Alchemy Ink

Thoughty Thursday: Things that made me go hmmmm on the Interwebz April 20-26, 2014

/ Melanie Marttila

Thoughty Thursday

This week is video heavy. I think it just reflects my state of mind. Make of that what you will. *sits in corner drooling*

The ideal length for everything online from Buffer.

Hootsuite’s Game of Social Thrones.

Lindsey Stirling’s new video, Shatter Me, featuring Lzzy Hale of Halestorm.

Four Cats (as in Caterpillar heavy machines) playing Jenga from Boing Boing.

Cats + water = epic fun.

The 2013 Barkley dog family Subaru commercials. Giving the goggies equal time.

Thoughy? Meh. Inspirational? Not so much. Entertaining? I sure hope so 🙂

Every once in a while, you have to succumb to the brain candy.

Tipsday: Writerly Goodness found on the interwebz April 20-26, 2014

/ Melanie Marttila / 2 Comments

TipsdayLinking has won the day, if not the poll.

Got yourself a Franken-draft? There may be hope. Dianne K. Salerni on Writer Unboxed.

K.M. Weiland’s Creating Stunning Character Arcs series, part 10: The Midpoint.

9 tips to entice readers to your author blog from Anne R. Allen.

Everybody Arcs! How it all comes down to character. Kristen Lamb.

Carly Watters with 6 reasons you need an agent now more than ever.

12 realizations every writer must come to from 12 Most.

The Atlantic. The appeal of science fiction. A.K.A. why do people look down at the genre of Orwell and Atwood?

Is literary fiction just good marketing? The Guardian. More on the literary/genre debate.

Time. 21 women authors you should be reading.

And that’s it this week. Linking certainly makes for a shorter post!

Thoughty Thursday: Things that made me go hmmmm on the interwebz April 13-19, 2014

/ Melanie Marttila / 3 Comments

Thoughty ThursdayI’m going to try something just a touch different this week. I’m not just dropping links, but hyperlinking text. Experts say readers prefer it.

Let me know what you think, will you?

What students really need to hear from Chase Mielke. Affective Living.

How social media has affected our reading habits. From the Washington Post.

Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty posted this fascinating article on the language of the minions. My interest in languages drew me in right away. LOVE.

Mindy Kaling featured on Upworthy. Backhanded compliments are so not.

Communication presented this bit of reverse psychology: 15 things highly confident people don’t do.

This post by Brenda Knowles on her introvert blog Space2Live was surprisingly controversial. At its core, it’s about the difference between being lonely, and being alone, but it sparked a small flurry of responses. Some people took exception to her association of decision-making with her masculine side and shopping with her feminine side. What do you think?

Upworthy presented Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s thoughts on marginalization in the sciences.

An amazing time-lapse video: the mountain.

Petflow.com share what a reporter discovered while filming beavers close to his house.

ViralNova’s 28 happy-making pictures.

Trending Monkey. Puppies cuddling stuffies. And get your mind out of the gutter! This is CUTE.

And that’s it for this week.

Off to watch Vikings—Rawr!

Tipsday: Writerly Goodness found on the Interwebz April 13-19, 2014

/ Melanie Marttila / 4 Comments

TipsdayLet’s see what we gots here …

Part 9 of K.M. Weiland’s Creating Stunning Character Arcs series:

http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2014/04/character-arcs-9.html

the 10 Commandments of Social Media Etiquette for Writers. Anne R. Allen’s blog.

http://annerallen.blogspot.ca/2014/04/the-10-commandments-of-social-media.html

Agent Carly Watters on why you want an agent who reads:

http://carlywatters.com/2014/04/14/agent-who-reads/

Eight steps to an agent, a publisher, and a two-book deal by Becca Puglisi.

http://writershelpingwriters.net/2014/04/eight-steps-agent-publisher-two-book-deal/

Brevity in Science Fiction – Veronica Sicoe. She was my new discovery this week, thanks to MJ Bush 🙂

http://www.veronicasicoe.com/blog/2014/04/brevity-in-science-fiction/

Jami Gold wonders whether genre fiction can be art:

http://jamigold.com/2014/04/can-genre-fiction-be-art/

Justine Musk on Beauty in the broken places.

http://justinemusk.com/2014/04/17/wounds-to-light-the-art-of-making-beauty-in-the-broken-places/

(Mel’s note: I write an SF story called The Broken Places. Not sure if it’s beautiful, but I’m biased.)

Patty Jansen on how she writes:

http://pattyjansen.com/blog/how-i-write-so-many-books/

And Roz Morris on hers. Follow the strange. LOVE!

http://writerlycommunity.azurewebsites.net/following-strange-write/

6 things you should know about your story.

http://lopopololiterary.com/2014/04/17/some-things-you-should-know-about-story-six-to-be-precise/

The WoMentoring Project. Just check it.

http://womentoringproject.co.uk/

Rochelle Sharpe: Be relentless.

http://rlsharpe.wordpress.com/2014/04/17/writing-tip-wednesday-be-relentless/

Muses rejoice!

Thoughty Thursday: Things that made me go hmmmm on the interwebz April 6-12, 2014

/ Melanie Marttila / 4 Comments

Thoughty ThursdayShort weeks are often difficult. You seem to have to do your full week’s work in only four days. Hence the lateness of this post.

The 12 most pervasive lies about creativity.

http://12most.com/2014/04/07/12-pervasive-lies-creativity/

Sleep your way to success (get your mind out of the gutter).

http://goodvibeblog.com/sleep-your-way-to-success/

20 magical tree tunnels.

http://www.boredpanda.com/magical-tree-tunnels/

Northumberland’s cup and ring rock art.

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/national-recognition-northumberland-ancient-history-6933058#.U0fJa1QoNSd.facebook

Rachel Sussman on the world’s oldest living things TED talk.

http://www.ted.com/talks/rachel_sussman_the_world_s_oldest_living_things

This professor says he’s photographed fairies. Do you believe?

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/fairies-john-hyatt-rossendale-valley-6909619

Smart ways to beat social media burnout.

http://rebekahradice.com/social-media-burnout/

Yes, this is a commercial, but it’s still a good message. Just ignore the last few seconds.

http://blog.petflow.com/this-3-minute-video-made-me-cry-and-i-never-cry-must-see-for-everyone/

If social networks were the Game of Thrones houses.

http://mashable.com/2014/04/06/game-of-thrones-social-networks/#:eyJzIjoiZiIsImkiOiJfOXdtemp5aG94a2gxZDZzNCJ9

A doggy reunion. Just for the feels.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/04/dog-reunited-with-family-17-months_n_5092228.html

I may have shared this before, but it’s just so cute, I couldn’t resist. Puppy cover of Pharrell’s Happy.

http://blog.theanimalrescuesite.com/happy-puppy-cover/

And that’s a wrap, folks.

Have a happy Easter, everyone!

Tipsday: Writerly Goodness found on the interwebz April 6-12, 2014

/ Melanie Marttila

TipsdayAnother eclectic bumper-crop here on Tipsday.

Wired podcast with Elizabeth Bear:

http://www.wired.com/2014/04/geeks-guide-elizabeth-bear/

MJ Bush’s WritinGeekery. A balance of strengths to take your story higher.

http://www.writingeekery.com/strength/

Robin Lafevers on Writer Unboxed. Dear soon-to-be-published author.

http://writerunboxed.com/2014/04/11/dear-soon-to-be-published-author/

And Lisa Cron on The importance of letting ‘em see you sweat.

http://writerunboxed.com/2014/04/10/the-importance-of-fear/

And … Jael McHenry on the relative value of writing craft books.

http://writerunboxed.com/2014/04/07/should-you-read-about-writing/

3 tips for writing better action scenes from BookBaby blogs.

http://writerunboxed.com/2014/04/10/the-importance-of-fear/

Wlater Benjamin’s thirteen theses from Brain Pickings.

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/15/the-writers-technique-in-thirteen-theses-walter-benjamin/

Agent Carly Watters answers the question, Can I write fiction for a living?

http://carlywatters.com/2014/04/07/q-can-i-write-fiction-for-a-living/

Patty Jansen offers her thoughts on when hiring an editor isn’t necessarily the answer.

http://pattyjansen.com/blog/get-your-book-edited/

The Outlander fan gathering. If you’ve been drooling over the coming Starz series as much as I have, you’ll want to see this 🙂 BTW, for my Canadian friends, Showcase will be broadcasting (eeeee!). this summer. Can hardly wait.

http://www.starz.com/videos/video/388

How to be the lord of your novel’s timeline (timelord, get it?) from Roz Morris.

https://nailyournovel.wordpress.com/2014/04/05/an-easy-way-to-make-your-plot-plausible-control-your-novels-timeline/

10 ways pre-published authors can start their careers now, from Anne R. Allen.

http://annerallen.blogspot.ca/2014/04/10-ways-pre-published-writers-can-start.html

K.M. Weiland on the elephant in the room. Are you ignoring your writer’s instincts when it comes to revision?

http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2014/04/story-revision.html

Enjoy, my friends.

Thoughty Thursday: Things that made me go hmmmm on the interwebz March 30-April 5, 2014

/ Melanie Marttila / 2 Comments

Thoughty ThursdayOn Thursdays, I share things that might be good for the idea file, research, or improving your life in some way. Also funnee stuff 😉

6 abandoned places that will haunt your dreams:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/29/abandoned-spaces_n_5051030.html

Beautifully expressive dog photos and how you might be able to take some your own self:

http://www.fastcocreate.com/3028174/get-down-on-your-knees-or-stomach-and-more-tips-on-taking-gorgeous-dog-photos-like-these#1

How the world’s most creative people scheduled their time.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/29/brilliant-people-schedules_n_5055953.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

The key characteristic that all creative people share:

http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2014/03/the-key-characteristic-shared-by-all-the-most-creative-people-i-know-andres-amador-interview/

Flow states: answers to the three most common questions about optimal performance:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenkotler/2014/02/09/flow-states-answers-to-the-three-most-common-questions-about-optimal-performance/

Control your emotions with tai chi:

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/soft-overcomes-hard-control-emotions-tai-chi/

9 stoic principles to remain calm amidst chaos:

http://99u.com/articles/24401/a-makers-guidebook-9-stoic-principles-to-nurture-your-life-and-work

How to be an imperfectionist:

http://deepexistence.com/how-to-be-an-imperfectionist/

Evanescence – Everybody’s fool.

Last week saw the two year anniversary of this wonderful video by the cast of The Guild:

Jim Cummings, the voice of Winnie the Pooh and Darkwing Duck, voices scenes from Star Wars.

Baby elephant’s polo playtime. Just. Too. Cute.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/30/baby-elephant-at-columbus-zoo-video_n_5059328.html

And on that note, I’m a-toddling. Training day tomorrow.

Tipsday: Writerly Goodness found on the Interwebz March 30-April 5, 2014

/ Melanie Marttila / 3 Comments

TipsdayCreating Stunning Character Arcs, part 8:

http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2014/03/character-arcs-8.html

And more Katie, this time on NPR. Listen, or read the transcript. As you wish, dear reader.

http://www.npr.org/2014/04/05/298728897/how-to-kill-a-character

 

 

R.A. Salvatore interview with Bryan Stearns from Oct 16, 2010. The interview is actually in three parts, but parts 2 and 3 will populate the YouTube sidebar when you watch this first one.

Roz Morris received an anguished Tweet. Here is her response.

http://nailyournovel.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/how-many-words-do-you-write-a-day-and-do-you-have-to-force-yourself-how-successful-authors-do-it/

The Sword & Laser spotlight on Chuck Wendig 🙂

Ruth Harris on Anne R. Allen’s blog. It’s all about the blurbage.

http://annerallen.blogspot.ca/2014/03/8-tips-for-writing-that-killer-blurb.html

Orna Ross and Kobo’s Mark Lefebvre discuss the “Open Up to Indie Authors Campaign.”

http://www.ornaross.com/2014/04/chatting-with-kobos-mark-lefebvre-about-our-open-up-to-indie-authors-campaign/

Look for more inspirational curation on Thoughty Thursday!

Thoughty Thursday: Things that made me go hmmmm on the interwebz March 23-29, 2014

/ Melanie Marttila / 2 Comments

Thoughty ThursdayIt’s an eclectic collection this week. A bit imagistic, an iota of cute, a tad astronomical, a titch creative, a little kindness to yourself and others, and a couple of really awesome musical covers.

Enjoy!

The hidden meanings of logos.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/video/dimitri/change-the-way-you-look-at-logos

The top photos of 2013:
http://dailynewsdig.com/top-photographers-photos/

There was another cool post about surreal places that really exist, but the link seems to be corrupted 😦

If you want to take better pictures, start with these five design elements:
http://photofocus.com/2014/03/26/5-design-elements-for-better-pictures/

They had me at sleep.
http://blog.bufferapp.com/creativity-methods-more-ideas

What a neuroscientist says about the benefits of meditation.
http://www.trulybuddha.com/how-meditation-changes-your-brain-a-neuroscientist-explains/

Defining bullying.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/signe-whitson/bullying_b_2188819.html

Things to stop doing to yourself. Just stop.
http://www.lifebuzz.com/just-stop/

How to keep quiet and carry a big telescope. #scienceiscool
http://www.wired.com/2014/03/secret-bicep-inflation/

Pet shaming. Because hilarious.
http://blazepress.com/2014/03/35-hilarious-pet-confessions/

What a dachshund did the first time it was allowed on the bed.
http://blog.petflow.com/a-tiny-puppy-was-allowed-on-the-bed-for-the-first-time-look-what-he-did/

Musical discovery of the week, thanks to new Twitter friend, Mark Hanson.

Two cellists rock cover of ACDC’s “Thunderstruck.”
http://www.sharedots.com/2-men-with-their-cellos-produce-most-incredible-song-cover-ever-this-will-blow-your-mind-122.html

And that, my friends, is all I shared.

Tipsday: Writerly Goodness found on the interwebz March 23-29, 2014

/ Melanie Marttila / 4 Comments

TipsdayK.M. Weiland’s Creating Stunning Character Arcs series, part the seventh:
http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2014/03/character-arcs-7.html

Lessons culled from the Undercover Soundtrack. Roz Morris.
http://nailyournovel.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/7-essentials-for-writing-a-good-novel-notes-from-the-undercover-soundtrack/

Tom Bentley’s Anatomy of a Writer. Writer Unboxed:
http://writerunboxed.com/2014/03/25/anatomy-of-a-writer-2/

The do’s and don’ts of copyeditors past:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/55850/dont-use-pants-pantaloons-19-surprising-rules-copyeditors-used-enforce

The creepy side of libraries …
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/harvard-discovers-old-library-books-bound-in-human-skin_b84050

Top 10 quotes from Oscar Wilde:
http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/Irish-genius-Oscar-Wildes-10-best-sayings.html

Incidental comics. Writing styles. I like the ghost writer, personally 🙂
http://www.incidentalcomics.com/2014/03/styles-of-writing.html

Bookcase hides a secret writer’s retreat. Pure coolness.
http://www.viralnova.com/home-with-hidden-library/

One writer’s musings on marketing:
http://katemoretti.blogspot.ca/2014/03/in-which-i-theorize-on-marketing.html

What can I say? It was an eclectic week.

Good night, everyone!