The Write Spot, LLC

Meet your writing goals with blogging

Have you set any of these goals this year for your writing?

• Write every day
• Interact with my readers
• Get a book deal
• Make money with my writing

I’m sure a few of them are on your 2009 writing goals list. But did you know that starting a blog can help you accomplish your goals.

Write every day

Some writers go the old fashioned route and write in a diary. However, since many of us are used to writing on computers and don’t feel comfortable without spell check and an online thesaurus, why not take it a bit further and write online? The beauty of blogging is that you can log on from anywhere, like the library or work, and write directly to your blog. If you’re shy you can keep it private, too.

Interact with my readers

I know a newspaper columnist who is putting together a blog so her readers can find her online. Not only can they read her blog, but they hold online conversations with her there, too. Not only does she receive immediate feedback, but her blog readers are a valuable source of ideas for future articles and blog posts.

It's a Colorado thing: join me at Rocky Mountain Moms Blog

It’s been awhile since I’ve written “mom stories” i.e. stories about my life as a mom or posts on my family. After writing at the Citizen Mom’s Family Journal for Real Families, Real Fun back in 2006, I got burnt out on it. Since then, I've written mostly reviews, how to’s, about social media, and recipes with the occasional personal story thrown it.

Well, now I’m baaaaack in the mother’hood Colorado style at the Rocky Mountain Moms Blog.

You can see my first post, Holiday purgatory has been declared OVER and catch all my stories on my page.

Using Social Networks to Promote Yourself: LinkedIn for Writers

This originally appeared in the July 2008 issue of “The Write Stuff” newsletter of the Northern Colorado Writers. Starting this month, I’ll write a regular column about social media for the group.

If you’ve attended one of my [blogging] workshops [for writers], then you know I recommend blogging as a way to promote yourself. A blog can become your book’s marketing platform or an online freelance writing portfolio with links to clips and writing samples.

What if you don’t have time to blog? Or maybe setting up a simple website with your contact info and portfolio gives you a techie anxiety attack? Well, you can slowly get started in the social media realm by joining an online social network like LinkedIn.

Social Networking for Professionals

More than 20 million professionals from around the world have created LinkedIn pages. And unlike MySpace and Facebook – two other popular social networking sites – the networking is professional not personal. This means no embarrassing pictures of you partying like it’s 1999. Though don’t be surprised if an old paramour or a high school buddy finds you through the site.

Besides being an online resume, there are more benefits to joining LinkedIn’s free service. If you are a magazine or non-fiction writer, LinkedIn can be used to find experts for interviews. If you’re a commercial writer, potential clients can find you and see who you’ve worked with in the past.

Many employers use and trust LinkedIn to find high-quality candidates. So while you may not be looking for a writing job, you may be looking for an editor, agent or publisher. Do a search on authors, publishers and agents in your niche. You may be able to connect with them via LinkedIn.

It's all about me! Well, the Smart Television Alliance and Bloghology, too.

My article, Remote Control: It’s O.K., Mom Said We Can Watch TV, is now up on Smart News, the enewsletter and blog for the Smart Television Alliance.

Also, I've been invited to participate in the May 2008 issue of Bloghology at Mert Erkal's Search for Blogging.

Bloghology is a collection of bloggers, their profiles, photos, and links to their best posts. It is a PDF e-book which can be easily circulated throughout the blogosphere for personal branding and marketing of selected good quality bloggers.

I met Mert through Blog Mastermind and a couple of social bookmarking "buzz" groups. In today's crowded blogosphere where it seems that everyone is writing about the business of blogging or how to blog, Mert does an excellent job. He's consistently writing great posts and promoting his content and site well.

I find his efforts inspirational, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to participate in Bloghology. And as Mert says, he believe it will help bloggers on marketing and personal branding by highlighting them and their blogs for free. It's also a great way to network with other bloggers. (You can read more about the benefits here.)

A Lesson in Web 2.0 for Book Authors

This year I've been working with book authors to help them understand the power of Web 2.0 as a marketing platform for their books. Whether it's blogging to show a publisher that you have a built in audience, or using social networking sites to promote your work, authors need to know their way around social media.

There are a few who get it such as Annette Fix, the senior editor of WOW! Women On Writing. She recently released The Break-Up Diet, a memoir that I reviewed at my food and diet blog, This Mama Cooks! On a Diet. Annette has The Break-Up Diet website, a Break-Up Story Forum, Annette's Break-Up Diet blog, and a Break-Up Diet MySpace page.

Another author who's tech savvy is Sherri Rifkin, a former TV marketing executive. She writes for a variety of entertainment and media clients including Bravo, USA Network and the Style Network. Her first novel, LoveHampton, has just been published by St. Martin’s Griffin.

Sherri wrote a fantastic article,  "A New Job Requirement for Authors" that gives some five free or inexpensive tips for promoting your book online

A New Job Requirement for Authors
by Sherri Rifkin, author of LoveHampton

Who knew that one needed to be so thoroughly tech-savvy to be an author?

I’m not just talking about knowing how to create chapter headers in Word (I don’t but I fake it well enough) or being able to change your printer cartridge. Nowadays, you have to know how to blog-vlog-flickr-twitter-facebook-wordpress-upload-youtube-blip.tv in order to be an author, that is, if you have some hopes of being a successful commercial author. It helps if you have nice friends who know how to do all this stuff (I have a Jeff, a Mary and an Anthony) but there are only so many times you can sweetly plead for their help and certainly a limit on the number the exclamation points you can put after “Thank you!!!!!!” in your emails. (Six seems reasonable; seven is just desperate.)

I’ve logged several hours, possibly equaling days at this point, uploading my book-related videos to the various viral distribution sites, creating the first of what is sure to be many photo albums on Flickr.com, adding a fan page on Facebook—and boy is my laptop tired! And I still have a “Book To Do” list two pages long.

Believe me, as a former cable TV marketer for Bravo and Oxygen, I am very grateful to be publishing my novel at a time when all of these free marketing tools are available–especially since I don’t have the same (read: any) budgets to spend on paid marketing placements like I did when I was employed by someone else. Short of walking around Manhattan with a LoveHampton sandwich board strapped over my shoulders, sitting in front of my laptop waiting patiently for my uploads to be complete seems like a far lesser evil.

But I’m fairly certain that once I’ve mastered the twitter-blip and the blog-vlog, there will be yet another technology for me to beg a tech-savvy friend to teach me how to do. (Note: In addition to multiple exclamation points, treating your advisors to a nice meal or an expensive bottle of champagne are good ways to show them your appreciation.)

Now that I’m pretty much all uploaded, I just hope the other kids on YouTube play nicely with LoveHampton21. I certainly don’t want to be forced to send my 206 Facebook friends—and counting if all my viral marketing plans work—after them.

Setting the Stage for 2008

Each year I write a holiday family newsletter, and start by looking over the previous year's version. It's usually fun to reminisce, but this year it was depressing. I realized that many of the things I had thought were going to happen to me professionally in 2007 never materialized.

2007 Wasn't What I Expected

First, there was the client who promised a marketing director job in his start up food business. Then he went through some health issues and went back to cooking and event planning for his former clients. I couldn't blame him. Why go through the headache of starting a new company when you don't need the work or the money?

Then there were the website content overhauls that were brought in house or that never materialized even after numerous meetings. The gigs I did get were small or involved too much work for the pay. Then there were the assignments that radically changed from a lot of work to a little, or that were canceled altogether. Less work meant less pay.

I also spent a lot of time in 2007 looking for freelance writing assignments. I contacted old clients. I approached firms that were recommended to me by other writers. I applied to freelance jobs that I found online. Mostly, my inquiries went into the great resume black hole in the sky. No wonder I was suffering from burnout last spring.

2007 Was Pretty Good After All

Looking over 2007, it really wasn't as bad as I thought. I was this close to meeting my financial goal of $1000 per month from writing. (Keep in mind that I do this part-time.)

Update: a few late checks came in putting me just a little over my goal!

I fulfilled many of the minor goals I set out for myself such as getting a backup drive for my computer, entering writing contests, and going to two blogging conventions and two writer's conferences. I finally created a testimonial page, got my business affairs more organized, and planned out my blogging posts and writing assignments.

Is taking an online blogging course worth it?

My Journey So Far with Yaro Starak Blog Mastermind Mentoring Program

It was back to school for me when I signed up for Blog Mastermind a little over three months ago. At first it was kind of slow, but Yaro quickly ramped it up due to the feedback he was getting. I kept up pretty well with the lessons, listened to all the audio files, and viewed all the video blog case studies. The information was terrific and I slowly started adding new features to my blogs.

Con: his course has a WordPress bias. My own blogs are with TypePad, though I blog at WordPress blogs on the b5media and 451Press networks.

In August, due to my busy schedule and no more summer school for Nathan, I wasn't able to keep up and fell several weeks behind.

Con: At times I'm spread very thin over several blogs that I have contractual obligations to write for several blogs I write for like A Readable Feast. It's hard to keep up with any online course, especially Blog Mastermind since Yaro has you adding not only "pillar content" but about me pages, sponsorship/advertising pages, pages about RSS feeds, business timelines, etc. So much to do - and you want to do it all! - and so little time.

In September, the kids went back to school and I was able to catch up with the audio and video downloads. Still there's so much I haven't even started, like my business timeline. While I'm adding things like "Become a Sponsor" and "Sign up for my RSS feed" pages at several of my blogs, I've decided to mostly concentrate my efforts mostly at This Mama Cooks! On a Diet (TMC:OAD) and occasionally at A Mama's Rant (AMR) and A Readable Feast (ARF). Even though AMR and ARF get low traffic (around 200 page views per day), the ranking on AMR is a 5 and my affiliate earnings through ARF are on the same level as TMC:OAD.

Pro: Lots of great information and things to do makes me realize that Blog Mastermind is worth every penny. I thought I knew a lot about blogging, but there's tons out there I don't.

Con: I wish I had time to hang out in the Blog Mastermind forums more and get to know some of the other bloggers taking the course. From what little time I've spent in the forums, my fellow Blog Mastermind bloggers have lots of usable information, too.

Results So Far

My daily traffic This Mama Cooks! On a Diet has doubled. I'm getting around 1000-1200 page views a day according to TypePad. My RSS readership went down to almost zero initially since I changed TMC:OAD from a food blog to a food and diet blog around the same time I signed up for Blog Mastermind. But then it increased...and doubled. I nearly have 50 RSS readers, which may not be much to some of you, but it's the most I've ever had on any of my blogs. (And Yaro says it's o.k. to celebrate even getting 10 new readers.)

I've also networked with several very nice weight loss/dieting/fat bloggers. Not only has reading their blogs been inspirational and motivational in my own weight loss journey, but they're nice. They visit and leave comments. I've even been asked to write on one of their blogs - Incredible Shrinking Ladies.

My affiliate earnings have increased dramatically as well. I'm earning in one month what I did in one quarter. It's not hundreds, but it's still very nice to have.

Also, now that I'm getting more traffic I've been approached by more PR firms and publishers to promote their products. It's also been easier to get books I want to review, like Harvey Walden's No Excuses! Fitness Workout. I contacted the publisher and the book was sent to me in a couple of days. Cool!

Blogher07: The Art of Writing Reviews

BlogHer07 in Chicago - Day One: Breakout #3 Session Art of Life: Art of Writing Reviews.

Many, many bloggers write reviews for fun and for money. Some traditional journalists think the art of criticism is dying, and deplore its demise, but studies show that people put as much stock in what their neighbors think of a product, service or piece of entertainment as they do in what a "professional" thinks. Whether just-the-facts-ma'am new product reviews or more subjective and artful entertainment reviews, bloggers are telling you what they think.

Maria Niles - moderator (who blogs at Fizz from Consumer Pop)
Barb Dybwad (who blogs at Weblogs, Inc. at AOL, Joystiq, geeked., and Engadget)
Claire Zulkey (who blogs at Zukley.com and is a L.A. Times TV reviewer/blogger at Show Tracker)
Eugenia Williamson (who blogs at Literago - Literate Chicago and writes at Time Out Chicago)

If you attended the session and want to provide a link to your review blog, please do so in the comments below.

Q: What makes a review? Do you have to be a pro or trained? Can bloggers be reviewers? Is there a standard for legit criticism?

Barb - At Engadget, we give "opinions as a friend" but do have standards as to what is covered and how it's formatted. We're not afraid to tell it like it is.

Eugenia - She writes professionally as a reviewer, but on Literago - Literate Chicago they do reviews of literary events which is kind of different.

Claire: LA Times editors didn't want to do recaps, but a little more - a "piece" and a review. She tries to take it seriously and wants to report more than just the facts.

Metromix.com - reviewers are readers, reader driven content. Good place for practice. Sharing your opinion in an articulate, non-inflammatory way.

Q: (Audience - Heidi O'Connor) What else are you injecting into your reviews to make it more personal?

Claire - Interviews with the contestants, comparisions between similar shows, adding little stories from the show to add to opinion. The LA Times wants to make the content interesting even to people who don't watch the show.

Barb - Engadget compares their review products to similar products, subjective analysis, how the device fits into her life, then zoom out and show how the product would be used in other situations that make it more general.

Q: (Liz Rizzo - Everyday Goddess - she is trying book reviews and tv shows. However, she feels like a poseur because of a need to summarize the book/show. It seems boring and too much work. How should she handle this?

Eugenia - Plot summaries are boring, keep them short, read big reviewers and see how they handle this, don't give away the plot, no spoilers, good writing

Claire - in TV you have to summarize and give spoilers. Imagine how you would tell your friend about this show and write it that way.

Maria - Television without Pity - recaps/summaries and TV Squad - reviews - look at what other's are doing.

Commentary - Reviewer from Literary Mama - either make the review personal or political. Take the theme and take it to a personal level and relate it to you. Tell your story or make a political/societal point.

Claire - Take it personal.

Eugenia - Look at who you are writing for.

5 ways to make your emails even better

The Denver Post ran an article, How to build better e-mail, based on David Shipley and Will Schwable's book, Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home.

Denver Post staff writer Suzanne S. Brown brings up some terrific points, which I'd like to add upon:

1. Make the subject line powerful
I agree with Brown that you should be as specific as possible. Also, don't use brackets or any other phrase like "Nice to meet you" that may be flagged as spam by your email provider.

2. Use a signature block with your full name, title, organization, address, phone number, fax and Web page
Yes to name, title and organization as well as phone, website and email address. But full address and fax number is optional. If you work out of your home, you may not want to give them your address until you know them better or it's time to get paid.

Also, it's not necessary to have the block each time you reply in an individual email conversation (your email program may do it automatically however.). Instead just do it the first time - people will get the idea who you are and how to contact you.

3. Use a sign off
Even though it feels odd doing it in an email, using Best regards, Sincerely, Regards, Best, keeps the email professional but friendly.

4. Watch your language - email is forever
Never write an email when you're angry or upset. If you can't wait to cool down, write the email in a Word document. Then save it and walk away for a few hours.

Think of it this way. In the future, would you be embarrassed that you sent out that email? Does it put YOU in a good light or does it make you look weak or like a jerk? Would you want your worse enemy to read and forward it to your boss, colleagues, family or friends?

5. Edit and proofread two or three times
If it's an especially important email, write and save it as a draft without putting an email address on the TO: line. Save and come back to it later. You may do better printing it out, writing corrections, and then going back and editing. Or have a trusted colleague go over it. Don't forget to run a spell check, too and check to make sure you spelled the person's name correctly.

Just because it's quick, easy and immediate doesn't mean that email should be taken lightly. Any communications you send out whether it's a letter, a pamphlet or a blog post should reflect you at your best. That means good spelling, grammar and professionalism as well as compelling ideas and valuable information.

Goodbye to the gatekeepers?

Thomas Frey in his Denver Post article, Gatekeepers on info highway disappearing, brings new prospective to blogging and the new media:

Enterprising people have begun to find the keys to unlocking their future, and it's a future that doesn't include the barriers provided by gatekeepers. Publishing an article no longer requires the approval of an editor. Articles can easily be published on blogs or Web pages without ever needing someone's approval. Videos and podcasts can be posted on iTunes or YouTube 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The true impact is far more significant than any of us can imagine.

The no-gatekeeper lifestyle means you can create whatever product you want and sell it to people around the world without ever having to get someone's blessing.

While he does have a point here, there has been plenty of instances in history when there weren't gatekeepers. After all, wasn't Ben Franklin the ultimate self-publisher? Like bloggers, when you're the editor and the writer, little stands in your way.

Then there's the example of Martin Luther's 95 Theses protesting the sale of indulgences. As legend tells us, in 1517 he posted a copy on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. The 95 Theses were translated from Latin into German, printed, and copied on printing presses throughout Europe. Within two weeks, word had spread throughout Germany, within two months, Europe.

An early example of pre-Internet blogging, linking, social networking, and viral marketing? Or does history show us that it's all been done before, except that it took months, not seconds, to get the word out.