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WritersNotes.Net: Helping Writers Follow Their Dreams Through Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement!
Happy Mother's Day to All the Moms Who Read Writer's Notes!
To wish all the moms who read my blog a Happy Mother's Day, I'd like to post my poem, "Mothers." (As soon as you begin reading it, you'll recognize immediately the famous poem on which it's based.)
MOTHERS
I think that I shall never see
a brush surpass the artistry
That brings to bud the eve or morn
a helpless little babe is born
The delicate maternal bloom
that sheds a fragrant new perfume,
That nurtures with the nectar of
a sweet and freely flowing love
And fills her field with beauty spread
by outstretched arms and sun-turned head.
Art can tap one well or other,
but only God can make a mother.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You may have read Mothers on the Orble Poems blog. It's posted there, though on that blog, it's formatted slightly differently.
If you'd like to read some modern quotes about motherhood, here's a link to my post, Cleverly Contemporary Quotes on Motherhood.
Have a very Happy Mother's Day!
Jeanne
Mother and infant thumbnail image comes from the Karen's Whimsy collection of Public Domain Images. (Image also available in larger size.)
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Know any poems or quotes about moms? I'd love to hear from you!
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A New List of Links for Your Mother's Day (and Everyday) Reading Pleasure
Since Mother's Day is just about here, I thought I'd post some new links for writing moms, as well as linking to my two posts from last Mother's Day, which include more great mom/writing links. (I've checked these posts and removed the links that are no longer valid.)
Some of the newer links are specifically for moms who write, while others tend to be blogs where the blogger writes about motherhood. (Some of these do, however, discuss writing in some of their posts, along with mothering. These mommy bloggers are, after all, writers.) A few of the links provide resources for moms who write, and one even invites contributions from writing moms.
There's some fascinating stuff here for all you mom writers--so sit back and enjoy! And don't forget to visit these sites and bookmark your favorites. There should be something here for pretty much every writing mom.)
Links to Blogs/Sites Written By Moms About Writing and/or Motherhood
Work From Home Momma
Freelance Parent
Writer Mama
Lis Garrett ~ Silver-Tongued Writer
The Write at Home Parent
The Writing Mother
The Other Mother—for Moms Who Write
(The author invites you to tell your story.)
What About Mom?
5 Minutes for Mom
New Mom Central
The Mommy Diaries
Motherhood Incorporated
Mommy Life
Blog Mommas
The Mom Crowd
(Includes a post entitled,
Creative Writing Moms and Literary Magazines.)
Blonde Mom Blog
An Ordinary Mom
Work It, Mom!
(a blog for working moms)
At Home Mom Blog
More Writing Mom Links From My 2007 Mother's Day Posts
The following two links will take you to my Mother's Day 2007 writing mom link fests, which are chock full of other sites that appeal to moms who write--and even moms who don't:
It’s Mother’s Day! Some Helpful Links for Writing Moms
More Great Sites for Writing Moms
Hope you'll enjoy these.
And hope each and every mom out there--both writer and non-writer--has a truly happy Mother's Day!
Best wishes from a fellow writing mom,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Know of any other great writing mom sites? Or simply feel like sharing something about writing and/or Mother's Day? I'd love to hear from you!
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An Unexpected Change in Google PR
I just learned today that, after losing my PR 3 during the last Google PR update and going down to PR 0 (presumably due to posting sponsored content), my blog is now PR 2. I learned this quite by accident while checking the number of backlinks to my blog. This was quite a surprise to me, since I wasn't aware that changes in Google PR occurred outside the times during which official Google PR updates are in progress--a very pleasant surprise--despite the low PR 2. (After all, PR 2 certainly beats PR 0.)
Use This Tool to Find Out Whether Your PR Has Changed
Just in case your PR may also have changed since the last Google update, I've decided to offer this PR checker tool here at Writer's Notes to make it easy for you to check:
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A Link to This Tool Will Remain in My Sidebar
I'll also be placing a link to the tool in my sidebar for your convenience, in case you'd like to check your PR periodically while visiting my blog. You'll find this link in my Spotlight Posts section, where I place links to various helpful information, such as my About page, my blog's Awards page (for anyone who may be interested), my Pillar Posts page (where my blog's most helpful posts are listed by category to help you more easily locate them), and the Blog Carnival Feed (where you'll find a continually updating list of blog carnivals).
Hope you'll find this PR checker tool helpful--and also hope you'll find that your Google PR is higher now than it was the last time you checked!
Till next time,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Find it helpful? Have you discovered any recent change in your own Google PR? If so, I'd be very interested to hear about it--as well as any other thoughts you may have on Google PR, whether or not your PR has changed!
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April '08 Comment Recognition
Once again it's time to recognize my valued readers who have left comments at Writer's Notes during the month of April, 2008. (It's so hard to believe that May is here already!)
Thanks So Much!
I appreciate every one of your thoughtful comments! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and share your thoughts, opinions, ideas, experiences, and support at Writer's Notes! I truly enjoy reading your insights, experiences, and viewpoints! Thanks for making April another special month through your input! It's been a blast!
April '08 Commenters
The following is a list (in no particular order) of all the fantastic folks who have left comments at Writer's Notes during April, 2008:
AmyHuang, at Travel String
Brad Shorr, at Word Sell, Inc.
Lillie Ammann, at A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye
Joanna Young, at Confident Writing
Laura Spencer, at Writing Thoughts
Raven, at Alaska Chronicle
Krissy Knox, at Sometimes I Think
Robyn McMaster, at Brain-Based Biz
John Hewitt, at Writer's Resource Center
Cindy Nichols, at Kaleidoscope
Yvonne Russell, at Grow Your Writing Business
James Rickard, at Angling Fish
Dances with Words
Lynn Smythe, at Freelance Online Work
Renae Brumbaugh, at Morning Coffee
Jill Browne, at Skip On Over
Scott, at Enterprising Energy
Joanne Fedler, at Secret Writers Business
Cheryl J. at Rhythmatism
Sharon Hurley Hall, at Get Paid to Write Online
I Really Appreciate Your Comments!
Thanks, again for making the Writer's Notes conversation so much richer this month by visiting and sharing your thoughts, insights, and personal experiences with us!
Many thanks,
Jeanne
* Haven't managed to write my last few comment appreciation posts on the first of the month, as I like to, due to my incredibly busy schedule lately. But, though I may be a day late posting my thanks, you can rest assured--I still appreciate you every bit as much!
P.S. If you've commented at Writer's Notes during April, and I've somehow managed to overlook you, please let me know. I appreciate every commenter, and I want each of you to get the recognition you deserve!
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add...any insights to share? I'd love to hear your thoughts! After all, comments are what this post is all about!
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Part 2: Places, Real or Imagined
Every writer understands the powerful influence our surroundings can exert on our creativity. We all have favorite places where we feel more tranquil, more energized, more imaginative, or more expressive--in short, more attuned to our Muse. These places differ for everyone--and even for the same writer at different times. Yet, they are the places that tend to inspire us the most--to draw from somewhere deep within us the feelings and thoughts and ultimately the words that carry our souls across the miles to connect with those for whom we write.
Real Places that Bring Us Real Vision
For some, it might be a particular room in your home where you're perfectly content and your mind is free to roam, or perhaps a special chair where your relaxation is complete and you’re free to sit back and indulge in grand imaginings. For others it could be a tree-shaded spot in the back yard, where you sit undisturbed for hours with the breeze gently blowing through your hair, while you dream your personal dreams of wonder, weaving fanciful tales of courage and grandeur. Maybe it's your garden, where you dig up the soil, burying your hands in the moist, cool earth as you plant the seeds of thought that bring forth a bountiful harvest of beauty which fragrantly fills the air. Or you might prefer the seashore, where the sound of the breaking surf combined with the crisp salt air invigorates your spirit and fills your heart with high adventure.
Finding Inspiration in Unlikely Places
There will always be places like these, where we know we can retreat, leaving the world and its noise and chaos far behind--places we can count on to gently and quietly woo our Muse. Yet, there are other places, as well--places that bring the delightful surprise of unexpected inspiration. When we visit such places, we may at first be totally oblivious to the internal transformation that will soon occur as our imaginations are touched by the magic of our surroundings. These places are always a delight to discover. And the key to finding inspiration in unlikely places is to always be open to sensing, learning, growing, and perceiving new things--no matter where we are.
Imaginary Places that Clarify Our Vision
Then, there are those places deep inside us that we can visit when we need instant inspiration. Perhaps we haven’t the time or means to visit our favorite temporal places. Perhaps we’re ill or otherwise unable to travel to those locations--physically, at least. Maybe we’re away from home and from our favorite room, or desk, or special easy chair. Yet, wherever we are, there’s always a place right in the center of our souls where we can go and find the inspiration we need to create. Whether we fancy ourselves in one of the places we love, or create magical new realms in our own minds, we’re free to fly there on the wings of our imaginations and drink in the animating power they bring to our art.
Places, both real and imagined, can inspire us in so many ways! So, whatever your place of inspiration, go there--and drink in the magic!
Inspirationally yours,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have any special places of inspiration you'd like to share with us? We'd love to hear about the places that inspire you!
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AbleStable: An Inspiration to Writers and Other Creative Types
In keeping with the theme of my series, Inspiration, I'd like to introduce a website, which many of my readers may not have heard of, but which I think would prove a real inspiration to you in your creative endeavors. And if you happen to be an artistic type who expresses your creativity in a variety of different ways, other than just through writing, you'll like this site even more.
What Is AbleStable?
AbleStable is a unique website which brings together information, inspiration, and a wide variety of resources for creative individuals who work their magic in a number of different disciplines. Whether you choose to express your personal creativity through writing, music, visual art, acting, or more than one of a broad array of artistic modes, you'll find something on this website to interest, inspire, empower, and equip you for your specialty.
What Does AbleStable Have to Offer?
From articles on a variety of creative topics to competitions and exhibitions featuring readers' work, there's something here for everyone. Helpful tools, e-books, freeware, a glossary of terminology used on the site, games, puzzles, and other activities make this a site with broad appeal for artistic personalities everywhere. In addition, the site provides a free listing service, where "creatives" can present their own services to the world.
Who Runs AbleStable?
Mike de Sousa, director of AbleStable and obviously himself a highly creative type, as can be seen by his About Us page, as well as his articles, is the personality behind the site. Mike has a great deal to offer the artistic visitor to his website. With a background in music, writing, art, photography, and both graphic and website design, he understands the differing needs of individuals involved in a variety of creative areas and can therefore provide on-target information, resources, inspiration, and encouragement to which each type of artist can relate.
AbleStable Articles to Inspire You
Being a writer, myself, I enjoy reading Mike's articles about How To Be Creative, Emotion and Creativity, Finding Balance, and The Purpose of Art. I find that his articles also Inspire Me and encourage me to Write from the Heart. The foregoing are just a few examples of some of the fascinating articles you'll find in the archive of Mike's monthly feature, The Column. Mike's articles are engagingly written and will definitely appeal to your creative, contemplative side. Speaking as one artist to another, through The Column, Mike shares the considerable insights he's gleaned from his own creative--and not-so-creative--experiences.
Visit AbleStable and Be Inspired
Whatever your creative specialty, check out AbleStable. There's something for everyone on this fantastic site!
Enjoy your visit!
Jeanne
This is not a sponsored post.
Did you enjoy this post? Find it helpful? Have any thoughts to share? I'd love to hear from you!
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A Wonderful ProBlogger Idea!
I've just learned from Sharon Hurley Hall, at Get Paid to Write Online, in her post, Appreciating Blogging Writers, that ProBlogger Darren Rowse has proclaimed April 14th, 2008 Blogger Appreciation Day. Read about it in his post, Today is Blogger Appreciation Day [UNOFFICIAL]. Apparently, Darren received three e-mails earlier today thanking him for all he's done for bloggers, and that prompted him to make this pronouncement. What a nice thought!
Darren's Suggestions
Darren recommends that we e-mail bloggers who have inspired, taught, or helped us in other ways and thank them--or better still that we thank them publicly on our blogs. And though April 14th is nearly at an end in Australia (and may even be over already in other parts of the world), it's the thought that counts, and I'd like to thank the following bloggers who have had a profound effect on me and my blogging during my past 15-plus months of blogging:
Joanna Young, at Confident Writing
AmyHuang, at Travel String
Michele Tune, at Writing the Cyber Highway
Raven, at Alaska Chronicle
Sharon Hurley Hall, at Get Paid to Write Online
James Rickard, at Angling Fish
Laura Spencer, at Writing Thoughts
Brad Shorr, at WordSell, Inc.
Liz Strauss, at Successful Blog
Krissy Knox, at Sometimes I Think
Dan, at dcr Blogs
Melissa Garrett, at Lis Garrett ~ Silver-Tongued Writer
Robert Hruzek, at Middle Zone Musings
K-IntheHouse, at ShanKri-la
Tracy, at Movies and Life
Cindy Nichols, at Kaleidoscope
Yvonne Russell, at Grow Your Writing Business
Lillie Ammann, at A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye
Danielle, The Bipolar Diaries
Robyn, at Brain-Based Biz
Lynn Smythe, at Freelance Online Work
John Hewitt, at Writer's Resource Center
And last, but certainly not least,
Darren Rowse, at ProBlogger
Many thanks, everyone, for all you've done!
Sincerely,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Even if Blogger Appreciation Day is over, it's never too late to thank a blogger for doing something nice! Who would you like to thank and how?
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Still 10 More Quotes to Round Out the Series
Since we're exploring inspiration this month at Writer's Notes, I though this the perfect time for the third and final installment of my "10 Quotes on Writing" series. Some of the following quotes reveal the ironies of the writing life, some explore its subtleties, and some shout its realities. A few evoke a chuckle, while others make us ponder the mysteries of the writer's creativity.
Whatever responses they may elicit from you, may these quotes from those who've shared your passion for the written word provide the inspiration you need to take your innate talent, hone it to razor sharpness, and use it to cut to the heart of your topic, creating a piece of writing that's not just uniquely you, but also uniquely true. Enjoy!
The Quotes
1. The shelf life of the modern hardback writer is somewhere between the milk and the yogurt. ~ John Mortimer ~
2. Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them. ~ Flannery O'Connor ~
3. Really, in the end, the only thing that can make you a writer is the person that you are, the intensity of your feeling, the honesty of your vision, the unsentimental acknowledgment of the endless interest of the life around and within you. Virtually nobody can help you deliberately--many people will help you unintentionally. ~ Santha Rama Rau ~
4. A writer writes not because he is educated but because he is driven by the need to communicate. Behind the need to communicate is the need to share. Behind the need to share is the need to be understood. The writer wants to be understood much more than he wants to be respected or praised or even loved. And that perhaps, is what makes him different from others. ~ Leo Rosten ~
5. What I like in a good author isn't what he says, but what he whispers. ~ Logan Pearsall Smith ~
6. Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for. ~ Socrates ~
7. A writer is dear and necessary for us only in the measure of which he reveals to us the inner workings of his very soul. ~ Count Leo Tolstoy ~
8. I love being a writer, what I can't stand is the paperwork. ~ Peter De Vries ~
9. Good writing is clear thinking made visible. ~ Bill Wheeler ~
10. Writing is thinking on paper. ~ William Zinsser ~
May these words of "writerly" wit and wisdom light the spark of creativity in you!
Literarily yours,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Were there any quotes you especially liked? Any you disagreed with? Please feel free to share your thoughts! I'd love to hear from you!
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Pillar Posts Link Helps You Locate Content Quickly
I'm not sure whether most of my readers have noticed it yet or not, but I've created a list of Pillar Posts to help you more easily find Writer's Notes' most beneficial content. You'll find a link in my Spotlight Posts list to Writer's Notes' Pillar Posts. This link will take you to a post in which I've listed my most helpful content, broken down into various categories.
Rather than simply listing them in reverse chronological order by month, as they are in my archives, I've decided that it would be far more helpful to you if I were to categorize this content. This should help you quickly find the topics you're interested in exploring or the tools and resources you'd like to use, rather than having to wade through all the posts on the list. (This will prove even more beneficial, no doubt, as the list grows through the addition of future content.) Hope you'll find this feature useful! Let me know what you think and whether you have any further suggestions for making it even more useful.
Other Spotlight Posts Links Point to Blog Carnival Feed and More
My Spotlight Posts list is also where a link to my About page is located, as well as links to Writer's Notes' Awards (given to me by various other bloggers), and my Blog Carnival Feed. Blog carnivals can be a fantastic way to get recognition, readers, and links to your site. So, check this feed often, visit the Blog Carnival website via the button in the Stats & Other Widgets section in my top left sidebar, and seriously consider submitting your blog posts to one or more carnivals. There are many carnivals on myriad topics, and the best part is that you may have already written content that's suitable for one or more of them. So, don't overlook a great opportunity to get exposure for your blog.
Sites for Writers Link List Points to Helpful Sites
Last, but not least, I'd like to remind my readers to make use of my Sites for Writers list (previously called "Helpful Sites for Writers") near the bottom of my left sidebar. (The links are still just as helpful, but I needed to shorten the title.) This is a comprehensive list of links to various websites which can be helpful to writers in one way or another.
Most are straight writing sites or blogs, some are sites to or through which to sell your work, and others offer various additional features beneficial to the writer/blogger: blog design, inspiration, wisdom about issues that affect writers/writing, both business and general life lessons that can be helpful to you in the craft or business of writing, etc. Be sure to use this list of links often--and try visiting some of the sites that are as yet unfamiliar to you. You'll find many gems in this list, and you may just discover one or more that really target your interests or needs. (How will you ever know if you don't check them out?)
Hope these additions to Writer's Notes' help to make your writing life, fuller, simpler, and more productive. And may they help contribute to your success!
From one writer to another,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Find it helpful? Have any suggestions for improvement or other features you'd like to see? Please let me know in comments. I'd love to hear from you!
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Writer's Notes' Design Issues Lead to One-Point Loss
Writers Notes was edged out of John Hewitt's March Writing Blog Madness blog tournament yesterday (U.S. time) by Content Maven by a slim 14-13 margin. (For an explanation of how the contest works, visit John's post, March Writing Blog Madness Explained. You'll also find the seedings, which determined the matchup of the blog pairs that would compete, in the March Writing Blog Madness Seedings post.)
Of a possible total of 18 points, Content Maven Meryl Evans--a veteran writer, editor, and blogger--managed to rack up one more point than Writer's Notes could eke out due to blog design problems (which many of you already know about).
Blogs were judged in six different categories, each with a three-point maximum score: Archives, Design, Usability and Navigation, Purpose, Personality, and Five Most Recent Posts. Here's John's post presenting his comparative assessment of both blogs, along with his rationale for the points he assigned to each blog in each area: Game 12: #2 Seed Content Maven Versus #7 Seed Writer’s Notes. (There's still a great deal more to come in this tournament--more rounds to be "fought" and more blogs to be judged--so be sure to check it out.)
Did a Poorly Timed Orble Formatting Experiment Contribute to Writer's Notes' Loss?
While it's difficult to say for certain, it could very well be that, had the timing of the Orble formatting experiment (in which Google ads were placed in unusual and esthetically unpleasing places on our blogs' webpages), not coincided with my blog's judging, the outcome of this match might have been different. But, of course, that's pure speculation. It's just as possible that John would have found other design problems anyway.
I'm also well aware of my own culpability in the matter, since one of my last five posts (the content of which was judged as part of the tournament) was basically a lamentation about this issue and didn't do a thing to help me pick up the extra point I needed to tie the score. However, in my own defense, I will say that I believe in keeping my readers informed about what's going on, because community is what a blog is all about. I could have ignored the issue and continued to write totally unrelated "pillar" content (which might have helped me win), but I'm not sure that would have been entirely fair to my readers. (I will admit, though, that I probably could have complained a bit less in that post; and for that I apologize.)
The Blog is Still the Same, the Blogger a Little Wiser!
Despite this setback, Writer's Notes is fine and will continue to provide the same "information, inspiration, encouragement, and resources" for which it's become known. John Hewitt was honest in his assessment and, along with his constructive criticism, also had some very nice things to say about Writer's Notes--and about me--in his review, which I appreciate.
I didn't choose to enter this tournament. (I never would have with a PR 0.) The decision was made for me by John himself. (In fact, I'm still amazed that I did get in with my lack of PR, since John chose the entrants based on a combination of Google PR and Alexa ranking. I've just learned, though, that he assigned a value of PR 1 to all the PR 0 blogs for calculation purposes.) Though the loss was tough, I'm glad I had the opportunity to be matched with a much more experienced blogger and find that I gave her a run for her money!
Despite my loss (or perhaps because of it), this has been an excellent learning experience. For one thing, it's made me realize that complacency isn't a good thing. I should have continuously sought ways to make my blog's design better. And while the untimely Orble formatting experiment likely played a significant role and there are limits to what I'm able to control from my end, there were undoubtedly a few things I could have done to mitigate the problem. Live and learn, as they say! I now know that I shouldn't allow myself to become too comfortable, but should always be experimenting and looking for little (and big!) ways to improve my blog.*
Thanks, John, for giving me that incentive!
And thanks to my loyal readers who stick by me despite my blog's design issues!
You're the best!
Jeanne
* In fact, I'm currently experimenting with making the banner ads that have now become part of my preferred template a little less obtrusive. I still don't like them, but I'm attempting to make the best of a bad situation, because I really don't like the other template I'd be forced to use instead (to get rid of the banner ads)--the one with both sidebars on the left. I prefer the more symmetrical look of one sidebar on each side. (I may just be forced to go back to other template, though, if I don't succeed in making the banner ads look acceptable.)
Eternal optimist that I am, I'm still hoping Orble will decide to give us the option of having only link ads across the top of our blogs in the default template. That would be ideal, as far as I'm concerned. (I'm so glad they decided to get rid of the unsightly floating ad tower that created a fourth column in most blog templates, unbalancing our entire blogs! Thanks, Orble, for that!)
Did you enjoy this post? Have any thoughts to share? I'd love to hear from you, because you are what this blog is all about!
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