Posts I loved this week

This week was absolutely incredible in posts. I try to keep these posts manageable because there’s a limit to ridiculousness but these couldn’t be kept out, ridiculous length or not. Like teens say, they’re absolutely ‘Tha bomb’.

The 100 best websites for Writers is an awesome post that I immediately added to this list. A huge thank you to The Write Life for that great resource.

In April, there’s a great Blogging challenge to blog topics from A to Z. It’s awesome and not just because of the letters but because truly great posts appear. Check out the schedule for Sourcerer and a little intro on the challenge. This is going to be soooo good! I can’t wait.

I love If We were having Coffee posts. Just eat them up. I think they might have started off in Part Time Monster. They’re intimate and personal and I feel like I get a little update of the person and how they’re doing. Check out this one by Winter Bayne. Isn’t it lovely?

This week, Positive Writer posted the Top 50 Writing Blogs for 2015. A fantastic post you can check out here.

Okay, this one is a little self-serving but Just Gene’O came out with this wonderful new feature to share some blog love around. It’s just like him because he’s truly a very kind person. But don’t go too far. Check out this other post on the same blog with some very cool ideas and news coming up in this awesome blog!

If you’re looking for a little promo for your book, check out this post by Ch’kara Silverwolf. Isn’t that an awesome gesture of kindness? A huge thanks to her for that wonderful gift to all authors.

I found this post through Steve Vernon. He often reblogs awesome posts and this one is one of them. 6 Reasons why you should be reading books by Alana Munro. I had no idea reading was so beneficial!

If you’re trying to contact a literary agent but don’t want to go the traditional ‘query letter’ route, try this post on 4 different ways to do so from Writers In the Storm.

The 1000 Voices Speaking for Compassion is doing awesome. Check out the brand new blog at WordPress supporting this great project.

Natacha Guyot‘s debut post on Sourcerer was a thing of beauty with a wonderful message. Check it out here.

I’ve spoken about The Story Reading Ape before but this blog is amazing. Not only is it full of every resource an author could want (everything from places to get reviews, to covers, to editing help), it also has reviews of other books so you can find your next great read.

Okay, don’t miss this post. I absolutely loved it. It’s got humour that made me laugh, a beautiful story, pictures and fantastic writing all in one post. A big, huge thank you to Just Ponderin’ for this one…and…have you ever thought of writing a book?

For all those fans of Melissa Barker-Simpson (like me!) out there, here’s a very special bit of good news! She’s taking part in the A to Z challenge this April. Her writing is fresh, funny and so captivating. Those posts are going to be awesome!

Looking for a good book for February? Check out this post from the BookChick with all the upcoming releases in that month and covers to tempt your taste buds!

So true, Wise Ink has these 5 Myths about Self-Publishing.

On a completely different note, I loved this post by The Tiny Buddha, 10 Things to Stop Doing If You Want to Be Happy. So wise and true!

Melissa Barker-Simpson is looking for contributors to the Writing Room 101. Check out the post and see if you’re interested.

A beautifully written post on Feminism, Gene’O explains the whys and reasons in such a kind, fluid way that it reminded me of Emma Watson’s speech at the United Nations on the same topic. A huge thank you to Part Time Monster for that wonderful post.

The Story Reading Ape reblogged this great post with five videos of Real Editors giving Writing Advice. A great resource in an amazing blog.

Finally, a friendly quote from a famous doctor. 🙂

(credit:earlymoments.com)

Confession

I got a bad review. Or rather my book did.

Everyone gets bad reviews. I know that.

Weeeeelll…my head knows it. My heart has trouble remembering. It’s a pretty easy thing to forget when you get that nasty review.

Dealing with a bad review isn’t easy. Though everyone has their own way, I thought I’d share what has worked for me.

1. Writing about it. It might sound ironic but writing about painful stuff helps me. I either journal about it or I write it into a blog post :-). Writing is cathartic and helps me get it out.

2. Sending out positive energy. I find that if I send it out, it comes back to me. So, when I need support, I try to send it out. When I need a kind shoulder, I try to be kind to someone around me. If nothing else, at least I feel better about myself.

3. Working out. We have this punching man downstairs and these great boxing gloves. I go down there and punch that guy in the face until all that anger and frustration is gone. Or I go to the elliptical and run or I head to the gym. Anger is a great motivator. I can get amazing work outs thanks to those nasty reviews.

4. Sharing with other authors. I know there are trolls online but I have found amazingly supportive people in the web. I can go to them and share my misery. Odds are, they’ve had a bad review and can identify with me. If not, they’re Nora Roberts…no, wait she’s had bad reviews as well.

5. Kissing my doggies. They don’t care if I’ve get bad reviews or bad hair, they love me unconditionally and trust me. I can kiss those furry heads and tell them all my troubles and they just listen. No judgement.

6. Working at DayJob. I work with the public. Within five minutes of being at work, I’ll have an impossible demand; within ten, someone will be shouting at me. I’ll come back to my computer glad that at least that review was written and not shouted.

A nice list, with nice items. They hurt no one and are good, mature choices.

What follows is a more immature list. Choices that, so far, I’ve managed to avoid. Please notice the ‘so far’. The next bad review will probably send me over the edge.

* Throw away the computer.

* Send the author of that review a nasty email calling them every name in the book and a few I’ve just invented.

* Start a Voodoo doll.

* Go to Tibet and join a monastery.

* Take up Wicca and conjure up a spell. Or two.

* Give up writing and take up playing the banjo.

Absolutely ridiculous list. Time for some maturity. Let’s have some links.

-Try this link and see what works for other authors from Writer Unboxed.

–This one is from Digital Book World and has great tips.

–One more from The Write Life.

What about you? Have you had a bad review? How did you handle it? What helped? Any other items you’d add to the ‘immature’ list?

How about some cute baby animals? They always make me feel better…

Awww….

Awww!

Awww!!! Okay, feeling a little better.

 

Posts I loved this week

This was a particularly festive week with Canada Day and the Fourth of July and there were a ton of great posts out there as well. A ton! Check out these beauties!

I loved this post because of the picture of Bella mid-twirl. I can just see how happy she is and there’s something magical about a child smiling and being happy. If that wasn’t enough, I also read the background into this very special picture in this other post and that doubles the reason for this comment.

A great post by Sourcerer on Search Engines and how to get your posts at the top of a search. Sourcerer keeps putting out amazing how-to posts for bloggers. It’s a site I’d highly recommend following. Here‘s another example, this time on tags.

I love the theme posts “If we were having coffee.” I look forward to them each week. Here’s one that’s particularly beautiful. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

This post is a taste of the newest book by Jill Shalvis. Since I’m a big fan, this post was right up my alley.

I loved this post by Karol K. He claims that, if you know too much, you can lose touch with the newcomer and your audience as a consequence. I loved not just how well he wrote it (it was light and funny) but also his ‘fix’. “If your grandma doesn’t understand it, you need to revise.” Ha! What a hoot.

Congrats to Infinitefreetime for this. Awesome accomplishment!

I’m in awe of those Camp Nanowrimo participants. I have no idea how they manage to juggle that with life and work. Big congrats to Crystin Goodwin, Chris Musgrave, Inky Tavern and Winter Bayne for taking it on. (If I missed you, feel free to give me a shout and complain! 🙂 )

This one is very beautiful and full of Zen. I do the exact opposite of what it suggests. I resist life with every molecule. I gain acceptance in spite of my resistance through tears, shouts, and sometimes, even kicks.

Part Time Monster had this great list of the Top Ten Monster Books. I love lists and I love book lists even better, so this post was an instant hit with me. A big thank you for the list to Part Time Monster!–A side note: check out this little guy painting! Awwww! So cute!

This one moved me almost to tears. I have a lot of trouble reading about animals who are in pain or neglected. Careful if read this post and you’re sensitive about the topic because it’s very well written and will definitely make an impact. A big thank you to Living With Izzy for the beautifully written post.

This post is a great how-to if you’re considering getting beta readers. It explains what to ask and how to work with the feedback you get. An excellent post to keep as a reference or just to read by someone who really knows the craft.

Sending out query letters and work to editors is one of the hardest things I’ve done. If you’re in the middle of that process, check out this post by Winter Bayne. She changes a very stressful situation into a funny one and made me laugh out loud.

This post united writing and soccer and had me at the title. They’re definitely two of my passions and love anything that puts them together. On a personal note: I can’t wait for those final games! Soooo exciting! I know Birgitte Rasine gets where I’m coming from. 🙂

These Wordless posts are absolutely amazing. No words, just a beautiful picture. They certainly have me smiling every time I see one. Check out this one and help me cheer on the newly re-named blog Just Gene’O!

I loved this post because it’s eloquent, beautifully written and so logical. It’s one of those I could just sit and savour. At the same time, it’s on a subject close to my heart: self-publishing. Definitely one worth reading. A big thanks to D. Emery Bunn for the fantastic post!

And finally a new blog was born, The Mighty Trebuchet. It’s a blog with a very interesting mission. Check it out here.

Wow! That’s a lot of awesome posts in one week!