Here you'll find my growing collection of links to literary, publishing, and writing craft blogs. Got a great blog you don't see here? Send email to mackerelstreet ((at))) gmail ((dot))) com. I'm just beginning to gather links as of summer/fall 2007, so check back as this list grows and changes over time.
Book blogs
Bookslut - probably the most popular literary blog out there. And I love the name.
The Elegant Variation - Not clear who the primary author of the blog is, but seems to host posts by several writers. Currently discussing publication of a new novel by one of these writers, David Leavitt, for "The Indian Clerk".
The LitBlog Co-Op - an energetic effort to bring together litblogs and writers to break through a "flooded marketplace". Reviews, commentary, and links to new books you might not know about.
Readers Read - latest book industry news. Focuses on mainstream fiction/nonfiction.
California Authors - as a former Californian, I was excited to find this guide to current California lit activity.
Literature for Kossacks - series posted regularly on the nation's largest political blog, Daily Kos. In-depth articles about literary figures and movements by a variety of contributors; each story has extensive discussion in comments. This link goes to a search page--look for results that contain "Literature for Kossacks" in the title.
Writing Process Blogs
Creative Writing MFA Handbook Blog - previously Tom Kealey's blog, now a group blog with MFA candidate-contributors as well as the original author. Great reading for people considering an MFA, or who are in a program. Good tips for applications. Has a database of schools, though last I checked my program wasn't properly listed--so take with a grain of salt. Has the usual bias toward big name full-time programs where you give up your entire life to go get an MFA. Just keep in mind that's not the only or necessarily best way to do it. Frequently updated.
Advanced Fiction Blog - has some good writing prompts, discussion of time management, writer focus, and other "meta" issues of the writing life.
Niel Gaiman's journal - entertaining and sometimes enlightening lit blog of this well-known author (Stardust, Coraline, many others). At the time I posted this link, he had pictures of himself in the arms of a live giant panda. Beat that.
A Writer's Life - author Lee Goldberg blogs about the life and times of a published writer.
New Pages blog - submission listings, job postings, various literary tidbits.
Literary Blog Lists
Authors' Blogs - site which lists blogs by unpublished and up-and-coming writers. Link list is actively edited and weeded to keep it current.
Guardian's list of great literary blogs - British newspaper/online media sifted through and found these ten to like.
Writing & Publishing Blog Directory - A solid list of lit blogs to explore.
The Internet Public Library book blog list - wide ranging list of all sorts of literary goodies.
Internet Writing Journal - Best Author Blogs - very long list of author blogs.
Literary News
Arts & Letters - from the Chronicle of Higher Education. How many columns can you fit on one web page? Apparently, a lot. Lots of good tidbits though. Addictive.
New York Times book section - the old standby. I hadn't read it in a while, but looking through a few issues it seems to be leaning conservative, politically, and is wasting time reviewing political vanity texts rather than real books. I'll take another look in a few months and see if that's still the case.
Traditional Media articles on book/lit blogging
Article about book blogs in Village Voice - interesting read pointing to an explosion in literary blogging. Are people not finding what they want in traditional media when it comes to reviews and pointers to great books? If the current flurry of book-related blogs is any indication, the answer is yes.
USA Today lit blog article - looks at the literary blogging phenomena, and like most traditional media articles on blogging, is awash in the wonder of a new and undiscovered country.
Publishing Blogs
Writer Beware - once-a-week updated blog that provides a good jolt of reality for writers. Covers scams, bad agents, the lot.
Publishing 2020 - IT-focused author Joe Wikert hits a variety of topics in addition to business and IT.
