Interesting Links for 3-25-2011

Have you ever had one of those weeks when you lose track of what day it is? On top of that, Forward Motion started the March Madness challenge this morning. I’m a little over 1k into a new steampunk novella. Well, better late than never, here are your interesting links.

Life

A look at sleep, needs and consequences of too little, as well as some tips for recovering from sleep deprivation:
http://talktoyouniverse.blogspot.com/2011/03/ttyu-retro-sleep-tidbits-for-characters.html

Publishing

With the Google Settlement case back in the news, I found this exploration of the events, complete with quotes from various players, to be clear and interesting:
http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2011/03/23/wednesday-midday-links-judge-chin-rejects-the-google-book-settlement/

Reading

An interesting analysis on the influence and messages sent by YA fiction to young women. Now I have not yet read Twilight, though I’ve seen the movies, but I did notice something in the comparison. Maria Goodson compares Bella (the main character) to Hermione in Harry Potter, who is a secondary character and the very characteristics Goodson applauds would probably have sunk the series if she’d been the lead. The same is not true for Lyra in His Dark Materials, but self-reliant and of superior intellect are not direct parallels. While I agree with the idea of providing positive role models, I do worry sometimes that those models are always…pushy…in their positiveness. The better thinker, perfectly self-reliant, etc. If the question is what does it teach young women, how about the nurturing, quiet personalities. Not melodramatic like Bella (though may I point out Wuthering Heights is still required reading?), but also not extroverted. If all the YA females are a mix of Hermione and Lyra, does it teach quieter girls that they are somehow inadequate? Basically, what I’m saying is this influencing readers thing is more complex than it appears:
http://www.yafantasyguide.com/for-writers/the-responsibility-of-young-adult-writers.htm

Submitting

A good breakdown of the points of an agent/author relationship. The point is to determine when a difference of opinion over a manuscript is reason to cut ties, but I think the information is of broader value than just that:
http://literaticat.blogspot.com/2011/03/when-your-agent-isnt-feeling-love.html

Writing

A tongue-in-cheek look at the formula behind romance novels. It’s short and cute. Enjoy:
http://lasrguest.blogspot.com/2011/03/guest-blog-inez-kelley.html

A look at the use of slang and swearing in speculative fiction to show difference, whether unique cultures or linguistic drift:
http://leaguewriters.blogspot.com/2011/03/on-languages-linguistics-future-and.html

This entry was posted in Challenges, Interesting Links, Life, March Madness, Publishing, Reading, Submitting, Writing Process. Bookmark the permalink.

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