Gabriella Hewitt

On one of my writer’s loops someone posted a link to 100 Essential Tips & Tools for Writers of the Future. It looked pretty cool and I wanted to pass the information on to others.

The List is divided into categories: Markeing and Branding, Organization and Project Management, Business and Career, Collaboration, Brainstorming, Finding Work, Web Tips and Tutorials, Niche Writing, and lastly, Staying Cutting Edge. For each category there are anywhere from ten to twenty links that lead to software programs to help you write and stay organized, or to blog posts aimed at boosting your writing confidence and skills. With 100 tips to go through, there is bound to be something you can use to enhance your own writing. I want to check out the links on the list to Ubernote (#24) and Wridea (#25). They sound like good tools for organizing stuff. I’m always looking for ideas on organizing because I am terrible at it!

Check it out. Tell me what you think.

I read Soulless by Gail Carrriger over the Christmas/New Year’s holidays. I intended to put up a review but since Suzanne Lazear over at Steamed beat me to it with this fabulous post I decided to link to her review instead.

In Soulless you have paranormal meets Victorian age meets steampunk. It all blends together in an intriguing plot with quirky, likeable characters.

And if you enjoy Soulless, get ready for Changeless, the second book in this entertaining series, available March 30th.

I’m relatively new to the term Steampunk. Yes, I grew up watching reruns of the Wild Wild West with their funky gadgets. I even read a novel set in late 18th century Britain this Christmas that was full of similar inventions and atmosphere. (I’ll have to do a review of that book soon.) Still, I had no idea the term steampunk existed to define these types of stories.

I then ran across this Steampunk for Beginners post that laid it out quite clearly. And by the way the whole blog behind that post (Steamed-Writing Steampunk Fiction) is dedicated to all things steampunk. Check it out. I’ve bookmarked it.

Have you tried googling the word Steampunk? The hits go on and on. I had no idea so many people were into not only the stories, but the fashion, inventions, and so on. In my search I ran across a jeweler, Simply Willow who makes Victorian and steampunk jewelry. Take a look at these examples of her work. Aren’t they gorgeous? These two in particular caught my eye. I encourage you to click on her name and check out her pieces.

In Japan, it’s tradition to watch the first sunrise of the year and then visit a temple to offer prayers and wishes for the year ahead. I’m fortunate to live near the sea. It makes for a spectacular sunrise.