Holiday Tradition

A holiday tradition my family enjoys is that every year our Christmas Eve dinner consists of some type of seafood dish. (Yummy). Seems we aren't the only ones. This 2004 article from the San Francisco Chronicle details people's favorite holiday seafood meals (with recipes.)

www.sfgate.com.



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Favorite TV Catch Phrases

TV Land has just listed the top 100 television catch phrases of all times. From "You're Fired," to "Where's the Beef," this is a fun list, with many phrases that will really take you back in time. "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." Before you check the list, try to write down as many of your favorites, and then take a look at which ones made the final list. My favorite catch phrase that didn't make the list? "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz" 

www.tvland.com/originals/catchphrases/quotes.jhtml.




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Homemade Holiday Cards

Are you looking to personalize your card giving efforts this year. Maybe you're hoping to save a few pennies on the expensive process known as card giving. The very cool making-greeting-cards.com website has lots of easy ideas for making really cool homemade cards. Most of the cards are easy to make, and you will get some great ideas over there. To check out their selection of holiday cards, visit www.making-greeting-cards.com/christmas-cards-ideas.html.


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We're Giving Away FREE Books!

Cold Case
Christopher Ash
Genre: Science Fiction
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Michael Mina: The Cookbook
Michael Mina
Genre: Entertainment
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Hollywood Station (Audio Book)
Joseph Wambaugh
Genre: Action/Adventure
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Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins
Rupert Everett
Genre: Biography/Memoir
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Everybody Loves Somebody
Joanna Scott
Genre: General Fiction
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Crimson Portrait
Jody Shields
Genre: General Fiction
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To Do Lists on Steroids

Managing your to-do lists can be a real headache. If you're like me, you have three legal-size pages of notes, two cocktail napkins scribbled with things you've "just remembered" and don't forget the six phone messages to yourself, reminding you not to forget what you wrote on the cocktail napkin. If you're managing a group project, with more than one person responsible for getting things done, the to do list can take on a life of its own.

A handy website to help you manage your life's to-dos is www.backpackit.com. The application is super easy to learn how to use, and you can manage one or multiple lists over there. You can make your list public to a few people, so they can keep up with their own action items, or you can make it public to the world. Take a sneak peek at my "mock" list at http://mpoling.backpackit.com/pub/844077.


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Get Past the Block
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What's Up in Your Neighborhood?

I live in Hollywood. A place that once was glamorous, then spent the better part of four decades being ratty and gross, and now is dedicating much energy to becoming trendy and glamorous once again. I like the community, because the people reflect this dichotomy. Hipsters live alongside out-of-work actors.

What has always seemed odd to me is the huge divide between income and housing costs in my community. The average household income here is 27K annually (less than half the state average) but the average home price is is more than 500K and the average apartment rent is $1,600 which is nearly 25% higher than the state average. How are all us poor people affording to live in this community, I ask?

Want the inside skinny on your neighborhood? Visit www.neighboroo.com to learn more about the (U.S.) community where you live.



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OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

What do Nietzsche and Family Circus Have in Common?

Not that much really, except for maybe the website LosAnjealous.com. This site will take random quotes from Nietzsche and combines them with random pictures from the Family Circus cartoon. (You know the round Bill Keane cartoons with the dog Barfy?) Sounds weird, right, but these pictures really do seem to match up quite well with the quotes. And with such quotes like "Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man," Nietzsche seems to have been writing directly to the needs of writers.

www.losanjealous.com/nfc/

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Need Creative Writing Prompts?
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Need a Pick Me Up?

The fun new book Pick Me Up (September 2006, DK Children) offers a wealth of information on things children and adults should know as well as things they may want to know. After all, does anyone really NEED to know how to make fake movie vomit? From a graphic timeline of how and when dinosaurs ruled the earth to information on the dynamics of color, there's a whole lot of knowledge packed in this book. Equally engaging is the Pick Me Up website. It's a non-linear path with no rhyme or reason (and some of the links are slow to react), but if you want to enjoy a great time sucker with an educational bonus, then this is the place to go.

http://kiddk.com/static/html/pickmeup/

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Dilbert (Scott Adams) on Writers Block. . .

Scott Adams, the very funny writer of the Dilbert comic strip is one of the many individuals that contributes to the blogosphere. Dilbert.blog is updated almost daily with words of advice and humor. Recent posts have included musings that John Mark Karr (the self-confessed killer of Jon Benet Ramsey) should run for congress, as well as knowing when to quit a failing business. Nearly a year ago, he also posted on how he deals with writers block. To read more, visit
http://dilbertblog.typepad.com.

Get Past the Block
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Need Creative Writing Prompts?
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

Anyone Else Tired of Campaign Commercials?

First, my apologies to international readers. I usually like to keep this section more international. But if you are a breathing American (resident) with a television set, you can't help but be over saturated with election commercials. In California the hot-issues are Prop 87--The Clean Energy Bill, and whether Governor Schwarzenegger is too much like President Bush to re-elect. (I'm not editorializing, just recapping some of the commercials for you).

If you are a responsible voter, interested in becoming a responsible voter, or a writer looking for more information on government officials, the Vote Smart website is the perfect resource. The site provides information on candidates and elected officials. You can enter your zip code, find the candidates running for office in your area, and also see who your current state and federal representatives are.

Dig deeper and the site even has biographical information on current officials, including their voting record, what their positions are on key issues, and even how their campaigns are financed. An overview of ballot issues can also be found here. This is one heck of a resource for voters and for writers www.vote-smart.org.


Get Past the Block
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OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

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Psychedelic Six
Paul Spock
Genre: Action/Adventure
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Warrior and Witch
Marie Brennan
Genre: Science Fiction
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The Second Mouse
Archer Mayor
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
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The Blue Taxi
N.S. Köenings
Genre: General Fiction
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Not Easily Broken
T.D. Jakes
Genre: Christian Fiction
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Make Me a Match
Diana Holquist
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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Redundant Redundancies

First of all, are you crystal clear on what redundancies are redundant? Some things are just useless and unnecessary and by using them we attach together words we don't need. Each and every one of you should check out the brain candy website to see a list of commonly used redundancies. www.corsinet.com/braincandy/twice.html.


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Rhumba! Those Rattlesnakes Know How to Party

When animals congregate, you may find yourself at a loss when naming their groupings. Sure cattle hang out in a herd, but who knew that more than one monkey makes a barrel, and no, not a wooden one. An army of caterpillars, a wreck of seabirds, even a lounge of lizards. To get a leg up on your next night of Trivial Pursuit, (or to just look really cool at your next dinner party) visit the San Diego Zoo website at www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/got_questions_groups_list.html.

By the way, it turns out you can't tell a leopard by its spots after all, because he doesn't have any. Geez. To wade your way through the markings of the earth's largest pussy cats, the San Diego Zoo offers the following study guide: www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/a-cat_coats.html.


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"Doing Anything Worthwhile Takes Forever"

This is a great quote I found over at gapingvoid.com while searching an article over there entitled "How to be Creative." This article is not so much about getting out and painting nature while chewing on granola, but rather gives advice on the nuts and bolts of living a creative life.

It offers a lot of fabulous pieces of wisdom, such as "The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do and what you are not."

If you're feeling the need for inspiration, you should definitely check out this article at: www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/000876.html.


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Set a Goal . . .

This week we're getting serious about goal setting. I challenge you all to pick ONE thing you REALLY want and set some goal on how to get it. Break the goals down into bite size pieces, and make sure they are do-able in small time increments.

Then make sure you do one thing every single day to get you closer to meeting your goal. For writers, this goal often tends to be around the theme of writing every day.

Seriously try it. Three pages a day.

Handwritten, that will take you less than 30 minutes a day. Do it in the morning, at night, even at line at the bank. Don't let yourself make any excuses, and get those goals done. Or else I'm sending Guido over to break your knee caps.

Some of the members of the OnceWritten.com forum are setting their own goals. You can see what they're planning at: http://www.oncewritten.com/Community/viewtopic.php?t=210. Do feel free to pitch in.

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Death to Fool Boys Incorporated
Kenner Bisch
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
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Climb Every Obstacle
Anita Jefferson
Genre: Motivation/Self-Help
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Men are all Murderers and Women are all Whores: A Satire
Justin Zaza
Genre: General Fiction
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The Devil Comes to Larkspur
Carol S. Neumann
Genre: Occult/Paranormal
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Newport
Edward T. Duranty
Genre: Action/Adventure
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Against a Crimson Sky
James Conroyd Martin
Genre: Historical Fiction
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Defeated: Book One of Darkness Among the Stars
S.D. McKee
Genre: Science Fiction
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Real Women Don't Wear Size 2: Warning: Dangerous Curves Ahead
Kelley St. John
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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The Waldorf Astoria Cookbook
John Doherty, John Harrisson
Genre: Cookbook
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Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style
Richard Torregrossa
Genre: Entertainment
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Second Hand Smoke
Karen E. Olson
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
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Monkey Portraits
Jill Greenberg
Genre: Arts/Photography
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Write a Life Plan

Last week I mentioned my life plan, and a couple of subscribers asked me about it. I'm a big believer that you can get what you want, as long as you tell the universe (and yourself) that you want it. I've had huge success with writing down my goals, and am often amazed when I look back on old lists. I've often accomplished most of the things on my lists, even the items I forgot I had written down.

In the absence of my having a formal life planner to share with you all, I found a cool one over at Start Up Nation, an awesome website for small business owners. This is a favorite site of mine, with tons of really great information. An overview of life planning can be found at: http://www.startupnation.com/pages/start/Step1.asp and the page has a template, a sample, and audio files to help you get started.

Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

Coming Soon. . . To a Television Near You

Okay, even the most productive and prolific among us need a little downtime. And while I'm not a huge fan of the television (I don't even have cable), I admit that every fall I get excited about the potential offered by the new season.

As always, there are a few television programs coming next season that have caught my eye. With the first premieres having aired early this week, it's time to start plotting my fall TV consumption strategy. (By October my madness will wear off, but I admit there's so much advertising right now, I'm totally caught up in the hype.)

If you're interested in finding out when your favorites and anticipated new favorites will air, check out: www.metacritic.com/tv/seasons/2006fall/index.shtml. For a channel by channel line up, check out this page: www.metacritic.com/tv/seasons/2006fall/networks.shtml. Then get back to writing, okay?


Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

Find Your Inner Artist

I'm often touting the importance of being creative in multiple channels. Writers can benefit from other right-brained activities such as drawing, painting, collage or other low-stress activities. What to do, though, if you are an art Klutz like me? Get a children's book and start from scratch. Seriously. One of my most favorite books on watercolor is the Klutz Watercolor for the Artistically Undiscovered. By painting like a child, you'll let go of all your disappointments that your first piece isn't the next Michelangelo. Once you forgive yourself for your crappy art first drafts, maybe you'll forgive yourself for your crappy first writing drafts as well. www.klutz.com/catalog/product/2101.



Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

Free Creative Writing Prompts for June 19, 2006

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Build Character--Cut out 20 images from magazines and write personal profiles for each image you've cut out. Now use some of those profiles in a short story.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
Story Idea--Write a story or scene about three children who have snuck aboard a private yacht when the owner comes on board.

www.oncewritten.com/FreeCreativeWritingPrompts.php

Free Creative Writing Prompts for June 5, 2006

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Story Idea--Write a story about a man who finds $30,000 in the trunk of his wife's car.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
First Line--With the opening of the twelfth Starbucks in my neighborhood, we'd officially entered the era of urban sameness.


www.oncewritten.com/FreeCreativeWritingPrompts.php

June 2006 Book GiveAways

The Magic & the Mundane: A Guide for the Writer's Journey
P. June Diehl
Genre: Non-Fiction


Kushiel's Scion
Jacqueline Carey
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy



Superman Returns
Marv Wolfman
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy



Angel with Attitude
Michelle Rowen
Genre: Romance/Chick-Lit



How to Set his Thighs on Fire
Kate White
Genre: Non-Fiction: Self Help



A Field of Darkness
Cornelia Read
Genre: Mystery/Suspense



Enter to Win These Books Now

Free Creative Writing Prompts for May 29, 2006

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Story Idea--Write a story about two alien space ships who land on earth at the same time and both claim to want to colonize the planet.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
Build Character--Put your character in a restaurant, waiting for a blind date that never shows up.

www.oncewritten.com/FreeCreativeWritingPrompts.php

Free Creative Writing Prompts for May 22, 2006

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Story Idea--Write a scene or story about four brothers who are all attracted to the same woman.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
First Line--Conversational etiquette eluded Alana. What was wrong, for example, with telling Mrs. Stanivish that her dress did indeed make her look fat?

www.oncewritten.com/FreeCreativeWritingPrompts.php

This Week's Free Creative Writing Prompts

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Story Idea--Write a short story from the point of view of an animal. Do your turtles want to escape their tank, does your cat dream of riding the dog? Tell their tale.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
Build Character--Get into someone else's head. When is the last time you said "I just don't understand people like that?" Maybe it's a grocery clerk who smashed your bread beneath the milk, a person who cut you off on the freeway and then drove 20 miles an hour, someone who stole jewelry from a major department store. Now write a brief story about that person, what makes them tick, why they feel they have to do the things they do.

Creative Writing Prompt #3
Creative Flow--As quick as you possibly can, write down 15 verbs that mean "to go." Now write a sentence for each verb, making sure to take into consideration the nuance of each different verb.

www.oncewritten.com/FreeCreativeWritingPrompts.php

This Week's Free Creative Writing Prompts

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Write a story about a muralist who has the ability to capture and control the souls of the people he paints.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
Write a five page story today on any subject you like. When you've finished, practice your editing skills by turning the story into a two page story without altering any of the plot.

Creative Writing Prompt #3
Write a story that starts with the following line..."On her 80th birthday, Aunt Margaret handed her family members brightly colored stickers and told them to start tagging the things wanted after she was gone."

For more prompts, visit the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page now.