Currently, it seems the news is filled either with the turmoil of terrorist attacks or the cutting and sharp words of politics.

Don’t lose heart! There is good news to be found. It just takes a little digging, and I’ve kept my shovel sharp.

Here are some of the articles or news items I found worth reading this past week:

Guy Gavriel Kay at The Lit Hub discusses the necessity, or perhaps not, for writing rules. Best check this one out.

Need another word to use in place of “very?” Read 128 Words Writers Can Use Instead of “Very” with great infographic.

As always, Seth Godin provided an interesting and retrospective post.

A beautiful piece from Andi Cumbo-Floyd on taking your writing seriously.

In honor of author Alice Munro’s 85th birthday, a retrospective of her short stories with quotes stirs the reading desires of lovers of Munro’s works.

From the blog at Bublish, a list of five tasks Indie authors can tackle during the summer months.

Image attributions:
News
Jeanette Walls quote

As this past weekend reflects, we are a country of independence. Freedoms abound that others only long for.

Among those freedoms are our choices to read and write based on our own thinking. With that in mind, I offer you some of what I’ve come across the last week of June in writing and publishing news.

First up, a simple curiosity. Stephen King actually has quite legible handwriting. Why a curiosity? Often writers, as well as physicians, don’t have the best handwriting. Take a look.

Diane Rinella talks audiobook production on Writers Helping Writers. A well-prepared post filled to the brim with good information.

All writers need to read to learn from other writers. Even if you write nonfiction, reading good fiction is beneficial. If you have not read any of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s novels, I recommend them to you. Here’s a cover reveal for her next novel coming out in December.

Perhaps you are a first-time writer and have no idea what an author media kit is. Don’t panic! Melissa Flick lays it all out for you on her blog plus infographic.

BookBaby offers a post from Dr. Dawn Field on Tightening Your Story’s Cause and Effect with “and So.” Her explanation and examples are rich with clarity and logic.

Personal branding consultant and award-winning author, Nancy Blanton, explains the formula necessary for creating what she calls “your author brand positioning statement.”