Blogger Extraordinaire Alex Cavanaugh was the subject of a recent ambush blogfest - one I missed because of a previous commitment. However, I figure it's not too late to give a shout out to Alex, and to thank him for all he's done for the blogging community.
In the words of those who ambushed him, "...Alex is an awesome blogger, he's also an enigma." True enough. There have been few sightings of Alex, so one might think he is a figment of the imagination. But he's not. He's a real live inspirational and encouraging member of the blogging community. He was among my early followers, and to a newbie blogger like me, that meant a lot. Congrats and thank you, Alex! I'm grateful for your support.
Congratulations to Angela Felsted! Her YA book Chaste hit the shelves this month. If you'd like to view the trailer, click here. Special note - from December 12-15, Angela is donating the proceeds of the book to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. To buy or view more details about Chaste visit Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Frustrated by punctuation? Check out this post at The Writing Life, Can You Take Artistic License with Punctuation Rules?
Here's another tricky one - ensure versus insure. Are there set rules or are they interchangeable? Brian Klems shares a simple fix in Ensure vs. Insure.
Free Software for Indie Authors has a list of great resources from word processing to converting documents to saving files and more. You don't have to be an indie author either; these tools will help writers of any level or genre.
Time for fun! Check out these Online Games for Writers. Article author Sarah Turner says, "Writers are expert procrastinators." (Um, yes I am. How did she know?) Turner goes on to say that these "procrastination tools" will put your "language skills to work." Sounds good to me!
Do you procrastinate when it comes to writing? What fun things are you doing this weekend?
Happy weekend,
Karen :)
Image credit: Stock Exchange
I enjoyed your newsy bits.
ReplyDeleteFondly,
Glenda
I only procrastinate when I have a deadline. Otherwise I am a whirlwind with words. But give me a deadline and suddenly I am somewhat distracted, delayed or otherwise dragging my feet. ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen! I'm very glad I found you in this blogging world.
ReplyDeleteGiving a shout-out to Angela tomorrow. That's a great cause.
Yay Alex! Great thoughts here amigo. I am thankful for Alex. AND SO THANKFUL FOR YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteYippee Angela!!!! Woot woot!
I will head out now and check out these links. What would we do without ya??
Hugs and loves woman!
Glenda,
ReplyDeleteGood to see you! Hope you've been doing well. :) Thanks a bunch!
Dawn,
I do too! Why is that? I'll dance around a project knowing the deadline is looming. Ah well, we can be works in progress, right? :)
Alex,
You are welcome! And thanks so much. :) Angela is a peach, isn't she?
Robyn,
Thankful for Alex, and yes, thankful for you too! Thanks for your sweet words. Hugs and love right back!
Happy weekend,
Karen
Uhh, have you been reading my mail? (Procrastinating? I'll get back to you later. :D) Just another reason I like you, Karen--all the stuff we have in common. That, and you're a wealth of information and resources.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday.
Hi Karen .. good shout outs and Alex had a rip roaring few days .. loads of bloggers out there ...
ReplyDeleteThe software sounds interesting .. but I'll miss the Online Games for Authors!! way too much bottom sitting!
Getting on with things .. so Christmas can be trouble free - we all hope! Cheers Hilary
Hi Karen...Thanks for your post. I sometimes procrastinate in sending out freelance stories. This is probably because I don't like the rejections very much.
ReplyDeleteBut I cannot get an acceptance if I don't send a story out, right?
This weekend is, wowsers, FULL! A special church service to Our Lady of Guadalupe on Saturday as well as a holiday gathering in the evening. On Sunday, a cookie exchange at 2 p.m. and another gathering in a different town at 4 p.m.
Whew! Take care and have a blessed weekend yourself! Susan
I'm very thankful for Alex. He's always willing to listen, especially during my whining sessions. Poor fellow. His wife is a lucky girl!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the endless great sources of links, Karen. Your blog is always bookmarked on this computer.
Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteYes, well I confess...your mail comes to my house first...lol. Lots of reasons I like you too, sweet friend!
Hilary,
Yes, I imagine Alex now needs a vacation, what do you think? :) Well you do have a point about online games. Maybe we should only play them after we've taken a nice long walk?
Susan,
You know, I do the same thing about sending things out. And then I go in spurts where I send all kinds of stuff out. But not as often as I should. lol :)
Joylene,
Thankful for Alex too - what would we do without him, right? As I told Hilary, he probably needs a vacation now! Thanks for your kind words; happy to be of help!
Happy weekend,
Karen
Karen: Yes, I am guilty of procrastination. I find I get off track very easily and re-arrange what is important(putting it to the back of my mind)with what is fun (placing it in the forefront of my mind.)I NEED TO GET ORGANIZED.
ReplyDeleteI procrastinate far too much when it comes to writing ;)
ReplyDeleteCecelia,
ReplyDeleteI am in serious need of some organization too! Perhaps in the new year, yes? :)
Lynda,
I think that procrastination has become my hobby, or perhaps an odd art form...lol
Happy weekend,
Karen
I'm baking cookies this weekend! (And wrapping presents) :-)
ReplyDeleteI'll be participating in a "mystery skit" at our local Sisters in Crime chapter, babysitting grand kids,singing in the choir, attending grandson's basketball game and going to see "The Hobbit". Whew, hope I survive! Thanks for introducing me to Alex!
ReplyDeleteMy super fun thing happened yesterday. We hosted a Freedom Singers concert. If you ever have the chance to see one, go for it. They do an amazing concert and their story of fleeing from Romania is amazing as well. I did a review of their book 'The Price of Freedom', you can find it under 'popular posts' on my blog. There's a clip of them singing in the post as well.
ReplyDeleteProcrastination games - I will have to try those.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading all of the blogfest entries for Alex. No one deserved it more.
Procrastination tools that put writer skills to work . . .that sounds like an interesting and potentially dangerous combination!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your wonderful links!
Fun links and I think you are secretly a wild woman who is adorable! Hugs and have a great weekend!!! :O)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the links! Time for gun sounds like, well ... fun. I;ll check it out.
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
ReplyDeleteHave fun! Sounds like a good weekend. :)
Susan,
Wow, you'll be busy this weekend! Have a great time! :)
Linda,
Sounds like it was fun! :) Glad you had a good time. Will check it out!
Diane,
I agree, Alex is very deserving of the honor! Hope you get to try those games. :)
Tyrean,
I know, it might be a tricky thing, but I am willing to try the games. If I don't put it off too much, lol. :)
Diane,
Oh, you are so sweet! Yes, wild woman that I am...lol. Maybe we just have to get together sometime and be wild women together, you think? :)
Stephen,
Hope you get a chance to try them. Let us know how it goes!
Happy weekend,
Karen
Yay for Alex. He is super cool. like you I too missed the blogfest.
ReplyDeleteHey Karen -
ReplyDeleteI dashed over to that ebook publishing site. Good info there!
Have a great weekend!
Susan :)
Rachna, I agree, Alex is super cool! As for me, well, you are super sweet!
ReplyDelete:)
Susan, glad you found it helpful! We'll have to compare notes. :)
Happy weekend,
Karen
I like the yahoo game, bookworm. It's a lot of fun, challenging and centres on words, of course!
ReplyDeleteAlways a pleasure to read your posts! Procrastination is my middle name, when it comes to writing.
ReplyDeleteAngela,
ReplyDeleteI'll have to give that one a try. Thanks for the tip! :)
Joy,
Thank you for your kind words. It's always good to see you. So it's your middle name too? I'm working on it, will keep you posted!
Happy weekend,
Karen
Ha, yes, Karen, I procrastinate when it comes to writing. When I finally hunker down, though, I focus solely on my writing.
ReplyDeleteI took a peek at the games for writers and have played one of the games mentioned. Fun link! I'll check out the others as well.
Enjoy your week!
Janette,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I hate to see others have challenges, I am glad to see I am not alone! :) Maybe we can come up with a sure fire method to avoid procrastination, lol.
Have a great week,
Karen