Links Out Loud…Blog, Write, Laugh & Live

It’s Thursday and that means it’s time to share the blog luv.

Blog Out Loud:

• God love Carrie Spencer and her Woodie Knows WordPress series. For all of us in the blogosphere using WordPress, these installments are easy-to-understand tech life savers; helping us grow and master our blogs. This week, Woodie helps us all master our widgets. Thanks Woodie!

Write Out Loud:

Since I seem to be reading and following a lot more writer blogs lately, I apologies to my non-writer readers (that’s a mouthful) for the heavy accent on write out loud links. There’s just so much GOOD stuff out there that I must share. Even my non-writers friends will enjoy – trust me – you should totally try it. Yes, this is peer pressure…I am not above that.

• Are you setting out to write a book like I am? Then you have to read Jenny Hansen’s post on building a writing team. Can you say ahhhhmazing. I had no idea. I thought I’d just shut myself in my office for a year or two and write a book but I can actually create and have my OWN TEAM?!?! Team Natalie?!?!?! I am IN like FLIN!!
• Since I am planning on starting my book writing journey this fall, I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on about “the process”. Check out Chuck Wendig’s post on 25 ways to plot, plan, and prep your story. O.M.G. the CHOICES?!?! I am analytical and pragmatic. I am organized. I like lists, rules, and guidelines. I assume that I’ll take to outlining and detailed plotting like a Koala bear to a tree. When I read Chuck’s post, the Beginning, Middle and End spoke to me but not quite enough. Then I read the bit on Chapter-by-Chapter, definitely getting warming. THEN, I read Beat Sheet and felt like I was home. But I am not sure. This has always been the crux of the issue for me; HOW do you get started? What’s the best way? What I am quickly realizing is that for every single writer, it’s DIFFERENT. I am going to have to put on my big girl panties and find my own way. My fav saying in this post “Dialogue is like Astroglide: it lubricates the tale.” LMAO!
• And as Piper Bayard quickly pointed out in her GREAT advice post on what’s she’s learned over the last seven years writing (seriously, some GREAT advice – go read it now!), my first book is going to suck anyway so I should accept and embrace it as a learning curve, jump in and get it over with already. Like my first marriage, my first book will teach me how to do it right the next time. Afterwards, I can move on to my best sellers.
• And last but certainly not least, writers’ social media guru, Kristen Lamb (have I mentioned this woman is my freaking hero!!! She teaches a GREAT blogging class– go – sign up now) wrote a fantastic post on how being a social butterfly trumps being a worker bee when it comes to social media. She introduces us to….the “connector”! Dang…I want to be a connector. I want to know everyone and be the popular twitter kid everyone wants to follow and talk to. Kristen’s Twitter rule is to tweet 1/3 info, 1/3 ReTweets, and 1/3 chat. So far, I feel like I have mastered being a level or two (I think) above being a spam bot. I have the info and RT tweets down and a little chat but I need to work on chatting more with other tweeps. I mean, of course they’ll love my charming, dynamic, vivacious self…right?!?! Be warned @mywana tweeps, I am about to invade!

Laugh Out Loud:

• I nearly died reading Jenny from the blog’s post about her husband being cocky, stubborn and relentless. Can you imagine if your hubby argued with a COP telling him he had the WRONG CAR?!?! O.M.G. I nearly died!
• This post by Noa Gavin on the guide to being the best at marriage is HILARIOUS. No seriously. I cried. Tears came down my cheek. I. Nearly. Died. Laughing. O.M.G! Perhaps not for the faint of heart (this means she likes to swear and I love that…gal after my own heart!).

Life Out Loud:

• One of my newest fav bloggers and writers, Tawna Fenske wrote a great, comical post this week on how to keep your perspective and not get bogged down with the details and business of life. We all have to remember, we are only here once and it’s important to take time off to have fun, relax, and feel the joy (or in Tawna’s case, a paw in your butt crack).
• Jenny Hansen (wow, she’s getting a lot of coverage this week – girl’s on FIRE) wrote a really touching post about the lessons she learned from her dog Hoshi. It’s beautiful, it’s poignant, and it so freaking true! Love it girl!

I hope you enjoyed this week’s line-up of fantabulous blog posts. Stay tuned for next week’s. I promise to go and spend oodles of time (time away from friends and family I’ll have you know…) to bring you this do-or-die information…My god…you guys must really love me!!

Got any ditties of your own to share? Let me know and maybe they’ll be featured as part of next week’s line-up…