<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></title><description><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link><image><url>http://direct.ecency.com/logo512.png</url><title>RSS Feed</title><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link></image><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:50:18 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="http://direct.ecency.com/@norma-jean/rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[#23 Teens on the Scene: Teens and the Coveted Driver's License – Or Is It? Part I]]></title><description><![CDATA[Surprising Statistic This Teens on the Scene post does not spotlight one teen, but rather focuses in on a new trend among teens. It concerns a statistic I read recently that surprised me -- about teens]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/family/@norma-jean/23-teens-on-the-scene-teens-and-the-coveted-driver-s-license-or-is-it-part-i</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/family/@norma-jean/23-teens-on-the-scene-teens-and-the-coveted-driver-s-license-or-is-it-part-i</guid><category><![CDATA[family]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Jul 2018 14:27:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2r8F9rTBenJQfQgENfxADE6EVYabczqmSF5KeWefV5WL9WRTUmtG5vKEGworpcQPdVjrKR5Q6e5M9fwpGT6DeNLmXEghpgjpKvXHL843jCVsGyLh4pP364ycv318qAVpA?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Incidental Character in Your Novel Requires a Deft Brush Stroke]]></title><description><![CDATA[Three Types of Characters In your novel, the stars on center stage are the main characters. Next in line are secondary characters. These secondary personalities interact with main characters to complicate]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/the-incidental-character-in-your-novel-requires-a-deft-brush-stroke</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/the-incidental-character-in-your-novel-requires-a-deft-brush-stroke</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 03 Jul 2018 15:28:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/vM1pGHgNcyCXUWJECrZbvn1NMPj1oFGUo3gYfF3NNPRD9bTDdkv2Qcn4af6EUgmbXYRvnuKPYDYzaLBKh8d16y6CbUDjuPruDggA8WpLoNbLRNZFeNYqwRMwZAN7a56Do6A5Van?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[My Tiny Garden Paradise -- July Garden-Growing Update]]></title><description><![CDATA[My Tiny Garden Paradise I know tomorrow is July 1, but I’ll be busy tomorrow. So I’m putting in my report today on the last day of June. This photo tells how everything is growing. It also tells how the]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/gardening/@norma-jean/my-tiny-garden-paradise-july-garden-growing-update</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/gardening/@norma-jean/my-tiny-garden-paradise-july-garden-growing-update</guid><category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 30 Jun 2018 15:40:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2VZXybTSZJq1AreaDn1D7Jp7ZEvgLC9TvJctofX1ChMgSZyMUx43fwdwWnvqBhHKDvTgS6W3zPSaFFWkQkkuHphrn2GmcvUFpwhGrxPoUT5BUke66HCUmtXcBR7cPKimYV6xNJXuvVbV7sbkkRRpboa5rJz?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Yo Novelist -- Give Your Character a Job]]></title><description><![CDATA[Midwest Small-Town America I remember a number of years ago, thinking that I was severely handicapped as a novelist because I had not traveled extensively. Nor had I worked at a dozen or so different jobs]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/yo-novelist-give-your-character-a-job</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/yo-novelist-give-your-character-a-job</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 2018 14:24:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/vM1pGHgNcyCXUWJECrZbvn1NMPj1oFGUo3gYfF3NNPRD9bTDdkv2Qcn4af6EUgmbXYRvnuKPYDYzaLBKh8d16y6CbUDjuPruDggA8WpLoNbLRNZFeNYqwRMwZAN7a56Do6A5Van?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Novelist’s Thank You List]]></title><description><![CDATA[My Saying I have a question for you. How has your writing been going? • Downhill? • In a slump? • Stalled out? • As good as can be expected (under the circumstances)? • Nowhere? As I said in my last post,]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/the-novelist-s-thank-you-list</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/the-novelist-s-thank-you-list</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 25 Jun 2018 13:50:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/vM1pGHgNcyCXUWJECrZbvn1NMPj1oFGUo3gYfF3NNPRD9bTDdkv2Qcn4af6EUgmbXYRvnuKPYDYzaLBKh8d16y6CbUDjuPruDggA8WpLoNbLRNZFeNYqwRMwZAN7a56Do6A5Van?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Novel Writing – Indulgence or Obligation?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Strange Occupation Ours is a strange occupation. I’m talking about writers. If you narrow it down to novelists—the occupation is even more strange. Accepting the strangeness and coming to terms with the]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/novel-writing-indulgence-or-obligation</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/novel-writing-indulgence-or-obligation</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 22 Jun 2018 15:14:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/vM1pGHgNcyCXUWJECrZbvn1NMPj1oFGUo3gYfF3NNPRD9bTDdkv2Qcn4af6EUgmbXYRvnuKPYDYzaLBKh8d16y6CbUDjuPruDggA8WpLoNbLRNZFeNYqwRMwZAN7a56Do6A5Van?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Color Challenge - Thurs Green - Tiny Green Frog on a Big Green Bucket]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here is my first ever post for the Color Challenge. I love seeing other posts, but never entered in. However, yesterday I stepped out on my patio, and here was this tiny little fellow just begging to be]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/colorchallenge/@norma-jean/color-challenge-thurs-green-tiny-green-frog-on-a-big-green-bucket</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/colorchallenge/@norma-jean/color-challenge-thurs-green-tiny-green-frog-on-a-big-green-bucket</guid><category><![CDATA[colorchallenge]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2018 18:00:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/4HFqJv9qRjVeVQzX3gvDHytNF793bg88B7fESPieLQ8dxHmvJSVZXggTjXMKCDvdifUv7DdmUaW9oUDGvfSzHdeNsaTGYC1wyMy5uyWUXao47bPuRhv53d4ZMc8Xd1RsJUGdnRwdkG5GqqyeVSKQwcPD89zHh8yWy1Y?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Quick! Hand Me the Barf Bag – Motion Sickness]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have a question for you. Have you ever been car sick? How about seasick? (On a cruise perhaps?) How are you on the rides at the amusement park? Motion sickness is a horrible, icky-feeling experience.]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/quick-hand-me-the-barf-bag-motion-sickness</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/quick-hand-me-the-barf-bag-motion-sickness</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 20 Jun 2018 15:56:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/vM1pGHgNcyCXUWJECrZbvn1NMPj1oFGUo3gYfF3NNPRD9bTDdkv2Qcn4af6EUgmbXYRvnuKPYDYzaLBKh8d16y6CbUDjuPruDggA8WpLoNbLRNZFeNYqwRMwZAN7a56Do6A5Van?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Yet Another Plot Definition -- This One From Ronald Tobias]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have a collection of plot definitions that I have accumulated through the years. I figure if I keep learning someday I'll REALLY know what a plot is. Just kidding. Sort of. But when I served as an instructor]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/yet-another-plot-definition-this-on-from-ronald-tobias</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/yet-another-plot-definition-this-on-from-ronald-tobias</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 19 Jun 2018 15:21:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/7258xSVeJbKkzXhyseBP4PYz11eBDT8sW2oR1a4vfVFS6HYKzP1CUdmaCw656wmDe9PEqb92hsHrkg9VAydJ7KirRwuJfjcdL2DuZiSBykAMVyHvCTEuXXKxay3GZh2zTJGt883H1twuG?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[#22 Teens on the Scene: The Boy Who Played With Fusion]]></title><description><![CDATA[In this Teens on the Scene post, we take a look at a real live “mad scientist.” Ha. Just kidding. But there was a time when his parents weren’t really sure. When Taylor Wilson wasn’t yet a teenager, he]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/family/@norma-jean/22-teens-on-the-scene-the-boy-who-played-with-fusion</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/family/@norma-jean/22-teens-on-the-scene-the-boy-who-played-with-fusion</guid><category><![CDATA[family]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 19 Jun 2018 15:08:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2r8F9rTBenJQfQgENfxADE6EVYabczqmSF5KeWefV5WL9WRTUmtG5vKEGworpcQPdVjrKR5Q6e5M9fwpGT6DeNLmXEghpgjpKvXHL843jCVsGyLh4pP364ycv318qAVpA?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Measuring Your Novel-Writing Growth]]></title><description><![CDATA[As we novelists struggle along in our daily routine of writing our novels, it’s difficult—if not almost impossible—to perceive the growth that’s taking place along the way. Blaming Self While we are in]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/measuring-your-novel-writing-growth</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/measuring-your-novel-writing-growth</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 18 Jun 2018 15:12:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/vM1pGHgNcyCXUWJECrZbvn1NMPj1oFGUo3gYfF3NNPRD9bTDdkv2Qcn4af6EUgmbXYRvnuKPYDYzaLBKh8d16y6CbUDjuPruDggA8WpLoNbLRNZFeNYqwRMwZAN7a56Do6A5Van?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Writing Life: I'm the Sentence, Gotta Love Me]]></title><description><![CDATA[In this episode of The Writing Life, we're taking a close look at the basic building block of writing -- the sentence. Have you been guilty of taking sentences for granted? Of so, perhaps that’s why they]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/u2aw6pfc</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/u2aw6pfc</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 17 Jun 2018 22:04:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/46aP2QbqUqBqwzwxM6L1P6uLNceBDDCM9qA3XAR3Q4iysyDrmB1MknAG53njHXJExuEiCQiLQND5VPWChEvT3JDzyQAT?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 Ways to Reveal Your Character’s Emotions]]></title><description><![CDATA[The emotions of your reader toward your character (or characters) is not built all at once. It is built slowly and steadily throughout the course of the novel. Through one incident after another you’ll]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/5-ways-to-reveal-your-character-s-emotions</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/5-ways-to-reveal-your-character-s-emotions</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 13 Jun 2018 22:15:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/vM1pGHgNcyCXUWJECrZbvn1NMPj1oFGUo3gYfF3NNPRD9bTDdkv2Qcn4af6EUgmbXYRvnuKPYDYzaLBKh8d16y6CbUDjuPruDggA8WpLoNbLRNZFeNYqwRMwZAN7a56Do6A5Van?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Writing Life: My Fiction Quill Lay Unused]]></title><description><![CDATA[In this episode of The Writing Life, I'm bouncing off a poignant quote from author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. His heart was grieved because, as he worded it, "My fiction quill lay unused." ARGH! I've]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/gcxdm0er</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/gcxdm0er</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 12 Jun 2018 14:40:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/46aP2QbqUqBqwzwxM6L1P6uLNceBDDCM8sudP56XUCPbziRSFBFZ1E2XH3pfa1h6NKqVam3H7MKQsA6d2MVzwS53eVb6?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Car Seats Designed So Baby Can See Out the Windshield? How Safe is That? Not!]]></title><description><![CDATA[In my teen novel, Flower in the Hills, main character Latina meets a family with a little girl named Althea who is special needs. Latina makes a gift to the family of a car seat for Althea. The story takes]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/car-seats-designed-so-baby-can-see-out-the-windshield-how-safe-is-that-not</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/car-seats-designed-so-baby-can-see-out-the-windshield-how-safe-is-that-not</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 12 Jun 2018 14:28:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/vM1pGHgNcyCXUWJECrZbvn1NMPj1oFGUo3gYfF3NNPRD9bTDdkv2Qcn4af6EUgmbXYRvnuKPYDYzaLBKh8d16y6CbUDjuPruDggA8WpLoNbLRNZFeNYqwRMwZAN7a56Do6A5Van?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cut To The Bone...]]></title><description><![CDATA[Well... revising is not quite like murdering children, but one would almost expect such a comment from Stephen King. Right? Nevertheless, all writers can take this advice and run with it. Revising, editing,]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/cut-to-the-bone</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/cut-to-the-bone</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:47:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/TZjG7hXReeVoAvXt2X6pMxYAb3q65xMju8wryWxKrsghkPX3ArZxmNetsj7yXy44EUTSg4g28YmjndXrkva6wE86XzGXgRhk2exXgydQdimDwTHwZafJDYdKz8GprEHhcXVQKQrXXvQcfx?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Organic Gardening: Why Doesn’t Everyone Grow Sprouts? – Part II]]></title><description><![CDATA[My Tiny Garden Paradise In my previous post, I explained about how easy and cheap it is to grow sprouts right on your kitchen cabinet. I showed the type of seeds that I purchase, and also the sprouting]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/gardening/@norma-jean/organic-gardening-why-doesn-t-everyone-grow-sprouts-part-ii</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/gardening/@norma-jean/organic-gardening-why-doesn-t-everyone-grow-sprouts-part-ii</guid><category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:28:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/32FTXiZsHoAW6noHJDhrg3W8ZKHVFSsLYM859aTDCF8iErWSWRup2Vow3dp8wMkx12KntDNH9fEJt2CtVfRjueUaiACXKYzX22pgAFf41P4xsKTnXj8rpygSvYS9PDwxGY6KzE8Zt891Z486?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Teens and Fashion: Tying Her Wraparound What??]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fashions Change I’m sure it’s no secret to you that fashions change almost at the drop of a hat. (No pun intended!) I can remember when I was in high school, Fridays were jeans/Levis day at our school.]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/teens-and-fashion-tying-her-wraparound-what</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/teens-and-fashion-tying-her-wraparound-what</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 09 Jun 2018 16:19:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/vM1pGHgNcyCXUWJECrZbvn1NMPj1oFGUo3gYfF3NNPRD9bTDdkv2Qcn4af6EUgmbXYRvnuKPYDYzaLBKh8d16y6CbUDjuPruDggA8WpLoNbLRNZFeNYqwRMwZAN7a56Do6A5Van?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Organic Gardening: Why Doesn’t Everyone Grow Sprouts? – Part I]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tiny Garden Paradise Organic Gardening: Why Doesn’t Everyone Grow Sprouts? – Part I For years, I’ve habitually grown sprouts in a jar on my kitchen cabinet. Every time I harvest yet another batch, I wonder]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/gardening/@norma-jean/organic-gardening-why-doesn-t-everyone-grow-sprouts-part-i</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/gardening/@norma-jean/organic-gardening-why-doesn-t-everyone-grow-sprouts-part-i</guid><category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 09 Jun 2018 15:27:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/32FTXiZsHoAW6noHJDhrg3W8ZKHVFSsLYM859aTDCF8iErWSWRup2Vow3dp8wMkx12KntDNH9fEJt2CtVfRjueUaiACXKYzX22pgAFf41P4xsKTnXj8rpygSvYS9PDwxGY6KzE8Zt891Z486?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Involve the Reader; Make the Reader Work]]></title><description><![CDATA[Author / Reader Interaction One of the more fascinating aspects of novel writing (of which I believe there are many), is the ongoing interaction between author/reader. The novice novelist often tends to]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/involve-the-reader-make-the-reader-work</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/writing/@norma-jean/involve-the-reader-make-the-reader-work</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[norma-jean]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 08 Jun 2018 16:44:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/vM1pGHgNcyCXUWJECrZbvn1NMPj1oFGUo3gYfF3NNPRD9bTDdkv2Qcn4af6EUgmbXYRvnuKPYDYzaLBKh8d16y6CbUDjuPruDggA8WpLoNbLRNZFeNYqwRMwZAN7a56Do6A5Van?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item></channel></rss>