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....

A Brief Respite

Another new follower! Thank you! Check out her blog-it's got some great inspirational daily readings.

I think I took Sara's suggestion a little too literally as I've not posted anything since Friday and the really sad thing is that I'm having trouble remembering why that is. What did I do that was so important it kept me away from my blog? Certainly nothing that will keep the rapt attention of anyone who reads this...

A couple of months ago, I set some goals for myself and tacked them over my computer. As I looked up the other day, I suddenly realized that blogging was one of those goals. It fell under the short term category of my brief list. The other two short term objectives are to have 2 published pieces by Spring 2010 and have at least one consistent freelance assignment (no time constraint on that one, I just noticed).
My single long term objective at this point is to achieve self sufficiency by age 60 and "semi-retire" to a part time position so that I can spend more time writing.That gives me about 7 years. Can I do it? I'm gonna give it a helluva try.


I spent a lot of time today doing research on query letters for submissions. The more I read, the less I know. And really, I know nothing. Educationally speaking, I have two years of college and no degree, and the only writing course I'd taken was journalism.The teacher turned me off so much that I never gave writing of any type a second thought. I remember she was tall and thin with a rat's nest hairdo and freaky long fingernails that looked as though they'd never seen a scrub brush. Critical and brusque, she was not the motivating type I needed back then-someone to advice me, make suggestions and try to point me in the right direction. When I think back on that time, I didn't have a clue to what I was doing-I was like a bee without a flower-flying around with no idea where I was going.

So now, I'm self-educating, reading as much as my brain and time will allow. And now, I don't need anyone to motivate me. Now I can set goals and achieve them one at a time. Finally. I think my time has come.

So excited....but so much to learn

It's 7:22 Friday evening and as I opened my blog I got SO excited because I had one comment AND a NEW FOLLOWER!!!!! I need to breathe and slow down to get my thoughts together-I feel like I won a prize!!! First, I want to say thanks and welcome (if that's appropriate) to my new follower, iwrite92. If you're name is in your profile, I haven't read through it yet, because I couldn't wait to post this, but thanks for adding your name. I wish I'd started writing at seventeen....Thanks also, Sara, for your comment that helped to ease my guilt trip a little. Maybe I do need to look at my schedule and rearrange the blog sessions a little.

Now for the so much to learn. I am NOT a computer savvy individual. While I can sort of make my way around, it usually takes me forever to get where I'm trying to go. This leads me to my dilemma for tonight. Sara tweeted about my blog on twitter. Okay. I know what Twitter is and I think a tweet is like a comment. That's about it, so I'm guessing it means that the tweet will pique curiosity and possibly bring readers to my blog. How'm I doin'? I am a crazy bird fanatic-I have three budgies-but theirs are the only tweets I know. So...Twitter. More stuff for me to read and learn about. I do think that I joined at one point, and I have no idea when that was or what my password might be, but it would probably be easy enough to find out.

More stuff to stump me...I tried to respond to Sara by email and somehow ended up following myself on my own blog. What a pinhead! Now I have to figure out how to unfollow as it looks really ridiculous and desperate. Never did get the email to you, Sara-don't tell me though, I like mysteries and I'll figure it out... I hope.

Some cool info to pass on--but it's not going to be from "In Your Own Voice" as I said I'd do last night. This is better. I love entering writing contests (Sara had some, but I was just beginning my blog and a little overwhelmed). A really fun one is coming up, and there's still some room for participants. It's offered through Writer's Weekly and they call it their 24 Hour Contest. They set a date, usually on a Saturday, and at noon on that day, they email you a paragraph to turn into a story. They give you 24 hours to submit it, so it has to be finished and entered by noon on Sunday. It's fun, and some of the winning stories are really, really good....Let's see if I can attach the link..... http://www.writersweekly.com/. There. I have yet to figure out how to do it so links are highlighted, but I'll get there.

Writer's Digest is also offering some really awesome contests, with a choice of genre's from which to choose. They currently have a similar challenge to the 24 hour, only you get more time. Called "Your Story", they offer an idea to run with and develop into your story. Thus the name! Deadline for that one is February 10th. Check out the plethora of other competitions they're offering for the spring at http://www.writersdigest.com

Going to spend some time with my husband....Happy Friday Night!