At its core, Modern Matriarch is a blog about female authors and the feminine narrative, so I rejoice in the small opportunities to share advice from successful women writers. But first, let me tell you about the wonderful website where I found this advice.
Jennifer Weiner is the author of Good in Bed and In Her Shoes. With the recent paperback release of her short story collection, The Guy Not Taken, I decided to do a little research. I found I was not only impressed by her work, but by her website: JenniferWeiner.com. This well designed site serves as a multi-model for aspiring writers and self-promoting authors alike.
First it’s easy to navigate. Large clickable font located at the top of the website makes it easy to find exactly what you need. Looking for a little biographical information? Click “The Author” page. Are you a writer? Weiner has some excellent advice on writing and finding a good agent on the “For Writers” page. The “For Book Clubs” page offers audio excerpts of all her novels, reading guides, reading questions and topics for disscussion, as well as podcast interviews. And of course, fellow bloggers, their is a link to Weiner’s Web Log.
So how about that advice? Well, on the “For Writers” page Weiner discusses what she believes makes a great writer: a tormented childhood, a shabby love life, and a liberal education. Oh really, you’ve been there, done that. Ok, then you may be ready for the next step: go to work and get a dog. No, no. I’m not kidding. That is her advice. After all you need experience and discipline to complete a book and you need a completed book if you have any hopes of finding a good agent. (Don’t worry Weiner has some excellent advice about that, too.) All in all, it’s worth a peek. The advice is valuable and is delivered with her trademark Weiner wit.
Disclaimer: you may leave her website with a hankering for her fiction; neither I nor Modern Matriarch may be held liable for any resulting dip in the Neilson Ratings.
Click here for a direct link to Jennifer Weiner’s advice.
