Writers’ Roundup: December 17

I know I said would write on weekends, but this week, I’ve gotten into a comfortable groove. I’m so eager to work on these revisions that I’ve been fitting in an hour each night, usually between 9 – 10 p.m. Little by little!

Some great links this week:

• Writer Hope Clark reminds us of all the writerly expenses we should write off our taxes this year.

• If you’ve ever dreamed that some big fancy film company will turn your book into a movie starring Jim Carrey… Maybe it’s not that big of a dream after all. That’s what happened to a reporter I worked with at the Houston Chronicle, Steve McVicker. What I love most about this story is that it’s true — about a con artist who escaped from a Texas prison a handful of times. Can’t wait to see the movie, I Love You, Phillip Morris!

• Jane Friedman of Writer’s Digest has a great post about using social media to sell books — and how it doesn’t work if all you say is that you’re trying to sell books.

• Over at HubSpot blog, some words of wisdom that I stand behind: To fit blogging into your schedule, make it routine.

• If you’re a member of our Travel Memoir Writers group, we’ve moved to Facebook. Don’t forget to join us there.

• Penelope Trunk asks, Why do those of us with kids label ourselves as either stay-at-home moms or working moms? Why can’t we be both?

• Who decides book covers and designs? Literary agent Rachelle Gardner explains.

• From reporter-turned-stock-analyst (and my BFF) Andrea James, three ways to improve your writing: cut, cut and cut.

• Mary Carroll Moore writes about the road to remembering. How do you remember memories for your memoir?

I’ll be hibernating this weekend to write… Anyone else?