It's All About Writing » Nicole Humphrey Cook http://nicolehumphrey.net Mother. Writer. Author. Friend. Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:47:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 “Old Spice” Guy in the Library – Simply Awesome! http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/old-spice-guy-in-the-library-simply-awesome/ http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/old-spice-guy-in-the-library-simply-awesome/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:47:38 +0000 Nicole Humphrey Cook http://nicolehumphrey.net/?p=1327

What do you think? I’m still smiling. I love this guy. Tweet This! Subscribe to the comments for this post? Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Tumblr Blog this on Blogger Share this on del.icio.us Share this on Technorati Share this on Facebook Buzz up! Post this to MySpace Digg this! Share this on Reddit Add this to Google Bookmarks Post on Google Buzz Add this . . . → Read More: “Old Spice” Guy in the Library – Simply Awesome!]]>

What do you think? I’m still smiling. I love this guy.



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]]> http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/old-spice-guy-in-the-library-simply-awesome/feed/ 0 Favorite Posts & Tweets for Writers Round Up June 28 – July 18, 2010 http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/favorite-posts-tweets-for-writers-round-up-june-28-july-18-2010/ http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/favorite-posts-tweets-for-writers-round-up-june-28-july-18-2010/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:22:44 +0000 Nicole Humphrey Cook http://nicolehumphrey.net/?p=1259

Well, this particular favorite tweets covers a whole two, almost three week span, because I got so busy planning and then taking a short trip, that I didn’t get them up. Sorry about the “lateness”, but it is seriously jam packed with tons of links, so hopefully that makes up for it.

If you are interested in . . . → Read More: Favorite Posts & Tweets for Writers Round Up June 28 – July 18, 2010]]>

Well, this particular favorite tweets covers a whole two, almost three week span, because I got so busy planning and then taking a short trip, that I didn’t get them up. Sorry about the “lateness”, but it is seriously jam packed with tons of links, so hopefully that makes up for it.

If you are interested in older posts of  Tweets for Writers and Round Ups you can either search the blog with the search box on the right or try looking under the Tweets for Writers category.

Agents/Querying/Submission

Blogging

Book Promotion/Marketing

Character Development

Copyright/Legal

  • TX judge dismisses Creationist lawsuit as disjointed, incoherent, maundering, full of irrelevant info http://j.mp/9PcDdg
  • Top 5 Copywriting Secrets To Selling Your Book http://bit.ly/c7S6NA

Digital/E-Books

Editing/Revision/Grammar

Freelance Writing

Genre Specific

Inspiration/Creativity/Organization

Journaling/Memoir

Poetry

Publishing

Self Publishing

Social Media and other Programs for Writers

Writing Process

Writing for Children/YA/Middle Grade

And just because this is my list, I am including:

Hilarious Stuff That Makes Me Giggle (and that I can almost relate to!) or Just plain COOL stuff.

If you know of a tweet/post I might have missed this week, please feel free to leave the link in the comments.



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]]> http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/favorite-posts-tweets-for-writers-round-up-june-28-july-18-2010/feed/ 3 I Write Like… http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/i-write-like/ http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/i-write-like/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:30:01 +0000 Nicole Humphrey Cook http://nicolehumphrey.net/?p=1317 I tried the new site that everyone is tweeting about “I Write Like…” because I was curious. I was shocked at my result for one of my completed manuscripts. After pasting a portion of the first chapter, I was surprised to see this:

I write like Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, . . . → Read More: I Write Like…]]> I tried the new site that everyone is tweeting about “I Write Like…” because I was curious. I was shocked at my result for one of my completed manuscripts. After pasting a portion of the first chapter, I was surprised to see this:

I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

So after I checked that out, I pasted a blog post in, and got this one:

I write like
Dan Brown

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

So, after seeing these two results, it makes me wonder what the algorithm is that is used to determine these results. I just wish I knew what it was. At any rate, if there was any truth to either of these, I would be a very proud writer, because they are both amazing and gifted. The Stephen King one scares me a little because I don’t think my mind is as demented as his :p

Analyze your writing and let me know what you get!



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]]> http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/i-write-like/feed/ 5 Where Are the Tweets for Writers? http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/where-are-the-tweets-for-writers/ http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/where-are-the-tweets-for-writers/#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:28:11 +0000 Nicole Humphrey Cook http://nicolehumphrey.net/?p=1302

So where are the Tweets for Writers? Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten. In fact, if you see the one that will be going up this Monday, July 19, 2010 you would be absolutely amazed. It is so jam packed full, I thought about breaking it up into two parts, but I’m keeping it as one.

So as . . . → Read More: Where Are the Tweets for Writers?]]>

So where are the Tweets for Writers? Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten. In fact, if you see the one that will be going up this Monday, July 19, 2010 you would be absolutely amazed. It is so jam packed full, I thought about breaking it up into two parts, but I’m keeping it as one.

So as my previous post mentioned, my daughter is off pretending to be a college freshman at only 13, so I’m missing her like crazy, but she is having so much fun. She loves her English Professor and the writing class she is taking and I am still really jealous. LOL

Anyway, because of all the stuff we have been dealing with, and all the things that are going on, I didn’t get my TfW up lately, but on Monday, I swear it will be worth it. Just wanted to make sure that you know to watch for it. :)



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]]> http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/where-are-the-tweets-for-writers/feed/ 2 My 13 Year old is at College! http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/my-13-year-old-is-at-college/ http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/my-13-year-old-is-at-college/#comments Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:50:20 +0000 Nicole Humphrey Cook http://nicolehumphrey.net/?p=1297 We dropped our middle daughter off this weekend for a three week visit at a college. It is a program called the Joseph Baldwin Academy, and is an exceptional program. I am really excited for her, but oh my goodness, I miss her like crazy.

You can learn more about the program here, but the gist of the program . . . → Read More: My 13 Year old is at College!]]> We dropped our middle daughter off this weekend for a three week visit at a college. It is a program called the Joseph Baldwin Academy, and is an exceptional program. I am really excited for her, but oh my goodness, I miss her like crazy.

You can learn more about the program here, but the gist of the program is this: The Joseph Baldwin Academy offers highly talented students a head start on their future university careers by allowing them to spend three weeks as college freshmen: they move into a residence hall, adapt to living with a roommate, eat dorm food, make new friends, attend a college level class, and work with Truman State’s faculty.

It was actually really awesome to see everything, and to be on a college campus, set up her dorm room, eat lunch with her before we left in the college cafeteria (which I swear resembles a restaurant) and learn about her class.

She is taking a writing course. Yes, I am proud. She is hoping to get selected again next year also – next year she wants to take a Psychology course. This kid is definitely going places.

Anyway, I’m just trying to hang on by a thread. She’s gone for three weeks, and I am dying and we are less than 48 hours into this. Trying to distract myself with anything I can, but its not as easy as I thought it would be.

She did call Saturday night and talk to us for a bit, so that was comforting (plus she sounded great which made it SO much easier!) She’s making friends, having fun with her roommate,  her dorm buddies and a few other friends from her district that got into the program also. So I know she is having a blast, I just feel like a mother bird does, when one leaves the next.

Interesting (but very true) conversation my husband and I had.

Me: Well, I suppose we have to let her have wings to fly. I know that’s what we have to do as good parents.

Mike: Not at 13 we’re not supposed to!

LOL I think I feel his pain.

It’s so quiet around here without her, and the other kids have no idea what to do with themselves. Brie and I have been down in my scrapbook room cranking out cards to send her so she gets mail nearly everyday. It’s kept us busy, but it’s not enough.

If I am quieter than usual. That is why.



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]]> http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/my-13-year-old-is-at-college/feed/ 3 Story Write – Publish Your Stories http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/story-write-publish-your-stories/ http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/story-write-publish-your-stories/#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:27:10 +0000 Nicole Humphrey Cook http://nicolehumphrey.net/?p=1284 Have you checked out Story Write? It’s totally new to me, so I know very little about it so far, but if you like reading (and critiquing) other people’s stories, this might be a great site for you.

You can also post your own stories, though I am still learning how that all works. There is some . . . → Read More: Story Write – Publish Your Stories]]> Have you checked out Story Write? It’s totally new to me, so I know very little about it so far, but if you like reading (and critiquing) other people’s stories, this might be a great site for you.

You can also post your own stories, though I am still learning how that all works. There is some kind of point system that I wish I could be clearer about, but its still a little unknown to me, but I plan to figure it all out.

The site encourages authors of all levels. You can post your stories and you retain the copyright to all of your work. You can join writing groups, participate in contests, and all of this for FREE.

There are other options for membership available too that have upgraded features, but it appears that a regular old FREE membership is actually all you need.

According to the site 3266 authors visited this week, and they read 23,008 stories.
There are 67,022 total authors with 197,125 stories and 937,162 comments! Not bad.

Are there other sites like this that are the same or better? Tell me about them. Are you a member of storywrite?



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]]> http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/story-write-publish-your-stories/feed/ 3 Book Review: Heart to Heart by Lurlene McDaniel http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/book-review-heart-to-heart-by-lurlene-mcdaniel/ http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/book-review-heart-to-heart-by-lurlene-mcdaniel/#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 05:16:23 +0000 Nicole Humphrey Cook http://nicolehumphrey.net/?p=1279 I read and re-read Lurlene’s books so often just to keep myself busy while I am waiting for a new book to come out. Prey came out in March and it has been sitting on my shelf waiting to be read ever since. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to read it, I already had so . . . → Read More: Book Review: Heart to Heart by Lurlene McDaniel]]> I read and re-read Lurlene’s books so often just to keep myself busy while I am waiting for a new book to come out. Prey came out in March and it has been sitting on my shelf waiting to be read ever since. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to read it, I already had so many books in line.

When I found out Heart to Heart was being released in June, I tried to find time to read Prey before it arrived, but to no avail. I was absolutely intrigued by the premise of Heart to Heart, so the day it was released I went and snatched it up.

Here is my review:

Title: Heart to Heart
Author: Lurlene McDaniel
Pages: 224 pages
Genre: Young Adult
Jacket Description: From Lurlene McDaniel, the bestselling author of young adult inspirational fiction, comes Heart to Heart. This emotionally charged novel explores loss, love, renewal, and the ways in which these complex bonds within families and between friends are tested at life’s most challenging moments.

Elowyn Eden and Kassey Messechek are best friends. They share every aspect of their lives. But one thing Elowyn has not yet shared with Kassey is that she checked the organ donor box on her newly acquired driver’s license. Kassey only learns of this in a startling and devastating way—when Elowyn’s life-giving donor wishes are about to be honored.

Arabeth St. Clair has not had the luck to have a best friend. Due to her diseased heart, she’s led a sheltered life. When Arabeth is sixteen, she and her mother receive the call that will change their lives—but they don’t know to whom they should be forever grateful.

When the worlds of these three girls and their families intersect, lives are changed in ways never imagined. Most especially, it is Kassey who sees things differently, for she can keep alive the memory of her dear friend by sharing the renewed life of another teenage girl, while helping to ease the pain of the two families involved and coming to terms with her own.

Review: Let me first say, I absolutely love the names that Lurlene chose for this book. Elowyn has to be the most unique name ever, and I only regret that I am done having children, because I would absolutely name a child Elowyn. I also loved the names Arabeth and Kassey.

This was one of the quickest reads for me in a really long time. With 224 pages, I thought it would take a bit longer to read but it was a super easy read and a really great page turning story.

As is typical for Lurlene, she tackles a scientific/controversial topic (cellular memory) and gives it life beyond words. The book made me really think and feel what these characters were dealing with and how something like cellular memory is possible.

The three female characters were genuine and each had their own really unique personality. In this book, the parents were prevalent almost the entire way, which I enjoyed because I like to see the entire family and the dynamics which I think are missing from a lot of young adult books. Wyatt, who is Elowyn’s boyfriend was the one character how I swung back and forth on how much I liked him. To be honest, I really didn’t like him very much at the beginning which I actually think was intentional. By the end however, I couldn’t help but love him and see how emotionally invested he was in all of this too. I think sometimes us females forget how sensitive men can be in situations that are tragic or life altering.

At any rate, I absolutely loved this book and I have decided I kind of suck at book reviews, because I absolutely hate giving away plot and story, so I can’t say everything I want to say. It was an awesome book, dealing with an interesting and newish (at least in books) topic, with three amazing characters you cannot help but love, along with their families.

I give this book 5/5 stars. It was an EXCELLENT read.



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]]> http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/07/book-review-heart-to-heart-by-lurlene-mcdaniel/feed/ 0 Favorite Tweets for Writers June 21 – June 27, 2010 http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/06/favorite-tweets-for-writers-june-21-june-27-2010/ http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/06/favorite-tweets-for-writers-june-21-june-27-2010/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:30:08 +0000 Nicole Humphrey Cook http://nicolehumphrey.net/?p=1204

Life is getting back to normal slowly. I am writing more, and I seem to be a bit more focused than I was previously. Mike is off work until the end of July, once he has completed his Cardiac Rehabilitation. This is not really a bad thing – its kind of nice having him home during . . . → Read More: Favorite Tweets for Writers June 21 – June 27, 2010]]>

Life is getting back to normal slowly. I am writing more, and I seem to be a bit more focused than I was previously. Mike is off work until the end of July, once he has completed his Cardiac Rehabilitation. This is not really a bad thing – its kind of nice having him home during the summer months. Anyway, I am getting back to tweeting and blogging and I just figured out that I only have 3 1/2 months left to finish the novel I am currently working on, because then I have to focus on NaNo. I know that’s silly, but I tend to be a planner, so I am looking forward to October and getting ready.

So far I have received a lot of compliments on this format of Tweets for Writers, so I am keeping it. I think it is easier to navigate. Let me know if you would like to see a category I might have forgotten to include.

If you are interested in older posts of  Tweets for Writers you can either search the blog with the search box on the right or try looking under the Tweets for Writers category.

Agents/Querying/Submission

Blogging

Book Promotion/Marketing

Character Development

Copyright

Editing/Revision/Grammar

Freelance Writing

Genre/Writing Type Specific

Inspiration/Creativity/Organization

Journaling

Publishing

Resources/Apps for Writers

Script Writing

Self Publishing

Social Media and other Programs for Writers

Writing Process

Writing for Children/YA/Middle Grade

And just because this is my list, I am including:

Hilarious Stuff That Makes Me Giggle (and that I can almost relate to!)

If you know of a tweet/post I might have missed this week, please feel free to leave the link in the comments.



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]]> http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/06/favorite-tweets-for-writers-june-21-june-27-2010/feed/ 9 writeoncon for MC18 http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/06/writeoncon-for-mc18/ http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/06/writeoncon-for-mc18/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:02:25 +0000 Nicole Humphrey Cook http://nicolehumphrey.net/?p=1254 I’m not sure why I haven’t posted about this before. I’ve been pretty excited about it for a short while now and cannot wait until it finally arrives. Are you a YA, Middle Grade or Children’s writer looking for a convention that works with your completely busy, no time for anything schedule? You found it.

What is . . . → Read More: writeoncon for MC18]]> I’m not sure why I haven’t posted about this before. I’ve been pretty excited about it for a short while now and cannot wait until it finally arrives. Are you a YA, Middle Grade or Children’s writer looking for a convention that works with your completely busy, no time for anything schedule? You found it.

What is writeoncon?

WriteOnCon is an Online Children’s Writers Conference (rated MC-18, for Main Characters under 18 only) created by writers, for writers.

When: Tuesday – Thursday, August 10 – 12, 2010

Where: http://www.writeoncon.com

Cost: Free!

Who: That’s the best part—it’s for EVERYONE!

The problem is, I have to wait until August. But registration begins July 1, 2010.

In the meantime, there’s a forum that you can utilize to get to know everyone – let’s liven the place up a bit over there.

Are you attending writeoncon?



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]]> http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/06/writeoncon-for-mc18/feed/ 2 Love Letters To Literary Crushes Blog Fest http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/06/love-letters-to-literary-crushes-blog-fest/ http://nicolehumphrey.net/2010/06/love-letters-to-literary-crushes-blog-fest/#comments Sat, 26 Jun 2010 18:38:14 +0000 Nicole Humphrey Cook http://nicolehumphrey.net/?p=1249 Frankie, over at Frankie Writes has proposed a Blogfest on Wednesday, June 30th! It is in honor of the release of Eclipse and the fact that Edward and Jacob seem to be hogging all the literary love these days. It’s time for us to move onto some other literary loves.

We all know there is at least . . . → Read More: Love Letters To Literary Crushes Blog Fest]]> Frankie, over at Frankie Writes has proposed a Blogfest on Wednesday, June 30th! It is in honor of the release of Eclipse and the fact that Edward and Jacob seem to be hogging all the literary love these days. It’s time for us to move onto some other literary loves.

We all know there is at least one amazing character you wish were here with you. Here’s your chance to let them know!

What better of a way to let them know how we feel, than to send them a love letter.

I know who my crush is, but you’ll have to wait until Wednesday to find out.

From Frankie’s post:

Before you head out to see Eclipse, why not let your underappreciated literary crush know how much you love them. Tell them why they are so cute, adorable, sexy, caring, funny, and awesome that you wish they were real and not just living in some author’s head. And even if they’re not starring in a major movie at the end of this month, we still think they’re all that and a bag of chips.

Anyone can participate by going to Frankie Writes and signing up with the Mr. Linky. And if love letters aren’t your thing, feel free to format it any way you like–but come on, let’s spread the YA Literary Love! You can help out by tweeting, and posting on your blogs and then check back here on Wednesday to see who everyone’s literary crush is!

So are you in? If so hurry over and tell Frankie you’re going to join us! I can’t wait to see what transpires!



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