Category: General

General

Upcoming Blog Topics – In My Own Handwriting

Karen

I saw this on one of the blogs in my Google Reader (which I’m ADDICTED to!!!! I wish Google would STOP recommending blogs because I’ve bookmarked nearly all of the suggestions! Aargh!). But I don’t remember which blog, so my apologizes if this originated at your blog and I haven’t attributed you (leave me a comment if you know where!).

I thought this would be a fun thing to post once in a while. It’s a sample of my handwriting (WARNING! Have an aspirin nearby because it’s truly horrendous!) of blog topic ideas.

The notepad it’s on was actually given to us by a traveling real estate person (isn’t it sad that our housing economy is so low that agents have to resort to door-to-door advertising?!), so it’s a bit “busy” and I hope you can read it. And for the handwriting experts out there, yes, I DO realize I write in upper case letters and I KNOW this is because I’m trying to disguise my “true” self from people. I know this, accept this and am okay with this. 😛

I won’t explain my thoughts about these topics, after all, I plan on writing full-fledged blog posts about these things, but this will give you a heads up on what to expect in the coming weeks:

blog-topics-list

What about you? Do you jot down blog topic ideas? If so, do you stick to your topics, or do you veer off into left-field and write about something totally different? If you don’t write down blog ideas, how do you write your posts? On the fly? In the spur of the moment?

Do tell! I’m curious to know!

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Karen

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I have a lot of things going on right now, for instance:

Did you know that in addition to this blog, I’m the administrator for Write Anything, Dear Reader, and Blog Talkers?

Write Anything is a collaborative blog run by six writers (five writers and me). Each writer has a specific day he/she contributes:

Sunday: Paul Anderson
Monday: Janie
Tuesday: d c roe
Wednesday: Tammi
Thursday: Andrea
Friday: [Fiction] Friday – a weekly writing exercise (check it out! Everyone is welcome to participate!)
Saturday: Misc. posts about writing resources, news, comics, or the Creative Carnival.

And speaking of Write Anything, here is a bit of news: I’m currently working on offering some sort of virtual workshop, probably in October, to help writers prepare for the National Novel Writing Month in November. Stick around, more information on that will be forthcoming.

Also, I’m planning on approaching a few writers to see if they would be willing to write a week-long collaborative story to post on Write Anything. This will give the weekly writers the week off and it will be something fun to try on a quarterly basis. We’ll even post the finished story in a .pdf file on Scribd. If you might be interested in taking part of a collaborative story, please contact me. And yes, I’ll be part of these projects so challenge me! I’ve never written Sci-Fi or Fantasy and I’m willing to give it a go!

Dear Reader is a collaborative book review blog. We currently have 5 writers and am looking for more. I’d like to have several (read about 10, maybe more!) writers so if you’re interested, please contact me. There is no fixed schedule and there are no deadlines, you post whenever you’ve finished your book. That’s it. As long as two reviews haven’t already been published for that day, you can post whenever you get around to it. So if you love books, and you love talking about books, contact me and write a review for Dear Reader! We’d love to have you on board!

Blog Talkers is a weekly meme. Every Sunday, I post one question and you have all week to answer that question on your own blog. It’s just someplace to go if you’re stuck for blog ideas.

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And speaking of blog fodder – I started a new tweet (I guess that’s what you call them) on Twitter called, appropriately enough, Blog Fodder. Every day I post a writing prompt, just something extra to help you get through the blogging humps. It’s not really a question, per se, but rather something that might trigger a memory, or something you can use as a springboard to write a story, or a blog post. Anything goes. Use the prompt any way you wish.

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I also have my regular Twitter account if you’re interested in finding out what I’m doing at a given moment in time.

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I also have some fun things coming up next weekend at my blog:

1. The 2008 blog-a-thon (here is the official website) is July 26th beginning at 6:00 a.m. U.S. central time. I wrote a post about the ‘thon yesterday, but you can also find the page here. I’ve already tentatively organized 48 blog posts, well, 24 of them, so far; I still need to flush out the story I plan on telling bit-by-bit. I’m giving away two books and one journal so in addition to discovering a TON of new and interesting ways you can help support our troops, you’ll have a chance to win some pretty awesome prizes. I hope you’ll come keep me company because if not? It’s going to be a loooong, boring, lonesome 24 hours. 😀 If you’re participating in the ‘thon, let me know so I can come visit you!!

Photo Contest at writefromkaren.com

2. Lastly, the next photo contest will begin shortly after the blog-a-thon is over at 6:00 a.m. July 27th. I plan on taking a few days off after the ‘thon, I’ll be ready to, so the photo post will be on the home page for a while. You can get a head start now by looking through your photos and picking out your best “summer time” picture. On July 27th (or the week thereafter), post your picture, along with a short reason why you chose that particular picture and the story behind the picture, on your blog and then come back here and leave the permalink (the link to your blog post, not your blog) in the comment section. You can find out all of the details about the contest here, along with what the prize is and a few promotional buttons to post on your blog, if you wish. (It’s not required, but greatly appreciated!!).

Win a FREE book at writefromkaren.com

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Whew! I think that’s enough self-pimping for one day, don’t you? If you’re interested in anything I’ve mentioned, please contact me and have a SUPER weekend!

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Reach Out Tour?

Karen

So, here we are, the ones who got left behind.

I don’t know about ya’ll, but if I hear one more thing about BlogHer, I’m going to scream!!

Okay, not really, that’s just the jealousy talking.

Right now, as you’re reading this, there are 1,000 bloggers rubbing elbows, taking notes, live blogging, and sneaking unobtrusive sips of vodka from the decorative flasks they have hidden in their fashionable (and most likely brand new) handbags.

What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on THAT wall. I can just hear the chatter, the laughter, the sound of zippers as they open their bags and stuff in more skag.

Er, I think it’s called skag, I’m just learning BlogHer lingo. 🙂

I looked over the agenda, WOW! I’d love to go to so many of the talks! And the PhotoWalk sponsored by the Shutter Sisters! And the closing keynote sounds sooo interesting.

Is my face turning green? Because I’m definitely feeling envious.

I’m making a conscience effort to get more involved with the BlogHer site. I’m going to post, I’m going to comment and I’m going to make some friends because dang it, I want to go next year! And it sure would be nice if I knew someone.

Of course, the Reach Out Tour is coming up, and I’m thinking I might go to the Nashville one. Nashville is only about an eight hour drive … but it’s on a Thursday and someone, who shall remain nameless, gets a BIT cranky when his schedule is disrupted during the work week, so I don’t know.

Anyone else thinking about going to a Reach Out Tour? Anyone going to Nashville?

Hello? *taptap* Anyone? Is there even anyone IN the blog-o-sphere right now?

I feel lonely.

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I’m a Colon; How Boring

Karen

You Are a Colon


You are very orderly and fact driven.
You aren’t concerned much with theories or dreams… only what’s true or untrue.

You are brilliant and incredibly learned. Anything you know is well researched.
You like to make lists and sort through things step by step. You aren’t subject to whim or emotions.

Your friends see you as a constant source of knowledge and advice.
(But they are a little sick of you being right all of the time!)

You excel in: Leadership positions

You get along best with: The Semi-Colon
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Karen

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The next Bloggy Giveaway is July 28 – August 1. Mark your calendars so you can play along! I’d like to do something, but I’m holding my photo contest that same week, so I’m not sure I can juggle both activities and still make sense of my blog … so we’ll see.

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Blog Fodder :: Stuck for blog or writing ideas? I’ve started a new tweet on Twitter if you’re interested in receiving new writing prompts every week day. It’s called Blog Fodder and you can find it at http://twitter.com/blogfodder.

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Interested in writing fiction? :: There’s a writing meme every Friday at Write Anything. It’s called [Fiction] Friday and it’s a great way to jump-start your imagination!

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Stop Bullying Now! :: This fun, interactive website is a great place to take kids to teach them about bullies. Here’s a link to the first webisode. After the video is over, the site supplies questions children can answer in an attempt to understand what the webisode was trying to say. This might be a good time to teach your child about bullying, especially if he/she is starting a new school this fall.

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Great new blog header :: Just clicked over and saw Surbuban Turmoil’s new blog header – lovelovelove the b/w picture! Very expressive and artsy-fartsy! (Pst … look at the baby’s expression, PRICELESS!)

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The Pledge of Allegiance recited by a toddler :: OMG! This girl is too cute. The video drags out a bit, the best part is the first time she recites it, but I just want to hug the stuffing out of this little girl. Kudos to her parents for teaching her this so young!

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Times Sure Have Changed

Karen

But for good or bad? You decide …

Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957 – Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2008 – School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors’ called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 – Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2008 – Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario: Jeffrey won’t be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 – Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2008 – Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 – Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2008 – Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has affair with psychologist.

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 – Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2008 – Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
1957 – Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2008 – Pedro’s cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro’s English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957 – Ants die.
2008 – BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny’s Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 – In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2008 – Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.