The Debutante Ball, established in 2007, is a group blog for authors making their debut in the literary world. We are now in our twelfth season of celebrating up-and-coming authors. Former Debs include bestsellers in the genres of women’s fiction, mystery, literary fiction, nonfiction, young adult, and more. Click on any of the photos above to learn about The Debutante Ball Class of 2019 and their books. Read about the bestselling…
Attacus Atlas & Other Inventions: Go-To Books, Podcasts, Blogs
It’s that time of year, when we resolve to do better when we change out the wall calendar in a few weeks time. No matter which book you pick up and how many exercises you skim and skip, just remember one thing: you have to write. Preferably for a little bit every day. Here are a few podcasts, blogs, books that may interest you: My favorites remain…
Two Blogs and a Podcast: My Favorite Writing Resources
I started to take writing more seriously sometime in 2012. Between making daily writing goals and setting timetables for when I’d get drafts done, I decided it was finally time to read a few craft books. Of the dozen or so I borrowed from the library, Stephen King’s On Writing and Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird were the only ones I read all the way through, and Bird by Bird was the only one I actually…
[News Flash] December 9, 2018
Thank you so much to yesterday’s guest, Stephanie Elliott! If you haven’t already, enter the #DebBallGiveaway to win a copy of Sad Perfect. You can enter by sharing our post on Facebook and/or retweeting the following tweet (make sure you follow @DebutanteBall on Twitter too!): So excited to talk to @stephanieelliot this week about her beautiful YA novel SAD PERFECT, called “a well-written page-turner whose sensitive topic is covered with finesse…
Interview & Giveaway with Stephanie Elliott, Author of SAD PERFECT
This week, we’re speaking with Stephanie Elliot, the author of young adult novel SAD PERFECT (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). SAD PERFECT tells the story of sixteen year old Pea, who struggles with a little known eating disorder known as Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). The novel was in part inspired by Elliot’s daughter’s real-life experience with the disorder. Called “a well-written page-turner whose sensitive topic is covered with finesse and grace”…
What John Steinbeck Said That Helped Me
I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. It might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit—John Steinbeck I spent my blog post last week advising everyone not to pay too much attention to writing advice. I guess it…
Should You Pay for Writing Advice?
Let’s talk about something taboo: spending money. I recently subscribed to Scarlett Thomas’ Patreon newsletter. For $10 a month, she sends out a weekly writing task. It’s a lengthy, wondrous, and compelling email that has made me think about writing in new ways. Now, I’ve never done something like that before. And at some point in my life, spending $10 a month would have made a serious dent in my…
To All the Writing Teachers I’ve Never Met
This week we’re sharing advice from writing teachers who’ve inspired us. The truth is, I don’t have much of a formal writing education. I took an introductory creative writing class in college, but that’s about it. So almost everything I know about the craft and business of writing, I learned from reading about it. Next week I’ll give a full run-down of my favorite writing books (I have a whole…
Attacus Atlas & Other Inventions: Words to Live By & Words to Write By
All of my writing mentors have at one point said the same thing: Don’t give up. Keep Writing. When you’re stuck, change your surroundings. and my once-upon-a-time teacher teacher Lucille Clifton said, read your work aloud — if you start to stumble, if your tongue starts to trip up, then cut what you’ve written. Here’s some W.O.W. (words of wisdom): (thanks to AZ Quotes) My mission in life is not…
Neil Gaiman is Why I’m Not a Sheep Herder (Yet)
Everything I’ve learned about writing – that I didn’t learn from fanfic – came from other authors. From their books – yes, obviously – but also from their blogs and from anecdotes and from every little scrap of info and advice they’ve so helpfully shared. Because that’s the beautiful thing about writers & authors – they are, for the most part, more than willing to be kind, to be helpful,…
[News Flash] December 2, 2018
Thank you so much to yesterday’s guest, Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar! If you haven’t already, enter the #DebBallGiveaway to win a copy of The Map of Salt and Stars. You can enter by sharing our post on Facebook and/or retweeting the following tweet (make sure you follow @DebutanteBall on Twitter too!): RT & follow @DebutanteBall interview with @JenniferZeynab for a chance to win a copy of #TheMapOfSaltAndStars @devislaskar @LayneFargo @estefsays @KA_Doore @MFournierWatson…
