Learning to write fiction

While J-school certainly helped hone many skills needed to write fiction, the differences between the two fields quickly became apparent.  Some of the ways I pursued to improve my fiction include:

• Critique groups
• Clarion (attended 1997)
• Continuing education classes on fiction writing
• Orson Scott Card’s annual bootcamp or intro writing course (attended intro course in 2007)
• Online resources, such as Uncle Orson’s Hatrack River Workshop
• More critique groups
• Writing organizations, such as St.Louis Writers’ Guild
• Writing contests, such as Writers of the Future & Writer’s Digest
• Conferences

Then, there’s learning the marketing aspect:

• QueryTracker
• Duotrope
• Writing organizations
• Workshops with agents/publishers
• Agent blogs
  • Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary Agency LLC
  • Jennifer Jackson, Donald Maass Literary Agency