Welcome to our Writers-Editors Network WEN-zine, which you requested by confirming your subscription. Should you wish to change your email address or stop your subscription, simply scroll down to the end of this email. Read issues in your browser at https://archive.aweber.com/writers-editors

Hello, and welcome to this week’s WEN-zine nuggets.

As many of us wend our way through physical and online stores this shopping season, while dealing with Mother Nature’s drenchings and power glitches, the timing may be right for a new diversion ... and here it is ...

1. Another addictive word puzzle game

A few days ago I learned of Q-Less (so named because inventor Tom Sturdevant removed the Q) – a new crossword solitaire game that has gone viral. Because I still miss the online Scrabble knock-off that offered a solitaire version – until it was shut down by Hasbro in 2008 – I had to check this one out.

At $14.95 for the physical game, I was ready to buy. No luck; thanks to TikTok’s viral tendencies, it has sold out. But there’s an app for that! You can play one game a day for free. (Hey, one game a day isn’t going to work for word-game addicts!) So I quickly parted with the $5.99 to feed my addiction. It is totally worth it.

2. How to get creative (without ingesting anything)

George Mack shares options for unlocking creativity, including...

• The Swedish House Mafia Technique – Get a room with friends away from the outside world. Throw ideas back and forth like a tennis rally.

• Balaji's Transformer – If you have a written idea – try to draw it.

If you have a visual idea – try to write it

If you have a numerical idea – try to explain it out loud

The process of transforming the idea from one language to another produces a new perspective.

• Just Keep Walking – If bored and struggling with ideas – just keep walking until the day becomes interesting. Best case scenario is you get a ton of new ideas. Worst case scenario is you hit your step count for the day.

3. Drink up for mental sharpness

We make our living from our brainpower. It’s time to fuel it properly, says Terri Lonier in the Working Solo she sent out yesterday. She suggests drinking ... water.

The brain is 80% water, and all that water acts as a transport mechanism for the approximately 100 billion neurons sending signals throughout your body. Not enough hydration, and the signals can’t flow as quickly or easily.

Researchers at Cambridge University found that drinking water has a positive impact on particular cognitive abilities and mood states. So keep some water handy throughout the day to maintain your mental sharpness.

4. FYI items

▪ Desk worker wellness tip: This one-minute desk stretch could help ease shoulder pain, and improve shoulder mobility: https://www.instagram.com/p/C06unPeIZnQ/ (Source: HealthHack.co newsletter)

▪ Make your story more dynamic with a story map

Originally shared by Tools for Reporters and awarded a TFR Top Tool of 2023

https://bit.ly/3NAa4yi

StoryMap is an open source tool developed by Northwestern University’s Knight Lab

https://storymap.knightlab.com/#overview

▪ Happy Holidays Word Search

https://freewordsearch.net/puzzle/Happy-Holidays/

*******************************

Warmest holiday wishes for the season,

Dana K Cassell

Editor

(Dana Cassell is founder of Writers-Editors Network, and has been freelancing/creating full-time for 47 years. In addition to writing, editing, and fact-checking for numerous business clients, she has published more than 2,000 articles and has ghosted or authored more than a dozen books.)

Not a Network member? Join now: https://freelancekeys.com/join-now/ Temporary discount codes:

Save $10 on Basic options: use TESTING coupon code

Save $15 on FFWA options: use TESTFFWA coupon code

******************************

To ensure this WEN-zine’s regular arrival in your inbox, add [email protected] to your address book, white list, or other approved filter.

*******************************

From time to time I may recommend products or services for which our Writers-Editors Network has an affiliate relationship, and thus we may be compensated should you purchase through our links. Rest assured that I only recommend resources I have personally used, or that are offered by persons I have followed for a long time and trust, and which I believe will add value to our readers’ endeavors. That said, the opinions expressed are my own or a member’s, and you should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline. Purchases made through our affiliate links help cover the costs of sending you this free eZine.

*******************************

Writers-Editors Network WEN-zine is Copyright CNW Publishing Inc., 2023. Please feel free to forward this eZine to others, and invite them to visit https://WritersEditorsNetwork.com to sign up for their own copies. And if you found this misdirected to the wrong folder by your email client, see how to whitelist future issues at https://www.writers-editors.com/whitelist.htm –