality can be very different. Long waiting periods, missed deadlines, sudden departures of editors, revised publication dates... constant fires to put out.

My writing partner, Laura Leffler, who has her debut novel scheduled for release with Hyperion Avenue in 2025, recognized this need for transparency in the publishing world. She launched a free newsletter on Substack, This Debut Life, to document the 'ups, downs, and panic attacks' in the year leading up to her debut. It's a great insight into the realities of traditional publishing, full of personal details and aspects of the industry that are not readily available online.

Writing Retreats

This summer, I'm going to be a writer-in-residence at the Jentel residency to complete my second novel. Upon receiving documents from the residency team, I noticed a clause regarding internet usage: essentially, we're advised against using it due to limited bandwidth for the month. If we need to send emails, we can use the vintage computer in the attic. Perfect, I thought. I spend far too much time on my phone, and I welcome this restriction wholeheartedly.

My mentor, Sharon Louden, is not only a talented artist but also a dedicated advocate for artists. She maintains a list of residency opportunities on her website. Although the list isn't exclusively for writers, it's a great resource to browse.

ASMR (bonus)

As someone with misophonia—a condition where certain repetitive sounds can drive me crazy—trust me when I say that I wouldn't recommend this ASMR artist if she didn't genuinely help me quiet my critical thoughts and overstimulated brain. I find ASMR encourages a state of mindfulness by directing my attention to the present moment and to the physical sensations it promotes. It's a good way to silence my racing, stressed mind, which sometimes hinders my ability to fully concentrate on my manuscript. Additionally, it helps me to reduce overstimulation, especially when I'm trying to fit in a writing session amidst a flurry of emails and meetings. If tapping and whispering isn't your thing, I recommend EMDR music which promotes the same kind of bilateral stimulation through alternating sounds between the left and right ears.