Tools and Tips for Every Writer

   

Writers have a lot on their plates. Social media, blogging, marketing, not to mention actually writing. Here are a few tools and tips that might make this balancing act easier.

Whether you are a newbie or veteran blogger, Carol Tice's 3 Big Ways Most Writers' Blogs Go Wrong From Minute One offers seasoned tips to put our best foot forward.

Need more timeless blogging tips? Check out the advice from Jennifer Brown Banks in 8 Ways to Make Your Blog Bookmark Worthy. It's a winner!

Karen Cioffi asks, Online Marketing - Is Blogging Worth the Time and Effort? This insightful post highlights the important role a blog can play in the social media package.

Ever hear of Wordoid? It's a site where you can create new words and other fun activities. It's helpful too, when choosing a domain name, for if the one you want isn't available, it'll help you find creative alternatives.

Don't be fooled by the title, Marketing Tips for Authors offers tips for all writers. Their site also has tools, resources, interviews, links, and other great stuff.

Lisa Hall-Wilson's guest post, What if You Hate Facebook? Are You Doomed? over at Kristen Lamb's blog sheds light on the love/hate relationship many of us have with social media.

What new tools and tips have you found lately?

Have a great week,

Karen

Photo credit: Stock Exchange


P.S. Just in case you wanted to know..:) The Blog Tour for Homeschool Co-ops 101 begins this week: 

Click here for complete schedule

The Giveaway

One person will receive a $25 Amazon GC and an ecopy of Homeschool Co-ops 101.  

Please use the Rafflecopter below to be entered. The winner will be chosen from those entries and announced December 5, 2013.

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as e-mailed, and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Diane at That’s What I’m Here For… and sponsored by the author, Karen Lange. The author provided me with a free copy of Homeschool Co-ops 101 to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a giveaway in return for the free book.VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 Homeschool Co-ops 101 is available at:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

The Latest Links

Have had a busy week... 

With more stuff happening this weekend, so am looking to implement those procrastination busting tips from Monday's post. Who's with me? :) Three cheers for getting writing and other projects done!

In order to streamline my week a little, thought I would share the latest link discoveries as a weekend send off to you, my treasured blogging friends.

Here goes:

Tony Eldridge's Marketing Tips for Writers always has interesting fare, from a recent post by L. Diane Wolfe on preparing for speaking engagements to great writing tips.

Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition offers a first prize of $3000 and a trip to the Writer's Digest conference. Deadline to enter is November 15, 2011.

The Worldwide Freelance Writer site offers info and links on writer's markets. Sign up for their free e-newsletter.

Over at Putting Pen to Paper, Robyn Campbell is featuring The Character Therapist, aka
Jeannie Campbell. Need help with a character? Jeannie's your girl! Robyn and Jeannie have teamed up for a giveaway too, of Jeannie's Writer's Guide to Creating Rich Backstories. Stop by Robyn's blog for more info.
                                                                                                                                                               
The Writer's Village site provides free info on how to win writing contests, plus more free fiction writing tips and tricks. Check them out here.


Make a Living Writing shares technology tips, writing and marketing advice, and lots more savvy stuff. Click here for more details.
                                                                                                                                                               

As always, the Coffeehouse for Writers has great workshops running. A new session begins June 27. Their many offerings can be viewed here.

Taking a break to attack the WIP and other things that are calling my name. Will return around June 27.


What's the latest and greatest tip you've run across? Got any fabulous weekend plans?



Happy Father's Day weekend!


Blessings,

Karen

P.S. Sorry about the extra spaces here. Blogger formatting not cooperating...

Photo credit: stock.xchng

What's Your Soundtrack?

When it comes to writing, what are the main thoughts that run through your head?

Are they positive?

Or negative?

Somewhere in between?

I believe that we all have a soundtrack, one that plays in our head on a regular basis. I also believe that this affects our writing. A positive soundtrack can move our writing ahead and a negative one can hinder our progress.

How do we determine what our soundtrack is? By paying attention to our thoughts. Tuning in is telling; I sometimes find myself jogging down an unproductive road. Joyce Meyer says, "Where the mind goes, the man follows." Nuff said.

What do we do if our soundtrack is primarily negative? How do we refocus and change the tune?  Here are a few things that help me keep an upbeat attitude:

1) Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Sure, I have my ups and downs, but my bottom line is this - I know that I am a writer. No matter how I feel, this is what God has called me to do. When I catch myself tapping my toe to a lousy soundtrack, I work to shift the thoughts and mentally regroup.

2) I surround myself with positive influences, like treasured writer friends (this would be you). You've offered a wealth of love and support. It warms my heart and brings tears to my eyes when I think of the encouragement you've given to me.

3) I tap into my faith to stay grounded. For me, this means keeping my ears attentive to God's word and meditating on His principles. My perspective is better when my focus is in the right place.

4) I avail myself to good resources - blogs, books on the craft, workshops, etc. I glean from the thoughts of seasoned writers like Jennifer Brown Banks in her post on Overcoming Setbacks. E-Newsletters like Hope Clark's Funds for Writers is another winner, featuring encouraging articles, markets, and links. Author Tony Eldridge's blog offers insight and reality wrapped in a package that says, "Yes, you can do this!
 
5) I heed the words of cowboy preacher Gospel Bill, who tells his young audiences, "Garbage in, garbage out," If we sow negative things into our heads, we will reap the same. If we sow the positive and valuable, that's what we will reap. GB's simple phrase helps keep my thoughts in check.


Have you ever considered your writing soundtrack? Or the soundtrack in other areas of your life? What do you do to combat a negative soundtrack?


Blessings,

Karen

Photo credit: d-s-n  http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1154488