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

Time to share a few links - hopefully something will strike your fancy. :) Have a great week!

We can all use a reminder of the basics sometimes, right? Writer's Digest's 5 Writing Rules Everyone Should Know provides a fun graphic offering just that.

Is it just me, or is finding a remedy for passive voice challenging sometimes? Jerry Jenkins offers solutions in this post, How to Fix Passive Voice.

Need help with Twitter? The Writing Life's Terry Whalin has been active there since 2008 and has it down to a science. He shares his insight in Twitter Tips: Who to Follow and Who to Block.

Your learning style can help direct you to the right writing course. How? Pen and Prosper's Jennifer Brown Banks explains in How to Match Your Learning Style to the Right Writer's Training.

Speaking of courses, the Coffeehouse for Writers offers year round writing classes. From Basic Boot Camp and Blogging for Profit or Pleasure to Writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul and E-publishing and more, they have something for everyone.

Are you a fiction writer who has difficulty infusing humor into your stories? C. S. Lakin at Live Write Thrive highlights her take on the topic in 4 Ways to Use Humor in Your Fiction.


Have any good resources to share? What are you working on this week?

Happy writing,
Karen 


Photo credit: Karen Lange's iPhone :)

Miscellaneous Monday

How are you? I hope this finds you doing well and enjoying summer (or winter, depending on where you live). It's Miscellaneous Monday, which means it's time to share some interesting links. Hoping you'll find them useful too. :)

Six Ways to Self Edit & Polish Your Prose by Kristen Lamb is a primer on how to make our words shine. She gives us the brutal truth about adverbs (they're not all bad), "stage direction", and other effective tips.

Is It Time to Re-evaluate Your Blogging Commitment? Jennifer Brown Banks gives us 6 reasons for a regular "blog checkup" to help stay on target and avoid frustration in this recent post.

Want to write a book readers will love? Best selling author Jerry Jenkins offers insight in 3 Powerful Storytelling Secrets. He encourages us to "engage the theater of the readers' minds". This, I'm thinking, is  good advice.

Hindsight is 20/20, right? C.S. Lakin agrees, and shares tips on making the journey easier in 3 Tips I Wish I'd Been Given When I Started My Writing Career on her blog, Live Write Thrive.

A quick reminder - the Coffeehouse for Writers' offerings include blogging, fiction, queries, journaling, writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul, Basic Boot Camp (taught by yours truly) and more. Instructors are friendly, classes begin monthly, and it's guaranteed to be a "Mind Brewing Experience." :)

Announcements

As of mid July, I've parted ways with my publisher. This was a tough but necessary decision. My two books, Write for Life and Homeschool Co-ops 101 are temporarily unavailable online. I have copies of HC 101 and Write for Life available, so if you/someone you know are interested in purchasing them, just let me know.

I'm taking a break until September 12. It's time to regroup, consider publishing options, and get ready for my autumn teen writing classes. When I return, we'll kick off fall with guest posts by Tyrean Martinson and Jeanette Levellie, and interviews with Laurel Garver and Amber Schamel.

Congratulations to Susan J. Reinhardt! She's the winner of Ann Gabhart's book, Murder Comes by Mail in last week's interview.
 
What projects are you working on this week?

Enjoy the rest of August. See you soon! :)

Happy writing,

Karen

Miscellaneous Monday

Where has June gone? It's been a busy month here, complete with writing projects, high temperatures, and fun times with my 8 year old grandson. Has June treated you well? I hope so. Thought these helpful links would be a good way to finish off the month. :)

Are you easily distracted when you're supposed to be writing? Is your middle name "Procrastination"? If so, you might find help from Kenda Turner's post, On Rainbows and Inspiration to Get the Job Done. Kenda shares her challenges and insight, as well as handy links that will aid the process.

Does your head spin at the thought of marketing your work online? Chandler Bolt shares 6 great tips in this post, Social Media for Authors. His doable, friendly advice will infuse confidence in even the most "social media shy" writers.

Is it important for writers to have a website? Even though writers aren't selling mattresses or smoothies, we offer books, articles, and other services such as blogging, editing, or speaking. In Why You Need a Website web designer and illustrator David Lange offers insight into why an online presence (such as a blog or other site) is important. And yes, he's related to me, but he does know his stuff. :)  

Most writers know that book reviews help book sales. But are you aware of the most common book review myths? Dana Lynn Smith elaborates on the 6 most common ones in Busting Myths about Book Reviews at C.S. Lakin's blog Live Write Thrive.

Looking to take a writing course this summer? Sign up for a July class at the Coffeehouse for Writers and receive a $10 off holiday discount! Don't forget, I teach the Boot Camp for Writers, and I'd love to work with you or someone you know. For class descriptions and more, visit the Coffeehouse site. Hurry, offer ends soon.

Summer is a great time to add a splash of color to your home! Okay, I know this isn't writing related, but I couldn't resist sharing a post I wrote for a local business entitled 6 Ways to Add Summer Color to Your Home. If you're in the mood for some DIY ideas, I invite you to check it out.

What are you writing this week? How is your summer going so far? Do you have any DIY projects planned?

Happy writing,
Karen





Photo credit: Free Images

Miscellaneous Monday

It's the end of November, so it must be time to share some great links. Okay, so there's no official rule that says this, but I found a few and thought you might be interested. :) Hope you find something useful!

Want to get an editor's attention? Check out these wise words from Ava Jarvis in Great Writing Gets the Gig - 4 Tips for Crafting Killer Sentences.

Can the words morals and ethics be used interchangeably? K.M. Weiland's recent post, Moral and Ethical Ethics explains and keeps us in line.

Although meant for parents, Grammarly's 10 Tricks to Help Your Child Remember Tricky Spelling Words shares tips that could help even the most accomplished adult speller.

What's your social media I.Q.? Jennifer Brown Banks offers insight that helps match your writing and marketing with the right platform in How to Align the Right Forum to Your Creative Goals.

Congrats to Maria Morgan! Her second children's book, Louie and the Leaf Pile is out. Also, check out the rest of her books here. 

Authors Publish Magazine is an online resource that offers free ebooks, lists markets, and shares insight and tips for writers. Sign up for free here.

What are you working on this week? Found any good links lately?

Happy writing,

Karen 


 Photo credit: Karen Lange, Colonial Williamsburg, VA, The Capitol

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