Linktopia, schadenfreude edition

Surfing the best of the writers' blogs so you don't have to.

It's difficult to decide whether to jeer or wince. Last week,the writer's blogosphere was taken up with the antics of 19-year-old prodigy Kaavya Viswanathan and allegations of plagiarism for her 'tween-lit novel that garnered a breathtaking advance. Today the NYT's reveals that Viswanathan's short career in writing is being scrutinized for other acts of plagiarism. This girl's career is well on it's way to being destroyed.

In other prodigy news, Lauren Weisberger is also thudding pretty hard after a meteoric rise on the heels her debut novel THE DEVIL WORE PRADA. Gossip mags are gleefully reporting Weisberger's struggle with writer's block, the thing that happens when you haven't been busting your chops in the trenches learning your craft but get handed a juicy multi-book deal anyway.

At least Dan Brown suffered for his art first.

Linky goodness after the jump.

Astrology for Writers says that May is the month money is an issue--like it's never an issue any other month . . . . Conversation with Famous Writers weighs in on the Viswanathan issue . . . . Ray talks about the memoir non-fiction craze and rightly observes that memory IS fiction--it's our own interpretation of reality, whatever that is. My, that was rather postmodern of me . . . . and a segway into GOB's review of To War with Whitaker, a memoir of uppercrust British types lamenting the crumbling of the Empire . . . . Writing from the Trenches blogs about ending your story with the technique called The Elixer---writers familiar with the Hero's Journey already know about this but it's worth a looksee . . . . suspense novelist Allison Brennen muses on how to balance between romance and suspense in her work. We're going to interview Allison later this month. Her books are gripping, so it's a good idea to pay close attention . . . . the Alphabet Girls blog about being stuck in a rut . . .

Cavan reviews Geoff Ryman's latest and gives it a thumbs up . . . . Random Reader reviews Jim Butcher's SUMMER KNIGHTS, has some quibbles . . . . Miss Snark unveils her Nitwit of the Day, it's a doozy . . . . over at Quantum, Eric blogs about the importance of hooks . . . . Neinke blogs on the technique of visualization before writing the scene . . . . the Bitches bitch-slap an author in need of a reality check . . . .

And in what be the ultimate bitch-slap for authors, Garrison Keillor tells us to get over ourselves (free day pass available).

Now that we've been put in our places, write on.