Shifting Gears

So, I knew when I received the good news about my acceptance into grad school that things would change in my life. I knew that some projects that I have been trying to juggle would fall by the wayside, but I didn't quite expect things to change so quickly. I haven't even moved yet and it's still about two months before my classes even begin, but I've already become incredibly lazy with keeping up my blog. But oddly enough, I've continued to work on several different Squidoo lenses. So, let me take a moment to plug some of the ones I have recently published or updated:

Guide to Controlling Your Privacy on Facebook: A really simple, laid out explanation of all of the options in your privacy panel on your facebook account- you know, the one that probably gives you nightmares! :)

Parenting in Face/Space: If you are the parent of an internet-savvy kid or teen, this is a guide you don't want to miss out on! Over the last decade or so, there has been lots of bad press given to sites like MySpace and Facebook because of privacy concerns, especially to young teenagers. This guide will help you teach your kid to be internet savvy without becoming bait for some pervert or painting a huge target on his or her back.

Child Life Specialists: This is a career field most people do not know about, which is unfortunate because it is a highly rewarding field. Although, I should include a warning that it is NOT for everyone.

White Elephants: This is a really fun lens all about White Elephants- the myths, legends, and, of course, the classic holiday party game! You might want to bookmark this one so that when the time comes, you'll have some great White Elephant gift ideas!

These lenses are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what all I've been up to lately, but hopefully it will satisfy you for now. Hopefully, I will be blogging again soon to let you know more about the amazing tools I have stumbled onto lately!

Lessons Learned as a Freelance Writer

So, I started this journey of online writing last November. Over the last seven months or so, it has been a crazy journey and I've loved (mostly) every minute of it. I knew that this had permanently impacted me when I began introducing myself as a freelance writer. I guess it only took a matter of time since I have been working on this for hours at a time almost every day for months now. So, what have I learned along my journey?

• I've learned that writing for the web is an art form unto itself. It requires not only a good, solid background in basic grammar and sentence structure, but a combination of creative originality, a personable but knowledgeable tone, and the drive to constantly hone your writing skills for searchability.


• If no one reads it, you didn't write it. Okay, that's not exactly true, but in this field, it's not far from it!


• Networking is not about promoting yourself only. Networking is about creating connections with people who are interested in similar things and fostering an atmosphere of selective reciprocity. (If they aren't genuinely interested or impressed, I'd rather not have someone Digg my work out of guilt- it's better to know that your work earned their worth).


• Sometimes, you need to just pull yourself away from the computer and walk away. Real life doesn't stop just because you're living it virtually, so don't forget to stop and smell the proverbial flowers every now and again.


• Over time, the voice in your head that gives you direction as a writer gets louder. If your writing is sketchy in the beginning, just push through- it will get easier the more you do it.


• There will always be pricks in any forum who think that the internet is a place to openly complain, argue, or be just plain rude. These people will search you out, but you do not need to make yourself a target if you do not want to become a victim of their thoughtless attacks.


• I know it has been said so often that it is probably borderline cliche, but writing what you know about really is the key. The second often missed part to that statement is that writers must always be learning so they can formulate opinions, swirl ideas around in their heads, and finally paint a word picture for all their readers.


• There is no exact formula for success. Work hard at what you do and just wait to see how far you go.


• You write at your best when your goal is not money, but just the love of writing. That paycheck might be nice, but if it's your goal, you will not be motivated enough to write quality content.


• As the writer, you have the power to influence your readers. You can frame the topic in your own custom opinion and keystrokes on a keyboard can be much mightier than any sword or physical weapon.


• All writers love to be recognized. It's true! Just stop by a blog or Squidoo lens or article on AC and leave a compliment. More than likely, you will make his/her day!


• Finding a publishing method that works for you is key. I began at AC and, while they remain my favorite in theory, I am much more active at Squidoo. This is because Squidoo works like I work- in pieces and fragments. I can begin a piece today and finish it months or even years from now. I can also update as new developments occur and offer interactive features that encourage the reader to return later.


• Publishing on several different websites helps you hone your skill and increase your loyal readership.


• There is no end to your work. Ever. You could choose one single topic and find ways to write about it every day for the rest of your life. So if you are experiencing writers block, it's more a problem of indecisiveness than creative ability.


• Your voice and your opinion is unique and you are the only one who can express it like you do. Learn to develop your own unique voice and your readers will soon seek your opinion on lots of different things. They will look to you as an expert not because of a piece of paper you were handed on a stage while wearing a funny little hat, but because of the authority your voice has earned.


• If you create it, it is like a child and you will always take personally the criticisms it receives, even if you know it's true.


• Writing is a process and not a destination. No one can wake up one day and declare that they are a writer- they must first write. The title is earned over time as proof of your work accumulates in your portfolio.


• Writing is not a part-time job or even a profession really. Instead, it's a way of life that requires your mind to constantly be churning and evaluating everything around you. It requires you to explore the places in your soul you might not have ordinarily ventured in order to connect to your readers at a visceral level.


• You will never work so hard for so little pay and recognition and still be so happy about it.

I guess this list pretty much sums up a lot of my trial and error experiences. What about you? Do you have something to add? Why not write an article or blog entry of your own and link it below or just drop me a line in the comments section about what you've learned. This way we can all learn from each other's mistakes without having to make them all ourselves!