Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Feb 8, 2012, 7:46 am
Are Workshops Any Good? – Reprinted from the WordCraft newsletter on BackWash.com If you can find the right Workshop group, it can be invaluable. These are people who care about you. They are people who want you to succeed. They are people who will honestly tell you what you have done well and wh...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Feb 7, 2012, 7:45 am
Reprinted from the WordCraft newsletter on BackWash. It was late at night. I wandered into a Backwash chat. Had a good time. And I found myself saying “yes.” So, here I am, sending you a newsletter about writing, writers, books, literature, etc. And I have a difficult job to fill the shoes of s...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Feb 6, 2012, 7:36 am
An old post from BackWash, written by a friend, now deceased. Her blog, Anything Under the Sun, is still up on WordPress.com. She was a teacher and a poet, among other things. It’s the season for making resolutions. And this is no different for those of us in the writing world. I don’t know ab...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Feb 5, 2012, 7:15 am
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officiall...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Feb 4, 2012, 7:57 am
Over ten years ago I wrote a site called HerCorner as part of the HerPlanet network of sites for women.  Included in the site I wrote were writing exercises, short ideas people could pick up, try and move on with their writing day. I kept all of them on the same page. That way, if the first idea di...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Feb 3, 2012, 6:23 am
Ben posted his list of WordPress plugins, in 3 parts. In the last post he mentioned a plugin for putting your writer profile/ bio at the end of each post (which I do) or keeping it at the footer of your blog, not in the sidebar. I disagree with this. Yes, there may be other things you would like to ...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Feb 2, 2012, 6:17 am
I have too many books to make a list. I don’t want to spend that kind of time on making a list, it just leaves me feeling guilty for not reading the books yet. However, this year I have actually started reading some of the books. My unread books are mainly non-fiction. I read the fiction then exch...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Feb 1, 2012, 8:38 pm
I’ve been reading websites and blogs online for several years, especially blogs and sites created for writers. I couldn’t even try to look back and count how many I have read, how many I still follow or how many I find new. The numbers don’t really matter. Overall I have noticed one thing divi...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 31, 2012, 7:01 am
Take any topic, something written about many times. Turn it upside down, give it a new spin, a fresh slant and look at it in a new and unexpected way. The best way to do this is to combine ideas, two different sides of a coin, two different opinions, two different ideas, etc. Unbalance something but...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 30, 2012, 6:57 am
Lo-fi graphic, low-res graphics, text mode visuals, ASCII art, ANSI art, pixel art, Unicode, Twitter art, Facebook art and all the other forms and styles of creating simple graphics. Otromatic, 8 bit graphician. Raquel Meyers – Lo-fi graphics mixed media artist. ASCII Arena 8 Bit Today 8 bit ...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 29, 2012, 8:35 pm
There have been all kinds of private detectives, investigators and amateur sleuths in fiction. It would be hard to come up with a completely new character. But, if that were your challenge… what can you come up with? To give you an idea here are some practical links for people who really are inter...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 28, 2012, 9:31 pm
Are you making full use of all the proofreading features available with the newest version of WordPress? If you put some time into understanding how the features work (mainly how to understand what they are suggesting to you) you can have an editor look over your post before you publish it to your ...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 27, 2012, 5:21 pm
Just a list I put together one day. Have a look if you have time to update your writing or web publishing skills. WordPress Google Blogger Intro to Information Technology Digital Photography Visual and Graphic Design Design – Applying Design Principles Fundamentals of English Grammar English Writ...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 26, 2012, 5:00 pm
I’m working on a blog to display my ASCII art and the art from other artists which I have collected and gathering electronic dust bunnies on my hard drive. I had a struggle to get the ASCII art to display in plain text without warping to the left. Then I found the Preserve Code Formatting plugin....
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 25, 2012, 10:10 pm
The ABCs of Romance: The Duke of Slut, Mary Sue, TSTL, and More!. Mary Sue/Gary Stu: A critical term reserved for badly-written protagonists who are too perfect—they are simply good at everything, everyone except the Bad Guys loves them, and they have no discernable character flaws. Mary Sues are...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 24, 2012, 8:33 am
Curvy Girl Guide asked: “We want to know what items make your life easier. Not counting your phone what life hacks do you use?” I thought about it for a while and then wrote: My old TV tray. I use it to sort out the mail in the morning. I use it to sort through stuff that would otherwise clutt...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 23, 2012, 2:41 am
Related Posts:Christmas ASCII ArtASCII Art Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s DayValentine ASCII Art HeartsHappy HalloweenBlog Copyright
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 22, 2012, 8:44 am
Twitter bares their soul with the hashtag #30ThingsAboutMe. How far would you go with a post about yourself, something personal, on Twitter? I wouldn’t post this list to Twitter. Although I’ve posted personal thoughts before I wouldn’t want to make that many posts in a row there. Also, I do f...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 21, 2012, 10:51 pm
Get started writing, get paid a little as you go, get used to keeping a writing schedule and get your name on something published for others to read and give you feedback. These are some interesting places to write for online: Yahoo!Voices Open Salon Technorati Suite101 HubPages Related Posts:Yah...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 20, 2012, 7:40 am
Etiquette is about manners and protocol. You can get by with common sense and courtesy. But some etiquette rules really do have to be learned, especially when dealing with cultures other than your own. It could be an interesting career choice. If you wrote a character who is an etiquette consultant...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 19, 2012, 6:18 am
This was a pretty funny hashtag on Twitter yesterday. I posted a few myself. It’s not easy being funny. If you have time to warm up you can get better, your jokes become smarter and you come up with them faster. Try write several ideas for the hashtag #FactsWithoutWikipedia. Write at least 3 and...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 18, 2012, 2:32 pm
  Corporations and governments should not have too much control over the Internet. Related Posts:Happy Birthday DadHappy Canada Day – 144th BirthdayKeep the RootsPersonal Snow DayChristmas ASCII Art
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 17, 2012, 5:25 pm
A list of podcasting links I started collecting last year. Posting them today, just out of the blue. I thought I would get into podcasting (and I may yet) but I don’t seem to be heading that way right now. Podcast Awards Blubrry PowerPress Podcast plugin for WordPress Marketing Latinos: Podcastin...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 16, 2012, 8:57 am
Flickr: The Dictionarium – In contemporary usage, a place for those obsessive types who collect or take pictures of dictionaries of all shapes, sizes, types and linguistic predilections. Not something I have thought to do. But, I do actually have a photo of my dictionary. I took the photo because...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 15, 2012, 7:37 am
Would you take a job as a house sitter? It seems pretty glamorous to live somewhere else and get paid for it. But, there would be a lot of responsibility as well. Not the same as a property manager but still a good idea to have some of those same knowledge and skills. I thought it was a career worth...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 14, 2012, 11:02 am
Condensing your idea into a few words has a way of giving you focus. So if you #TweetyourThesis on Twitter, with its limit of 140 characters (including spaces), should show you what you really are trying to write your thesis about. If it works for a thesis, why not any non-fiction you are working o...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 13, 2012, 2:19 pm
Be nice to black cats…. it’s Friday the 13th! Related Posts:Christmas ASCII ArtASCII Art Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s DayValentine ASCII Art HeartsCinco de MayoStay on the Optimistic Side
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 12, 2012, 2:32 am
You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. – Ray Bradbury Related Posts:Words Create RealityGrab Your SmutDealing with Disappointment and RejectionWriting Without FluffThe Romantic Reality Challenge
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 11, 2012, 9:30 am
This is going to sound silly but I really like the feeling of having my toenails freshly cut. I don’t know why. It must be like a horse freshly trimmed by the blacksmith. I’m really glad I don’t have to wear iron shoes. My family seem to have a bare foot thing. Most of them get in the door an...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 10, 2012, 8:05 am
From Writing Forward: Three Fiction Writing Exercises How do you start writing a new story? What is the original idea that germinates into a story? For me it tends to be the theme or some small idea that becomes part of a larger plot. I like this writing exercise because it’s how things start for...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Jan 9, 2012, 12:59 pm
Our world is shrinking. The Internet was predicted to bring sweeping changes to the way we communicate, to bring the world together, connecting us all as a community over distances. Maybe the changes aren’t working for everyone. Have you noticed there seem to be more cases of shut ins, people wit...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 31, 2011, 10:40 am
Posted from my ASCII art gallery. Related Posts:Christmas ASCII ArtASCII Art Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s DayValentine ASCII Art HeartsStay on the Optimistic SideHalloween FontsReaders who viewed this page, also viewed:Halloween FontsValentine ASCII Art HeartsPowered by Where did they go from here...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 30, 2011, 10:38 am
Lucius Annaeus Seneca – Religion is regarded by the common people as true by the wise as false and by the rulers as useful. Related Posts:Invent the New ReligionEverything Would be NonsensePeople with No Common PastWhat Will you be Doing on World Hello Day?Insignificant, with Attitude
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 29, 2011, 1:40 pm
A paracosm is a detailed imaginary world involving humans and/or animals, or perhaps even fantasy or alien creations. Often having its own geography, history, and language, it is an experience that is developed during childhood and continues over a long period of time: months or even years. via Par...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 28, 2011, 2:43 am
Nanoism: a place for twitter-fiction. Nanoism (edited by Ben White) is an online publication for twitter-fiction: stories of up to 140 characters. Shorter than traditional flash fiction, it’s both a challenge to write and quick as a blink to read. Call it nanofiction, microfiction, twiction, tw...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 27, 2011, 10:54 am
The Typosphere – A term for bloggers who collect, use, and otherwise obsess over typewriters and other “obsolete” technologies, including, but not limited to, handwriting, pens and ink, paper mail and mail art, knitting and fibre arts, film photography, chip-less combustion engines, and relate...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 26, 2011, 5:24 pm
I was looking at fonts for Halloween today. I like the new feature (new to me at least) that lets you type in your own text to try out the fonts. I used it on three I liked and then cut and pasted a banner from them. Nice way to get a banner without downloading or installing the font myself. You ca...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 25, 2011, 12:27 pm
The brain enjoys writing. It enjoys the act of naming things, the process of association and discernment. Picking words is like picking apples: this one looks delicious. Writing – and this is a big secret – wants to be written. Writing loves a writer the way God loves a true devotee. Writing wil...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 24, 2011, 10:38 am
This is a 30 day blogging challenge. Mainly for personal bloggers as the questions are all about you – who you are, what you like and what you are like. Here is the list of the each day if you’d like to try it yourself! Day 1-Introduce yourself and give 15 interesting facts Day 2-Meaning behin...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 23, 2011, 8:05 am
Rephotography is the act of repeat photography of the same site, with a time lag between the two images; a “then and now” view of a particular area. Some are casual, usually taken from the same view point but without regard to season, lens coverage or framing. Some are very precise and involve a...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 22, 2011, 10:48 am
I wanted to interview Andrea and ask about her visual art with text art on Twitter. But, I just have not had time to pull it together.  I picked her for the Twitter Profile this month because she is someone I’d like to know more about. What is her “language beneath the language”? Related Pos...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 21, 2011, 6:23 am
From Haley Whitehall: I am hosting a horrific flash fiction contest. Here are the rules: Warning they are stricter than a challenge. Genre: Horror or any genre with a strong element of horror Word count: It MUST be 500 words or less How to share: You can put it up on your blog and link here or (...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 21, 2011, 4:06 am
“Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader. Not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.” E.L. Doctorow via Oh Pretty Prose. Related Posts:Live Out Your ImaginationProse in Three StepsOff to a Bad EndingGetting Started Each DayNo Blog is an Island
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 21, 2011, 1:21 am
Vampire Explored. – Peeking at the world of supernaturals. Great site for paranormal, urban/ dark fantasy writers. Related Posts:Write Yourself into HorrorThe New Paranormal Fiction is a MysteryMore Women Should be Horror WritersIf There is No Magic?Monster Self Help Guides
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 20, 2011, 7:24 am
The Nutshell Principles 1. Start very small. 2. Do only one change at a time. 3. Be present and enjoy the activity (don’t focus on results). 4. Be grateful for every step you take. via » How I Changed My Life, In Four Lines :zenhabits. Making change is not easy. Like breaking a habit, it ta...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 19, 2011, 7:18 am
Five Reasons To Draw Small 1. Doodling focuses your mind, giving you increased attention (even when it looks like you’re not). 2. You’ll increase your awareness- when doodling flowers, you’ll start to notice more aspects of a flower, the way that the stem tilts the flower, the way that the s...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 18, 2011, 2:36 pm
‘It seems to me that anyone whose library consists of a Kindle lying on a table is some sort of bloodless nerd.’ – Penelope Lively Related Posts:Horror Flash Fiction ContestHappy Canada DayLove, Dear ValentineNo Lovely UnicornsGlynis has Word Triggers
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 18, 2011, 2:31 pm
‘It is perfectly okay to write garbage–as long as you edit brilliantly.’ – C J Cherryh Related Posts:Comment ScamSkunk in the CanWriter/ Editor for the TV News?That, There and ThenComment Spam is Not Worth Building
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 18, 2011, 7:00 am
You’re Invited:: 31 Days of Change. Pick a topic and blog about it for 31 days. This started in October so it’s late to join in now. But, there are other months with 31 days, or 30 if you really must have that little bit less. Have a look at some of the bloggers participating in their own 31 D...
Comment - Like

Laura B. posted an article on Word Grrls - Oct 17, 2011, 7:47 am
Lyrics for ‘Someone Like You’ from Adele. I enjoy the song each time it comes up on the radio, Adele’s voice is great but the words to the song reach into my heart. To lose someone is hard but you do get to that point where you resign yourself to it and let go. That’s an achievement people ...
Comment - Like