The posts here are a mash-up of interesting things I’ve found or learned from during the preceding week. This could be material from blog posts, articles, video clips, etc.
Current (Pop) Culture Chattering
- Will and Jada. They’re back! The Hollywood buzz meter is getting ready to rumble on this one. The newest on the couple that swore they weren’t breaking up is that Jada has secured a divorce lawyer and even turned down a movie role to handle the fallout.
- The Toddlers & Tiaras controversy is back as well with some parents now being accused of doping up their kids on “special juice” and “pageant crack.”
- From a break-up to a make-up now engagement. That’s right. Celebrity couple Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are now engaged.
- I love most things performance reality TV related, so I’m doing a countdown dance for American Idol to start January 18 and The Voice on February 5. For The Voice, the celebrities assisting the main mentors will be Lionel Ritchie, Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert, Jewel, Alanis Morissette, Babyface, Ne-Yo and Robin Thicke. I wonder how Idol feels with their first winner, Kelly, helping out the other team.
Wicked Writing Wisdom
Kristen Lamb’s Kung-Fu Writing–Taking on the Year of the Dragon provides a wealth of tools from craft books to writing conferences to tools for sanity. 🙂
25 Things Writers Should Stop Doing, by Chuck Wendig, is a wake up call on high decibel stereo blast.
Have you ever gotten away from your writing life then felt like you were gazing down a long tunnel to get back? Check out Jenny Hansen’s 12 Baby Steps That Rocked My Writing.
Jill Kemerer shares about tools she uses to manage her schedule in The Picky Writer’s Day Planner.
Authors Interacting with Readers Online – More Controversial Than I Thought from Roni Loren discusses the evolution of how communication is viewed between author and readers.
Jami Gold provides great advice that can be applied to both novels and short stories in Pitch Prep: What Makes a Great First Page. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to join in her week-long pitch session that starts January 10.
In What the Heck Was I Thinking? Reevaluating Your Writing Process, Janice Hardy shares how understanding what pieces work and which do not, we can evolve our writing process for growth.
Making Media Magic
Our friend Woodie is back with some great WordPress advice in Carrie Spencer’s Zzzzzooom! What’s Quickpress.
From 12 Essential Tips for Revitalising Your Blog in 2012, a guest post by Gregory Ciotti at ProBlogger, we get great tips on how to tweak our blogs.
Frolicking Fun Finds
Jillian Dodd’s digs were the next stop for the Bayard – Lamb Presidential Campaign Tour Stop and the pair shared some more fun facts. Also check out Jillian’s Movie Reviews: The DVD Guide for a great list of options and links back to her reviews.
Did you make a list of resolutions for the new year? Are you struggling at just one week in? Join in the fun with Carrie again in Resolutions Schmesolutions for a no fail list that any of us can master.
Imaginative, Insightful, Inspirational
If you are running around with doomsday on your mind, stop what you are doing and read Bayard/Lamb 2012 – Apocalypse Not. Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid! Piper Bayard schools us on all things Mayan calendar and a treat-filled warning system for our safety.
In Hush, Hush…Voices Carry, Karen McFarland explores the story of a woman who has lost her voice and asks us what we would do if we lost our own.
Kate MacNicol’s Breakthrough Goals Kate tells us these goals are ones “that reach outside your comfort zone, change you forever and are worth following with passion.” Read on to see how to challenge yourself and set the bar higher.
This Inspiration Board post from Jess Ainscough at The Wellness Warrior made me smile.
I’d love to hear from you! Were there any other posts this week that inspired you, provided some new writing insights or just made you giggle?
Barbara McDowell 
Thanks for all the links. 🙂
Happy reading, Darlene!
Sunday is my refill the well, go to church, reading and watching a movie day. I know what I’m going to be reading tomorrow — all these wonderful links! I can’t think of a better way to reconnect with my creative spirit. Thanks so much for the blog love, It’s nice to be on your list. I really appreciate it.
P.S. I feel sad about Will and Jada. I enjoyed them as a couple. I had no idea what was going on with the American Idol changes until I read your post. Some of my favorite artists are going to mentors, yeah!
Happy to include you, Kate! With my 2012 focus to face fears, I think back to your piece and wonder what my small breakthrough challenge can be each day. Just to do things differently.
Thank you for the link! I’ll be checking out your great collection here. 🙂
Thanks, Jami! Enjoy.
Hey Barb, I’ve got dibs on the seat next to you while we watch Idol together. Can’t wait for your comments! I’ve never watched The Voice so will check it out. Thanks for the other great links – doing a happy dance rightbackatcha!
I love it, Patricia! Idol fans (addicts) unite. 🙂 The Voice was fun first season and I loved the banter between the mentors. Plus Adam Levine is way cute. I’m going to be a bit torn because I think The Voice will compete with Idol on at least one night. Yep, I’ll be recording one.
Okay I’m talking to ya! lol
Wow Barbara, I’m honored by the mention. What an awesome group or posts to check out. This will keep me busy and out of trouble this weekend. And you know that’s a good thing, right? lol
Thanks Barbara for all your encouragement and support! :).
You are welcome, Karen! I’m still thinking about the woman’s voice and the miracles of what the doctors did.
As for staying out of trouble, I say read the links and still misbehave a little. 🙂
You are ON FIRE with this mash-up, Barbara! I got hopped up just reading this. 🙂
Thanks bunches for the mention. You keep that fire lit, girlfriend!!
That means a million coming from you, Jenny! Thank you for the constant support. Guess I’ve found myself again, eh? 🙂 Off to dance around the lit fire and then roast marshmellows like I’m a Girl Scout again.
Terrific mashup, Barbara! I dug Queen Lamb’s post, too. 🙂
Thanks, August! Just like with Kristen’s books, I’ve benefitted from going back and rereading her blog posts. I read, go implement, reread, go “oh, oh, oh, now I get it” and implement some more.
Cool mash-up, Barbara. Thanks for keeping me current with the most important presidential campaign out there!
Thanks for stopping by, Debra!
Love your links! They are super fabulous and a few I need to check out pronto.
Will and Jada… say it isn’t so. They just seemed like the couple that would make it forever. Maybe it was that ‘Whip your hair’ song that sent them over the edge.
Keep us informed on what’s happening with Idol. I heard ‘The Voice’ is going to be even better this time around.
Keep dancing, my friend!
Yes, I remember seeing Jada in many interviews speaking about their deep level of open communication and all the tricks used to keep the romance, spark and honesty going in the relationship. Who knows what really occurs behind the scenes in Hollywood. Sad for the kids and if it does happen, I hope they keep it classy.
The Voice will rock this season. The buzz is that the talent is all good or great. Last season was fun, but I’ll admit some of the finalists left me scratching my head. I hope Idol brings it as well. Ahhh…performance reality shows just make me glow.
Love your links and I’ll be back this week to check them all out for a rush of delightfulness!!!
Happy reading, Natalie!