Google docs

On the first and third Wednesdays of each month, I attend a "Writer's Support Group". I've been going for a couple of months and I really enjoy it. The group is small enough that anyone who attends and wants to read their stuff can do so, then we all critique it--nicely. The variety of writing styles amazes me. One woman who attends, Erin, is phenomenal--the stuff she can make up blows me away. Anyway-I think the woman is brilliant. I love to hear her speak-she has an awesome command of our language, but articulates herself so that I can understand what she's talking about and I don't feel like an idiot. She gives great feedback-both constructive and supportive, and I get the most from listening to her. She also seems well versed in IT (Internet technology-?? I think that's right) and has helpful suggestions about files, formatting, etc.

Last night she gave us a great tip about Google. I should have known this, but I didn't, and it's going to help me tremendously.

Google docs. I spent only a bit of time playing around with it tonight, but I can take everything I have stored on my computer and move it to Google docs. where they stay in my own little Google account, out in space somewhere, and I can call them up anytime, from anywhere and work on them. I think it's going to be a much better way to store my stuff, so now I need to transfer all my important work over there. More for me to learn. As soon as I figure it out, I'll give details. It doesn't seem very complicated.

This is never ending, and sometimes it drives me crazy, but I'm still loving it...

TUESDAY ALREADY!!!!

I have been soooo busy, I can't believe the last time I did anything with my poor little blog was last Thursday.

I was really excited to find three new comments tonight-those really help to perk me up and keep me going especially since I had a short "what the hell am I doing" moment last night. Wondering about spending all this time on the computer, sending stuff out into cyberspace, or the blogosphere, or whatever, with seemingly few who know I'm alive. Who's interested in my stuff anyway??? Boo hoo. Then I found the comments. Thanks Sarah for the tip and Allena if you're here again, thank you, too.

I'm honored that Allena commented. It's like she's like famous to me. Tons of info, thousands of topics, a veritable Fountain of Freelance... Maybe someday I'll be writing on a big site like she does.

I did spend quite a bit of time the last few days on Associated Content, and I'll go back and re-read Allena's suggestions as to why that might not be such a great idea. I was thinking it would be a way to get started making a little money, and at least having some work to show potential clients.

Another someday for me might be a book, but it'd have to be a creative non-fiction/memoir type thing. I'm not good at making things up. My husband wants me to write a kid's story about one of our parakeets, and I've been tossing it around in my head, but can't seem to come up with anything really creative and catchy. I think people assume writing for kids is easy, but I'm not sure that's the case.

I was also thinking the last few days about how my original intent for here was to write about writing, but I'm beginning to second think that, also. I wanted to do something on AC about planning for our upcoming trip to South Africa in October-sort of a step by step for first timers like us. I'm saving my money to buy a laptop to bring with me, thinking I could submit to AC while we were there and also try to keep up with my blog.

I think I just have too much flying around in my head and sometimes it overwhelms me. I had a sad thought the other day that, at fifty three years old, I have have wasted so much time. The best I have to show for those years are my two kids. But what will be my legacy? I know for damn sure there aren't fifty three more years for me and I feel a sense of urgency to get moving and make the best of what remains. In her book, "Broken Open", Elizabeth Lesser speaks of the most beautiful, wrenching quote I'd ever read. Written by Anais Nin, it fully articulates where I am now, and where I want to go.

"And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

Thursday already

These weeks are flying. Tonight is a short post because I'm going to "Associated Content" to create an account for myself and see if I can get some stuff published online. I found out about the site through Allena Tapia at About.com. I receive emails from her Freelance Writing guide, and she's been a great help as I try to learn about that aspect of writing. I came across the AC site the other day after perusing some of her mail that I hadn't had time to look at and it seems like it might be a good place to get my feet wet. It's easy to understand, which is always helpful for me.
Still haven't learned the link thing yet so here's the address.... http://www.associatedcontent.com/
My husband and I are going to South Africa next October and I'm going to see if they'll accept some submissions about the trip. (In case anyone might be wondering-the elephant on my page is a countdown to the days remaining)
My daughter, Meredith, made an allusion today that I'm becoming obsessed with my blog. She ain't seen nothin' yet! (Love ya, honey!)

Learn something new everyday

Everyone has most likely heard, "Ohhhhh. Hmmmm. Well, you learn something new everyday!" It's cliche, and I don't know how true it really is, but this writing thing has really made that statement my ah-ha mantra these last few weeks. Today, I learned something about Twitter that I never knew until after I spent a few minutes reading about it on line and viewing a Youtube video. I did not know that posts (or whatever they are called) are limited to 140 characters. I wondered what that meant under the update box. I really show my age when it comes to all this stuff. So now that I know it has to be brief, I will try and Tweet everyday. I have trouble being brief. This should help. Me . Be brief.--Ha.
I'm still trying to learn how to include links within my posts without pasting the entire site address. That will be my tweet for tonight. Maybe someone can help me. I found some great stuff today for freelancing, contests and new writers so I'll include the address lines until I learn otherwise....
This one offers a variety of avenues to make and find money writing as well as contests, and consultations.
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/

This is geared toward freelance writers, but has a TON of info on it. I could spend hours just perusing this site.
http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/

This is another page of FWJ, offering free online writing classes...I like free. I'm going to check these out as I can use all the help I can get-

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2009/08/31-free-online-writing-courses/

Going to spend some time researching so I can learn more than one new thing today....

New Look

OK-It's been 3 weeks and already I'm bored with the look of my blog. Tonight I ingeniously determined that I was able to change the templates with the availability of a few blogger variations and chose this because it was vivid had some pizazz! It's not necessarily what I'd have if I could design my own, but it'll work for tonight until I can figure out something else.
I spent the better part of the weekend working on the Writer's Weekly 24 Hour contest story. In a nutshell-Mrs. Claus was cheating on her man. With an elf. That's what he gets for being so controlling. Don't know if it'll win any prize, but I thought it was rather creative.
I also came to the conclusion tonight that I'd better get on the Twitter train. I actually had created an account back in November, but never did anything with it. All I hear and read about is Tweets and Twits, and whatever else there is. Thought it might get some traffic to my blog so I'll be...
waiting.....waiting...

O-M-G!!!!!

First, let me clarify that I do not text...I'm sure it has something to do with my age, but I do not know how to text, I do not understand texting, nor do I want to learn texting. So the title of this post is not like me, however it's the only way I can describe the last forty-five minutes of my life. Last night I talked about designing-well tonight I tried to add a little pizazz to my avenue in cyberspace and almost canned the entire thing. I had come close to arriving at screw the commitment. But when I got myself under control, I took a little more time and realized that there must be only so much I'm able to do with this style and layout from blogger. Standard. And I don't want to be standard. I want to be different!! I want a unique and eye appealing look. I WANT A BLOG LIKE SARA!!!!! I was born too late for this computer age, and trying like hell to catch up. There's a saying that typifies my effort-"The hurrier I go, the behinder I get." And I sure am behind tonight. The eight ball. I had something I wanted to tell all of my anxiously awaiting fans out there and I ended up playing with pictures trying to get the layout right...

Anyway. Tomorrow "Writer's Weekly" is hosting a 24 hour contest. (Will someone please tell me how to underline in posts?) It's cool. Sign up for the contest-it's only 5 bucks. Then, at noon on the specified date, they email you a short prompt and you have 24 hours to create a story and send it back. They provide you with details like word count, submission requirements and stuff. It's fun. As I have yet to learn how to add a link like the pros, here's the address-

http://www.writersweekly.com/misc/contest.php

The spring contest is open for sign up now, so take a look...

So. There's my important news. I may not be back tomorrow...either contest-ing or setting a bomb to my blog....

Designing

Still working on designing this site. Some of the blogs on line are so beautiful-I want to dress mine up too. Love to decorate, but it's a lot easier to do my house than my blog...

Almost didn't get here tonight, and last night was a total bust. I've joined a writer's support group held twice a month at the library and last night was one of the twice. It was late by the time I got home and just didn't have the energy. Tonight my husband and I were supposed to see a Sinatra cover band, complete with a sixteen piece orchestra, but again, I got home from work after a dentist appointment, had a pile of bills and paperwork to sift through, my birds' cage desperately needed cleaning AND I didn't write last night. Somewhere-in either "Writing Down The Bones" or "Bird By Bird", (I can't find the underline thing for the book titles) it said "write every day...even if it's only ten minutes....just write." So-no Sinatra concert tonight-just write.

Short entry though...I think I may have caught a cold from this dork who's been coming into the office for the last week-sick and disgusting. He already gave it to my boss...maybe I should stay home tomorrow and protect myself....