Category Archives: Blog Mashups

BlogMash: Strong Daughters, Reading & NaNoWriMo

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Jennifer Jensen

While I’m off traveling once more (to Oregon for a visit with my mother, this time), I’ve collected some cool stuff for you to read until I manage the next installment of our Irish adventure: *** We can teach our kids to be strong and stand up for themselves, but what about when they’re facing an authority figure?  Here’s Carissa Rogers on raising strong daughters. *** Myndi Shafer shares a heartbreaking post about the repercussions of calling someone fat.  And we should all shut up and quit asking women when their is due unless they’ve announced it publicly. *** Jenny Lussier sheds some insight on where she would be without books and reading.  What would your life look like? *** For a follow-on, Pragmatic Mom (aka Mia Wenjen) has some great tips for encouraging kids to read. *** If you’re a writer considering plotting vs. flying by the seat of … Continue reading →

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Roaming the Blogosphere: Writing & Publishing Tips

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Jennifer Jensen

I’m between school semesters, so of course the blogs that shouted “Bookmark me!” this month were almost all on focused on writing, publishing and/or marketing a book. Here are a few of the posts I bookmarked, starting with some humor: Nick Cross shares definitions of syndromes we writers tend to succumb to.  Read NOW if you’re in need of a laugh! I’ve just discovered that The Creative Penn has podcasts!  (Okay, okay, I know I’m a little slow on the uptake.)  Here’s a great one on characters by Roz Morris.  There’s also a link to a long list of previous podcasts – great for exercise walks! Margie Lawson from Writers in the Storm has a great post about “What’s the Visual?”  She uses that one phrase to get the show-don’t-tell point across – complete with examples from her students’ work.  Even if you’re pretty good at showing already, it’s well … Continue reading →

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Linkfest: Children, Writing Tips and Granny’s Health Plan

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Jennifer Jensen

I’ve been saving links to blogs I really liked, some new and some old, and it’s sharing time!  And not just blog links – there’s an ROW80 goal update at the bottom. Some heart-warming, life-affirming, thought-provoking, general feel-good stuff: Kids don’t just go to school, play, and do a few small chores – they can help in big things, too!  Leanne Sype’s son Sean has a caring heart, and a willing mind, as she writes in When Life Gives You Lemonade. Lynette Burrows shared a great post on keeping a child-like creativity.  It’s kept me thinking … a lot! Over on Bliss Habits, Dani Nelson continues that thought with all the positive things you get when you live Life with a Side of Silly.  Because what’s better than a smile?  (Ignore the giveaway at the bottom – it’s over.) Reading Pretty LIttle Liars got Emma Burkhart thinking about the friendships … Continue reading →

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Productivity and Cute Baby Animals

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Jennifer Jensen

I didn’t believe it.  You’re not going to believe it.  But I dare you to try! Matt Stopera over on BuzzFeed.com mentioned a study that proves* viewing pictures of baby animals increases productivity.  And then follows it with some of the cutest pictures ever.  And by golly, I actually got up and did the exercise session I had been putting off, and then came back to write this post – absolute, undeniable, irrefutable, incontrovertible proof that it works! So here are your instructions: Go to Baby Animals Scientifically Proven to Increase Productivity. Look at the pictures with a task in mind.  Try not to spend extra time with oohs and ahhs. Come back here and tell us how you felt and if you were more productive, or actually did the thing you’ve been putting off. (Of course, the science only “proves” that viewing baby animal pictures is better than viewing … Continue reading →

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Great Writerly Blogs and . . . THE WINNER

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Jennifer Jensen

The contest is over and we had a blast!  Samantha Warren had a humdinger of a 30th birthday celebration, we all had fun visiting various blogs looking for answers and finding interesting new blogging voices, and by now some lucky person has won a Kindle Mini.  I actually came in second on one day’s quiz and won a copy of Reluctant Guardian from Kristy K. James, but since I was participating with my blogs, I wasn’t eligible every day and so didn’t have a chance at the Kindle Mini.  Awwww.  But hey, a Kindle Touch is still on my Christmas list! Hmm, let’s not get sidetracked here.  The winner of Stephen King’s On Writing here is . . . Francelia Belton!  She’s a writer, a fellow member of the WANA1011 class, and is just setting up her blog.  Maybe when it’s live, she’ll stop by here and post a link!  … Continue reading →

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