A Groovy New Tool + 18 Awesomesauce Links

This is yesterday’s post, only in a word picture…

Today’s Techie Tuesday post is pretty eclectic but I’m bouncing off walls over the nifty tool I discovered. And of course I share all turbo-coolness with my More Cowbell posse.

The graphic above is an example of Text Is Beautiful. That’s yesterday’s Undie Chronicle post up there, only as a Word cloud.

You need at least five thousand characters and it tops out at a hundred thousand, but you authors could put in a synopsis and get a kickass word picture of your books. Pretty groovy, huh?

Note: I’ll do a how-to post if y’all tell me you need help with it. Click the link and try it and be sure to raise your hand down in the comments if you want a step-by-step here at the blog.

Below are 18 Links of Awesomeness from all over the blog-o-sphere. I gather them constantly, and then delete the ones I see in the must-read mash-ups like the one Gene Lempp does every Saturday. I try to only put the off-the-beaten path magic here.

I’ve divided these into categories to make it easier on you!

Social Media / Techie Magic

Marcy Kennedy’s post made me re-evaluate Google+: How to Use Google Plus to Easily Record A Video Blog

I love Anne R. Allen’s approach to blogging: she’s a proponent of once a week “slow blogging.” Although it doesn’t work for me, she’s turned it into an art form. Last week, she discussed the 7 Ways Authors Waste Time “Building Platform” on Social Media.

8 Ways To Promote Your Business (or Your Book) this weekend by Etna Interactive.

Apple’s iO7 and iTunes Radio are coming your way + nifty Parent Apps from CoolMomTech.

Writing Magic

Lisa Cron: Why Good Writers Sometimes Give Bad Advice

YaminaToday.com’s 100 Best Creative Writing Blogs. Writers In The Storm was #14. (I totally squeed over that. 🙂 )

My Story Can Beat Up Your Story – a recommendation by Roni Loren

Have you ever wondered “what genre really means?” Here’s a very comprehensive Sub-Genre list from Writer’s Digest. The only thing I expected to find (and didn’t) was Women’s Fiction.

Stina Lindenblatt explains in detail how to write a synopsis. YAY!!!

I adore Writer Unboxed. Here’s a post from a few weeks back, called A Psychological Self-Help Tool for Fiction Writers, that made me genuflect.

6 Rewriting Tips for Enhancing Reader Comprehension by Stavros Halvatsis.

Gene Lempp turned me on to the stellar John Castle, and this Scrivener post rocks, especially for those who love Save the Cat beat sheets.

I wish I’d seen this amazing-ness earlier in the year: 2013 Writers’ Conferences from Stacey O’Neale.

Indie and Freelance Magic

What Do Self-Published Authors Need? – an answer by Hugh Howey (via Amy Shojai)

Want to build a freelance career? Here’s Noah Davis’ informative look at “the numbers.” This post made me so happy. Finally, someone “showed me the money” on freelance writing.

Food Magic

27 Gluten Free Recipe substitutions – this is AWESOME!! by Kate Morin

Speaking of gluten free, here’s a great list of GF alcoholic beverages — it’s very helpful.

And finally, in honor of all my hockey-loving pals, who will now be in withdrawals till hockey season begins again…here’s a cartoon from Doug Savage.

http://www.SavageChickens.com

Do you have any crackling good links to share? Any favorites stand out from above? Last but not least, if you’re a sports fan, tell us your sport! Enquiring minds LOVE to know these things here at More Cowbell!

Jenny