March 31, 2013 by writesbooks

Celebrate Easter by Cher’ley

This Blog by Cher’ley Grogg My favorite part of Easter is getting up early in the morning, while it is yet dark and waiting for Sunrise. Some Easters it’s hard to do that because it is cold and I’m not partial to getting up at 4 a.m. to get ready and to drive to wherever we’re having the service. This year Easter falls in March, which makes it even more chilly. My thoughts on Mary’s journey to the visit the tomb.

I wrote this short poem and I hope you enjoy it:

All is Well

The lilies are peeping through the ground
Bright, yellow, new
The grass is turning various shades of green
Light, medium, mixed
The earth smells fresh and inviting
Rains, moist dirt, cool
Sun warms the day and overpowers the gray
Hot, comforting, heat
All is well with my soul, Jesus will return
Salvation, safety, eternal life

I like many women, wear a spring dress. Ooh it will be so cold. It’s just bred into me to wear something light and pretty for Easter. I think it stems from my childhood. We got practical school clothes in August and maybe a new outfit for Christmas, but for Easter I got something frilly and pretty, what was considered a church dress.

Here’s an article about my Easter’s while I was growing up.

As a Christian, the importance of Easter goes much deeper than a new dress or a ham dinner.

English: Icon of the Resurrection (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I love getting together with my family to celebrate, however we celebrate the risen Christ. Easter symbolizes a return of a Savior. To know that Jesus has risen, that death could not hold Him down and neither will it hold me down.

Easter thoughts and Bible Verses.

The two religious days of the year are Christmas and Easter. Why some people try to take Jesus out of them amazes me. They want a reason to celebrate, but they don’t want to celebrate for the right reasons. I know these holidays are related to pagan feast days; it would be hard to find days that were not pagan holidays, nevertheless these two days have been Christian holidays for centuries and on both days I will celebrate Jesus Christ.

Verses about Easter that give me cold chills.

Easter promotes creativity. A writers write about Easter, an artist paints pictures about Easter, a photographer takes photos about Easter, a teacher teaches about Easter, a pastor preachers about Easter, a parent prepares and buys clothes for Easter, a chef prepares Easter dinner and the every day person marvels at Easter.

What does Easter mean to you? How did you celebrate it as a child? What was and is your favorite part of Easter?

Sta mp Out Murder”.

“T he Secret in Grandma’s Trunk” This is an especially good book for your Tween Children and Grandchildren.

And please join me on my Facebook Fanpage, that’s managed by one of my most faithful fans: Cindy Ferrell

March 30, 2013 by writesbooks

Life is Like a Chimney

This post by Neva Bodin

I have told many life is like a chimney—built brick by brick, or experience by experience. I looked up quotations using the word brick and found many times bricks are compared to life situations.

William J. H. Boetcher (I have no idea who that might be) is quoted as saying, “Better to be a strong man with a weak point, than to be a weak man without a strong point. A diamond with a flaw is more valuable than a brick without a flaw.” I don’t agree with the last part of his statement.

When I worked with people who had early emotionally damaging experiences in life, such as abuse or abandonment, either emotionally or physically, I found the earlier the trauma, the harder to repair. Life changes seemingly unimportant to one, can shape future reactions to certain circumstances in others.

My folks had no idea my moving into a two story home at age two where everyone had their own bedroom would make me forever afraid of the dark, including the big dark basement in this house. We had moved from a two room house with five people in it. I was very secure in my crib in a small bedroom that housed adults, teens and a pot-bellied stove. I cried to go “home” that first night in “Pete’s house.” Pete was our carpenter.

If the first bricks laid at the bottom of the chimney are strong, they will hold up when things that try to beat us down come at us. If the weaker bricks—anything disastrous to our well-being—are put in layers later in the building, they will be more easily dealt with, worked on, and repaired. It’s hard to repair a brick at the bottom of a chimney without shaking the whole structure.

Candace Bergen, sounding bitter, is quoted as saying “Men say they love independence in a woman, but don’t waste a second demolishing it brick by brick.” While not espousing this theory in general, I do recognize her comparison of being made out of bricks as similar to mine.

“If a person offends you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick.” So says Mark Twain. Would that be like fighting fire with fire?

Mr. Twain also said, “Let us guess that whenever we read a sentence and like it, we unconsciously store it away in our model-chamber; and it goes, with the myriad of its fellows, to the building, brick by brick, of the eventual edifice which we call our style”

Which brings me to my thoughts as a writer—I need to build my character brick by brick, knowing the weak ones and where they lay, and how they will color that person’s choices, reactions, and personality quirks. Can they be changed, or will they have to be accepted by the closest relational person? Will someone or something act as mortar to hold the weak bricks together?

“They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time.” Dorothy Day ( I don’t know who she is either, but I like her comment.)

Amrish Puri (another unknown in my book) says “I am like a brick.” I think he must be like a whole pile of bricks! Let’s hope they are all well made.

Follow me on Twitter:@NevaBodin1, Facebook: facebook.com/neva.bodin

March 29, 2013 by writesbooks

Spring, Daffodils and Planting Seeds

Blog by Kate Wyland

Spring has definitely sprung here in Northern California. The trees are blossoming, the days are getting longer and the weather is warming. Even though we have relatively mild Mediterranean winters, one of the most potent signs of Spring for us is when the daffodils start blooming. We see them everywhere—in yards, along streets and highways, and in one very special place.

Daffodil Hill is a family-owned ranch in the gold country of the Sierras that is carpeted with hundreds of thousands of daffodils from mid-March to mid-April. Carrying on a tradition started by their great-grandparents, every year the McLaughlin family plants between 5-6,000 bulbs. They estimate that over 400,000 daffodils of 300 different varieties bloom there each Spring. And during those months, they open the ranch to the public for free so that everyone can enjoy the spectacular sight. Now a popular tourist attraction, the ranch is a labor of love and a wonderful gift to the community. To read more about Daffodil Hill you can go to the following link. Be sure to click on the Next Page icon to get the full story. http://amadorgold.net/tours/daffodilhill/

Even with a large family of kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, the idea of planting thousands of bulbs each year is mind-boggling to me. You can’t just spread them around like grass seed. Each one has to put into the ground with the roots down and crown up, as well as set at the correct depth. I’m sure the McLaughlin’s have developed an efficient method over the years, but still the task seems unbelievably daunting.

If I stop and look at it for moment, I can see that planting the bulbs can serve as a metaphor for much that goes on in our lives. We plant in the fallow times (winter) and then wait impatiently for the results of our endeavors (daffodils). We do this all our lives. But to be successful, we must plant with care, not throw our seeds into the wind. We go to college and carefully choose our major, in hopes of getting a good job. The results aren’t apparent until four or more years later. We spend untold time learning a craft or skill, then hesitantly show it to the world and hope it is rewarded.

We writers get up early, limit our time with the family, and hide away in our dark, fertile place to write and create tales that reveal our unique take on life. If we’re lucky, our blooms break through the soil and see the light of day. An agent or editor likes our story, a publisher agrees to take a chance on it, and book stores display it. Or, as is happening more and more today, you decide to self-publish the book yourself and it appears on the online book sellers’ pages where you find an appreciative audience.

What bulbs have you planted and are waiting to bloom? A new skill that could be useful in a different job? A painting or sculpture that you haven’t shown to anyone yet? A story ready to be published?

Wyoming Escape
Two dead bodies. One dirty cop. Is she next?

Images – A Love Story
She’s learned to hide from life. Should she hide from him?

You can connect with Kate Wyland on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKateWyland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katewyland
Website : http://katewyland.com

Women reading photo credit:
<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/ionushi/223930304/”>aurelio.asiain</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>cc</a>

March 28, 2013 by writesbooks

Sparking Creativity

This post by Jennifer Flaten
My kids love to doodle and draw. The problem with that is I often hear “Mom, what should I draw.” Now, I think I am fairly good at coming up with ideas. Although, if my persnickety daughter is feeling extra snickety the whole thing can turn into an endless series of “how about___?” “No, I don’t want to draw that”.

Drawing the Rook (Photo credit: Jeremy Roof)

Luckily, there is this awesome book 642 Things to Draw. Yep, it is exactly what it sounds like a big book of ideas for things to doodle and draw. Now, when someone asks me what they should draw I can whip open the book and give them an idea. Which I would certainly do if I could find the book, but it seems like a kid (or kids) has already absconded with the book.

I will have to go on a search and rescue mission for the book (which I am sure is buried under a pile of something in one bedroom or another) because I would like a chance to draw something.

In addition, as I was ordering the drawing book from Amazon it suggested I also buy 642 Things to Write About (don’t you love when your computer makes helpful suggestions like that for you?). Since, I needed another $12 to get free shipping I ordered the book and a book of Bic pens.

I love the book. It’s just what I needed. It contains a nice mix of quick describe a pep talk you would give a dying plant to you are a customer lying face down during a robbery describe the scene. I spend a lot of time writing rather dry business and often struggle to come up with something creative to write that doesn’t involve fictionalizing an event from my life.

I know many writers have success with using online writing prompts, but I already feel like I spend too much time in front of the computer. So I am writing in the book itself (in pen even), but already a few of the prompts interest me enough to mark them to come back later and actually sit down at the computer and devote myself to writing creatively.

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March 27, 2013 by writesbooks

The Origin of the Easter Egg By Barb Schlichting

I should’ve known that it all is centered around Christianity, but was surprised at how deeply it is!

This time of the year is open to new life—love—and a time to refresh yourself. Easter is a great time to do that since it’s spring! It’s been a long winter so it really is a time to rejoice! For you as a writer, it’s time to look at your work in a new light just like looking at the multi-colored Easter eggs.

Did you know that the eggs date back to Pagan times? A time for rebirth. Christianity brings forth the colored eggs and the remembrance of the Blood of Christ. I didn’t know that—so now I look at them differently. It’s another different point of view.

The eggshell is symbolic of Christ’s Tomb. So the shell or tomb was to hold his body and keep it safe. There’s also a rumor that Mary Magdalene brought a basket of eggs to Christ’s tomb to share and they miraculously became brilliant in color. Well—now we have another point of view. Really, we do. During your writing, if you feel penned in and don’t quite know what to do with a character, you can think of the eggshell, and breaking out into the world. Add another character or break out an older forgotten one who you’d introduced but then didn’t quite know how to keep him interesting.

Blessing of eggs in Poland

A notation in the household accounts of Edward I of England showed an expenditure of eighteen pence for 450 eggs to be gold-leafed and colored for Easter gifts. The first book to mention Easter eggs by name was written five hundred years ago.

Czech Republic

Now that we’re soon ready for spring, at least I am, let’s be ready for change. Let’s take a different look at ourselves at our writing and see what changes can be made. Enjoy writing with a fresh new look, and you’ll feel on top of the world.

How can you change your writing, characters, setting to give them a fresh new look? Happy writing.

To learn more about the Easter Egg Roll at the White House, you can take a look at my link: http://bschlichting.blogspot.com

Here’s the two links where I found my information: http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/easteregghistry.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg

March 26, 2013 by writesbooks

Teeny, Tiny, Small, and Little by Cher’ley

This Blog by Cher’ley Grogg

An eyelash, a blade of grass, Tinkerbelle, Jack, and an embryo all have something in common they are teeny, tiny, small, and little. I lived in Texas for quite a while and in Texas the bigger the better. Everything is bigger in Texas, or so I’ve heard. I have come to realize that some of the most fascinating things on this earth are small.

I haven’t seen the movie Jack the Giant Killer on the big screen, but I read the book to my children when they were little, and I’m sure it was read to me when I was a tiny young’un. Jack, the small lad, climbs the beanstalk, kills the giant and gets the goose that lays the golden egg, and he and his mother live happily ever after. From the advertisements, I don’t believe that’s exactly what happens in the movie. But in the book that’s what happens, they live happily ever after and I like to think of life is being happily ever after too. However, I’m a realist, and I know this is not true, but I look for the little things in life that make me happy. Look for the little things that lift your spirits.

Jack the Giant Killer

How amazing is it to walk through the woods and spot those little teeny yellow flowers or those tiny blue flowers that grow wild and they are scattered Magnolia Blossoms everywhere for our enjoyment? If there’s a grassy patch, there are little flowers. The tiny buds on trees and bushes that burst forth in the spring are awesome.

Teeny, Photo: Visit our Page -► Most Adorable Pictures ◄- For more pics tiny, little, small pleasures of life give us some of the happiest most contented moments that anyone can experiences. Just think about the wonder of viewing a kitten, a puppy or a newborn baby.

Here’s a list of 40 LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR DAY

While under my instructor, during the time when I was developing my fine art, we’d examine paintings by great artists and Lee would tell me to watch for the details. He said to put in the little details. Water color is a looser form of painting, but still it has detail. Just like writing, I’d go back and add a little more color in one area and a little more water in another. I’d smudge it and move the paint around, constantly adding more detail. In writing, I’m painting a picture with words. Details bring the writing picture to life.

For instance, a little baby is soft to the touch. You smell the freshness of her hair. You look at the tiny creases in her arms and legs. and you marvel at her tiny feet. Her perfect eyelashes brush her cheek as she sleeps. Little sucking noises come from her rosy little mouth. There is nothing that beats the feeling when she curls that little hand around your finger, and you kiss her on the top of her head.

In my book “Stamp Out Murder”, James and Carolyn walk through a wooded area, to get to the Cheat River behind McKeel’s Bed and Breakfast. They touched trees, were careful not to slide down the hill, and took photos standing beside big trees. Carolyn taught James to skip a rock across the water, and they splashed and played in the shallow river like small children. A story poem by me.

What teeny. tiny, small, or little something has touched your life? What unexpected noun gave pleasure to you?

Sta mp Out Murder”.

“T he Secret in Grandma’s Trunk” This is an especially good book for your Tween Children and Grandchildren.

And please join me on my Facebook Fanpage, that’s managed by one of my most faithful fans: Cindy Ferrell

Painting by Cher’ley Grogg

March 25, 2013 by writesbooks

Taming the Dragon

This post by Craig Snider

Hello fellow word knights!

Last time we began our endless journey toward the goal of taming the WritingDragon. This elusive and notoriously difficult beast has ended the lives of many would-be conquerors. But, fear not. Together, we can slay the un-slayable!

Behold, the great Writing Dragon! (ignore the lighter. We don’t have much of a special effects budget…)

One of the most essential and helpful techniques we can learn as beginning writers is the ability to objectively view a piece of writing to determine if it is effective. Once you have been writing for a while, and reading “with purpose” (more on that later), you will begin to acquire a sense of good and bad writing. Along with this comes the ability to edit and critique that writing. This is the writer’s equivalent to fencing or sparring in the fighting world that we talked about last time. Initially, you will be doing this solo, or shadowboxing. Take out an older story you have written and begin picking it apart, piece-by-piece. Analyze the character development, the plot arc, the stakes, goals, and obstacles. The more you write, the more you will be able to notice if these techniques are working or not, just as a swordsman will begin to look for feints, or spotting the dragon’s fire breath before becoming a knight-sized briquette.

One way to do that is to read with purpose. There is even a book called “How to read like a Writer.” Essentially, this means reading a story with the intent of trying to peer behind the curtain and see how the magic is being made. Try to spot foreshadowing, theme, character development, conflict development, and plot arc. Often, it will take more than on reading to really appreciate this process. I love reading short stories again and again to find out how the author has created the story I love so much. Reading with purpose is great practice for determining good from bad writing, and is a key step in learning how to edit correctly.

This leads us into the editing process. Though the number of methods and techniques are limitless, no one can argue the importance of editing in the overall writing process. A minority may argue that editing too much will kill the “artistic originality” of the piece. To this is say, “Sacrifice them to the Dragon!” And, that is exactly what will happen to them. Sure, there may be a rare few who have the ability to create a masterpiece in a few drafts. There may even be the even rarer few geniuses who get it right the first time (and if you think you are one of them, most likely you are not), but the majority of us must write, then edit, edit, and edit some more. When we’re finished, we edit some more.

Good writing.

NOT such good writing…

This also requires practice. And, I promise, the more you do it, the better you will become at it.

Once you feel you have a grasp of the basics of writing, take your show on the road. Find a local writing group, or an online writing group, and begin critiquing other people’s work. This has the benefit of providing you with objectivity you may not have with your own work.

One piece of advice when critiquing: don’t be cruel, but be honest.

“En guardy! Show me what you got, ye novice!”

This may be one of the best ways to learn not only how to write well, but also to learn how to identify good and bad writing, and writing techniques. The next

level of editing ability comes when you can then identify how to effectively correct those problems on a larger scale than line editing to make the writing work as a whole.

Until next time, write, edit, edit, and edit. Then edit… Edit.

What is your editing process? Are there certain words that keep popping up?

Please join me on Facebook

Criticism Maybe Good for You, Just Write Anyways (mandibelle16.wordpress.com)

March 24, 2013 by writesbooks

Don’t lean, clean!

This post is by Erin Thorne. I, like many teenagers, first entered the workforce via the avenue of the fast food industry. It was a hectic environment in which employees hustled to take food orders and speedily deliver bags and trays of greasy goodness to hungry customers. We were especially busy during the breakfast, lunch, and dinner rushes. Once the hubbub had died down, there was an overall tendency to mill around and goof off.

One manager in particular had a personal vendetta against this kind of behavior. In her mind, it reflected poorly upon the establishment, and upon herself as a taskmaster. It simply wouldn’t do for us to lack a productive occupation. She had a mantra which she encouraged us all to repeat: “Don’t lean, clean.”

At first, it irritated us to no end. We couldn’t take so much as a five minute breather; sure enough, this woman would swoop in and attack our indolence with her motto. I didn’t see the wisdom and practical application of this saying until many years later, when I applied it in a broader sense to my writing career.

Of course, I didn’t take the maxim literally; I abhor housework as much as anyone. I seized the spirit of it, the admonition to take advantage of one’s downtime instead of using it to lounge about. This comes in handy when I’m not sure how to move my protagonist from point A to point B in my work, when I’m stuck between plot highlights, or when I only have a small amount of time at my disposal.

I have a day planner with all of my tasks, large and small, penciled into their appropriate boxes. In the event that I have a few (or several) idle minutes, I take a peek at my datebook and check it for upcoming obligations. Often, I’ll find something in there which grabs my attention – a batch of press releases that must be sent to promote a future appearance, or perhaps someone whom I need to contact. On those occasions when writer’s block rears its ugly head, it’s helpful to do other things that are just as essential as the creation of new works.

In this way, I’m able to alleviate the feeling that I’m not achieving anything that day, in spite of the absence of inspiration. Frustration and unproductiveness are banished; impending duties are fulfilled prior to their assigned deadlines, and when I’m finally ready to sit down and write again, I can do so with the knowledge that I’ve used the interlude for my own benefit.

March 23, 2013 by writesbooks

It’s a hens do!

This post is by Nancy Jardine

I’m starting this blog post with an apology. If I’m a bit tardy in commenting this time around please forgive me – I’m hoping it’ll be because I’m having a whale of a time at my niece’s ‘hen party’.

I’m taking an approximately 300 mile round trip to the fantastic city of Edinburgh, Scotland.

I adore visiting Edinburgh, and selfishly, I’m delighted that my lovely niece has decided to stay closer to home so that more of her friends and family (read old fogies like me) can attend!

Are we going in ‘themed’ attire? Not that I know of…yet! But I expect maybe something will ‘brand’ us together. I had fun a few years ago when I went to a ‘sixties’ one- the ‘vintage’ clothes bought from the internet. I’m a hoarder of all sorts of things, but sadly not the same size as I was back then!

(photo from wikimedia)

So it’s a ‘Hen Weekend‘.

What are the common names for this event? In Scotland (and UK generally) we tend to call it ‘Hen Night, or Henny Party’. European countries tend to have a translation of the word ‘hen’ as well. The US often names it a ‘Bachelorette Party’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelorette_party and I’ve heard it’s not unknown for Canadians to call it a ‘Stagette Party’. ‘Kitchen Tea’ in South Africa is a new one for me, though! Hens, and the ilk, for OZ and NZ are fairly similar to the European names.

Traditions for a ‘Hen’ event vary a lot and have also changed quite staggeringly over time.

Googling a little, I found some interesting comments on the origins. It’s been said that the ‘hen night’ started in the North African, Middle Eastern and Asian culture and the ‘hen’ part relates to the application of, and wearing of henna patterns by the bride on the eve of her wedding – to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.

photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_aesthetic_henna.JPG

(I do hope if these patterns means anything, then it’s all good!)

Another blog post states the tradition started during the reign of King Charles II (1630-1685) where the bride would contemplate her ‘bottom drawer’ goods and would sit quietly at home with the women of the family. (Sounds like a whole lot of fun to me – *big grimace* )

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/the-origins-of-hens-night-and-some-hens-night-ideas

There are plenty of ideas out there which mirror the traditions of the stag event and the tendency nowadays is for it to be a bit ‘over the top’ in a partying sense. These events are not often held on the traditional eve of the wedding, but leave plenty of time for the bride to recover her poise and equilibrium *wink*.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-the-Hen-Night-and-Stag-Night&id=3824974

When I got married in 1974 in Glasgow (Scotland), on the eve of the wedding day friends, family and neighbours of the bride would gather together – usually in the bride’s home. There would be stacks of home baking, gallons of tea and coffee, and horror of horrors!! – Alcohol for those who wanted to indulge themselves. It would be a noisy, though more restrained, party than generally happens today, since the bride had to look fantastic the following day.

All of that is pretty tame, but the traditional bit in my neighbourhood was the ‘bride procession’.

Sometimes an open cart would be acquired (driver provided) and the bride would be seated on top – as on a ‘float’ during a parade. The bride would be dressed up in frilly undies, or some other frivolity (thermals underneath for that biting Scottish wind and rain) and wore an old veil. She would hold an enamel potty/ ceramic chamber pot which held a layer of salt in it- salt for luck and prosperity.(Plastic potties are useless as they don’t sound the same)

This ‘potty’ would be rattled in front of anyone who happened to be in the streets (with especially funny comments if it was a man) as the procession wended it’s way around for an hour or two- coins expected to be added to the collection.

There was happy singing – usually a raucous clamour – as the procession traipsed the local streets, though the event was always held in good humour by all the neighbours. Wooden spoons were banged on metal pots by all the walking ‘attendants’ to alert all to the ‘bride’ coming, the hooters and tooters hard to ignore. People would hang out of the windows and join in with ribald wishes for the bride. (We’ll skip the part where these were often more than a bit risqué)

If there was no ‘open topped’ vehicle available, the procession walked around. The bride rarely made a fortune out of it, but that wasn’t the point. Any money collected was supposed lucky and some brides set it aside for a ‘layette’ for the first baby.

Embarrassing for the bride? Absolutely! But it was a way of having fun with friends and neighbours who would perhaps not be attending the wedding.

Weddings, or the promise of, appear in all of my novels, but the most challenging to write was the ‘wedding scene’ in my historical novel –The Beltane Choice. Set in AD 71 it took a bit of imagination to create the wedding vows for Lorcan of the Brigantes and Nara of the Selgovae. Nara, I’m afraid had no ‘hen party’. If such a thing was celebrated then I’m afraid I’ve found no record of in my researches…

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/221383

Youtube trailer http://youtu.be/igJmfBoXRhQ

Amazon UK author page for all novels and to view book trailer videos http://amzn.to/N6ye0z

What sort of ‘hen do’ traditions can you add? I’d love to know (and I promise to respond as soon as possible… *big smiles*)

Some more sites to view ‘hen/stag’ details : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelorette_party

http://voices.yahoo.com/hens-night-traditions-2444976.html?cat=41
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3824974

Nancy Jardine can be found at:

http://nancyjardine.blogspot.com http://nancyjardineauthor.weebly.com http://on.fb.me/XeQdkG Twitter @nansjar http://about.me/nancyjardine

http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-jardine/3a/9b0/a91/ Google+ Nancy Jardine

I wish you all a spectacular weekend!

March 22, 2013 by writesbooks

Tools of the Trade by Cher’ley

This Blog by Cher’ley Grogg

I don’t often write about the technicalities of writing, but perhaps I know of some tools that may help some other writers or people from Soccer Moms to CEOs. You can do a search and find many programs; these are all free programs that I use.

The first three are Google programs. The last three are ones that I stumbled upon.

1. Google Drive

Create, edit and upload quickly
Import your existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations, or create new ones from scratch.

Access and edit from anywhere
All you need is a Web browser. Your documents, spreadsheets and presentations are stored securely online.

Share changes in real-time
Invite people to your documents and make changes together, at the same time.

2. Google Calandar

With Google’s free online calendar, it’s easy to keep track of life’s important events all in one place. Share your schedule. Let your family and friends know what’s going on. It will also upload to your smartphone so you can sync between devices.

3. Google Alerts

Google alerts are emails sent to you when Google finds new results — such as web pages, newspaper articles, or blogs — that match your search term. You can use Google Alerts to monitor anything on the Web. For example, people use Google Alerts to: