We Interrupt This Blog Break...

Just a few announcements... 
 
Okay, remember that post back in October when I asked you to sell me on Twitter? I've been thinking about your input (which was very helpful, btw) and yes, I did it. I jumped back on. So if you use Twitter, look me up, will you? I'm KLELange. :)                                           

Most of you know that I teach online writing classes for homeschool students, grades 9-12, at the Homeschool Online Creative Writing Co-op. I'm offering sessions in Creative Writing, Flash Fiction, and Writing the Essay beginning on January 10, 2012. There are still openings, so if you or anyone you know are interested, click here for details.

The Coffeehouse for Writers is gearing up for the new year. Classes begin January 2, 2012 and include great workshops like Creating Characters, Writing Scenes, Blogging for Profit or Pleasure, Writing for Children, Social Media and more. Instructors include Jennifer Brown Banks, Kathryn Lay, Victoria Grossack, Sandra Kischuk, and Ayn Hunt, to name a few. Don't forget, yours truly teaches the Basic Boot Camp for Writers. Visit the Coffeehouse site for details.


Hope you are enjoying good times with friends and family. See you in 2012. :)

Happy New Year!

Karen




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Thank You!

It has been a wonderful year of blog blessings. Thank you all so much for sharing my writing journey in this way. Your support and encouragement mean the world to me!

I am looking forward to spending 2012 with you all, learning, laughing, and helping each other along. Good things are ahead, don't you think?


This concludes my posts for 2011. I am taking a break until January 2. See you then!

Sending love, blessings, and warm wishes to you and your family,

Karen  :)

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You Didn't Even Know

Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know.   

Daniel Boorstin

Have you considered what you've learned this year?

Or what you didn't know you didn't know?

I have. 

For instance...

It's great fun to co-author a novel.

Challenging too, but oh so rewarding.

 It leads to character development.

Yours and the people in the book.

What have you learned this year?

Did you know you didn't know it?

:)

Happy writing,

Karen

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Great Plans?

So I had planned on a fabulous post today. You know the kind. Insightful. Witty. And of course, thought provoking.

But after a string of events this week, including losing an important document, I decided I had to ditch insightful and witty.

My back up plan? A recommendation.

I suggest that you run, don't walk, over to Heather Sunseri's blog Balance with Purpose for the Ultimate Gift Giving Guide for Writers. My personal favorite, the Starbucks gift card, is on the list, but you might be partial to the underwater writing slate. Or the mug - be sure and check out what it says.

I'll try for insightful and witty another day, okay? 

Which gift on Heather's list is your favorite?

Happy weekend,
Karen

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Breaking Out

Do you ever get writer's block?


Or ever just hit a spot where you can write but the words just don't have the flow or spark they normally do?


What do you do about it?


Do you:


Read?

Pray?

Journal?

Exercise?

Brainstorm?

Clean house?

Keep writing?

Take a break?

Eat chocolate?

Go blog hopping?

Jump on Facebook?

Consult your writer friends?

When I am challenged, I do a sampling of these things. Sometimes I'll work on a different project, like if I'm stuck on the historical fiction WIP, I'll write a blog post.

I also like to try writing exercises to refresh and stretch my creativity. For example, I joined Stumble Upon recently and found the My Creative Team Thinking blog. Their Creativity Boosts offer a prompt or other activity, like Dictionary Excursion, where the dictionary is used to find words to write a 250 word story. It's intended use is for individuals but I'm sure it could be adapted for group use too. I think the results would be rather amusing. Click here to give it a try.

So tell us, how do you break out of a writing slump? Have any additional tips and tricks to share?

Keep writing,
Karen
 
P.S. I have a book review over at Pen and Prosper. If you'd like to take a peek, click here. Thanks a bunch! :)

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Thursday's This and That

Happy December! It's hard to believe that 2011 is nearly over. Is it just me, or did the months fly by pretty quickly?

Have you met your writing goals for the year? If not, there is still a bit of time left. I have a few loose writing ends that I plan on wrapping up before the end of the year. Anyone care to join me?

Well, as promised, here is a bit of this and that. Perhaps one of these links will help inspire some end of the year writing.

In need of encouragement? Brian Klems article, How to Gain Perspective on Your Work might offer just the boost you need. He discusses the importance of stepping back, letting projects rest, and engaging in other therapeutic activities. Good stuff.

The Cincinnati Review welcomes submissions of poetry, prose, and nonfiction from writers of all levels. They pay $25-30 per submission.  Click here for details.

The First Line Literary Journal accepts four part stories using a first line that they provide. There is a line for each seasonal story. For example, spring's line is, "There are a few things you need to know before we start." They pay on publication. More info can be found here.

Freelance Writer Linda Formichelli, of The Renegade Writer blog, recently became certified as a Fitness Coach and offered free fitness coaching sessions to a limited number of people. I had the privilege of being chosen and found that Linda's not only a good writer, but a good coach.  Here are my thoughts on our session:

My session with Linda provided plenty of food for thought (no pun intended!) – from my fitness routine to my eating habits. Her questions challenged and motivated me to stretch in areas I hadn’t considered. She offered suggestions to help get back on track by building new and better habits. I appreciated her friendly style; she’s personable and immediately makes you feel at ease. She generated a healthy dialogue, allowing time to pause and consider without pressing me for immediate answers. I was hoping that our session would serve as a catalyst for a fresh start; I wasn’t disappointed. I came away with tools and info that I can implement to build and maintain a healthier lifestyle.  To learn more about Linda's Fitness Coaching, click here.

Here's a handy post by Nancy Ragno over on Jane Friedman's blog - 10 Phrases to Purge From Your Speech. Are alot, alright, and irregardless words we should use? Hop over and find out!

Author and fellow chocolate lover Emily Benedict is offering a free download of The Father Christmas Confessions. Check it out here.

Veteran freelance writer Jennifer Brown Banks is offering a new email service for writers called Jen's VIP Club. She offers info on blog gigs, insider's tips and tools, discounts on creative services, and more. Cost is $7 per month. Stop by Jennifer's blog for details.

What's on your plate this weekend?

Have a wonderful weekend, 

Karen

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