Shades of noir

Chicago author Libby Fischer Hellman just released her latest novel, Nobody’s Child, last week. She writes mysteries and thrillers and is a great supporter of other writers. She was a panelist at the Writers Block Party* last Saturday, sharing tips with new and aspiring writers.
Here is a post from her blog about dark mysteries.

Crime Novels: How Dark is Dark by Libby Hellmann

http://www.libbyhellmann.com/crime-novels-dark-dark/

*More on that later.

You could make this up

In need of a plot point? If your story character needs to get in or cause trouble, here’s some havoc to cause.

This Infographic Breaks Down the Most Common Travel Scams by Country

http://wayfarer.lifehacker.com/this-infographic-breaks-down-the-most-common-travel-sca-1619962811?utm_campaign=socialflow_lifehacker_facebook&utm_source=lifehacker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Now you’re cookin’

I’ve never taken a cooking lesson, but I’ve heard similar advice from a floral design teacher, a Japanese tea ceremony narrator, and a printer who started his career in a Navy print shop.
Chefs learn to operate with everything in its proper place do they can work most efficiently.
(Go ahead and read. I have to clean my desk now. Then I have to tweak the nature of one of my characters.)

For A More Ordered Life, Organize Like A Chef : The Salt : NPR

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/08/11/338850091/for-a-more-ordered-life-organize-like-a-chef?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140811

Not a one lives in a shoe

So many ideas are hidden in this NPR story about parenting practices around the world. Try one as a prompt and see where it takes you.

Global Parenting Habits That Haven’t Caught On In The U.S. : Parallels : NPR

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/08/12/339825261/global-parenting-habits-that-havent-caught-on-in-the-u-s?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140812