Senior Woman With Computer
I’m overwhelmed. Here’s how it started. Last October after my publishing company asked me if I would do a blog tour I franticly called up my writer mentor, and president of Round hill writers Group, Bobbi Carducci, and picked her brain. She sent me a link for the blog tour (which is now dead) and told me how to start a blog by going to wordpress.com. That was the extent of my knowledge. I started writing articles twice a week and posting them. I didn’t have a batch of articles to call on. I hadn’t surfed the net for other blogs for names or ideas. I hadn’t even looked at other blogs except hers http://SchizophrenicWriter.wordpress.com/.
I was totally ignorant of what blogging was. Now I know a lot more but the more I know the more I need to know. I feel like I’m swimming in jello going against the current in the middle of the ocean.
Tiny Surfers at Ocean
Because I had been thrown into the blogosphere by way of my publisher, eTreasures publishing, I wrote a couple of articles about my writers’ experience. The first one was about the online writers’ conference I had attended (www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com) that you can find in my October archive.
That was my first writers’ conference and I loved the classes, workshops and chats on everything from marketing to designing your web page. I even pitched my children’s book “Annie’s Special Day” and got the interest of eTreasures publishing, where my book is being considered for illustrations even as I write this.
I had tried to write a blog to that niche; people who might want to buy the book once it got published; young parents and kindergarten teachers, cause that was why I started to blog, right – to sell my book?
Wasn’t the whole idea of blogging to sell yourself and to develop a platform and to brand your name?
I know I need to focus. I know that’s why I’m supposed to be blogging but if you start surfing through other articles, you’ll see all kinds of things on here from recipes to the spiritual type posts.
I am afraid readers don’t know what to expect from me because I don’t have a theme or write to a niche. Or do I have to actually narrow my theme? I don’t want to be in a box. My tag is ‘well lived life-under construction’ and that is what I blog about. How I live my life, what I’m learning and what I enjoy. I’m taking a boot camp on blogging now at Alist Blogging Club and will be posting what I learn there if you’re interested.
What do you think of my tag line; “well lived life, under construction.”?
Do you think it describes my blog?
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Related articles
- MY BLOGAVERSARY. Why I Started Blogging and Why I Keep On. (clarbojahn.wordpress.com)
- Seven Tips to a More Readable Blog (clarbojahn.wordpress.com)
- An Author Blog – Can it Help Sell Your Book? (clarbojahn.wordpress.com)
- Seven Easy Steps to Knock Writer’s Block (clarbojahn.wordpress.com)
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We must have been reading each others minds this morning? You write well.
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I stopped by your blog this morning and found you’re writing quite well yourself.
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I like the tag. Thanks for the plugs.
Bobbi
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You’re welcome, Bobbi.
Next I’ll learn how to put the tag on my blog’s theme. How did you do it?
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I think it is an excellent tag. For several months, I included a poem, an essay, a funny story, and a memoir each week. I wrote more on whatever interested me that week. I’ve scaled down to posting only M-F (my intent was actually only to be M and F, but somehow I just keep writing on the blog instead of my WIP) :m not quite sure what my theme is. I did add a second blog for poetry, however I haven’t been in the poetry mood as much lately. I’m swimming in jello, too…throw me a lifeline will ya?! I think the more we learn we find there’s even more!
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Yes, That’s what I’ve found. More and more.
I find myself writing on my blog instead of my WIP, too. We both need a life raft.
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Yiu rock IMO.
Love,the blog
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Thank you, Terry, That’s a nice compliment.
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I pitched at Muse as well … and look what happened to me!
About your tag … Yes it does describe what you are writing here…. however …
‘lived’ is past tense which can read as though your life is done with… not so … you’re still living your life, that’s why it’s ‘under construction’ … so the two halves of your tag don’t seem to mesh, although I do get a feel for what you are trying to say.
… IF you want to work through this, break down the two parts and look at what you’re trying to say. ‘Well lived life’. What does that mean to you, personally, viscerally, the good stuff and the shadow stuff. But, and this is important, phrase it in terms of the present. ‘I am …’ ‘It is …’ I feel …’ ‘I think…’ etc (maybe write it as a post – even if you decide not to publish it on your blog). Then rethink the phrase from that perspective.
(Phrasing in the present tense seems to fit because so far, most of what you’ve written reflects aspects of your journey from this point … forward.)
Do the same thing with ‘under construction’. Start in the present and lean towards the future a little to finish with. When we’re constructing something, we usually have an end result in mind. Then re-think this phrase as well.
A bit about intent. When I write something for my blog, I try to keep my purpose in mind, even if that isn’t explicit in the text that I finally post.
Throw out what the publisher said about blogging and look at what YOU want to blog about. (you can always start another one that relates directly to your book/writing)
… yeah! Just what you want right? Another blog to sweat over!
I’m going to finish with this; I like your writing and what you’ve got to say … keep ’em coming.
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Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. The ‘lived’ part of my tag was supposed to be an adjective and I didn’t think it would be taken as a verb. Others must also think this way. I wonder if “life well lived’ would be so confusing. I will give it some more thought. I appreciate your input. Since I recently retired and started my writing career I had actually meant it to be in the past. I have life before retirement and after. It’s a good idea to write about it even if I don”t publish it. I often do my best thinking while writing.
I can’t imagine having two blogs. I might get a fan facebook page though.:)
Thanks again for all the good input and compliment on my posts. 🙂
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Before I started my blog I bought Blogging for Dummies- one of the only for Dummies books I own. There is a big learning curve, but once you over come the hurdle the rest is “oh yah” moments. If you have a blog for writing or promoting your books I think its a good idea to have that as your main focus, with added personal items as well, but not as many. Any social media is part of your platform to promote yourself, while at the same time make deeper connections with your readership. It is time consuming. I suggest Kristen Lamb’s book, We Are Not Alone and her blog. She offers great tips on social media for writers. I think it is a good tag line; what it says to me is that you’ve expereinced life and learned not to take yourself or it to seriously.
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Thank you, Lara, for your comment. I will get a copy of that book. Thank you for referring me to Kristen’s blog. I will surf it as soon as I can.
Yes, blogging is time consuming. So much more than just writing and publishing a post. It still comes as a surprise to me. However I love the give and take of comments. I love my blogging community. It is also so much more rewarding than I had thought it would be.
I’m glad you like my tag. However I think I may make a little change and say “life well lived,” instead of well lived life. Less confusing. Do you think? 🙂
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Totally in awe of your blog today and all the thoughtful comments. I know for myself that blogging is an experience in learning about the world of blogging for one and the second reason is finding my voice. Good luck and keep at it.
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Thank you for the praise, Patty. Yes, you have a distinctive voice. I have enjoyed your comments on other blogs as well. And I have enjoyed stopping by on your blog.
Thank you as well for the encouragement.
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