Tags
Angela Brown, August McLaughlin, blog, blogging, breast cancer, challenges, dogs, e-books, exercise, Facebook, first aid, Goodreads, health, Jenny Hansen, Joely Sue Burkhart, Kait Nolan, Kathleen Eagle, link mashup, Margie Lawson, Maria Zannini, Martie Groenewald, mice, pets, Raelyn Barclay, readers, reading, Roni Loren, SynTAROTis, tarot, The Last Good Man, Triberr, Twitter, writers, writing, Yours to Take
- The Writing: My Margie Lawson Writer’s Academy class ended this week. I still have a few assignments to do that I haven’t been able to get my head around or just ran out of time. I have all the lessons and got some great feedback on some WIP related assignments which will definitely help with revisions/edits of one story. I think I better bake up some brownies and crack open that bottle of chocolate wine for the muse… Hope she’ll share 😀
- Have your characters ever surprised you? Check out Joely Sue Burkhart’s guest post about some of the surprises her characters hit her with during the writing of Yours to Take
. Psst…there’s a giveaway.
- SynTAROTis posed an interesting question this week: Can a skeptic use Tarot cards for introspection? Of course, the site’s tagline is ‘the skeptic’s tarot’ so obviously she does. What I liked about the post was I could see applying the process to writing.
- The Reading: I just finished The Last Good Man
by Kathleen Eagle. Fabulous. Savannah was completely relatable in her struggle to heal from depression to hope and finding her HEA. This story touched a cord with me. I’ve lost a grandmother and an aunt to breast cancer but, thankfully, I also have three aunts and a cousin who’ve beaten the beast.
- Roni Loren had a fascinating post about the hard truths readers are facing in today’s new world of books. As writers, there are more options for getting our work out there to readers. Kait Nolan mentioned last year, eBooks are the new pulp fiction (not the movie, LOL) in which authors are — or should be — learning on the job. Then Maria Zannini posted about the free book paradox. As readers, that means our job of selecting books is tougher. How do you select what you read?
- The Blogging: Ha! Built the queue back up this week. Whew! What a relief. That counts as writing, right? I think I hit my comment goal but the three-day weekend and more mice babies born Friday threw my tracking for a loop. Can’t imagine why :snicker:
- The Social Media: I ‘think’ I did pretty well here. I had a Twitter conversation with @neostateofmind (aka Angela Brown) and some fun with Jenny Hansen on Facebook. And I even updated Goodreads, LOL.
- The Health: Dog walking pretty much sucked this week. I need to get new shoes that’s all there is to it. I can’t deal with the blisters on top of the blisters on top of the blisters. Sugar and caffeine reduction is on track and I’m feeling really good about my progress. The water intake went well 5 of the last 7 days though I failed to reach my 8 glasses per day goal. As we’re in the triple digits, and not likely to dip below that for the next 3 to 4 months, I really need to get a handle on this.
- Once again the fabulous August McLaughlin covered healthy eating with her 5 Steps Toward Healthy Sweets Success post. She even shared a delicious flourless cake recipe!
- Maria Zannini also had an excellent post on pet first aid. I have a pretty well stocked general first aid cabinet in my house due to the wee beasties, which carries over nicely to the fur babies, thanks to my mum being a nurse and teaching its importance at an early age. Are you ready for an emergency?
- To support the awesomeness that is ROW80 you can go HERE
Raelyn Barclay 
My TBR list is swelling on a regular basis because of all the great books that are out there. It makes me wonder how much talent readers have missed out on because, for the longest time, most writers only tried the traditional route, fearing the stigma of self-publishing. Though I don’t go for a lot of the free stuff, I try to support blogger buds whose writing I’ve had a chance to sample and see that it is good.
I thoroughly enjoyed our Twitter conversation. I see some of the others that just Tweet away like there’s no tomorrow and can’t help wondering how they do it? lol!!!
You’ve got some great things going. I’m sure you’ll see so much progress with that chocolatey bribe for the muse 🙂
I wonder the same thing every time I see a new indie title. Then I think about the fact authors were restricted to traditional publishing until fairly recently and am sadden to think of all the stories we’ve missed out on…not that my TBR pile needs any help 😆
Yeah, I see people all over Twitter and Facebook and wonder how they do it. Sure I can schedule updates but that’s not a conversation. I enjoyed the chat too!
Thanks for stopping by Angela!
Maria’s post on the Free-Book-Paradox was thought provoking. Glad you linked to it! I love picking up new books, and yes…my TBR pile is looming precariously, near to crashing over with earth shaking force (okay…it’s not quite that mammoth…but close :})
My exercise was limited this week. I felt like a slug for the first four days of the week. Yesterday, I finally hit a great workout! (armpits are deliciously sore from push-up marathon…lol) It keeps raining and thunderstorming in my area, so outdoor enjoyment has been sketchy. I hate soggy weather. Sigh.
Hope that muse cooperates!
If my entire TBR pile was physical I wouldn’t be surprised if it was that mammoth 😆 Maria always gives me something to think about — she’s awesome that way — and I’m not even at that stage of the writing journey.
Feel free to send us some of your soggy and I’ll send you some of our heat 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Nadja!
Did I hear you say “chocolate wine” up there? Hmm…. sounds like you’ve had a good week.
Yep…there is such a thing as chocolate wine and I have a bottle on my wine rack 😀 I’ve never tried it so the muse and I will have to give it a go.
Thanks for stopping by Brinda!
Looks like a good week overall. I like the Roni Loren post, she always makes such wonderfully thought out points and is always worth the read. Best of luck for finishing the Margie Lawson lessons – have a fantastic week, Raelyn 🙂
I completely agree Roni offers up thought provoking posts and is a must read. I’m sure I’ll continually learn from the class, so much info!
Thanks for stopping by Gene!
Argh! WordPress is messing with me again. It keeps thinking I’m my alter-ego and I can’t seem to convince it that I’m authorized to change my avatar.
I don’t think I can remember everything I said in my original comment, but I did want to ask if you ever considered going into nursing as well.
I probably know enough to be dangerous, LOL. I never did seriously consider nursing, growing up I was more the business/office type. However, in hindsight, I wish I’d at least explored the possibility, especially after so many of my jobs ended up being caretaker ones.
So frustrating WP and Blogger can’t work together better. I wish there was something I could do from my end to make it easier for you, at least here. Thanks for suffering through and commenting anyway! Glad you stopped by Maria!
Chocolate wine? Never had any. Is it good? I’m super curious now!
I think your muse will love it. If not send it all over here because I’m sure mine will! LOL
It seems you had a pretty great week. Here’s to another!
I’ll have to let you know, I’ve never had it either. I think it’s a Merlot base. It certainly SOUNDS good 😀
Thanks for stopping by Juliana!
I appreciate the link re using Tarot for ‘non-magic’ purposes. I’ve tried it before for fictional character development and got some astonishing results. I see there are more links in your sidebar to follow.
And Joely’s gust post reminded me that I used to get such inspiration from her when I was following her blog almost daily for several years.
You do appear to be doing well regarding your goals. Send a whiff of those baking brownies my way!
BTW Phoenix OR is between Medford and Ashland near the southern boarder with CA. But currently I am nearly across the river from St Helens in Longview WA where I grew up. I’ve been here a month helping my sister out with our Mom’s care and this week my sister is attending a training camp related to her work as a respite provider with troubled kids so I’m on my own with Mom. They say the blind shouldn’t lead the blind but we do okay mostly. Last summer we wore bells so we’d hear each other coming. I suppose we still should be as we’ve had a couple of close calls. We have both lost our peripheral vision to RP but Mom’s is fast taking her central vision as well. I still have enough central vision in my right eye to read and crochet and even do meal prep. Well just about anything most people can do if I’m doing it in a very familiar well lit environment that I can trust not to change ie a moved object.
speaking of meal prep…got to get those pizzas in the oven for Mom and my nephew! Homemade using artisan bread. A Jorge Cruise recipe.
I love using the tarot for character and story development…I usually have a tarot post on Thursdays. That’s great you’re able to help with your mom. Sorry to hear about the loss of sight but the bells makes me smile.
Thanks for stopping by Joy!
We have fun wherever we are, Raelyn!! I’m glad you enjoyed your Margie Lawson class – which one did you take? 🙂
That’s true 😀
The Art of Developing Great Conflict. It was actually taught by Sharon Mignerey. Next up are some of those lecture packets.
Thanks for stopping by Jenny!
Sounds like a great week! I love Roni’s posts on writing. She’s always spot on. And I’m in the midst of a Lawson Academy course with Tiffany Lawson Inman; I am behind already! Have a lovely week, Raelyn. Your ROW80 is lookin’ goooood.
Definitely an info rich week. The classes go so fast, LOL.
Thanks for stopping by Julie!