Still Here

Sorry for the long absence. I've been on complete bed rest since July for my pregnancy. I'll be giving birth in about 2 weeks, and I hope to resume blogging in November.

Keep writing, y'all!

b5media Needs Kick-Ass Music Bloggers

b5media is launching its music channel soon. If you're passionate about music and would love to write about it, let the b5 guys know.

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Summer Survival Tips For Writing Mothers

It may be summer on your side of the earth (it's the wet season on mine), and if you're wondering how you're going to find the time to write (what with kids looking for some fun things to do), check out these 5 Summer Survival Tips from Danielle Hollister. Yup, there are ways to keep working with your kids by your side.

Learn Basic Geek

If you’re new to Web writing and about to go nuts over the steady stream of new words, phrases and terms, check out these online references and improve your knowledge of Basic Geek:

NetLingo - This is an online reference for Internet terminology. The word definitions are easy to understand and contain links to other terms.

Webopedia - This was my Basic Geek Dictionary when I was a knowledge base technical writer for a software company. The word definitions are short and pretty easy to understand. New terms are featured every now and then.

Pseudodictionary - This is generally a dictionary of slang words, but you might want to poke around this site because it also includes some words from Webspeak like "J slash K."

MSN Encarta - This site is quite new to me but I’m recommending it anyhow since it has an encyclopedia, a dictionary, a thesaurus and this Internet quiz.

You can also try these printed Internet lexicon:

Web Resources for Health & Medical Writers

I started writing about health and medical related topics about 11 years ago. My first assignment was to feature this couple who gave birth to quadruplets after being childless for several years. The article was meant to inspire couples waiting for that “miracle birth” and to educate readers about quadruplets and artificial insemination. Back then, my primary source of medical information was the print edition of the Merck Manual. I had access to the Internet but medical information seemed scarce on the Web at the time — at least, that’s the conclusion I had come to after using the prevailing search engine in the year 1996. ;)

Now, thanks to evolving online media technology, searching for medical information online is just a few clickety-clicks away. But beware of Web sites that publish articles without referencing experts. To make sure that your online source is credible and authoritative, check if it’s affiliated with a known research institution or a leading publisher of health and medical publications.

Here are some sites and references that have helped me with the media reporting of health and medical matters:

The Merck Manual of Medical Information - I use only the Home Edition for most of my articles. But if you’re looking for matters related to diagnosis & therapy, health & aging, chemicals & drugs, and animal healthcare, try the other editions which are also available online.

World Health Organization (WHO) - The WHO was once my favorite place on the Web. Their site is constantly updated and has the Media Centre where writers can easily access news, fact sheets, press releases, multimedia resources and contact information. They’re also very prompt when replying to your queries, so don’t you worry about looming deadlines.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) - The Brigham’s site is the first place that I go to when I’m writing an article on women’s health issues. To obtain relevant information, go to the Health Information page where you can find listed topics, upcoming events, news, and multimedia resources such as podcasts, videos and surgical webcasts. A teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, BWH is recognized internationally for its excellence in patient care and its outstanding reputation in biomedical research.

Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) - The CDC site was a treasure trove of information when I did an article on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease, if you like) in 2001. The Web site has improved a lot and now includes podcasts. Check out the CDC Press Room for the latest press releases, transcripts, summaries and footages.

Is there a Web site or online medical reference you’d like to recommend? Post it here!