LaLeche League Whole Foods for the Whole Family Cookbook For Breastfeeding Moms and Everyone

It's been a long time since I nursed a baby. But I still use the LaLeche League cookbook "Whole Foods for the Whole Family." It's my go-to source for vegetarian, lowfat, natural, family friendly, healthy recipes. I've been pulling it out a lot more making meatless foods for Lent. It's been a great resource for my 100 pound weight loss journey. It helps me create vegetarian and vegan meals for Lent. Read on  LaLeche League Whole Foods for the Whole Family Cookbook Not Just for Breastfeeding Moms

Free Printable Poetry Frames, Writing Prompts, Poem Templates

April in National Poetry Month. Poetry is one of the best forms of creative writing for unlocking emotions. But writing it can be daunting for beginners. As a teacher, I'm all about empowering the inner poet. Here are free printable poetry frames and poem templates to break the creative ice. What are poetry frames and poem templates? They're patterns to guide their writing. Frame poems provide more or less structure, depending on needs and age of writer. For emergent reader/ writers, frame poems may resemble a fill-in-the-blank activity. For seasoned writers, poem templates simply provides a springboard from which to launch poems. Reluctant or diffident students gain confidence in their writing skills using these templates.

Free Printable Poetry Frames and Poem Templates

Epic of Gilgamesh, the Oldest Book in the World

If we could see time as river, beginning to end, we'd see that now is a little droplet in a vast body. So much has gone before, kingdoms have risen, flourished and fallen. Countless peoples have trod this place we call earth. Not gone--the influence is everywhere. But largely forgotten. We're content with trivial, never thinking of what went before. For example, I'll be most of us didn't know the oldest book in the world was   Gilgamesh. It's not a history lesson. It is history.

Avoid Burnout, Quit While You Still Feel Ahead

I did it again. Worked past personal stop time I'd set. I meant to get to the store in the window of time while it was nice. A teeny-weeny porthole window in Michigan. You'd think I would know better. I've been doing this online writer work at home thing for nine years. Please, do yourself a favor Prevent Burnout, Quit While You Still Feel Ahead. Take breaks to wander through the bamboo. As I am here.

Tips for Making Bubblews Online Content Site Work

I've said before how different Bubblews is, with the in-house interaction. Most sites frown on users giving each other page views. Bubblews encourages it. I read a lot of back and forth on what's best here: interacting or posting. I say both. And at the risk of flying in the face of convention wisdom, I pick posting over interacting. I proved it pays betterr. Here's how. Interact on Bubblews--Good, But Keep Posting

 

Writing Web Content-- Branded Helpful Information Vs. Fluff

I've written a lot about freelancing and blogging Bubblews posts. But I need to make a caveat. If you plan to write for the internet at large, and not just Bubblews, write posts with substance, not just fluff.



Now before anyone gets his back up, let me qualify. I'm not hating on short, personal posts. I'm not casting aspersions on writing what you had for dinner or "good morning" posts. I'm a little less inclined to read or interact, but that's just me. I want to read informative posts with a point that are unique and fresh.  Read on Writing for the Web 101 Write Branded Helpful Information Not Fluff 

Online Articles: Write for SEO or Readers? Both

I've been writing online earning sustainable income since 2005. In that time I've made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot about SEO (search engine optimization). A frequent question from those looking to write for pay is: do you write for SEO or to readers?



That's a rhetorical, somewhat presumptuous, question. The implication is that content written to attract search engines also lacks personality. That it's nobler to write to one's "passion" (an overused word I'm getting a little tired of) and mercenary to write so content can actually be found online. Because that's what it boils down to--findability.  Read on Writing for the Web 101 Write for SEO or Readers? Both