Monday, June 27, 2016

Miscellaneous Monday




Where has June gone? It's been a busy month here, complete with writing projects, high temperatures, and fun times with my 8 year old grandson. Has June treated you well? I hope so. Thought these helpful links would be a good way to finish off the month. :)

Are you easily distracted when you're supposed to be writing? Is your middle name "Procrastination"? If so, you might find help from Kenda Turner's post, On Rainbows and Inspiration to Get the Job Done. Kenda shares her challenges and insight, as well as handy links that will aid the process.

Does your head spin at the thought of marketing your work online? Chandler Bolt shares 6 great tips in this post, Social Media for Authors. His doable, friendly advice will infuse confidence in even the most "social media shy" writers.

Is it important for writers to have a website? Even though writers aren't selling mattresses or smoothies, we offer books, articles, and other services such as blogging, editing, or speaking. In Why You Need a Website web designer and illustrator David Lange offers insight into why an online presence (such as a blog or other site) is important. And yes, he's related to me, but he does know his stuff. :)  

Most writers know that book reviews help book sales. But are you aware of the most common book review myths? Dana Lynn Smith elaborates on the 6 most common ones in Busting Myths about Book Reviews at C.S. Lakin's blog Live Write Thrive.

Looking to take a writing course this summer? Sign up for a July class at the Coffeehouse for Writers and receive a $10 off holiday discount! Don't forget, I teach the Boot Camp for Writers, and I'd love to work with you or someone you know. For class descriptions and more, visit the Coffeehouse site. Hurry, offer ends soon.

Summer is a great time to add a splash of color to your home! Okay, I know this isn't writing related, but I couldn't resist sharing a post I wrote for a local business entitled 6 Ways to Add Summer Color to Your Home. If you're in the mood for some DIY ideas, I invite you to check it out.

What are you writing this week? How is your summer going so far? Do you have any DIY projects planned?

Happy writing,
Karen





Photo credit: Free Images

25 comments :

  1. Thanks, I'll check out the bit about book reviews.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I liked your ideas on adding summer color. Once we've restained the deck, we want to get one of those covers with mesh for it and some chairs. Then we can sit outside without being chewed alive by bugs.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great article about book reviews Karen, thanks... and David's article is good as well... of course :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Alex,
    You are welcome! Hope it is helpful. :)

    Diane,
    Thanks for taking the time to read it! :) Hope your project comes together soon!

    Marja,
    Appreciate you checking out the articles. Glad you liked them! :)

    Happy writing,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  5. Karen: I receive Live, Write,Thrive in my email. I enjoyed the article on book reviews. I checked out David's site. I even read the one about fonts. Thank you for sharing these.
    Tomorrow, we get new doors installed- two security storm doors and an entry door (back door.) Next Wednesday, Hubby has minor (he calls it) surgery. Then on the 21st he has another surgery. We had VBS at church last week. Good consistent attendance. We started working on it in February. The end of July, the company will construct our yard barn. Then I can get some things done I want to do about our front porch. Plus, we want to take a vacation. I can't remember being this busy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just read the DIY article. I hope to use some of these pointers when I can do something on our porch. It's enclosed. I want to make a sitting area on it.

      Delete
    2. Cecelia,
      Sounds like you have a busy month! Will pray all goes well with your husband's surgeries. Thanks for checking out the articles. Glad you found them helpful!
      Happy writing,
      Karen

      Delete
  6. Some excellent links today, Karen. Thanks for them. And it may be unrelated, but I loved seeing how to add some color to my home in this season.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Awesome links Karen! I'm checking all of them out :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great links. I'm just in the midst of getting my house painted. It has some orange-ish brick so I'm going with different shades of beige.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lee,
    Thanks so much, and you are welcome! :) Glad you liked the post about color. It was fun to write!

    Kelly,
    Thank you! And thanks for taking the time to check them out. Hope they are helpful. :)

    Natalie,
    Thanks! Sounds like your house will have a whole new look. You should share some pics! :)

    Happy writing,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Karen. Great post. Thanks for all the helpful links.Summer is going great so far. A big project was to put lots of flowers in pots and in a round garden in the front yard. All that has been accomplished and makes me smile when I drive into the driveway.

    Working on a feature story for a weekly newspaper this week.

    Have other projects planned, like de-cluttering closets, etc., but don't know if they'll get done or not. You know how that goes.

    Hope the rest of your summer is wonderful! Susan

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Karen. What a post chokka with goodies! I will follow some of those links, especially the one on book reviews!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Glad to know you're enjoying fun times with your grandson, Karen. We're having great grandkid moments this summer, too :-) And thanks so much for mentioning my post over at Words and Such on your list. A pleasant surprise and much appreciated! I'll be checking out all your other links, too, especially the one on adding summer color to the home. Does a real life painter, paint brush in hand, come with it? I sure need one of those around here, ha!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Susan,
    Glad you enjoyed the links. Sounds like your summer will be fun and busy. I'm sure that fun will include hugging and playing with your sweet grandkids! :)

    Denise,
    Thanks for stopping over! Hope you find the links helpful.:)

    Kenda,
    Grandkid moments are great fun, aren't they? :) Hope the links are a help. As for a painter, well, we'll see what we can figure out! Lol

    Happy writing,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  14. Talk about a busy month! I didn't even plan anything and ended up ferrying kids to 3 different camps and hosting 2 swim parties. Yikes! Here's hoping for a calmer July. --You know, despite the crazy of June, I completed an entire rewrite of a book. I'm thinking this busy thing is a good thing.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Busy is good. Too busy is unhealthy. I have to regularly cut back on activities and stuff God hasn't called me to do. That looks different for everyone. A friend of mine can write circles around me, saves tons of money by couponing, and has five kids still at home! But she's cut from a different cloth than I am, so I accept my limitations and do what I can.
    MY big DIY project is publishing my fourth book, Touchable God: Finding Friendship with The Lord through Prayer. It should be out near my birthday, August 14. Thanks for asking!
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  16. Crystal,
    Well all I can say is that there must be something in the air in June! lol And yeah, why is it that sometimes the busiest stretches turn out to be the most productive? Makes no sense...and then it does...:) Here's to a quieter July!

    Jen,
    I agree, too busy is just not good, and you're right, it looks different for everyone. I too, have one of those friends - she seems to have more hours in the day than the rest of us somehow. Working to find my right balance. Congrats on the upcoming book! :)

    Happy writing,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sounds like this will be a very busy month for you!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great of you to share all these links!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Nas,
    Yes. It sure will be! Thanks for stopping by. :)

    Lisa,
    You are welcome! Good to see you! :)

    Olivia,
    Hope you find them helpful! :) Glad you stopped by!

    Happy weekend
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  20. Awesome links! I've already put one into use, CS Lakin's post. Am busily checking out the other links. Thanks!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'll check these out. I'm opening tabs already. Have a great holiday weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Carol,
    Thank you! Hope you find the rest of them helpful! :)

    Medeia,
    Happy 4th weekend to you too! :) Thanks for checking them out.

    Happy weekend,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Have a blessed day!