Leaves & Flowers: A Literary Journal

When I really get stumped on a writing project, get into a writing rut or simply run out of ideas, there are a few blogs I turn to for inspiration and camaraderie. At the same time, most of these blogs are also really great for information the publishing industry, polishing and preparing your writing for publication, and sheer entertainment value.

These are primarily writing blogs, although there is an art blog toward the end.

A Newbie's Guide to Publishing

Thriller writer J. A. Konrath writes a great deal about the self-publishing market, ebooks and succeeding as a self-publishing author. His information is always well-researched, informative and often humorous. Reading this blog is a great kick in the pants if you are feeling reluctant to work!

Editorial Ass

Editorial Ass is a great blog for learning about the mindset of editors. There are also occasionally writing contests and giveaways, so it's a great blog to follow if you like participating in contests. Additionally, EA contains a lot of info on how to present yourself as a professional writer (check out some of the rejection information for how not to act!).

Gail Carson Levine

Gail Carson Levine has been one of my favorite writers since I was young -I actually have a signed ARC of Ella, which remains perhaps my favorite reimagined fairy tale of all time, ever. Her blog is mostly aimed at fantasy writers, but the information can just as easily be applied to all writers. She blogs a lot about research, character development and staying motivated with your work.

Help! I Need a Publisher!

Nicola Morgan is an author, blogger and self-proclaimed "crabbit old bat" who offers a huge amount of great down-to-earth advice on how to make your work publishable. She's also a very feisty Twitterer, so if you're on Twitter, check her out. She also posts writing ideas and contests on her blog occasionally.

The Intern

The Intern's blog is one of my personal favorites. She has the same sort of outlook on books that I do, and her writing style is clear, concise and funny. She writes a lot about how to make a book work -everything from character development to plot to the development of tension. She's a perceptive reader and writer.

Escape Into Life

Escape Into Life is an art blog (although they also feature writing). I turn to EIL when I want to look at beautiful or thought-provoking art to give me a springboard for my writing. There is some absolutely brilliant work featured on this site, and it's updated very regularly. I would recommend EIL to anyone in need of an art fix.

Articles

I also have a couple of articles that might be of some use when dealing with writer's block:

Dealing with Writer's Block

Brainstorming Tricks for Writers

7 Quick-Start Techniques for Fighting the Fear to Write

The No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People

All of the blogs I linked to are on Blogger, because that's what I use most often. I'm sure there are some great websites on WordPress and other websites that I'm missing. What do you use when you need inspiration or information on publishing?