Archive for the ‘writing’ Category
my interview at ‘this eclectic life’
When my friend, professional storyteller Shelly Kneupper Tucker of This Eclectic Life heard that I got a new gig writing Guarda! A Video Tour of Italy at Italy Magazine, she immediately asked if she could interview me on her blog to help spread the word.
She typed up some fabulous interview questions and had them to me within a day.
How great is Shelly?
So great that you need to head over there right now
and read her interview with me:
Is She Really Bleeding Espresso?
Thanks so much Shelly!
People like you bring sunshine wherever you go!
1st of the month featured bloggers: august
This month I’ve selected five featured bloggers.
This is because Frances of BlogJem has declared Blog About Five Things Week based on an idea from Ben Yoskovitz based on Problogger Darren Rowse’s Group Writing Project from a while back.
Got that?
[By the way, I participated in the Group Writing Project with Top 5 Italian Words You Don’t Want to Mispronounce. There will soon be a new group writing project at Problogger, so stay tuned!]
OK, so the point is that since I was going to feature a blogger or two anyway today, I thought, why not five?
So here are five of my favorite writing related sites–some about the craft, some by my favorite writers:
1. Burnettiquette by Miami Herald columnist James Burnett. The tagline is “Where common sense meets the news.” Love it! I dare you to go visit him and leave without pondering some great social ill, current event or trend. Simply fabulous.
2. NYC/Caribbean Ragazza. This is a gal who packed up her life in Los Angeles as a Hollywood film exec and moved it to Rome where now she’s collaborating with an Italian screenwriter on a new film. Amazing story, amazing woman. Must read.
3. The Golden Pencil by Anne Wayman. So much excellent advice here for writers from technique to the business end, and lots of great job opportunities posted as well. I’d definitely recommend subscribing if you’re a freelance writer.
4. The (Mis)Adventures of a Single City Chick by Christina Arbini. Christina’s was one of the very first blogs I read, and I cannot wait to read one of her books. Publishers, you listening?! Christina has such enthusiasm and passion for writing (and for life), it’s hard to leave her blog without smiling. Don’t you love that?
5. distraction no. 99 by Nova Ren Suma. Nova writes so honestly and openly about her writing process, rejections *and* acceptances that I feel like I’m right there with her. And thank goodness she lets me be–it’s a wonderful ride.
By the way, if you’re looking to spark creativity, making these “five lists” is a great method. You may even find that you want to expand each one and write a whole post about it. Look! A whole week of posts!
How do you come up with blog post ideas?
Buon weekend!
P.S. Can you believe it’s August already?! Gah!
tell me do, what’s MOO with you?
When I did the Flickr photo meme, I mentioned that my MOO mini-cards were coming via my mom. Well they’re here!
To remind you, mini-MOO cards are about half the size of normal business cards, and you can choose from your own photos on Flickr for the front (or you can get pre-made MOOs as well). MOO makes more than just mini-MOOs, though–you can also get note cards, greeting cards, postcards, and more.
To be clear, I don’t get any remuneration or anything for telling you about these, but I did promise to come back and let you know what I thought when I saw the MOOs in person . . . and I think I’m in love.
(click on photos to see larger versions)
Seriously, how cute are these?
I got these “free” when I upgraded to a PRO Flickr account, but I’m going to have to order more because I find myself not wanting to give these away, and, um, hello? That *is* the point of them.
Anyway, I was planning on writing this post anyway, but then yesterday I got word from the MOOsers that they are offering a special discount to those placing orders for the first time. This was written in the MOOsletter (their word, not mine):
The code 8DN2MP* will entitle a brand new MOO customer
to 15% off their first order.
So there you have it. Go MOO and save MOOlah to boot.
And tell me do, what has MOOved you lately?
OK, I’ll stop.
Seriously though, tell me what you’ve been loving this summer–blogs, websites, books, food? Share your favorites in the comments!
P.S. If you’re looking for La Buona Cucina Americana, you’ll have to rejoin us in September when we kick start the series again; like good Italians, we’re taking a break throughout August (and even a bit of July).
Buon weekend!
what’s that? you wanna read more of me?
When I started writing this post, it quickly turned into a rant about how some people don’t realize that freelance writing is hard (actual!) work and that just because we can walk our dogs on a whim doesn’t mean we don’t have real jobs with real responsibilities.
Phew.
But that’s not where I wanted to go with this post.
What I *did* want to do was share with you what I’ve been up to lately, some of the writing I’ve done so that you can visit me elsewhere around the web and maybe learn a few things along the way–I certainly did as I was writing these!
I tried to gather a wide assortment of pieces so that there’d be something in there for everyone. Please let me know what you think!
- First, there are two articles at CheapStingyBargains.com:
(1) For those feeling pain at the pump (and who isn’t?), check out 101 Ways to Save Money on Gas.
(2) Looking for fun summer activities with the kiddos? Summer Fun on a Budget.
- Next, two fashion-related pieces at LifeScript.com:
- Some legal fun as well as serious advice at LegalZoom.com:
- And finally, something I *know* you’ve been dying to know about. From TomatoCasual.com:
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy!
And buon weekend!
come visit me at freelance writing jobs!
Just a quick Saturday hello to ask you to come visit me at Deb Ng’s Freelance Writing Jobs where I’m guest posting today:
A Freelance Writer’s Secret to Effective Time Management
To celebrate three years at FWJ, Deb has been kind enough to open up the blog to guest posts on freelance writing throughout the month of May. There’s still time to get yours in–see details here!
Hope you’re enjoying the weekend!
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
