Miscellaneous Monday

 
How has spring been treating you so far? Many of us here in the U.S. got a good dose of snow last week, greeting the new season with a chilly start. It's inevitable; warmer days will be here before we know it. In the meantime, here are a few links to ease us into spring writing.

Do you have challenges making decisions? Author Susan J. Reinhardt offers her insight and tips in this post, How to Overcome Decision Paralysis. Susan has great suggestions to help us gain perspective and balance.

Sometimes the smallest things trip us up when writing and editing. Author Laurel Garver of Laurel's Leaves discusses their proper use in Editor on Call: Using Then/Than and Lose/Loose. Her examples will clear any confusion right up.

Considering attending a writer's conference in the coming months? There are many benefits, as veteran freelancer Jennifer Brown Banks describes in 5 Reasons to Attend a Writer's Conference this Year. Let us know if you have plans to attend one! :)

Queries. Love them or hate them? They can be a bit intimidating, so I was grateful for L. Diane Wolfe's advice in her recent post, Checklist for a Great Query. Having worked in the industry for years, Diane's advice is always solid.

Other News 

I recently received the Sunshine Blogger Award from Lisa Ricard Claro. Thanks so much, Lisa!  :D If you aren't acquainted with her, Lisa is a long time blogger and author of several books. You can find out more about her writing services at her site. We really do make wonderful friends through blogging, don't we?

And Just for Fun
.
This is totally off the writing topic, but if you're looking to get the exterior of your home in shape for spring, check out Checklist for Spring: 5 Steps to Get Your Home Ready. Yes, when I'm not writing posts here or doing the nine thousand other things I do, I'm blogging for this local business. :)


Did you get snow on the first few days of spring? What are you writing this week? Have any special spring plans?

Happy writing,
Karen



Photo credit: Pexels

Miscellaneous Monday

What have you been up to so far this year? Any new projects on the horizon? Here are a few links that might help in your creative pursuits.

If you've been puzzling over how to create a good brand and platform, check out Jennifer Brown Banks' recent post, Is There a Disconnect in Your Brand Messaging? This award winning blogger has helpful insight for this important topic.

Want to write compelling dialogue? How to Write Dialogue That Captivates Your Reader, by seasoned author Jerry Jenkins, offers six no fail tips that will engage your audience.

Thinking about writing a memoir? Not sure how to begin? C.S. Lakin at Live Write Thrive offers encouragement and pointers in Important Considerations When Writing Your Memoir.

Looking to broaden your skills? Consider enrolling online at the Coffeehouse for Writers. Classes include How to Quit Your Day Job (Making a Living as a Full Time Freelancer), Blogging for Profit or Pleasure, Writer's Basic Boot Camp, Writing for the Chicken Soup series, and more.

If you need a little inspiration to get those cold weather cobwebs out of your head, check out Stimulate Your Mind with These Writing Exercises. They're quick and easy, and might give you the spark you need to light that writing fire.

 
Author Susanne Dietze stops by next week to discuss her latest book. Hope you can join us!

What's on your January reading list? Are you working on any special projects this month?

Happy writing,
Karen 




Photo credit: Pexels

Miscellaneous Monday

Hope this finds you enjoying the first days of autumn! Decided to share a few links in honor of my favorite season. So here goes...

Do you have issues with productivity? Most of us do at some point, right? C.S. Lakin examines reasons why we struggle in this area and offers great insight and solutions in this post, The Life of a Super-Productive Writer.

Marketing and social media can easily overwhelm us. (Or maybe that's just me?) In 6 Key Questions to Ask Before Creating Your Social Media Strategy, the helpful folks at Add This Academy offer questions to help focus on our goals and formulate a customized plan.

Who couldn't use a little writing advice? In The Best Advice for Writers, Gary McLaren offers a great compilation of trends, tips, and links for writers of all kinds - authors, freelancers, bloggers, content  creators, etc. There's a little bit of everything here.

Congratulations to Jennifer Brown Banks of Pen and Prosper! Her blog made The Write Life's 2017 "100 Best Websites for Writers". She's in great company, and those who've visited her blog already knew she was worthy of this honor. Jennifer's topics are relevant and timely; recent posts include Friction with Your Fiction? 5 Ways to Fix It! and 4 Reasons Blog Breaks are Good for the Writer's Soul.

Do you enjoy fall? What's your favorite season? Found any good online resources lately? What's on your to-do list this week?

Happy writing,
Karen 


Photo credit: Pexels

Miscellaneous Monday

Happy mid-August! Hope you are staying cool. Couldn't resist sharing the latest fun and fabulous finds. :)

Lay versus Lie, how do you know which one to use? Brian Klems explains here at The Writer's Dig. He even provides a handy chart to help keep it straight.

Fiction writers, having trouble getting those scenes just right? Check out Live Write Thrive's post where Rachel Scott Thomson shares How Fiction Writers Can Ramp Up Tension and Pacing.

Looking to write for magazines? I recommend Carol J. Alexander's new course, Break Into Magazine Writing. Class begins late September 2015. Visit Carol's site for details. 

What is the definition of canoodle? How about goombah? Jean Fisher defines these and other interesting words in Twenty Five of the Funniest Words.

Do you use idioms in your writing? The Grammarly Blog highlights common idiom meanings in You Can Bet Your Bottom Dollar We Love Idioms and It's a Barnyard Full of Animal Idioms.

And finally, this made me smile: "A metaphor is like a simile." Author Unknown  Yes, it sure is!

What are you up to this week?

I'm taking a break until 9/7/15.  Enjoy the remainder of August! :) 

Happy writing,
 
Karen 



Photo credit: Free Images - En Choo

Monday's Fabulous Finds

Monday is a great day to share fabulous links, right? Here are a few of my recent discoveries:

You don't have to have a published book to your credit to appreciate the Seven Most Useful Apps for Authors. These apps can address needs for any writer.

Did you know that a hyphen can change the meaning of a word? C.S. Lakin elaborates in Using Hyphens to Avoid Confusion.

What's the best way to market your work without being a pest? Check out Jennifer Brown Banks' advice in 5 Tips to Selling Your Works Without Working People's Nerves.

How do you know you're a writer? Jean Fischer's recent post invites us to finish this sentence, You Know You're a Writer When...

I'll be back on Thursday with a link to a guest post on my publisher's blog. If you can spare a minute, I invite you to stop by!


What are you up to this week?

Happy writing,

Karen

Miscellaneous Monday

There is an endless supply of great resources waiting to be discovered! Here are a few that I've found lately.

Now that 2015 is in full swing, are you in need of writing inspiration? Jean Fischer shares a few quotes on her blog to lend help for the journey...one day at a time.

Have trouble with active versus passive voice? Check out this post on Marsha Hubler's blog. She offers a great breakdown with helpful examples that illustrate the concept nicely.

Need help managing your email? Check out 3 Tips for Purging Your Email and Your Mind over at Susan J. Reinhardt's blog.

Are you wasting readers' time with apologies? Edie Melson makes an interesting point regarding taking time off from social media over at The Write Conversation.

What are you writing these days? Have any links or tips to share?

Happy writing,

Karen

Photo credit: Stock Exchange