Tag Archives: WRITING

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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New Year’s Resolutions – Who, Me?

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Jennifer Jensen

As I write this on New Year’s Eve, I think of all my friends and writing buddies setting resolutions.  Some are big, some are small, and many of them are just way too … many.  Just consider: Measureable Goals (my thoughts in italics) Lose 5/10/50 pounds. Exercise 2/5/15 times a week. Read ten books this year.  (10 a month – at least!) Cook more meals at home.  (Eat out at least once a week.) Go on a cruise.  (Bask on the pond in a rowboat.) Learn to speak French/Russian/Chinese.  (Remember a smidge of the French I used to know.) Organize the house.  (Organize a closet.) Put all the kids’ pictures in scrapbooks.  (Find the boxes that the pictures are in.) Learn to use Excel/Scrivener/Photoshop well. (I’d settle for just one.) Writing Goals Write X number of words/hours each day. Revise X number of chapters each week. Send X number of … Continue reading →

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YA Author Cindy Hogan: Balancing Writing with Real Life

Posted on November 10, 2012 by Jennifer Jensen

Wow, I have my first guest blogger today!  Help me welcome author Cindy M. Hogan, who’s on a virtual book tour for her latest YA suspense novel, Created. With three YA novels under her belt now, plus a busy family and community commitments, I asked Cindy the ever-present question in my own life:  how do keep your life from spinning out of control?  She came up with some great advice for us, so read on: ************************* I’m so excited to be visiting Jennifer’s blog today. The topic she gave me is one that I have learned a ton about in the last year and a half and I hope to share with you what I’ve learned. How do I balance my writing life with my real life? My writing life before I published was pretty off and on. I didn’t schedule any writing time, I just wrote when it was convenient … 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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