Archive for April, 2008
Finally, An Internet Playground For Writers!
Edited to Add: One of my readers informed me that this site may have risque advertisements. I didn’t see them when I visited the site, most likely because I have most pop-up ads blocked on my computer. I apologize to any readers who may have inadvertently been exposed to such content. I’ve removed the link.
To be honest, most online games don’t tempt me much. I’m just not into “shoot-em up” type games.
All that has changed now!
Last week I accidentally discovered the Language is a Virus website (via StumbleUpon) and found myself hooked.
The site provides ample opportunity to play with words and even a place where writer hopefuls can publish poems and stories.
Truthfully, I haven’t explored the entire site. I’ve wasted spent most of my time on the site in the section titled, “Widgets to Cure Writer’s Block.” Somehow, generating character names for stories that I will never write and using the various poem generators to create verse is strangely addictive.
Anyway, I thought I’d share the site with all my writing friends because I know that, like me, you are always looking for ways to avoid work overcome writer’s block.
Enjoy!
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
Image Source: www.sxc.hu
Tags: distractions, games for writers, sites for writers, writing generators
Fun StuffOf Note: Swan’s Blog
This week the “Of Note” blog is the personal blog of freelance writer, Katharine Swan. Swan’s Blog is a great resource for other freelance writers as well as a way to keep up with the writer’s own accomplishments.
Katharine Swan has a way of covering topics comprehensively and in language that anyone can understand.
Recent posts of interest include:
- It worked for Falkner (or did it?) – A discussion of how alcohol impacts the ability to write.
- Copyright ignorance – The blogger’s own experience with confronting copyright ignorance.
If you’re not a reader of Swan’s Blog, then you may want to stop by and see what she has to say.
The previous “Of Note” blog was Daily Writing Tips. You can read about it here.
Note: If you’re consistently posting great information and haven’t seen your blog featured in “Of Note†yet, I apologize. I’ll probably find you soon. I know there are a lot of great blogs out there; I discover more new ones each day. (So many blogs, so little time …)
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
How Important Is It To Have a Photo On Your About Page?
How important is it to have a photo of yourself on your blog?
When I first started blogging the lack of a photo on my About page was one of the biggest criticisms that I received.
“Readers can’t trust you if they can’t see you” I was told.
“Nobody will take you seriously if you don’t display your picture” another commentator added.
It’s been over a year. While I notice that I still haven’t gotten around to adding a photograph of myself to WritingThoughts, I have accepted other blogging gigs that have required me to post my picture. I’ve also started using my photo in social media networking.
How valid were those early comments?
I wonder…
A quick survey of some very popular sites shows that there are several that lack the blogger’s photo (as far as I can tell), including:
On the other hand, there are also many popular sites where the blogger’s photo is evident, even prominent. Here are several of those:
What do you think? Is it necessary for a blogger to post their photo? Is it helpful?
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
Image Source: www.sxc.hu
You Be The Judge, and Other Matters
Over at Business and Blogging, where I am a co-blogger, a commentator named Carolyn has moved on to the next level of b5media’s Bring Your Sons and Daughters to Work competition.
You can read Carolyn’s entry on this post. If you leave a comment on the post, it’s the equivalent of voting for her entry – so essentially, the readers are the final judges in this competition.
Oh, and in the interest of disclosure, I should also include that if Carolyn’s entry wins, I win also.
(You can find links to the entries of all the finalists in the Bring Your Sons and Daughters to Work competition here.)
Other matters – The ‘Of Note’ writing blog selection didn’t get published this week. I was out-of-town Saturday and woke up very sick on Sunday. I have a blog selected, I’ll publish it next weekend.
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
Image Source: www.sxc.hu
It’s Okay to Be Yourself (Web Content Thursdays)
It really is. Okay to be yourself, I mean.
As a blogger, I find myself subject to all kinds of advice about how I ought to operate this blog.
“You ought to post five times every day.”
“You ought to add XYZ plug-in.”
“You ought to shorten/eliminate your blogroll.”
“You ought to sign up for ZYX affiliate program.”
And on, and on, and on. . .
Most of it is well-meaning, and I appreciate the concern.
In fact, I’ve done my share of dishing out advice here on this blog, and elsewhere on the Internet – all with the best of intentions, of course.
In fact, if I tried to incorporate every single piece of advice that I’ve been given or that I’ve ever read I doubt that I’d ever get anything else done.
Blogging is a great way to learn and gather information and to collaborate with others, but all that information can produce blogging stress if we take it too much to heart.
That’s why I’m declaring today that, despite what all the “advisors” might say, it’s okay to be yourself. It’s okay to make mistakes and to work at your own pace.
It’s okay to be yourself.
Whew!
Pressure off!
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
Image Source: www.stockxpert.com
blogging Web Content ThursdaysOf Note: Daily Writing Tips
“Recognition for this blog is overdue.”
At least that’s what I thought about Daily Writing Tips when I was deciding which blog should be this week’s blog “Of Note.”
So, I have a confession to make. I have been reading Daily Writing Tips, and I’ve been enjoying it, AND I haven’t told you all about it. At least not yet.
That’s what this post is for.
Daily Writing Tips is the work of at least four writers: Maeve Maddox, Michael Moser, Colin Galbraith, and Sharon Hurley Hall. There is also an editor: Daniel Scocco.
This blog represents good, basic writing information at its best. If you’re serious about freelance writing (as I am), then I’m sure that you’ll want to review this blog often for the tips and advice that it offers.
Some of my recent favorite posts at Daily Writing Tips include:
- From Sharon Hurley Hall, A Writer’s Bookshelf. What are some basic tools that every writer should own?
- From Ali, Five Words You Can Cut. This one hurt a little bit. I’m sure I use these words all the time.
- Funny Images Conjured up by Web Comments. We all need a good laugh now and then…
The truth is, if you’re a writer, then you’re probably already reading Daily Writing Tips. In case you’re not: I strongly recommend it.
Last weeks “Of Note†blog was JenWriter. You can read about it here.
Note: If you’re consistently posting great information and haven’t seen your blog featured in “Of Note†yet, I apologize. I’ll probably find you soon. I know there are a lot of great blogs out there; I discover more new ones each day. (So many blogs, so little time …)
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
Explain How You Chose Your Job and You Could Win!
I know how much you love to read. (I mean, what writer doesn’t love to read?)
That’s why I thought that you’d be interested in a contest that the business channel of b5media is running right now in honor of the upcoming “Take Your Sons and Daughters To Work Day.”
The prize is a gift certificate to a bookstore. (For a writer, what better prize could there be?)
If you leave a comment explaining how you chose your job on this post over at Business and Blogging, then you just might win a $25 Barnes and Nobles gift certificate.
Hurry! The contest ends on April 20th, 2008.Â
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
business and blogging contests Fun StuffWAHM Wednesday: How Are You Handling The Spring Crunch?
I think it’s been a while since I’ve done a real WAHM Wednesday post.
Well, the wait is over! Today I’m posting on a real WAHM (work-at-home mom) issue for all of you freelance writers who are also WAHMs.
If you have school age children, then you may also be facing what I’m facing right now: the spring crunch.
The spring crunch happens every year, but every year it catches me somewhat by surprise (even though I was expecting it – if that makes sense).
The spring crunch occurs not only because of my busy workload, but also because of the extra assignments and activities that the kids must do to wrap up the school year.
How about you? Are you facing the spring crunch this year? If so, how are you handling it?
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
Of Note: JenWriter
JenWriter is this week’s blog “Of Note.”
There are a lot of nice things to say about the JenWriter blog, but one thing that really makes the blog unique is the monthly book giveaway. This month’s giveaway is Sherlock Holmes. (If you hurry, there’s still time to enter!)
Other recent posts of interest include:
If you’re a writer (or just interested in writing), then stop by the JenWriter blog. You’ll be glad that you did.
Last weeks “Of Note” blog was Writing Journey. You can read about it here.
Note: If you’re consistently posting great information and haven’t seen your blog featured in “Of Note†yet, I apologize. I’ll probably find you soon. I know there are a lot of great blogs out there; I discover more new ones each day. (So many blogs, so little time …)
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
My Twitter Diary: The First Week
After a week of using Twitter, I thought that I’d publish my first impressions of the media. (This is NOT my conclusions about whether or not Twitter is useful as a business tool, which I’ll publish later in the month on Business and Blogging. Rather, this is a description of my initial experiences.)
1st Day – My first impression of Twitter was one of complete disorientation. I immediately recognized some familiar names, but for a minute or two, I couldn’t follow any conversations. After publishing my Twitter link on two forums and one of my blogs I have 13 followers and am following 21.
The twitterers seem friendly enough. Lin of Telling It Like It Is sends me a link to a Twitter guide.
2nd Day – Today I am following 28 and have 22 followers. I have found additional twitterers to follow by looking on the profile pages of other twitterers. I asked for a post on business blogging and was sent the link to one.
I have discovered that most twitterers publish links to their blog posts on Twitter. I decide to do the same.
3rd Day – No twittering today, it’s family day.
4th Day – Today I published my Twitter address on WritingThoughts. I am folowing 34, 35 twitterers are following me. I must remember that what I say on Twitter is public.
I look through the list of those that are following me. Most of them are twitterers that I have also chosen to follow. I do see a few names that I don’t recognize. So far, I am spending about a half an hour a day on Twitter.
5th day - I have minimal Twitter use today due to my workload. Still, I now have 38 followers, 34 are following me.
6th day – I have inspired a blog post today. Grant Griffiths of Home Office Warrior publishes The twitter Tools of a Home Office Warrior in answer to one of my questions. I’m now following 48, 47 are following me.
I notice that some of my initial followers have dropped me. Presumably my tweets are too boring?
7th Day – I had a long conversation on Twitter with James Chartand of Men with Pens today. The fact that every single twitterer sees a different slice of Twitter finally sinks in. I am following 52, I have 53 followers. Tomorrow I will make the time to customize my settings.
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
Fun Stuff writing tips Writing Tools
