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Next time I'm asked for my best advice for mombloggers, I have a new resource I'm going to recommend.
The publishers of Writing Motherhood
(by Lisa Garrigues) sent me a copy of their book to review. And while it's not a resource about blogging, it's purely about content and writing--an extremely important element in a successful blog. It's geared entirely toward women who are looking for creative ways to express the ups and downs of motherhood, and it's full of practical advice and some really good writing prompts. Books about writing sometimes fall flat, honestly--it's a hard skill to teach someone. But this book delivers helpfully concrete tips, like this one, from page 28:
In my experience, writing to a time limit prompts me to speedwrite, helping me outrun my inner critic, while writing to a page count encourages me to freewrite, letting me fall into the rhythm of my breath as I find my own pace. You decide what works for you, But whether you write for two pages or fifteen minutes, once you begin, try not to stop until you reach the finish line.
One of the most practical tips I took with me--and one I've implemented in my own life--is the idea of a "mother's notebook". It's little more than a journal, really, and I've adapted the author's recommendations for this notebook to fit my own life. I'm keeping it as a record of our daily events--the things that are too private or too routine to write in a blog post. I'm not worrying about form or even complete sentences, I'm just jotting down events and emotions I want to reminder. And I'm trying to do it every day. I think that, especially when you're a blogger, having a private place to write is actually quite therapeutic.
I highly recommend Writing Motherhood, especially if you're interested in honing your skills as a writing mom.
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1. What About Mom (Fanny\'s Dream)
2. The Well-Rounded Woman( You put WHAT in your cookies)
3. Happy To Be At Home (erasable pens)
4. Daiquiri (Blogger tips & tricks)
5. Memarie Lane (pregnancy pedicure)
6. The Diaper Diaries (nightly routine)
7. Amy @ MomsToolbox (Hurricane fridge)
8. A Simple Walk (homeschool assignment sheets)
9. Mother Hen (Wicked-Delicious Beans
10. Hotomom (Barbie Storage)
11. Stretch Mark Mama (Eco-Friendly Tub and Tile Cleaner)
12. Alison @ Wholesome Goodness (Teeccino Herbal Coffee Recipes)
13. Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers (Eating Healthy - You CAN do it!)
14. My Precious Pennies {TV Trays!}
15. Christa @ No End in Site (pancakes witha twist!)
16. Soy (Fall Craft Project)
17. Many Little Blessings (Calling Cards plus Free Download)
18. Green Baby Guide (More Exciting Lunches)
19. Jenn @ Casa de Castro (Guest\'s Hospitality Basket)
20. Alexandra(Signs That Your Cloth Diapers Need Stripping)
21. HeresTheDiehl (Dining out with kids)
22. Kat (Master Your Menu Plan)
23. Cindy (a stand-in for medicine)
24. Mother Hen (Walkin\' th\' Dog)
25. I\'d Rather Be Writing (Create Video Tutorials)
26. The Apron Queen (Hurricane Ike- Guardian Angels)
27. Thrifty Jinxy (Easy Homemade Dishwasher Detergent)
28. Alissa@Life Soup (kids junk mail)
29. Penny Raine cooking improv
30. Bring on the Lloyds... (Better Mac & Cheese)
31. Kirsty @ Momedy-Bread Making for the Domestically Challenged
32. Shane (blog design and giveaway)
33. Melanie (cheap dress-up skirt)
34. mzzterry (tips for using LEMONs)
35. Buzzings of a Queen Bee! (Unique Wedding Gift Idea)
36. Kristin (Yard Sales Picture coming)
37. The Happy Housewife (Calendar Tips)
38. Shanda (passing notes in church)
39. Homeschool Classroom (Teaching Life Skills)
40. Domestic Spaz (BACON SMELLS BAD!)
41. Raise Them Up (No More Tipped Umbrellas!)
42. Callapidder Days (Texting for Grown-ups)
43. Lori ~ Simple Life at Home (Kitchen Step Saver)
44. Crayl, (Safe leftovers)
45. This Girl\'s Life (Simplified Laundry)
46. Joanna @ One Krusty Mama (dry erase board for organization)
47. Peanut (Cutting Onions)
48. Muses of Megret (Book Basket)
49. MamaMay @ Christ, Coffeem and Knitting Needles (finding good coupons)
50. Elbows On Our Table (Money Arguments)
51. The Gluten-Free Homemaker (easy dinner)
52. margalit (Almond maple granola recipe)
53. Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates (Avon Jewelry)
54. Barbara H. (Leftover rice)
55. Munchkinheads (Liter Pan)
56. Shades of Shannon (Peppermint Bark Recipe)
57. GROCERY CART CHALLENGE (stretch the life of your groceries)
58. Kristin - The Goat (Excellent Battery Vacuum)
59. Runningamuck (Rid your thighs of bumpy skin)
60. Deb (method for managing snacks)
61. Lee (glow sticks revisited)
62. Amy @ Finer Things (Crowd Pleasing Cavatini)
63. momsfrugal(Herbs and Eggs, kombucha)
64. Mishmash Maggie (Home school Desk)
65. Organising Queen (dealing with paper clutter)
66. Catherine (free barter blog advertising)
67. Miche@Coordinated Chaos -rainy day kid activity
68. Sarah (apple heads)
69. 2nd Cup (Fun egg "trick")
70. Leanne - Yarn Stash
71. John Deere Mom (sticker art)
72. Mary Ann\'s House(selling books)
73. Robin@Heart of Wisdom (Assumptions review)
74. BusyMom (Child Resistant to Change)
75. Mandi (Internet-Wide Gift Registry)
76. Kim (countdown to Christmas)
77. Renee @ Count It Pure Joy
78. flexible dreams (5 great blog tips)
79. Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet (Yellow Cake from Scratch, Funny)
80. JessieLeigh (Closely-Spaced Siblings)
81. Slacker Mom (Record Keeping)
82. Jen (Best Booster Seat EVER)
83. chocolatechic (fun heathy snack)
84. Mrs. Sprinkles (Organizing Books--LibraryThing)
85. Judy (getting my kids to clean)
86. Summer (Benadryl could save your life)
87. Chel\'s Legacy (Brush your Teeth!)
88. Chelsey @ Brown Eyed Basics (Running and why it\'s good for you)
89. Andrea (Braun Family Circus)
90. calina (watercolor markers)
91. Braun Family Circus (pigs in a blanket)
92. Amy (Cinnamon Syrup)
93. Miss Mommy (Clean Toddler Teeth)
94. 100 Acre Wood (TV rules)
95. Michelle (Toilet Paper)
96. Lynn (Kitchen To Do List)
97. Free 2 Be Frugal
98. Camian Academy (Five Outfits)
99. MG (Have iPod, Get This!)
100. Sheila ~ To Love, Honor and Vacuum (Privileges Chart to Help Kids\' Attitudes!)
101. Patrice @ Blessings Amid Chaos (fixin\' attitudes, saving gas)
102. Sonshine (easy testmaker)
103. jodi @ bpr (to-do list that works!)
104. Tami (Election Bible Verse)
105. nottryingforaboy
106. Amy @ By His Grace (Easy, Breezy Pie)
107. nottryingforaboy (plastic bag storage)
108. cool dad (Midday meals for misers)
109. Amy W (freezing juice dribbles)
110. Quiet Quandaries (Teaching Spelling)
111. Carrie (Housework Organization)
112. Brooke (High Heels)
113. The Not Quite Crunchy Parent(Getting Kids To Tell You About Their Day)
114. Herb of Grace (cheap dates!)
115. Conversion Diary (Simple Display for Dinner Menus)
116. TX Poppet (Seed Harvest)
117. Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers (Freezer Meals)
118. twomoms and a little lady (organizing the week without flying)
119. Emily @ Little Home (money managing software)
120. Gina (Chicken Tenders at Target)
121. Christine (how to be the perfect parent!) |
122. Kate@AmbroseHome (Thank You Notes)
123. Olivia (eating at a wedding)
124. Petersonclan (Owning a Horse)
125. Terri @ Funny Farm - May I Help You (painting tip)
126. Ames (toasty toes)
127. April(reusing pet food bags)
128. Halfway To A Dozen (Organize Homeschool Books)
129. Lines (cooking spices)
130. Candace (yummy & easy pie)
131. Jeni (smooth & silky)
132. ohhollyf-hair & rockin
133. slawebb (journaling w/ kids)
134. Elisa (yogurt or milk?)
135. Superpaige (bargain shopping
136. Cindy (cleaning tile floors)
137. Growing Great Kids - Fun Activity!
138. Saving Sisters (Soft baked cookies!)
139. Gina (storing sheets)
140. Full of Boys (starting to go green)
141. Michelle (potty training)
142. MamaHenClucks(Quiet Backseat)
143. A Frugal Housewife (Wishspot)
144. T with Honey (limit interruptions)
145. Milehimama (Emergency Cooking)
146. mom2my9 (wood-burning stove)
147. Jen M (vacuum efficiently)
148. Tami @ Muddlin Thru Motherhood (iced coffee recipe)
149. Catherine at Frugal Homemaker Plus (taming my e-mail, thanks to Simple Mom)
150. Tamara (Greeting Card Usage)
151. Superchikk (Teething)
152. Nichole (free stuff!)
153. KLee (must haves for baby)
154. Amy (BeyondJEMS) Blog Action Day 2008 - Poverty
155. Sandra (preschool fall wreath)
156. Jenn (The End of Nagging)
157. just another day in paradise
158. Abbi (aprons and yummy cinnamon rolls)
159. Ann (surfing efficiently)
160. Katie (Drinking More Water)
161. Maren - homemade dog food
162. Nichole @ A Call to Higher Places (Help with ANTS!!!!!)
163. butler5 (Teething, Travel and Balancing the Checkbook)
164. Kathy~Bona Vita
165. Amy (What works for me on Wednesday)
166. Lorrie (homemade pear juice)
167. New Diva--Good for What Ails Ya
168. Betty Beguiles (Lovely Homecomings for your Husband)
169. Kaye (Ooey Gooey Chocolatey Goodness)
170. Maria - Freezing Basil
171. Tari at Grass Widow\'s Diary (hurricane advice)
172. $5 Dinners (Power Outage Edition)
173. Melinda (moving tip)
174. Amyswandering (Select Comfort Bed)
175. Tonya (Planning your own Disney Trip)
176. Amy
177. Hope@Pinkadoodledoo (Weight Loss Accountability)
178. Wani (cheap craft storage)
179. Fuschia (S*x Ed at Home)
180. Tara@Not So Perfect(Shampoo Bar)
181. Ranee @ Arabian Knits (Easy Hot Breakfasts)
182. Having Fun at Home (run-and-jump couch)
183. Nicole @ Motherhood Musings (Homemade Lunchables)
184. Hadias (Homemade Dried Herbs)
185. Kris (cheap dates with your mate)
186. Hadias (Homemade Granola w/pics)
187. Jenna (Easy beading craft for kids!)
188. Amy (calendar stickies)
189. Suzanne :: Adventures in Daily Living :: (recent comments widget)
190. Ann\'Re @ Home (Math & Dice)
191. Lizzie(homemade pumpkin latte)
192. Kim (Veet hair removal)
193. Tanya (teacher appreciation)
194. Ryann (breakfast muffins w/ recipes)
195. The Frugal Mom Blog (Make Your Own Play Dough)
196. SH (Elder Care Ideas Needed)
197. Heather L. (Free Up Closet Space)
198. The Fat Bottomed Girl (Creamier Salads)
199. EmilyV (Teaching Home Schooled Students)
200. Sandi (walks without strollers)
201. Lori (Meal Planning)
202. Lisa (Making Faces! Fun, easy craft game)
203. Annie {Cucumber Sandwich}
204. Fishbowl Sense - Re-using a Tissue Box
205. Laney (Halloween Pottery)
206. Thia (receiving blankets)
207. Leslie (Kids Schedule)
208. CarolinaMama (Great Music & a Music Giveaway!
209. Kimi@ The Nourishing Gourmet (Incorporating Coconut oil into your daily cooking)
210. Sarah @ Short Stop (online grocery shopping)
211. Stacy (Roasting Tomatoes)
212. Mandy (Spaghetti and a New Glass)
213. Herrmann Family Homemaker
214. Polly (Cure all cleaner)
215. Rachel (Giving through Compassion)
216. Jennifer (Planning for Christmas)
217. Rhen @ YESTHEYAREALLMINE- (dryer sheets)
218. "Cents"able Momma - Magic Eraser
219. Boysmum2 (Love)
220. Veggiemomof2 (sanitizing toothbrushes)
221. Ang (in hindsight)
222. Jacquelyn: Because I Said So! (my brain hurts! how to stretch hairbands!)
223. Everything Mom (Saving space in a nursery)
224. Hadias (FREE STUFF)
225. Stacy (Stretching Frosting)
226. Kristine (sharpies and toddlers)
227. Laane (make files in agenda)
228. Amber (Easy Schedule)
229. Katie @ Perfectly Cloudy (Soft, Smooth Skin)
230. Kristine (personalized gifts)
231. Mozi Esme\'s Mommy (Kid Crafts)
232. Mel @ A Box of Chocolates
233. Ramblings Of Casey (Laundry)
234. Totallyscrappy (5 minutes of peace)
235. Leigh @ Bright Shining Moments
236. Julie Stiles Mills (veggie box)
237. Weighing In (Organizing on a budget)
238. a suburban housewife (Scrubbing Bubbles Gel Stamp Toilet Cleaner)
239. Kerry (applesauce)
240. Sunshine (Remembering Birthdays)
241. Learning By Living (After Thanksgiving Day Sale Tips)
242. Mary@notbefore7 (displaying kids work) |
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