Writing

Writing about the Normal Rather than the Abnormal

The scope of the community building process is so large that there is a space for everyone to contribute their talents, whatever this talent might be.  One can imagine my relief to know that my love for writing can be used for this same purpose.  The question of course then becomes how. There is always… Read More Writing about the Normal Rather than the Abnormal

Community Building, Writing

Building Coherence: Writing to Contribute to the Betterment of Society

When reading about the habits of highly successful people, a couple of things seem universal.  Most of them seem to have a rigorous routine.  Most of them delegate unimportant tasks.  When possible, a large part of them simplify their lives so that they are able to focus on the more important things. Highly Successful People… Read More Building Coherence: Writing to Contribute to the Betterment of Society

Books

iRead Book Tours: A Happy Third Anniversary! { Includes Giveaway! }

I never imagined, when I first started blogging back in 2008, that I would meet so many amazing people.  Fellow bloggers provided me with inspiration through their own blogs as well as tips, help, and just plain support.  Readers started trickling in during the first months Sahar’s Blog was born, and as their confidence in… Read More iRead Book Tours: A Happy Third Anniversary! { Includes Giveaway! }

Community, Community Building, NaNoWriMo, Writing

Did I Win? Some Thoughts on NaNoWriMo 2014

NaNoWriMo 2014 came to a close on 30 November, but I was lucky enough to reach the goal a couple of days before. Although I don’t know if all of them will make the final cut, I managed to write over 50,000 words of the sequel to the Spirit Within Club. I had discussed at… Read More Did I Win? Some Thoughts on NaNoWriMo 2014

Blog Review, Review

Blog Review: ‘100 Ways to Write’ by Chelsea Thorpe

Name: Chelsea Thorpe Blog Reviewed: 100 Ways to Write Her favourite post: https://100waystowrite.wordpress.com/2015/08/14/the-cinderella-project/ Down in the spreadsheet where blog review requests are made by bloggers was an entry that captured my attention from the moment it was added.  One hundred ways to write, I thought to myself.  There are actually that many ways to write? … Read More Blog Review: ‘100 Ways to Write’ by Chelsea Thorpe

Ask An Author

Ask an Author: When Your Characters Take You Somewhere You Didn’t Want to Go

Summertime is more of a season we associate with reading that with writing—but for our group of authors, we continue to write away, just as much—if not more!—than we read.  That’s why we have some great news to share: at New Zealand’s 37th annual national conference for science fiction and fantasy, author Lee Murray won… Read More Ask an Author: When Your Characters Take You Somewhere You Didn’t Want to Go

Author Spotlight, Writing

Author Spotlight: Jackie Nastri Bardenwerper

As mentioned in my review of the book, I found between the covers of Jackie Nastri Bardenwerper’s Populatti a story that created a safe environment for a conversation on social media’s role in our relationships. The story delves into the increasingly complex maze of interactions that defines high school in the age of social media.… Read More Author Spotlight: Jackie Nastri Bardenwerper

Ask An Author

Ask an Author: You Write What You Read

It’s finally summertime where I live, which means the season to spend time on a deck somewhere with a pitcher of ice-cold water and a pile of books to read!  A couple of years ago, I started reading not just books that I was interested in, but books that I wanted, as a writer, to… Read More Ask an Author: You Write What You Read

Andrews + Blaine, Brand, Crane & Co, Kate Spade, Mudlark, Product Review, Product Review, Spr!tz, Target

Product Review: Blank Cards, Thank You Cards, and Note Cards

A little over a year ago, I wrote a piece on how cards can help build a stronger community. Pleasantries, I wrote, “have been previously defined on this blog as the hydrogen bonds of community building” which although “are not in themselves strong enough to hold a molecule together, but can still change the properties… Read More Product Review: Blank Cards, Thank You Cards, and Note Cards

Personal Development

Redefining our World, one (or two!) Word(s) at a time: Success and Winning

The concept of success is a curious one indeed. I recently ran into someone who asked me how my book was doing. I shared stories about a nine year old girl who found solace in my book because it reflected things she and her friends were going through; about a friend of mine who, after… Read More Redefining our World, one (or two!) Word(s) at a time: Success and Winning