First, spend some time at Life Just Is. Beautiful photographs, beautiful — and sometimes pointed — musings.
Single Dad Laughing is sometimes, as the name suggests, funny, but it’s often what the French call a cri de coeur (a cry from the heart) for a better world for this dad’s child and all our children to inhabit. The Nine Words That Just Might Fix Us All is one of those posts. It’s long, but it’s worth your time.
C.M. Stewart writes wonderfully disturbing short fiction, but she also knows her way around a kitchen. Her Quick, Easy & Vegan Hot Chocolate Recipes are just what you need, with the winter moving in.
While you’re picking up tips, pop over to The Daily Buzz for these 25 clever ideas to make your life easier. Then go to their home page and look at their other great ideas for more. Their focus is on “babies, kids and maternity” but helpful tips are helpful tips, right?
Spunk on a Stick is still the go-to spot for writerly motivation, promotion advice, unique book news and writing/speaking tips.
While we’re on the subject of writing, here’s a little how-to from New Media Rights on finding images, music and video for use on a book cover and/or book trailer.
A company called DirectContactPR has graciously posted for sharing this nifty Publicity Calendar for 2012 packed with holidays, both usual and unusual, to help you in your marketing and/or blogging. Rubber Ducky Day? International Literacy Day? May 23 is World Turtle Day!
Finally, you need a laugh. You know you do. So enjoy this video. If Bud Blossom had a sense of humor, this would be Bud.
WRITING PROMPT: What does your main character care enough about to rant?
MA
Alex J. Cavanaugh
December 30, 2011 at 10:02amI follow Spunk on a Stick!
My character would rant about his lack of privacy. Or rather, he does!
Marian Allen
December 30, 2011 at 11:08amEVERYBODY SHOULD FOLLOW SPUNK ON A STICK, right? Isn’t it great!?
Does your guy rant to himself or to the people who won’t let him have his privacy? I usually kept it to myself and just kept telling myself, “One day, she’ll be in college and I can use the bathroom in peace.”
CMStewart
December 30, 2011 at 10:34amGreat links, and thank you for the link-back!
Have a great new year. š
Marian Allen
December 30, 2011 at 11:09amYou have a great 2012, too, and thanks for all the stories, advice and recipes! š
mary montague sikes
December 31, 2011 at 11:59amInteresting “Dress Up Your Pet” day. Bet a lot of people will like that one!
Thanks for the tips, Marian!
Monti
Mary Montague Sikes
Marian Allen
December 31, 2011 at 12:11pmThat calendar is going to be fun. š I haven’t dressed a pet in years, though. The last pet I dressed was my mom’s dog. He was terrified of thunderstorms, and we read that putting something over a dog’s back would help with that. Something about keeping the static electricity out of his fur. So I put one of my grandfather’s flannel shirts on him (the dog, not my grandfather). He didn’t seem to mind, and it seemed to help. (Still talking about the dog.)