This week, I’ll post suggestions to get you tech ready for the blitz of writing you’ll swear to accomplish in the New Year. I do this every year so some will look familiar, but many are updated to reflect changes in the internet and virtual world we all inhabit. Here’s what you’ll get (links won’t …
Join me in this three-volume fictional exploration of Neanderthals and their lives. Be ready for a world nothing like what you thought it would be, filled with clever minds, brilliant acts, and innovative solutions to life-ending problems, all based on real events. At the end of this trilogy, you’ll be proud to call Neanderthal family. …
During my blog hop to introduce my latest prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, I received help from fellow author-blogger Jina Bazzar, author of the The Roxanne Fosch Files as well as a plethora of other thriller-fantasy fiction you can read more about on her Amazon page. Jina is vision challenged so hosted the story about one …
Here is a popular post from my Ask a Tech Teacher blog: You may have seen this on my education blog A friend asked about speech-to-text options for writing. There didn’t used to be many choices, but now, there are a plethora of tools available for this task. Make sure your microphone is enabled and …
Marcia Meara, author of the hugely entertaining Wake-Robin Ridge series (and more) and blogmaster over at The Write Stuff hosted me during the launch of my latest prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection as part of her fascinating #TenThings series, where she interviews authors to find out what readers might not know about them. I’m reposting the …
Here’s a quick rundown of my favorite tech tips for writers. I find myself using these most days, many times a week. Tell me in comments if that’s true for you, too: Track Your Stuff Windows has a Clipboard Stream! Get Rid of Spam Text Messages Find the Most Recent Blog Article Cover Your Webcam! …
I’m excited to welcome to WordDreams blogger, animal-lover, spiritualist, and acclaimed author of You Beneath My Skin and The Blue Bar, Damyanti Biswas. She is a spectacular writer whose words drop you right in the middle of the power and corruption that is New Delhi life and leave you wondering how the good guys can …
Today, Thomas Wikman, proud owner of a Leonberger named Bronco, author of the definitive book on this breed, The Life and Times of Le Bronco, and I, soulmate to my fictional Canis-dog Ump, sometimes star of the Dawn of Humanity trilogy, will compare stories about our massive dogs. Despite that Ump passed on about 2 …
Tech Tips for Writers is an occasional post on overcoming Tech Dread. I cover issues that friends, both real-time and virtual, have asked about. Feel free to post a comment about a question you have. I’ll cover it in a future tip. You may have seen this on my education blog When I promote my …
Years ago, I submitted my first novel to a list of agents who specialized in my genre, sure they’d love my quirky clever book. I’d edited, re-edited, and run it by people I trusted–it was dressed for success. At that time, I didn’t realize that finding an agent was like putting a hood on a …
It’s become popular to continue a beloved series after the death of the author. Some work like Anne Hillerman who continues the Navajo Mystery series started by her father, Tony Hillerman. He was iconic for his descriptions of life and culture through the adventures of a detective on an Indian reservation. She continues that nicely …
When I teach professional development classes, by far the topic that surprises attendees the most is the legal use of online images. And they’re not alone. On my blog, in educator forums, and in the virtual meetings I moderate, there is much confusion about what can be grabbed for free from online sites and what …
For the next few months, weekly writing tips will include word choice suggestions. That includes: colorful and original descriptions pithy words and phrases picture nouns and action verbs writing that draws a reader in and addicts them to your voice I keep a collection of descriptions that have pulled me into the books. I’m fascinated how …
This is inspired by Jennifer Cohen over at Forbes who wrote a wonderful article on “5 Things Super Successful People Do Before 8am” (few of which I did, though I can claim #5). She includes chores like exercise, eat a healthy breakfast, map out the day–all great ideas, but not pithy enough for the average …
My wonderful sister is coming to visit from Indiana. Our plans: walk, read, cook, talk, Peloton tread, pet the dog–sounds fun, doesn’t it? I can’t wait. See y’all in ten days! Continue reading
I have two posts today: Story Empire: What’s Happening in the Literary World–June Edition #IWSG: What new services should IWSG offer members? I have a new article up over at Story Empire: What’s Happening in the Literary World–June Edition What used to be a simple process of penning what we-all hope will be extraordinary fiction … Continue reading
A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share a popular post from the past month on my teacher education blog, Ask a Tech Teacher. How to Track My Child’s Location Now that so many children carry smartphones, do you track your child’s location? If you’re worried that’s akin to … Continue reading
Tech Tips for Writers is an (almost) weekly post on overcoming Tech Dread. I’ll cover issues that friends, both real-time and virtual, have shared. Feel free to post a comment about a question you have. I’ll cover it in a future Tip. I posted this one over a decade ago, and realize it is more important … Continue reading
I’m taking Memorial Day, May 27, 2024 (and closing comments) to honor our all soldiers on America’s Memorial Day by reading about the sacrifices of the many. Here are some of my favorite books about soldiers: Copyright ©2024 worddreams.wordpress.com – All rights reserved. Here’s the sign-up link if the image above doesn’t work: https://jacqui-murray.aweb.page/p/46e8c9bf-eaed-4252-8aad-3688e233a4cc Continue reading
This week, Sally Cronin over at Smorgasbord Blog Magazine is hosting another of my archive posts. Sally is not only a vibrant storyteller with excellent collections of stories about everyday events that happen to all of us, many of which I have reviewed– Life is Like a Mosaic: Random Fragments in Harmony Life is Like … Continue reading
Her Son’s Faithful Companion by Jill Weatherholt Blurb Her son needs love and friendship Now she’s found the answer to their prayers… Former barrel racer Caitlyn Calloway wants her son with epilepsy to have everything—even if it means selling her family home. Problem is, the place is in disrepair. Her former crush, service dog trainer … Continue reading
Tech Tips for Writers is an occasional post on overcoming Tech Dread. I’ll cover issues that friends, both real-time and virtual, have asked about. Feel free to do the same in the comments. I’ll answer it in a future Tip. Today’s tip: How to change the size of desktop icons in five seconds Category: Problem-solving … Continue reading
No secret I love westerns, especially from the late 1800’s. If you do, too, here are a few I found on NetGalley that are spectacular: Winning Maura’s Heart–she thinks her background means she’ll never find the man of her dreams. Courting Miss Emma–how could he be the man she falls for The Forty-Niners–gold draws lots … Continue reading
During my blog hop to introduce my latest prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, good efriend and fellow Story Empire colleague, Liz Gauffreau, hosted me on her blog, Elizabeth Gauffreau. Liz is the talented author of character-driven stories like Telling Sonny–a heartbreaking portrayal of innocence lost and the love of family–and Grief Songs–poems of love and remembrance. … Continue reading
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