Monday, November 4, 2013

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:

36 comments :

  1. Hmmm. I haven't found any new tools or tips to share lately. Does that mean I'm not online enough?! ;) Thanks for sharing these, Karen.

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  2. Some great tools there. Thanks for doing the research and sharing them.

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  3. Ruth,
    No, I'm thinking you're the smart one, actually getting writing done rather than being distracted with all the other stuff! :)

    Donna,
    Thank you! Glad to share great resources! :)

    Happy writing,
    Karen

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  4. Great list!
    And yes I hate Facebook!

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  5. I'm a mooch today. Yup. I'm not going to share the amazing sites and helps I've found, just going to go follow yours. ;) Here's wishing you all the best with your book tour!

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  6. David,
    Thanks! While I cannot say I hate FB, I do have my angry moments with it! :) It has been good in some ways in the right balance.

    Crystal,
    Mooch away! Happy to share the goodies I find. I've had so much help over the years, I love to pass along helpful items to others. Thanks so much for your support! :)

    Happy writing,
    Karen

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  7. Those are some great sites! Thanks for sharing. All I know is the blogging community has been very helpful and generous to me. So it's definitely been worth the time and effort.

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  8. Thanks for sharing the tools, tips and links!

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  9. Hi Karen....

    Thanks for the great links. You are always so thoughtful.

    Please check out the guest post I had on my blog, featuring a fellow writer, Claudia Mundell.

    http://writingstraightfromtheheart.blogspot.com/2013/11/guest-blogger-claudia-mundell.html

    Okay, Karen, have a nice Tuesday! Susan

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  10. Bish,
    Thanks, I'm glad you like them! I agree, the writing community has been a wonderful help and encouragement.

    Connie,
    You are welcome! Love to share the goodies! :)

    Susan,
    You are welcome, happy to share. Will hop over to your blog shortly!

    Happy writing,
    Karen

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  11. I love to blog... but dont feel like I know much or anything about writing. Thanks for sharing these tips! I am always battling how much time to actually spend online especially since I also homeschool and that takes up a good chunk of the day, along with all the other responsibilities of being a stay at home mom- keeper of my home- etc... There is so much available, but not enough time to check it all out, and then put it to practice! God bless your book tour!

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  12. Hi Karen! Thank you for these resources in blogging. I really am a beginner blogger, and I don't know much except how to push 'publish' so these will be really helpful. I depend on people like you with so much experience to guide, and you have really helped me here!

    I hope your contest goes well :)
    Ceil

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  13. Amy,
    It is hard to balance everything, and to find the right balance for everything, that's for sure! If I were homeschooling now, I know I would not be able to do as much writing as I do now, nor be online as much. I wish you all the best as you seek God's balance in your life. Thanks so much! :)

    Ceil,
    I'm so glad you thought these links helpful. We're all in different places and we have so much to offer each other in so many areas. Blessed to have you as a blogging friend. :)

    Happy writing,
    Karen

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  14. Thanks for sharing so many useful links!

    Thank you for visiting and commenting on Susanne's review of my book, Hockey Agony. Much appreciated!

    Best,
    Donna

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  15. Donna,
    You are most welcome! It was a pleasure. The book looks interesting!
    Best to you as well,
    Karen

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  16. It has been fun to see review of your book, hopping up here and there. Congrats.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  17. Had to come join the fun !
    Hugs
    Linda Finn
    Faithful Acres Books
    http://www.faithfulacresbooks.wordpress.com
    faithfulacresbooks@gmail.com

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  18. Goodness, Karen, I'm going to have to come back to hook up to all the links! It's late now and if I get started I'll never turn out the lights. LOL Guess I'll be back tomorrow. :)

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  19. I'll check these out. I'm especially interested in the FB one since I recently left FB.

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  20. Hi Karen .. I hadn't heard of Wordoid .. but know Marketing Tips and have just opened the FB one to read ..

    Great links - thank you .. cheers Hilary

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  21. Glenda,
    Thanks so much for coming along on the journey! Appreciate your support! :)

    Linda,
    Well, I appreciate it! So glad you stopped by! :) I feel as though I have a whole lot of cheerleaders!

    Lisa,
    Sorry to do that to you so late at night! Well, you know where I am and can stop by anytime. :)

    Medeia,
    I thought it was interesting. Can't tell you how many times I've thought about leaving FB. May still yet! :) Let me know if/how it affects your books and all.

    Hilary,
    Marketing Tips has been around for a while. Always liked it when Tony Eldridge hosted it too. Good stuff! Hope you find some other goodies too! :)

    Happy reading and writing,
    Karen

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  22. Hi Karen I come here from the lovely blogger Chatty Crone. What an awesome giveaway btw. I have a 2 year old little girl at home, so this would be really interesting to read.
    I was always curious about homeschool.
    You have a lovely blog. I am following you on your 2 Facebook pages and also here with GFC.
    You are welcome to visit my blog if you like feel free to join in too. :)
    Take care
    http://claudiapersi.blogspot.ca/

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  23. Great tips btw. :)
    http://claudiapersi.blogspot.ca/

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  24. Thanks for stopping by the Shipslog. Yes Chatty has a neat blog, I always enjoy stopping by to see what interesting thing she has today. She was sweet enough to do a review of my latest book, 'Finally Love' which is doing well.
    I have followed a couple links so far here, they too are interesting.. Selecting a person to proof my work has always been a problem because of friends who volunteer to do it and get a little miffed if they are not used.

    Anyway. I do like the blog. Take care... jack

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  25. Hi Karen! Thank you for sharing the "helps". It is so easy to get bogged in the blog, isn't it? Or in any of the social media choices...

    Bless you!! You've got me thinking...

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  26. I was a middle school teacher for many years and taught a lot of different subjects. When I taught language arts, poetry was my favorite and the students really got into writing their own. A 5 part essay was difficult, but they didn't feel intimidated with poetry.

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  27. Congratulations, dear friend. I am so happy for you!

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  28. Claudia,
    Thanks so much for following and for your kind words! Enjoyed my stop at your blog as well. :) Hope you find these tips useful! I agree, Chatty is lovely!

    Jack,
    It was good to see you at Chatty's place too. She's a peach! Enjoyed my stop at your blog too. Thanks for hopping over here! Take care. :)

    Cheryl,
    As much as I love blogging, yes, it is easy to get bogged down! Love the people but not as crazy about the schedule all the time combined with social media. Glad to help make you think, lol!

    Lisa,
    Thank you! Enjoyed stopping at your place too. :)

    Art and Sand,
    Yes poetry seems less daunting for students, doesn't it? Thanks for coming by! :)

    Jen,
    Thank you! You are a sweet friend! :)

    Happy Friday,
    Karen

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  29. Hi There, Thanks for stopping by.. I enjoyed reading about you and the book on Chatty's blog. Good Luck with the new book..

    I'm not a writer--but you certainly have a lot of great advice for anyone interested in writing…. Thanks!
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  30. I've never considered myself very good at writing so maybe some of these links will help me out :)

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  31. Betsy,
    It was my pleasure to stop by your blog! Good to meet you. I appreciate your good wishes, thanks so much! :)

    Ann,
    Well, I enjoyed my stop at your blog and didn't notice anything amiss with your writing! Thanks for coming over! :)

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  32. Thanks for the links. I already checked out the first one, and she has some great tips. Congrats on your blog tour and the excellent giveaway.

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  33. Look at all of those helpful links! Thanks so much for sharing them. I look forward to checking them out.
    ~Jess

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  34. Susan,
    Thanks! Hope you find them all helpful. Thanks for being a blog tour groupie! :)

    Jess,
    You are welcome. Hope you find a few useful! :)

    Happy writing,
    Karen

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  35. Congrats on your book release! Nice tip links too. :)

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