Jennifer Bray-Weber's Blog, page 9
March 19, 2019
Link of the Week – Epigrams, Words to Live By
Words of wisdom have trickled through the centuries. From societal influencers to our own family members, we are given guidance on how to become better people. Axioms and advice ranging from success, failure, money, adversity, opportunity, morality, expectations, happiness, and so much more offer valuable life lessons. All we need to do is listen and heed the principles.
This week’s link is to another pearl of an article by The Art of Manliness presenting some of the best epigrams throughout the ages.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/21-best-epigrams/
March 13, 2019
Hump Day Kick Start – Writing Prompt #47
Writing prompts to kick-start your muse.
Is this as obvious as it seems? Is there another woman? How does she know that he is meeting a woman? Was there a perfumed note? Had she seen a text message or overheard a conversation? Is “he” a husband? A brother, dad, or boyfriend? When she spies them together, what happens? Is she surprised? Angry? Hurt? Murderous? Is the woman someone she knows? Someone that looks like her? Or perhaps she is a stalker and he has no idea he is being watched.
Share your ideas and/or post your creations, even if it’s just a line or two. I’d love to hear them.
March 6, 2019
Hump Day Kick Start – Pistol, Abs, and Towel Edition
Hump Day Kick Start – for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or ju st a visual treat.
Well, well, well… What do we have here?
Who is today’s prompt? Is he an assassin just getting ready for his day, enjoying the sunrise? Or maybe he’s preparing to confront the beautiful double agent in the next room, only somewhat regretful after the amazing evening they shared. Could he be brandishing a threat to the private investigator across in the other building he knows has him under surveillance? Maybe the window washer is sketchy. Or he’s contemplating what to do if his roommate uses up all his conditioner again.
What’s your take? Tell me a tale or caption the pic. I’d love to hear from you.
March 5, 2019
Link of the Week – Court Sides with Oxford Comma
In the debate on whether or not the Oxford comma is necessary, I say it is. (And will cut you if you disagree. Ok, not really.)
So what is the fuss about? The Oxford comma is the comma used before the coordinating conjunction “and” or “or” in a list of three or more items. It is a stylistic serial comma.
In a 2017 class action lawsuit involving diary drivers, labor disputes, and the Oxford comma (see what I did there?), a Maine court recently ruled in favor of the comma. Read all about it at The Write Life blog. Yes, this happened a couple of years ago, but it illustrates the comma’s important.
https://thewritelife.com/is-the-oxford-comma-necessary
February 27, 2019
Hump Day Kick Start – Writing Prompt #46
Writing prompts to kick-start your muse.
Intriguing… Could she be a time jumper? Is she altering history, for good or for evil? What if she has been reincarnated over and over with a predestined task (again, for good or evil)? Or is she just as baffled as the investigator, shocked to see herself in the photos? Why is she in an interrogation room? What has happened that brought her there? Who is doing the interrogating? Is he someone she knows and/or cares about? Must she keep whatever knowledge she has from him—even if that means dying? Or is this happening sometime in the future, after taking millions of selfies had fallen out of fashion?
Share your ideas and/or post your creations, even if it’s just a line or two. I’d love to hear them.
February 26, 2019
Link of the Week – Plagiarism
So…plagiarism… It sucks on so many levels. Most in Romancelandia are very aware of the latest scandal—an “author” who has lifted whole paragraphs from other authors’ works, had them cobbled together, packaged into her “own” books and put up for sale on Amazon. And of course, once her dirty little secret was exposed, she blamed others and disappeared. Today’s link of the week will get you up to speed in what originally happened and what small ways we can help prevent this from happening.
Where it broke: Courtney Milan
Nora Robert’s weigh-in
http://fallintothestory.com/not-a-rant-but-a-promise/
Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood Perspective
https://www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com/so-weve-gotta-talk-about-this-plagiarism-thing/
Here is a link to a site that checks for plagiarism and helps prevent theft and fraud. I haven’t used them yet, but I plan to.
There is also Fakespot, which “will ensure you get the most up to date and relevant information to make your online shopping experience as safe and trustworthy as possible.” This will help in culling out the fake from real products.
https://www.fakespot.com/about
Sad that people continue to profit off of others’ blood, sweat and tears (lots of tears) to make a quick buck.
February 20, 2019
Hump Day Kick Start – Burning Down the House Edition
Hump Day Kick Start – for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or ju st a visual treat.
Burn, baby burn!
What’s going on here? Is this an act of revenge? Is someone trying to cover up a murder? If so, who is the victim and why? Was it justified or had someone taken the cowardly way out? Maybe this is payback for the forced government buyout. Or an accident with an unlikely hero saving those trapped inside. Could this be the owner’s way of getting rid of unwanted guests from hell? Is this Sheryl’s She Shed?
What’s your take? Tell me a tale or caption the pic. I’d love to hear from you.
February 19, 2019
Link of the Week – Ancient Earth
Check this out! An interactive map of the Earth that shows you what it looked like 20 to 750 millions of years ago. It gives information on the state of the Earth and what living things existed in selected time periods. You can even type in your address or location to see what the geographical area looked like as you travel back in time. Pretty cool and nerdy stuff.
http://dinosaurpictures.org/ancient-earth#0
February 14, 2019
Happy Valentine’s Day
YOU are loved!
February 13, 2019
Hump Day Kick Start – Writing Prompt #45
Writing prompts to kick-start your muse.
This could either be good or very bad. Which do you think? Had she found out what he had been doing? If so, what was the outcome? Does she hate him and never wants to speak to him again, especially after losing the man she was deeply in love with? Does he beg for forgiveness, broken and desperate? Or is she strangely flattered, realizing he is her best friend and soul mate and had been “the one” all along? Could it be that today, with each step she takes to the Wedding March, his heart breaks? Or perhaps he had fallen in love with someone else.
Share your ideas and/or post your creations, even if it’s just a line or two. I’d love to hear them.
