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WritersNotes.Net: Helping Writers Follow Their Dreams Through Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement!
Do You Have a HandPrints On My Heart Story?
Are you (or do you know) a female author with a story to tell about a special individual whose influence has been life-changing? If so, Marlene Moore Gordon would like to see your story and consider it for possible inclusion in her upcoming book, HandPrints On My Heart.
Marlene is seeking "personal real-life short stories written to acknowledge someone who has made a significant difference in the writer’s life," and her hope is that the "universal emotions" expressed in these stories "will touch the hearts of people worldwide who read, hear and see (them)."
My Own HandPrints Submission and Experience
A short time back, I contacted Marlene about her project, after discovering her call for submissions at LifeWriter's Market Watch. (You'll find other writing markets on this site, as well. Be aware that, as new projects are added, older ones move toward the bottom of the webpage. So, you may need to scroll down quite a bit to locate the HandPrints announcement.) I submitted an inspirational story I'd written about my paternal grandmother but had never published. She accepted my piece and we then went through a few rounds of editing to improve the piece and make it more suitable to the tone she had in mind for the stories. (I found her very pleasant to work with and quite receptive to my editorial input, which is always a plus for a writer whose work is undergoing the editing process.)
The HandPrints On My Heart Website and Guidelines
You'll find more information about this fascinating project at the HandPrints On My Heart website. Marlene's Submission Guidelines will give you all the information you'll need to submit your own story.
A Few HandPrints Business Details
While Marlene is still seeking a publisher for HandPrints On My Heart, she already has a literary agent. Monetary compensation for the project is still undetermined and will be presented to all accepted authors in writing for their approval once a publisher has been signed. Marlene expects compensation to be comparable to that offered by other similar anthologies, such as A Cup of Comfort and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Rights purchased will be non-exclusive, one-time rights.
Will You Help Spread the Word?
Marlene is interested in spreading the word about the HandPrints On My Heart book project. So, if you're a blogger whose niche is writing and/or publishing, you might want to consider writing a post about her project. Check out the details at her website and/or drop her a line -- and maybe a submission, too, while you're at it -- at the following e-mail address: MMG@handprintsonmyheart.com. (Even if you aren't a blogger, you can still spread the word to other writers you know -- and send in your own submission, as well.)
Know Any Celebrities Who Can Endorse the Project?
And, if you happen to know any celebrities who might be willing to contribute a story, along with an endorsement of the book, by all means, let them know about the project (and let Marlene know about them.) It's simply a fact of life that more publishers will sit up and take notice of a manuscript that has a celebrity's name attached.
Hope to see your story in HandPrints!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Thinking of writing a story for HandPrints? Have one already written? I'd love to hear about it!
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Google PR Surprise
Just noticed that Google has increased Writer's Notes' Page Rank from PR 2 to PR 3! That's good news! Ever since I first achieved PR 3 at the end of October, 2007 (see Google Page Rank--at Last!), only to lose it again about a month later, I've been waiting (rather impatiently) to gain it back.
Initial PR Loss
At the time, (i.e., during the notorious 2007 Google PR fiasco, er, update, during which the Big G stripped an unprecedented number of blogs of Page Rank and lowered the PR of many others), Writer's Notes' PR dropped to 0--a major disappointment! I didn't blog about my lost PR at the time; I guess it was too painful to talk about. Instead, I quietly removed my PR widget from my sidebar and left it at that. I had, however written a post related to this topic shortly before losing my own PR. Do Paid Posts Equal Link-Selling? The Latest PR Dilemma for Bloggers was my response to the PR other bloggers were losing. When my own hard-won PR unceremoniously dove to 0, I all but discounted Google as a viable blog ranking source, though I had little choice but to accept its proclamation. And there things sat, until early May.
My First PR Surprise
I suddenly noticed, one fine day in May, that I had Google PR once again--PR 2, in fact. Since many of you already know this story, I'll spare you the details and refer anyone who doesn't to my post, Has Your Google PR Changed Since the Last Update? Find Out! (You'll also be able to check your own PR by using the PR-checker tool found in this post--that is, if you don't already have a widget which automatically updates your PR whenever it changes.) The most interesting thing to me about this unexpected PR increase was that it occurred between Google updates--which, at the time, I wasn't aware could happen.*
Repeat Performance
Well, it's happened again: my PR has increased between Google updates.* I've finally regained the PR 3 I lost eight months ago (which had taken me nine months to achieve in the first place)--and interestingly enough, it's happened less than three months after the first increase (to PR 2). Now that I can live with! And hopefully the only way I can go from here is up!
What's Your Google PR?
If you haven't checked your blog's PR lately, now might be a good time to check it. The handy tool I've mentioned above will make that very easy to do. I've also placed a link to the Google Page Rank Checker Tool in my (left) sidebar under Spotlight Posts. That way, you'll be able to access it anytime you'd like to check your blog's PR.
Why not check it, now? Maybe you, too, will be in for a pleasant surprise!
To ever-increasing Page Rank!
Jeanne
*I now realize that I'm likely wrong about this, since, at least this time around I know that a number of other bloggers also received PR increases. That would seem to indicate that these were actually Google updates that I just didn't realize were happening--which makes a lot more sense than the idea that my blog's PR increased without an official update occurring.
Did you enjoy this post? Learn anything? Have anything to teach or share with us about Google PR? We'd love to hear from you!
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Two Fantastic Sites That Are Hosting My Work
Just wanted to share with my Writer's Notes readers that I have two guest posts appearing so far during the month of June: one at Writing the Cyber Highway and one at Writer's Resource Center.
Writing the Cyber Highway: A Favor Returned
One guest post is already up at Michele Tune's blog, Writing the Cyber Highway.
Here's the link:
Motivation to Write: Is There a Magic Formula?
I've really enjoyed writing this post on motivation for Michele, who so kindly came to my rescue a while back when I was ill, penning a wonderful guest post here at Writer's Notes without even being asked to do it. That's just the kind of blogger--and person--Michele is! That's why I'm so happy to reciprocate. (See Michele's guest post here: That's What Bloggers Are For.)
If you ever have trouble motivating yourself to write, you might just want to follow the above link and check out the lessons I've learned about this topic that's so critical to the success of every writer. Hope you'll enjoy reading this piece as much as I've enjoyed writing it. And hope you'll get lots of new ideas about how to discover--or generate--new motivation for all your writing projects!
Writer's Resource Center (aka PoeWar): An Opportunity to Help Out
My second guest post is scheduled to run tomorrow, June 4th, at John Hewitt's Writer's Resource Center.
Update: It's now June 4th and the post is up, so here's the link:
7 Secrets to a Striking Essay
This post presents seven helpful essay-writing techniques that are applicable to many other types of writing, as well. I hope you'll enjoy it--and even more so that you'll get something of value from reading it.
I wrote this post in response to a request by John for enough guest posts to run through the month of June to help him take a much needed month-long vacation. I was honored that, in addition to his general call for guest posts, John also sent me an e-mail inviting me personally to submit a post. (How could I refuse?) Seriously, though, I'd already planned to submit a post but really appreciated John's reminder. It's definitely an honor to have my work appearing at John Hewitt's Writer's Resource Center!
WRC Post Involves a Contest With an Impressive Grand Prize!
What makes this WRC "gig" even more special, though, is that John is offering a $250 prize to the writer whose guest post receives the most traffic during the first week it graces his site! That's definitely a prize worth pursuing--even if I would have submitted a guest post anyway! So, I'd like to ask my readers to stop by WRC to check out my post--even if you aren't that interested in essay writing--though I promise that you will take home some helpful tips for other types of writing, as well. (And don't forget to tell your friends! I need all the help I can get! In fact, a Stumble wouldn't hurt, either (wink, wink), if you really like my article--or if you just want to be nice. I would be forever grateful. Certainly hope you will like my post, though.)
WRC Consolation Prize Is Generous, As Well
John is also offering a $50 prize in a random drawing he'll hold to determine which lucky guest blogger among all those who have responded to his call for vacation relief will receive the "consolation" prize. The two monetary prizes John is offering are more than generous and have certainly provided a wonderful incentive for bloggers to participate. It will definitely be fascinating to see who wins them! Of course, it would be even more fascinating to be who wins (one of) them! Time alone will tell who the two lucky winners will be!
Stay Tuned for John Hewitt's Guest Post Here at Writer's Notes
John has also graciously offered to write a reciprocal guest post here at Writer's Notes as soon as he's able--so we've all got a treat in store after John's vacation ends. I know he's a busy man, however, and certainly don't want to put any undue pressure on him. Though it's difficult to wait, I'm sure we can all be patient until John gets back into the swing of things in July and manages to find a bit of extra time to write a guest post especially for us! I know it will be well worth the wait!
Hope you'll visit my guest posts!
Jeanne
P.S. I haven't forgotten my comment recognition post this month, but have simply been so busy that I haven't gotten to it yet. (Would have posted it today, but wanted to announce my guest post at Writer's Resource Center, since it's set to go live tomorrow, as well as my guest post that went live yesterday at Writing the Cyber Highway. Hope everyone will forgive me for being so late with my thanks! I'll do my best to get that post up tomorrow. I'll also resume my Guide to Polished Writing series soon after. Thanks for your understanding!)
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
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Pillar Posts Link Helps You Locate Content Quickly
I'm not sure whether most of my readers have noticed it yet or not, but I've created a list of Pillar Posts to help you more easily find Writer's Notes' most beneficial content. You'll find a link in my Spotlight Posts list to Writer's Notes' Pillar Posts. This link will take you to a post in which I've listed my most helpful content, broken down into various categories.
Rather than simply listing them in reverse chronological order by month, as they are in my archives, I've decided that it would be far more helpful to you if I were to categorize this content. This should help you quickly find the topics you're interested in exploring or the tools and resources you'd like to use, rather than having to wade through all the posts on the list. (This will prove even more beneficial, no doubt, as the list grows through the addition of future content.) Hope you'll find this feature useful! Let me know what you think and whether you have any further suggestions for making it even more useful.
Other Spotlight Posts Links Point to Blog Carnival Feed and More
My Spotlight Posts list is also where a link to my About page is located, as well as links to Writer's Notes' Awards (given to me by various other bloggers), and my Blog Carnival Feed. Blog carnivals can be a fantastic way to get recognition, readers, and links to your site. So, check this feed often, visit the Blog Carnival website via the button in the Stats & Other Widgets section in my top left sidebar, and seriously consider submitting your blog posts to one or more carnivals. There are many carnivals on myriad topics, and the best part is that you may have already written content that's suitable for one or more of them. So, don't overlook a great opportunity to get exposure for your blog.
Sites for Writers Link List Points to Helpful Sites
Last, but not least, I'd like to remind my readers to make use of my Sites for Writers list (previously called "Helpful Sites for Writers") near the bottom of my left sidebar. (The links are still just as helpful, but I needed to shorten the title.) This is a comprehensive list of links to various websites which can be helpful to writers in one way or another.
Most are straight writing sites or blogs, some are sites to or through which to sell your work, and others offer various additional features beneficial to the writer/blogger: blog design, inspiration, wisdom about issues that affect writers/writing, both business and general life lessons that can be helpful to you in the craft or business of writing, etc. Be sure to use this list of links often--and try visiting some of the sites that are as yet unfamiliar to you. You'll find many gems in this list, and you may just discover one or more that really target your interests or needs. (How will you ever know if you don't check them out?)
Hope these additions to Writer's Notes' help to make your writing life, fuller, simpler, and more productive. And may they help contribute to your success!
From one writer to another,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Find it helpful? Have any suggestions for improvement or other features you'd like to see? Please let me know in comments. I'd love to hear from you!
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Writer's Notes' Design Issues Lead to One-Point Loss
Writers Notes was edged out of John Hewitt's March Writing Blog Madness blog tournament yesterday (U.S. time) by Content Maven by a slim 14-13 margin. (For an explanation of how the contest works, visit John's post, March Writing Blog Madness Explained. You'll also find the seedings, which determined the matchup of the blog pairs that would compete, in the March Writing Blog Madness Seedings post.)
Of a possible total of 18 points, Content Maven Meryl Evans--a veteran writer, editor, and blogger--managed to rack up one more point than Writer's Notes could eke out due to blog design problems (which many of you already know about).
Blogs were judged in six different categories, each with a three-point maximum score: Archives, Design, Usability and Navigation, Purpose, Personality, and Five Most Recent Posts. Here's John's post presenting his comparative assessment of both blogs, along with his rationale for the points he assigned to each blog in each area: Game 12: #2 Seed Content Maven Versus #7 Seed Writer’s Notes. (There's still a great deal more to come in this tournament--more rounds to be "fought" and more blogs to be judged--so be sure to check it out.)
Did a Poorly Timed Orble Formatting Experiment Contribute to Writer's Notes' Loss?
While it's difficult to say for certain, it could very well be that, had the timing of the Orble formatting experiment (in which Google ads were placed in unusual and esthetically unpleasing places on our blogs' webpages), not coincided with my blog's judging, the outcome of this match might have been different. But, of course, that's pure speculation. It's just as possible that John would have found other design problems anyway.
I'm also well aware of my own culpability in the matter, since one of my last five posts (the content of which was judged as part of the tournament) was basically a lamentation about this issue and didn't do a thing to help me pick up the extra point I needed to tie the score. However, in my own defense, I will say that I believe in keeping my readers informed about what's going on, because community is what a blog is all about. I could have ignored the issue and continued to write totally unrelated "pillar" content (which might have helped me win), but I'm not sure that would have been entirely fair to my readers. (I will admit, though, that I probably could have complained a bit less in that post; and for that I apologize.)
The Blog is Still the Same, the Blogger a Little Wiser!
Despite this setback, Writer's Notes is fine and will continue to provide the same "information, inspiration, encouragement, and resources" for which it's become known. John Hewitt was honest in his assessment and, along with his constructive criticism, also had some very nice things to say about Writer's Notes--and about me--in his review, which I appreciate.
I didn't choose to enter this tournament. (I never would have with a PR 0.) The decision was made for me by John himself. (In fact, I'm still amazed that I did get in with my lack of PR, since John chose the entrants based on a combination of Google PR and Alexa ranking. I've just learned, though, that he assigned a value of PR 1 to all the PR 0 blogs for calculation purposes.) Though the loss was tough, I'm glad I had the opportunity to be matched with a much more experienced blogger and find that I gave her a run for her money!
Despite my loss (or perhaps because of it), this has been an excellent learning experience. For one thing, it's made me realize that complacency isn't a good thing. I should have continuously sought ways to make my blog's design better. And while the untimely Orble formatting experiment likely played a significant role and there are limits to what I'm able to control from my end, there were undoubtedly a few things I could have done to mitigate the problem. Live and learn, as they say! I now know that I shouldn't allow myself to become too comfortable, but should always be experimenting and looking for little (and big!) ways to improve my blog.*
Thanks, John, for giving me that incentive!
And thanks to my loyal readers who stick by me despite my blog's design issues!
You're the best!
Jeanne
* In fact, I'm currently experimenting with making the banner ads that have now become part of my preferred template a little less obtrusive. I still don't like them, but I'm attempting to make the best of a bad situation, because I really don't like the other template I'd be forced to use instead (to get rid of the banner ads)--the one with both sidebars on the left. I prefer the more symmetrical look of one sidebar on each side. (I may just be forced to go back to other template, though, if I don't succeed in making the banner ads look acceptable.)
Eternal optimist that I am, I'm still hoping Orble will decide to give us the option of having only link ads across the top of our blogs in the default template. That would be ideal, as far as I'm concerned. (I'm so glad they decided to get rid of the unsightly floating ad tower that created a fourth column in most blog templates, unbalancing our entire blogs! Thanks, Orble, for that!)
Did you enjoy this post? Have any thoughts to share? I'd love to hear from you, because you are what this blog is all about!
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Age of Conversation: 100+ Authors Write to Raise Funds for Children's Charity
Today's the day to join the concerted effort of a dedicated group of people from all over the blogosphere (and all over the world) to drive last year's Age of Conversation collaborative book project to the top of the Amazon charts! Why? To raise awareness for the soon-to-be-published Age of Conversation 2008 sequel*--and simultaneously raise even more funds for Variety Children's Charity. (All monies raised through the books' sales and referrals go to Variety's Lifeline Children's Project.)
Two Bloggers Take On a Monumental Task
Spearheaded, organized, overseen, and edited by bloggers Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton, the original Age of Conversation “brings together over 100 of the world’s leading marketers, writers, thinkers and creative innovators in a ground-breaking and unusual publication.” If you're interested in good writing, great wisdom on business and life, and helping sick children get well, please join this effort to bring the book the attention it deserves. As mentioned above, no one involved in this project will be making a profit from the book's production and sale: 100% of the proceeds will go to Variety Children's Charity (just as they will with the book's sequel).
Variety Children's Lifeline Program
Here's what Drew had to say about this charity in his Age of Conversation's Gift of Life post last year:
Lifeline's sole mission is providing medical assistance to children with treatable and survivable heart conditions in countries where the appropriate medical facilities, expertise or resources do not exist.
Today's Effort to Launch The Age of Conversation to the Top of the Charts Explained
Today's launch of the Age of Conversation Bum Rush is explained at Chris Wilson's Marketing Fresh Peel blog, in the following two posts: The Launch: The Age of Conversation Bum Rush and The Real Age of Conversation Bum Rush: March 29th. Please drop by and check out these posts. And if you feel this to be a worthy endeavor, consider joining these hard-working authors in helping to make a difference in the lives of sick children around the world by buying your copy of The Age of Conversation and encouraging others you know to do the same.
Please use the following link (or one of the specially designated links at other participating blogs) when purchasing The Age of Conversation. This will ensure that referral monies go to Variety Children's Charity, in addition to book sale proceeds.
Each purchase will only be counted once, regardless of how many books you purchase; so please buy each book separately (Super Saver shipping to the U.S. is free on this item)--and buy it TODAY--to help this charitable project gain greater recognition by rising to the top of the Amazon Best Seller List.
Hope you'll join us!
Jeanne
* While I wasn't among the authors of the original Age of Conversation, I will be on board for The Age of Conversation 2008--along with 274 other dedicated writers and bloggers. (What a wonderful way to use our writing talents--by helping others! I highly recommend it!)
INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT - 6 AM CST, MARCH 29TH: Between 2 pm CST, March 28th and 1:30 am CST, March 29th, the book's ranking rose from #102,282 to #16,879! Way to go, everyone! Further updates will be posted at Marketing Fresh Peel, in Chris's Launch post, and also on Twitter, throughout the day (info in the Launch post).
3:15 pm CST: AOC has jumped to #368! Keep up the good work, everyone!
AOC made it to #262 of all books sold at Amazon.com on March 29th. Not as high as we'd hoped, but not bad, at all! (At one point, it actually hit #33 in the Business/Investing category.) Great work, everyone!
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Which worthy causes have you loaned your writing talents to, and did you feel as if you'd made a difference?
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Writing Contest Deadline Extended to March 13th
In a post written earlier today--nano Contest Stays Open until March 13th--Brad Shorr has extended the deadline for his Word Sell Writing Contest until 5pm Central time on March 13th. Because he didn't receive the minimum 10 entries needed to give away the 8 GB iPod Nano ($200 value), Brad has graciously decided to give us all another crack at the prize.
About the Contest
Specific contest rules are posted at the second link above, but the gist of the contest is this: Entrants must write a blog post based on a cartoon that Brad has posted at his blog. It's a great opportunity to get creative, using one of Brad's fantastic cartoons for inspiration, while at the same time placing yourself in the running for the drawing for the iPod Nano. Sounds like a winning combination to me!
I've already posted my entry, and it's been very interesting to see the differing approaches of various bloggers who have entered so far. There's really a great deal of latitude here for each blogger's own interpretation of this cartoon, which is one of the most fascinating aspects of this contest--other than the possibility of winning the iPod, that is!
Hurry and Get Your Entry In
Why not drop by Word Sell and check it out! You never know whether inspiration might not strike like a bolt of lightning once you've looked at the cartoon! (Case in point: This isn't the first time one of Brad's cartoons has inspired me to write a blog post. The first time I did it, I didn't even have the possibility of winning an iPod to motivate me. Brad's cartoons are motivation enough in their own right.)
So, hurry over to Word Sell, read the contest rules, look over the cartoon, and get your creative juices flowing! Enter this fun contest, and who knows, you may soon be the proud owner of a brand new iPod Nano!
Good luck!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Plan to enter the contest? Have any thoughts on cartoons as a source of writing inspiration? We'd love to hear from you!
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Cartoon used with permission of Brad Shorr, Word Sell, Inc.
Words: A Writer’s Perspective
Words: the writer’s stock-in-trade…the intellectual currency with which we transact our business of touching the hearts and minds of those for whom we write
Words: the attire with which we dress our thoughts before sending them forth to greet our reader, make his or her acquaintance, and hopefully create a wonderful first—and lasting—impression
Words: the vehicles which transport ideas across streets or across continents, spreading them far and wide for all to encounter on near or foreign mental soil
Words: the soul-fed fires which ignite emotions…passions…hopes…and dreams…inspiring action while themselves sitting dormant on the page…or, no sooner spoken, dissipating, like a cooling summer’s breeze
Words: the silken threads of color woven artfully into tapestries of beauty, strength, and grace by artisans who patiently hone their skills and ply their craft with care
Words.
Using Words Effectively
As writers, we are intimately involved with words. We use them every day to convey meaning. Yet, the degree of meaning we succeed in imparting to our readers through our words is directly proportional to the degree of skill with which we use them.
The Book of Proverbs contains a wonderful saying about using words effectively:
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” –Proverbs 25:11 (NKJV*)
What a lovely picture of the carefully chosen word!
The Writer’s Job
Our job as writers is to continually seek the best possible words to convey the precise thoughts we intend our reader to take away from our work. At times these words won’t come immediately, or easily, and we’ll have little choice but to think a while longer—maybe even to go back to that section later, or even tomorrow, looking at it with fresh eyes, a fresh perspective, and a fresh infusion of thought and inspiration.
Don't Let Deadlines Create Carelessness
Yet, when we face a deadline and have no time to wait for inspiration to strike—no time to let our writing “age” and return to it tomorrow—we simply have to tough it out. We must refuse to give in to the temptation to use a careless word or phrase—one that we know deep inside just isn’t “right.” (And the temptation to do so can be strong.) We need, instead, to mentally wrestle with the thought, to visualize the image we hope to convey, and pull from somewhere within ourselves—or if need be our thesauruses—the word that paints the most vivid picture of the thought we’re envisioning so the world can see it, too.
Poorly Chosen Words Create Misunderstanding
When we refuse to take the time to choose our words with care—and no doubt about it, that’s hard work—we’re often misunderstood. Our job as writers, then, is to anticipate the information the reader will require for accurately processing our ideas and then distill that information into a form (word, phrase, sentence, line) that the reader can grab hold of mentally and make sense of. This gives our readers satisfaction as they read our work—a sense of connection with our own thought process which helps them relate to our words and appropriate their meaning for themselves.
The Final Read-Through and Revision
When we’ve come to the end of a piece of writing (a blog post, article, chapter, or poem), we still aren’t finished yet. No matter how wonderful we feel about the job we’ve done, how clever we think our work is, or how pleased we are with ourselves, there’s one more step that we ignore to our peril: We absolutely must reread our work for structure, rhythm, sense, and flow. The very best way to do this is aloud, because sound is an important indicator of trouble in one or more of these areas.
Finishing Touches
As you read, look—or better yet, listen—for awkward phrasing, confusing sentence structure, unclear meaning, or unpleasing, abrupt, or non-melodious language. Be sure you’ve used transitions that draw your reader smoothly and effortlessly through your text, creating literary bridges from one paragraph or sentence to the next. Take special note of the word order you’ve chosen and the rhythmic effect it creates, and when needed, reorder your words to give your writing a smoother, more fluid quality.
Ruthless Revision
You’ll nearly always find sections you thought were absolutely brilliant while writing them that on final read-through sound confusing and unclear. Please do your readers a favor and revise them—regardless of how clever or inspired they may have seemed at the time. We often become enamored with our phrasing, and convincing ourselves to let it go can be a struggle. But always remember that there’s lots more inspiration where that came from, so you can afford to cut a clever phrase for the sake of clarity.
The Finished Product
When we’ve finished revising our work, our goal is to have a piece of writing that’s clear, engaging, and easy for our audience to read, understand, and enjoy. And at all costs, we want to avoid repeating the mistake made by our friend in the above cartoon. He either didn’t give enough advance thought to the wording of his sign, or he didn’t reread it before posting it. (If he did reread it, he did so without considering the possible ways the public might construe it.) And that’s a mistake we never want to make with our writing.
Happy revising!
Jeanne
* New King James Version
This post is my entry to Brad Shorr's Word Sell Writing Contest.
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Has Brad's cartoon inspired any thoughts? If so, we'd love to hear them!
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Stop by and Visit Me at Work.com
Just wanted to share my latest writing gig with my readers: I'm very busy these days writing business guides over at Work.com (a subsidiary of Business.com). If you're at all interested in business--or if you'd just like to see what I've been up to lately--drop by and see my work. You'll find a list of the guides I've written on my profile page: Jeanne Dininni - Member Profile. Here are a few of them: Sleeker, Slimmer, Smarter Business Management and Finding Your Company's Best Data Entry Solution.
A Bit About Writing Work.com Guides
I'm still very new at it, but I'm planning to write quite a few guides each week. Work.com guides are aimed at small to medium-sized business owners and/or decision-makers and offer tips, techniques, advice, and online resources to help them complete tasks, solve problems, implement processes, choose products and services, manage employees, and basically do whatever else they need to do to keep their businesses thriving.
Putting My Business Background to Work
Though it's a great deal of work, I'm enjoying this opportunity for putting my education, experience, and research skills to work in an area that interests me. I've taken some business courses in college and hold a Customer Service Certificate (in addition to my AA--which isn't in Business, but in General Studies). I've taken courses in Management & Supervision and Human Relations in Business, based both on personal interest and the potential for using them in future employment. My Customer Service Certificate required 10 day-long seminars on a variety of interesting business-related topics, which have added a good deal to my business knowledge base. I also hold Wine Industry and Wine Hospitality Certificates. In addition, I have experience helping to run a pivate music-teaching business, and I myself am a notary public.
Work.com Research: Right Up My Alley
My business background helps a great deal in writing Work.com guides, but equally important is my penchant for research, because a great deal of online research is required to locate the valuable resources that are an indispensable part of every Work.com guide. When writing a Work.com guide, we don't just tell businesspeople to research a topic or find a product for their business; we do the research for them, showing them where they can find the information and other resources that they don't have time to track down on their own. We do that by linking to the resources they need, and in that way, we make their lives--and jobs--that much easier.
Apology for My Sparser Blog Posting Schedule
So, please forgive me if I've been neglecting my blog just a bit, lately. (And, to my blogging friends: Forgive me if I've been neglecting to visit and comment on your blog, lately.) This gig is keeping me quite busy, as I learn the ropes and acclimate myself to the guides' format. I'm hoping that, as I gain more experience writing them, I'll find the guides becoming increasingly easier and less time-consuming to complete.
Stop by my profile page and check out a guide or two. And if you have a minute, leave me a comment. It would be great to hear from you on that large and lonely new website that's all business!
Hope to see you there!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Any thoughts to share? We'd love to hear what writing projects you've been involved in lately!
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It Couldn't Have Happened to a Better Blogger!
Michele Tune is a wonderful blogger--in more ways than one. First of all, she's an excellent writer, which makes her blog a delight to read. And secondly, she's a beautiful person--friendly, caring, giving--which makes her a delight to know. She's the blogger who came forward recently and generously offered to write a guest post here at Writer's Notes to help me out due to my personal and family illness. Here's her guest post: That's What Bloggers Are For!
And the Winner is...Michele Tune!
Michele also recently entered a contest put on by Rebecca Laffar-Smith at Writer's Round-About, in which she was required to write a review of Rebecca's blog, post it to her own blog, and then submit a link to it for voting by Rebecca's readers. It was a close and anxious race, as Michele and another contestant, LaskiGal, took turns repeatedly gaining and losing the first place position. When the final results were in, Michele had won by three votes (29 to LaskiGal's 26). Congratulations to both ladies: to Michele, who won a $100 Amazon gift certificate and LaskiGal, who won a $50 one! Congratulations also go out to Melissa Donovan, who won the third place prize, a $25 Amazon gift certificate, with 25 votes! Here's Rebecca's post presenting the contest results: New Design Launch - Contest Results!
Thanks for Supporting a Great Writer and a Wonderful Person!
I'd like to thank all my readers who visited and voted for Michele's post--or Stumbled it--after I announced the contest in a note at the end of her guest post. Thanks so much for helping an excellent writer/blogger--and fantastic person--win a much-deserved prize! Michele plans to use her gift certificate to buy books to help her grow and improve as a writer. I'm sure it will be an adventure! Happy shopping, Michele! We're glad you have this opportunity to develop your already-considerable skills--even if we do love you just the way you are! Hope LaskiGal and Melissa will also enjoy their Amazon shopping sprees, getting whatever makes them happiest! (There were five fine entries to the contest. It's too bad everybody couldn't win!)
Thanks again, everyone!
Jeanne
P.S. Don't forget to visit Michele's blog: Writing the Cyber Highway. I'm sure you'll love reading what she has to say!
P.S.S. I know you'll enjoy Rebecca's blog, as well! So, why not drop by Writer's Round-About for a visit?
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Why not congratulate Michele on her awesome feat. She had some pretty stiff competition!
A Fantastic Valentine's Day Surprise!
Yesterday I learned that, thanks to visits by my loyal readers, blog buddies, non-blog buddies, definitely non-blogging family members, and even one of my pastors--along with the readers of Matt's blog and a number of the aforementioned people who saw fit to Stumble my post--my Five Ways to Make Other Bloggers Absolutely Adore You! guest post came in first for the number of unique visits received by the Valentine's Day deadline! My post received 635 unique visits between January 22nd when I submitted it and February 14th when the Blogging Fingers Guest Posting Contest ended. Not a huge number over a three-week period, but "huge" enough to win.
Thanks to All Who Helped Me Win!
Many thanks to everyone who visited my contest post! (Some of you even visited more than once, which I appreciate, though only your first visit was counted.) To all who visited: You are the ones who made it happen! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! And special thanks to everyone who left comments on my post! Thanks so much for cheering me on! I also received encouraging e-mails from many of my blogging friends and from others, as well, which helped keep me optimistic to the end. Extra special thanks to all who Stumbled my post! Thanks to each and every one of you for helping me win!
Thanks to Matt for a Prompt Payout of the Prize Money!
My prize was $50 for receiving the most unique visits to my post and $10 for submitting one of the first entries to the contest. (Actually, all contestants won the $10 prize, since the number of entries was low.) Matt deposited the prize money ($60) into my PayPal account promptly yesterday, exactly as promised. Thanks, Matt!
A Great Experience!
I really enjoyed having the opportunity to enter this contest, which I'd decided to do almost on a whim, not really expecting to win. I simply made up my mind one day to just go for it and then sat down and wrote and submitted the post. It's been a great experience having a voice on another blog with a whole new readership, and it was a privilege to compete with the other fine contestants. Guys, your submissions were great! Let's hope Matt decides to do this again soon.
A Growing Interest In Guest Blogging
One thing this contest has done for me--aside from providing a few needed dollars--is give me a taste for guest blogging. I definitely plan to do more of it when I can manage to find the time. It's a great way for a blogger to spread her wings and explore--new audiences, new expectations, a new angle or new focus, maybe even a new topic. Who knows where it could lead? I guess only time will provide the answer to that question.
Thanks again, everyone, for your support!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? What do you think of guest posting? Have you done it? Do you enjoy it? Why not share your experiences--and links to your guest posts--in comments?
My Entry Was In First Place This Morning!
I've just learned that my entry to the Blogging Fingers guest posting contest is, so far, in first place based on unique visitors, which makes me the top contender for the $50 prize to be awarded to the entrant with the most unique visitors by February 14th.
Please Visit My Guest Post and Help Me Win!
Since February 14th is only three days away, I'd like to let my readers know that, if you haven't visited my Five Ways to Make Other Bloggers Absolutely Adore You! post yet, I could sure use the visit.
Please Consider Stumbling My Post to Help Solidify My Lead!
Also, if you like my post enough and haven't done so yet, I could certainly use a Stumble to help me stay in the lead. (Matt is encouraging his guest posters to promote our entries via StumbleUpon or any other way we see fit, as long as it's legit.)
Second-Place Entry Not Far Behind!
As of early this morning, I was only ahead of the second-place contestant by about 40 unique visitors, though I had a fairly strong to very strong lead against the others. All it would take would be one Stumble of another entrant’s post (particularly the second-place entrant) to upset my lead; so I’m asking my readers who haven’t already visited or Stumbled my post to consider helping me out. I must say that the extra money would certainly come in handy right now with family illness and missed workdays!
My Earlier Post About the Contest
I wrote about my entry in an earlier post, Please Support My Entry to the Blogging Fingers Guest Author Contest with a Stumble. For more info about the contest, as well as a link to Matt's original announcement, follow that link.
Thanks so much for your support!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have any thoughts or experiences to share? Have you ever won a contest? We'd love to hear about it!
Are You a Business Writer?
If you have a marketing or other business background and enjoy writing about related topics, you might feel right at home participating in this year's Age of Conversation 2008, a second collaborative book project that will bring together writers/bloggers from all over the internet--and all over the world. Even if you simply enjoy reading about business, you'll want to know more about this book!
What Is The Age of Conversation?
To learn more about the collaboration--which is the brainchild of Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton and should be even bigger and better than last year's highly popular version--visit Drew McLellan's blog, Drew's Marketing Minute, and check out his Calling All Authors--Time to Exceed Age of Conversation post! But hurry, because the deadline (which has already been extended once), is February 3rd! (My apologies for posting about the project so late! I only just came on board myself the other day and then was without internet all day today due to computer parts issues. Finally managed to use a part intended for a slightly different use to restore my internet access, though; and now I'm back up and running.)
Become a Project Author or Simply Help Choose the Topic
Even if you aren't able to participate as a writer this year, stop by Drew's blog if you're at all interested in voting on which of three possible topics will become the theme for this year's book. (Again, remember that the deadline is February 3rd.)
Topic choices are the following:
- Marketing Manifesto
- Why Don't People Get It?
- My Marketing Tragedy (and what I learned)
A Worthy Project to Benefit a Worthy Cause
All proceeds from the sale of The Age of Conversation 2008 will be donated to Variety, the children's charity, as they were last year.
This project promises to be an exciting compilation of great writing and one you won't want to miss! So hurry on over to Drew's blog and find out how you can participate. And if you are reading this post after February 3rd, check Drew's blog anyway for periodic updates on the project, because you'll no doubt want your own copy once Age of Conversation 2008 goes to print!
Do check it out!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have any questions or anything to add? We'd love to hear your thoughts!
My Entry
I wrote a guest post over at Blogging Fingers a short while back, called Five Ways to Make Other Bloggers Absolutely Adore You! The post was an entry to a contest Matt Jones is running (which just closed). Here's the original announcement: Guest Author on Blogging Fingers and Win $100! ($10 Guaranteed!)
The Contest
In this contest, the guest post that receives the most traffic (aka unique visitors) before February 14th wins $50--which would make a great Valentine's Day gift! Each of the first five guest posters also win $10, and I am among them. (In fact, the contest drew surprisingly few guest posts, which was disappointing.)
Why Am I Asking for a Stumble?
I actually wasn't planning to mention the contest on my blog, because I felt it only fair not to attempt to manipulate organic traffic to the post; however, other contest entrants are promoting their posts on StumbleUpon and Matt is encouraging this. And, while I definitely don't believe in Stumbling my own posts, I suppose that letting my readers know about my entry to the contest and asking you to consider Stumbling it if you like it and/or want to support me (though I hope you will like it) would be only fair, under the circumstances.
(And by the way, Stumbling this post would also help spread the word about my contest entry to StumbleUpon users, who might just decide to click the link and visit my contest post. To Stumble this post, click either the post title, above, or one of the Comments buttons at the end of the post. Each will take you to the post's permalink page and a row of social bookmarking site buttons, including a StumbleUpon button.)
Help Keep My Post in the Running
My post is a satire, which presents five "wonderful" ways you can make your fellow bloggers "adore" (translation: despise) you. Hope you'll enjoy reading it, and if you're so inclined, Stumbling and reviewing it on StumbleUpon. You'd be helping to keep me in the running for the $50 "grand" prize.
And, while you're at it, why not leave me a comment over at Blogging Fingers? I'd sure enjoy hearing from you!
Thanks!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Any questions? We'd love to hear from you!
The Contest
Wanted to share a gift, of sorts, given to me by Dan at dcrBlogs. Actually it's more of a consolation prize for my non-winning entry to his recent What is This Blog All About? contest. In this contest, Dan asked his writer-readers to write a description of his blog and offered a $10 prize to the blogger whose description he chose as most accurate and well-written. (Entries were left in comments and may be read at the above post.)
The Winner
In a later post, What You Think This Blog is All About, Dan reveals his choice for the winning entry: the one submitted by my blogging friend, Lillie Ammann of A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye. (Congrats, Lillie on a job well-done!)
The Consolation Prize
In the above post Dan generously offers the Good Buzzz Blog Award to the non-winners:
Good Buzzz Blog Award
This award is “for blogs that have generated a happy hum in the blogosphere. Whether it be for their blog in general, one outstanding, unusual or controversial post, or for something cool the blogger has done. Or even for recognizing some promising, brand-new blogs.” Dan received it back in November, and he's kindly decided to pass it on to us, because he considers our taking the time to submit our entries to the contest to be "cool."
Thanks, Dan!
I'd like to thank Dan for the consolation prize, as well as the lesson learned through my submission of an overly lengthy entry--despite what my intuition tried to tell me! Nevertheless, like Dan, I, too, love Lillie's description and readily concede that the best entry did indeed win! Many congratulations to Lillie Ammann on an excellent description of an excellent blog: dcrBlogs!
Till next time,
Jeanne
How much thought have you given to your blog's description? If your blog is listed on Technorati or anywhere else, that description represents your blog. Does it make people want to visit? Any thoughts to share about this topic?
A New Blog that Led Me to Another Great New Site
As I checked my Technorati ranking yesterday, I noticed a Blog Reaction (backlink to my blog) that came from a blog I'd never, to my knowledge, visited before. This made me curious, so I clicked on over to check it out. When I arrived at the PhilMcDonnell.com blog, I discovered that in his post, Viral Day, Phil had reproduced a fascinating list of links that has been making its way around the blogosphere. (To learn more about the list, click the link to the "Viral Day" post.) At any rate, Writer's Notes was on the list, and hence my visit to his blog.
The Free Rice Site Where Words Buy Food for the Hungry
While I was there, I noticed another interesting post, called Free Rice.... The post tells of a United Nations World Food Program effort to feed the hungry which is partially supported by a website called Free Rice. This site offers its visitors a multiple-choice vocabulary quiz, with multiple levels of difficulty (50 to be exact); and the site--or rather its sponsors--pledge to donate 10 grains of rice to the U.N. effort for every correct definition chosen. While it's true that 10 grains isn't much rice, if enough people get enough answers correct, it could grow into a substantial amount of food for hungry people around the world. (According to the site's home page, 45,925,390 grains of rice were donated yesterday and 52,142,290 the day before. The site also publishes a list which includes a breakdown of the daily rice donations that have been contributed so far.)
My First Intellectual Donation to the Fight to End World Hunger
I, personally, earned 2,000 grains of rice yesterday by correctly defining 200 words. (I don't know how many words I attempted, since I got many of them wrong. [Decided not to use my dictionary.]) But, this quiz is a great way to improve your vocabulary while doing your small part to help those less fortunate than you. And, of course you can go back again and again, whenever you're inclined to learn a few words and feed a few mouths.
Win-Win Situation: How the Quiz Works
The vocabulary skill level varies as you take the quiz based on whether your definitions are correct or not. When you get three words in a row right, you're moved up a level, and when you get one wrong, you're moved down a level. It's a fascinating mental exercise! Personally, I tended to hover around the 40-43 mark, though I went as low as 38 and as high as 45. But, the great thing about this test is that, no matter what level you're at, you still earn 10 grains of rice for every correct answer, and you never lose any when you get an answer wrong. So it's a win-win situation! You win by learning new words that you'll be able to use in your writing--and understand in your reading--and the hungry peoples of the world who are on the receiving end of the U.N. World Food Program win by receiving the fruits of your intellectual labors.
So why not check out the site, learn a few new words, and help feed the hungry!
Happy helping!
Jeanne
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A Long-Awaited Day!
Writer's Notes finally achieved Google Page Rank today! After nine months, Google has assigned my blog a PR of 3. While I'm a trifle disappointed that my initial PR isn't higher (since my page rank at the next Google update had been predicted to be around 5 based on the number of backlinks to my blog), I'm very pleased to have Google Page Rank at all--and, putting things in the proper perspective, an initial Google PR of 3 really isn't bad at all.
I'd been avidly checking my Google PR widget on my blog for the past few days, after hearing from other bloggers whose PRs were increased that Google was indeed in the middle of its long-awaited update. But, the ironic thing is that it wasn't until I visited the PayPerPost website to check on an opportunity that had been e-mailed to me--and that I at first thought I wouldn't qualify for because it required a PR of 1-2--that I learned that my PR was actually 3! (Thanks, PayPerPost for making me aware of that happy fact!)
Higher Page Rank = Better Paid Posting Opps
Aside from all the other benefits of Google Page Rank, I'm very pleased to know that I will now qualify for more--and better--posting opps at PayPerPost, as well as at the other paid-to-post sites for which I write (Smorty, ReviewMe, and Sponsored Reviews). So, if you're a blogger or a writer who has a website, check to see whether your own Google Page Rank has been updated yet; and if you write for any of the paid-to-post sites, you may just find that you qualify for higher-paying opps than you did previously!
If you don't yet write for any of these sites, but would like to do so now that your PR has increased, why not apply? It can be a way to pick up a few extra dollars to supplement your other writing income. Some writers actually make very good money writing sponsored posts.
PayPerPost Blogger Signup Form
Here's a link to the PayPerPost Blogger Signup Form which I have posted here at Writer's Notes. (Yes, I will receive a referral fee 30 days after your first approved post has been written; but I hope you'll have no objection to this, since you, too, will be able to earn referral fees through helping other bloggers make money writing sponsored posts for PPP once you've joined!)
Links to Other Paid-to-Post Websites
Here are links to the other sites where you can be paid to post product, service, and/or website reviews to your blog:
-Smorty*
-ReviewMe
-Sponsored Reviews
Check them out, if you think you might be interested in this opportunity to earn extra income via your blog now that your Google Page Rank has increased--or even if it hasn't. Your blog will, of course need to be OK'd by these sites prior to your becoming one of their official paid-to-post bloggers; but that shouldn't be too difficult. Just follow any criteria you know they require in order for you to qualify and you should be OK.
Blog Page Rank vs. Individual Post Page Rank
I just discovered today that there is a difference between the overall PR of your blog and the PR of your individual posts. (No doubt many other bloggers have known this fact for ages, but I'm still learning!) While my overall PR is 3, I've found numerous posts on my blog that rank 1 or 2 and quite a significant number that rank 0--which I found quite interesting. In fact, some of those that I was sure would rank higher not only didn't but actually didn't rank at all, and some that I thought wouldn't rank did. Google Page Rank is a fascinating topic!
Congrats to All Who Have Either Achieved or Increased their Google Page Rank!
If you've just achieved Google Page Rank for the very first time, Congratulations! That's very exciting and should open new doors of opportunity for you! If you've increased your PR since the last Google update, Congratulations go out to you, as well! All your hard work has paid off! Keep up the excellent work and who knows how far you'll go from here! If you're still waiting to hear how the results of the latest update affect your blog, I wish you the best and hope you'll have page rank or higher page rank very soon!
Best wishes to bloggers everywhere!
Jeanne
*Note: If you're so inclined, you may use my Smorty referral ad, which I've placed in my sidebar, when signing up to blog at Smorty. (I'll receive a referral fee here, as well--a small percentage of the money you earn for your approved posts. And, here again, you'll also be able to refer others once you've joined, earning referral fees of your own.)
This is not a sponsored post.
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Please feel free to comment!
September 29th 2007 21:20
Sugar & Spice Anthology Needs More Conventional Online Poetry Written By Women
Gerald Bosacker of Bosacker Books, is putting together a poetry anthology, to be entitled Sugar & Spice. This compilation of the works of various female poets which have already appeared online in one internet venue or other will be comprised of conventional, mostly rhymed and metered poetry.
A number of my own poems will be included in the anthology, and I wanted to share this opportunity with my female readers who have written poetry of this type and had it published--or may yet have it published--online. Remuneration will likely be small; however, your inclusion in the anthology would give you one more--or perhaps your first?--published clip. And since it will be in a print publication, it will likely carry a bit more weight among future potential publishers than an online publishing credit, as it's generally so much easier to be published online.
The Opportunity, In Mr. Bosacker's Own Words
Here's what Mr. Bosacker had to say to me in an e-mail written in response to my submissions back in July:
If your intent is monetary compensation, refuse permission as the financial yield will not be great. I sell poetry, and receive but a small fee, even from large magazines. I do take pleasure in the paid recognition, no matter how small. SUGAR & SPICE does not auger huge sales, but all of the royalties will be divided amongst the authors, in proportion to their share of print. I will not contribute, nor share royalties. I have no idea how well the anthology will sell, but it is not a scam, nor profit making venture.
Let me know if you wish to be included...
Anthology Release Delayed Due to "Scarcity of Good, Conventional Poetry, Written By Women and Posted on the Internet"
Mr. Bosacker had hoped to release Sugar & Spice by October 1st, but has had trouble amassing enough good conventional poetry written by women which has been published on the internet. His latest correspondence of a few weeks ago informs me that, at this point, he only has about one-third of the poetry he needs to fill the 200-page book. At that rate, it could be a while before the book goes to print--unless the internet poetesses among us will begin submitting our best work ASAP.
Visit BosackerBooks.Com for Submission Information
Feel free to visit the Bosacker Books website for more information about the planned anthology and/or to find out how to submit your work. The book's cover may be viewed at the following link: Sugar & Spice Poetry Anthology.
While Sugar & Spice will likely not be a high-profit venture for those of us whose work is included, there is always the possibility that it will sell better than Mr. Bosacker expects. Whether or not it does will no doubt--in part, at least--be dependent upon how much buzz we ourselves are able to create for the book via our websites, blogs, word-of-mouth, and possibly even through asking our fellow writers and bloggers for their help in spreading the word.
Are You a Conventional Female Poet Who Has or Will Soon Put Your Work Online?
If you are a female poet and you have some well-crafted conventional poetry sitting in the bottom drawer of your desk, the back of your closet, or even the darkest corners of your garage or attic, you might just want to consider digging it out, reassessing its quality and appropriateness for this market, touching it up if needed, posting it on one of the online poetry websites* first, and then submitting it to Mr. Bosacker for the Sugar & Spice Poetry Anthology.
If your work is already posted online, so much the better! You will be able to submit it to the anthology with a minimum of hassle. So, scour the sites you've posted your work to, find your best poetic masterpieces, and consider submitting them if you'd like to be a part of this book project.
If you don't already have some conventional poetry hidden away somewhere--either online or off--but have the heart of a poet(ess), why not write a few poems, submit them to the poetry site(s), and then forward them to Mr. Bosacker. Send your best work, though, because Mr. B is looking for very well-executed conventional verse. Let's show him that good conventional poetry written by women and published on the internet isn't really as scarce as he thinks it is!
Best of luck to you!
Jeanne
*A few of the better websites that accept poetry are Creative-Poems.Com and MoonTownCafe.Com. To learn more about submitting your work to these sites, please see my earlier posts, Calling All Poets! More Info About Creative-Poems.Com and Calling All Poets 2: More Info About MoonTownCafe.Com. Other possible websites for posting your poetry--though they are not exclusively poetry sites--are Helium.Com and Associated Content.
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The 2007 Australian Blogging Conference
The next Australian Blogging Conference is slated for Friday, September 28th, 2007 (please forgive the Americanization of the date), from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Creative Industries Precinct at the Queensland University of Technology's Kelvin Grove Campus In Brisbane. Since I'm not certain how many Orble (and other Australian) bloggers know about this conference, I thought I'd write a post about it.
Thanks Go Out to Darren Rowse, at ProBlogger, for the Info
I learned of the conference from Darren Rowse's ProBlogger website, in his brief Speed Linking - 31 August, 2007 post.
Conference Description
Here's what the event's organizers have to say about it:
This will not be a conference in the traditional sense. It will be relatively informal. Instead of lengthy presentations, people will be invited lead discussions on various topics throughout the day – some practical, such as how to build a better blog, and some theoretical on the role, influence and future of blogs.
It is hoped that this Australian Blogging Conference will be a memorable event where all participants will learn more about the social, cultural, creative and technological aspects of blogging from one another.
Conference Hosts
The conference will be hosted by the following two organizations*:
The Legal and Regulatory Program of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation
The Queensland University of Technology
Conference Topics
Topics covered will be the following:
-The Politics of Blogging
-Researching Blogging
-Blogs, Creativity and Creative Commons
-Legal Issues
-Citizen Journalism
-Blogs and Education
-Business and Corporate Blogging
-Building a Better Blog
-Final Discussion 1: The future for blogging - what's next?
-Final Discussion 2: The future for your blog - promoting your blog and building traffic
Please bear in mind that a number of the above sessions take place simultaneously, requiring you to choose the one you most want to attend.
Conference Registration
If you'd like to attend the conference, you'll need to register in advance.
The organizers of the event hope to have no registration fee, but state, "This will only be possible if we are able to attract sufficient corporate sponsorship. Accordingly we would appreciate any support you and your organisation is able to provide."
Conference Sponsorship
If you or your organization* are interested in helping to eliminate registration fees for participating bloggers by sponsoring the conference, you may visit the site's Sponsorship Opportunities page to learn how you can acquire a Sponsorship Kit.
Post-Conference Activities
There will be a few opportunities for post-conference get-togethers the evening of the conference, so be sure to check out the Friday Dinners Page, if you think you might be interested in attending one of these.
Conference Announcement Badges
Whether or not you are able to attend the conference, if you have a website or blog, you may want to post an Australian Blogging Conference badge, for the benefit of your readers (two sizes available).
Hope many of my Australian blogger/readers will be able to make it to the conference. It promises to be quite an enlightening event! We non-Aussie bloggers will be with you in spirit!
Happy conferencing!
Jeanne
* Hope all my non-American readers will excuse the Americanized spellings used throughout this post (except within specific quotes). The majority of my readers are in the U.S. and, of course, I am, as well. And, while it may seem a bit strange to see two different spellings of this word (organisation/organization) within the same post, the reason for this is that I always use American spellings in my own writing.
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Smorty, for My Australian Readers--and Everyone Else!
Since I've decided to add some carefully selected sponsored posts to my blog, in the interest of survival for myself and value for my readers, I thought I'd try Smorty, which is an Australian blog advertising site, and which, as such, might tend to offer products and services that my Aussie readers would really be able to relate to. (Of course, I'm sure that Smorty's advertisers' products and services have widespread appeal!)
An Opportunity to Get Paid for Blogging
I'm glad to have this opportunity to get paid for blogging. (After all, I already blog and love it!) This will be just one more way to help insure that I'll be able to continue bringing my readers as many great writing tips, techniques, and resources as possible.
Let's face it; financial realities confront each one of us, every day. Few of us are strangers to the need to earn a living. But, I have no intention of belaboring the point, because I see my new relationship with Smorty as a great thing! I feel it has a lot to offer both me and my readers, and I intend to do my best to choose opportunities that are relevant to you, as writers; though I have to confess that I may occasionally just happen to choose a few that seem intriguing to me--and remember, I, too, am a writer--whether or not they relate to writing directly. (After all, writers have lives, too--outside of writing, that is--though at times it may not always seem that way!)
A Few Words About Smorty
At Smorty, as with most other sites where writers blog for money, advertisers pay bloggers to write opinion posts with links back to the advertiser's site. While this is great for us bloggers, who get paid to blog, it's also obviously beneficial to the businesses that advertise on blogs. This mutual benefit is the basis of every truly successful business transaction--and, for the writer, this includes the sale of our writing in any other venue. After all, this is what free enterprise is all about!
As I see it, if we bloggers pick and choose our advertising opportunities with care, our relationship with Smorty--or with any other blog advertising network--should not only benefit the company, the advertiser, and the blogger, but also the blog's readers, as well.
Here's to the Future--With Smorty and My Readers!
I look forward to a great relationship with the people at Smorty, as well as with their advertisers! And I also look forward to a continuation of the excellent relationship I currently enjoy with my readers and fellow bloggers. You are very important to me, and I promise, you, my readers, that I will not knowingly post inaccurate information or reviews and certainly will not intentionally mislead you about any product, service, or company, for the sake of money.
How About You?
Should you be interested in pursuing your own opportunity to blog for money, I'll be placing my Smorty affiliate badge into my sidebar very soon. If you'd like, you may use it to get more information about how you can get paid to blog at Smorty. (In the meantime, feel free to use the link found in the first paragraph of this post.)
Thanks for your support!
Jeanne
This post sponsored by Smorty.
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