The WM Network

In case you haven't been able to stop by your favorite blogs this week, here's what you missed!

The WM Freelance Writers Connection

Don't forget...

We're moving! Starting February 1, 2011, you will find us at http://wmfreelancewritersconnection.com. Don't worry, you'll still have access to all of our existing posts here on this site, but future posts will be on the new site. And, as an added bonus, new subscribers on the new site will receive a free ebook from The WM Freelance Writers Connection bloggers.

Fiction Writers: Get Noticed With Amazon.com's 2011 Breakthrough Novel Award Contest by Angela Atkinson
In case you haven't heard, Amazon.com, CreateSpace (Amazon's POD publishing company) and Penguin Group (USA) recently announced their 2011 Breakthrough Novel Award contest. They're looking for the "next popular novel" and...

Mind Map Your Writing Plans!- Guest Post by Patricia Anne
It is a new year. January 2011 is just flying by so it is reassuring to look at my writing plan mind map and to see that I am making progress. Let me reassure...

Freelancing Without Fear of The Phone by Shakirah Dawud
My oft-repeated fear-of-the-phone story is my childhood avoidance of ordering pizza. I wasn’t afraid of the pizza man; I was afraid of messing it up somehow. Then as a college student, I was hired as a pharmacy technician...

15 Reasons Why Writers Need a Good Night's Sleep By Pam Houghton
I watched the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion, Part 1 last night. (I'm writing this on Friday, a day ahead of my scheduled blog post.) Fell asleep promptly after I went to bed (those Housewives wear me out), then woke up two hours later and couldn't get back to sleep.
Aargh! I had three deadlines today...


The WM Parenting Connection

Study Linking Autism to Vaccines Proven False by Alyssa Ast
The 1998 study published in the British Medical Journal by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, which linked vaccines and autism cases, was recently proven to be an "elaborate fraud." After an investigation was conducted, the study was proven...

My Response to the Chinese Parenting Piece by D. Pecis
By now you may have heard or read about Amy Chau's piece "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior," which has been circulating the web and as of this writing, has garnered some 6500+ comments. It is a clear and engaging piece, written by a Chinese-American mother, extoling the virtues of strict, rigid parenting. With the amount of publicity it's getting, I thought...

It's Not About Me Anymore by Kelli Robinson (Grade School Guru)
Since becoming a mom, I’m often asked how parenting has most changed my life. Eight years ago I was asking this question, and like many who have asked me, my purpose was twofold. One, I truly was interested in how parenting affects a person’s life. Two, I was determining my abilities to handle the job...

Parenthood isn't for everyone? by Claire Hegarty
There was a time when I couldn't stand the sight of a pregnant woman and even cringed at birth scenes on the TV. I didn't feel comfortable around babies at all unless I was babysitting (which I didn't do often for babies.)I convinced myself I wasn't...


The WM Pet Connection

Work vs. pet parenting By Heather Chadwick
Right now, I'm surrounded by a loving collection of two dogs and two cats. I'm watching my dogs lay peacefully on the couch, and letting my cat Henry make his way past my lap. This past week, I've been in the middle of a big writing project that has taken up most of my time. This project has...

Help Your Dog Get Unplugged -- Remedies for Constipation By Rebecca Sebek
Our family dog went outside every hour on the hour a few weeks ago. I thought she had a UTI (urinary tract infection) because she keeps eating my cats' food but that wasn't it. She was constipated -- the poor thing. I suggested to my mom that she give Harriet something with fiber or a fiber supplement. My mom put a half...

Deep Pet Thoughts: Here Turkey, Turkey, Turkey by Laura Ast
Living up here in the sticks, you have to get your entertainment where you can, and mine lately, is the wild turkeys that come by. Every day, at least once, sometimes more often than that, the turkeys come by. They are looking for food...

It’s a Dog’s Life: Back to Basics By Janet M. Krause
First things first… sit. When we found Chaz at the Chippewa County Humane Association, he had been there for about 3 months, a stray. He was house broken but that was really all he knew. He didn’t sit or stay on command, completely ignored toys, and wasn’t all that interested...

The Weird and Wonderful By Rochelle Bergman
So, you have a pet at home. You love it like it was your own. Sometimes, you pamper it and maybe you buy it a special treat once in a while.
One day you are looking at him and you wonder, hmmm, maybe it can do a playful trick or two? The wheels are turning in the your mind. Wouldn't it be nice to show off to your friends and family, what you and your pet can do? Your pet owes you, at least for feeding him...

Human Diseases in Pets By Robert Medak
There are many of the same diseases found in humans found in cats and dogs as well.
Some of the diseases found in cats and dogs also found in humans are:
1. Skin allergies...


The WM Review Connection

Book Review: 'Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters' By Christina Newman

Educational Product Review: Franklin Speaking Spelling Bee SSB-208 by Alyssa Ast

MOVIE REVIEW: NOWHERE BOY by Patricia Anne McGoldrick

Board Game Review: Sudoku Board Game by Taqiyyah Shakirah Dawud

Book Review: Wicked Appetite by Dawne Prochilo