Edie Melson's Blog, page 430
November 8, 2013
Life Lessons—It’s a Journey, Not a Destination
by Reba J. Hoffman, Ph.D.
I see it in every activity in life. Great people are so focused on getting where they want to be, they forget to enjoy the journey. I call this destination syndrome.
It’s really a vision problem. Just like being nearsighted or color blind. Their focus is just off.
I rode in a cycling event once that took me right by the Space Shuttle launch pad, the largest known eagle’s nest in North America, and the alligator marshes.
At the end of the ride, a woman remarked about how exciting it was to see the space shuttle. A man in her group dully asked, “What space shuttle? All I saw was the shorts of the rider in front of me for the whole ride.”
He was laser-focused on getting to the end of the ride, the only view he got was spandex! Not a pretty sight.
No matter where you are right now in your writing career, I promise that you will never be there again. Things change. You do, too. You really need to enjoy the view. Soak up all that is around you right now, while it’s happening.
If you listened to music in the 70’s, you’ll remember the song by Seals and Croft, We May Never Pass This Way Again. I’ve lived long enough to tell you that you absolutely will NEVER be right where you are at this moment.
So, relax and take a deep breath. Look up and take in your surroundings. As a writer, it will include phases of becoming a writer, as well as the phases of getting contracts, editing, book launches, etc.
Have fun with it. Laugh. Invite your friends on the journey. There’s plenty of room on your writing road for others to walk with you.
Whatever you do, don’t get so focused on getting there—for most, thereis being published—that you forget to take in the view.
As I’m writing this—laser focused—I’m headed west as the sun drops behind the hills to the west. I looked up just in time to see wind powered mills strewn throughout the countryside. And, two jets streaked across the sky like falling stars.
It would have truly been my loss to have missed it. Glad I looked up. You should, too. Take a look around your ever-changing world and take time to enjoy it. Right now. Yes, I mean this minute!
Have you ever been so focused on a destination that you completely ignored the journey? I want to hear about it. Share it here.
Reba J. Hoffman is the founder and president of Magellan Life Coaching (www.magellanlifecoaching.com). She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling and is a natural encourager. She serves as Member Care Coach for My Book Therapy and is the author of Dare to Dream, A Writer’s Journal. You can connect with Reba through her motivational blog, Finding True North, or by email at reba@magellanlifecoaching.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @MagellanCoach.
I see it in every activity in life. Great people are so focused on getting where they want to be, they forget to enjoy the journey. I call this destination syndrome.It’s really a vision problem. Just like being nearsighted or color blind. Their focus is just off.
I rode in a cycling event once that took me right by the Space Shuttle launch pad, the largest known eagle’s nest in North America, and the alligator marshes.
At the end of the ride, a woman remarked about how exciting it was to see the space shuttle. A man in her group dully asked, “What space shuttle? All I saw was the shorts of the rider in front of me for the whole ride.”
He was laser-focused on getting to the end of the ride, the only view he got was spandex! Not a pretty sight.
No matter where you are right now in your writing career, I promise that you will never be there again. Things change. You do, too. You really need to enjoy the view. Soak up all that is around you right now, while it’s happening.If you listened to music in the 70’s, you’ll remember the song by Seals and Croft, We May Never Pass This Way Again. I’ve lived long enough to tell you that you absolutely will NEVER be right where you are at this moment.
So, relax and take a deep breath. Look up and take in your surroundings. As a writer, it will include phases of becoming a writer, as well as the phases of getting contracts, editing, book launches, etc.
Have fun with it. Laugh. Invite your friends on the journey. There’s plenty of room on your writing road for others to walk with you.
Whatever you do, don’t get so focused on getting there—for most, thereis being published—that you forget to take in the view.As I’m writing this—laser focused—I’m headed west as the sun drops behind the hills to the west. I looked up just in time to see wind powered mills strewn throughout the countryside. And, two jets streaked across the sky like falling stars.
It would have truly been my loss to have missed it. Glad I looked up. You should, too. Take a look around your ever-changing world and take time to enjoy it. Right now. Yes, I mean this minute!
Have you ever been so focused on a destination that you completely ignored the journey? I want to hear about it. Share it here.
Reba J. Hoffman is the founder and president of Magellan Life Coaching (www.magellanlifecoaching.com). She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling and is a natural encourager. She serves as Member Care Coach for My Book Therapy and is the author of Dare to Dream, A Writer’s Journal. You can connect with Reba through her motivational blog, Finding True North, or by email at reba@magellanlifecoaching.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @MagellanCoach.
November 7, 2013
What’s that Mean—Blog Post Titles that DON’T Confuse Your Social Media Followers!
by Edie Melson
I spend a lot of time sharing other people’s blog posts on my social media networks.
But spend even more time passing over valuable posts because my followers would have no idea what the post was about. So today I want to give you the basics to help with blog post titles that DON’T confuse your social media followers.
I pay a lot of attention to my blog post titles, and I often spend almost as much time composing them as I do writing an entire post. They are that important!
It’s also important that your blog post titles contains your keyword phrase AND you use your blog title in the first fifty or so words of your post. I don’t want to get sidetracked on SEO so here’s a post I wrote on How to Use Keywords Effectively.
The first thing to consider is that your readers will evaluate your post’s content based on the title. If your title is misleading or even ambiguous your reader can walk away feeling cheated.The second thing to consider is to think beyond your blog post setting. What makes sense when a reader is already on your site is way different than what makes sense without visual clues and context.
Social media is a great thing for growing blogs, if you don’t allow blogging and social media to work at cross purposes. They need to compliment each other, and reinforce your message.
Remember, with a compelling title, a browser becomes a reader. Without a compelling title, the rest of your words might as well not be written.
We are writers, and we love words. Even more than that, we love to be clever. I get that.
But a blog post title isn’t a place to just be clever. For example, this blog post title is clever, but it’s also very specific. The first part:
What’s That Mean? Is play on a popular tagline found at the end of many current television shows. But that alone wouldn’t tell a reader what to expect. That’s why I have a subtitle:
Blog Post Titles that DON’T Confuse Your Social Media Followers.
So go ahead, and play with words, but don’t stop there. Give your readers and potential readers the information they need!
If you’re still not quite sure what I mean, I’ve compiled a list of ambiguous blog post titles. We’re going to play a little guessing game. I’m posting the titles and I want you to guess what the blog post is about.
Tomorrow, in the comments section of today’s blog post, I’ll share the answers.
Good luck…And don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
Blog Post Titles: The Summer of Success
When Things Go South
In the Mood
I Live Next Door to a Cemetery
Choosing Joy Instead of Jealousy
Hooptedoodle and You
Perseverance Pays off
Three Steps to Prevent Overfiring
Not Quite What I expected
Take a Deep Breath
TweetablesAre your blog post titles costing you social media shares? (Click to Tweet)
Keep your blog post titles from confusing your social media audience? (Click to Tweet)
I spend a lot of time sharing other people’s blog posts on my social media networks. But spend even more time passing over valuable posts because my followers would have no idea what the post was about. So today I want to give you the basics to help with blog post titles that DON’T confuse your social media followers.
I pay a lot of attention to my blog post titles, and I often spend almost as much time composing them as I do writing an entire post. They are that important!
It’s also important that your blog post titles contains your keyword phrase AND you use your blog title in the first fifty or so words of your post. I don’t want to get sidetracked on SEO so here’s a post I wrote on How to Use Keywords Effectively.
The first thing to consider is that your readers will evaluate your post’s content based on the title. If your title is misleading or even ambiguous your reader can walk away feeling cheated.The second thing to consider is to think beyond your blog post setting. What makes sense when a reader is already on your site is way different than what makes sense without visual clues and context. Social media is a great thing for growing blogs, if you don’t allow blogging and social media to work at cross purposes. They need to compliment each other, and reinforce your message.
Remember, with a compelling title, a browser becomes a reader. Without a compelling title, the rest of your words might as well not be written.
We are writers, and we love words. Even more than that, we love to be clever. I get that.But a blog post title isn’t a place to just be clever. For example, this blog post title is clever, but it’s also very specific. The first part:
What’s That Mean? Is play on a popular tagline found at the end of many current television shows. But that alone wouldn’t tell a reader what to expect. That’s why I have a subtitle:
Blog Post Titles that DON’T Confuse Your Social Media Followers.
So go ahead, and play with words, but don’t stop there. Give your readers and potential readers the information they need!
If you’re still not quite sure what I mean, I’ve compiled a list of ambiguous blog post titles. We’re going to play a little guessing game. I’m posting the titles and I want you to guess what the blog post is about.
Tomorrow, in the comments section of today’s blog post, I’ll share the answers.
Good luck…And don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
Blog Post Titles: The Summer of Success
When Things Go South
In the Mood
I Live Next Door to a Cemetery
Choosing Joy Instead of Jealousy
Hooptedoodle and You
Perseverance Pays off
Three Steps to Prevent Overfiring
Not Quite What I expected
Take a Deep Breath
TweetablesAre your blog post titles costing you social media shares? (Click to Tweet)
Keep your blog post titles from confusing your social media audience? (Click to Tweet)
November 5, 2013
Take Time to Nourish the Writer Within
by Edie Melson
Writing is hard work!Writing is hard work.
Beyond the physical part, it’s emotionally taxing. We pour our hearts and souls into the words we arrange into stories, articles, even blog posts. We spend time and money learning how to write, constantly improving our skills.
Then, we take a deep breath and share our words with the world. So often that world can be less than kind. To face the tumultuous life of writing, we have to take time to nourish the writer within.
Today I want to share some tips you can use—even if you’re doing NaNoWriMo—to feed your writer’s soul.
Come up with a schedule—complete with breaks—and stick to it. It doesn’t have to be a to-the-minute sort of thing. I promise myself a break every hour to hour-and-a-half. But breaking things into small bites reduces the stress.
Goals give you something to shoot for
and something to celebrateSet goals, some small, some large. The variety keeps it interesting— and doable!
Reward yourself when you meet a goal. Goals give you something to shoot for and something to celebrate. It could be something as easy as 5 M&Ms when you write 500 words. But take time to give yourself positive feedback.
Surround yourself with cheerleaders. Enlist your family and friends in your dream. Share your struggles, share your goals, share your success. You’ll be richer in the end.
No, not really!Take time to be a vegetable. For me, that’s mindless TV. I love Survivor, Castle and Big Bang Theory. For you, it may be time to thumb through a magazine or have a cup of coffee.
And on that note…eat right. I know, it’s become a cliché. But things are clichés for a reason—they’re usually true. Make sure your diet is well balanced. None of us can exist for days on end with nothing but junk food.
Don’t forget to exercise. I hate it like the plague (talk about a cliché). But I ALWAYS feel better when I take time for it. No only do I feel better physically, but I’m sharper mentally.
Me and my NaNo buddies, Mary Denman & Reba J HoffmanJoin a writing community. Or if you already have one, take part in it. I’m part of My Book Therapy. And a lot of us are doing MBTWriMo together. And that’s where I head when I need someone who understands.
Give yourself permission to write junk. Sometimes I just have to write bad before I can write good. Knowing it’s going to happen makes it more palatable.
Don’t neglect your spiritual life. None of us would be here without God. Make Him your priority and He’ll handle the rest.
These are my ten tips. What would you add to the list?
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,
Edie
TweetablesHow do you take time to nourish the writer within? (Click to Tweet)
10 Tips to Keep the Writer Inside Healthy—Inside and Out! (Click to Tweet)
Writing is hard work!Writing is hard work.Beyond the physical part, it’s emotionally taxing. We pour our hearts and souls into the words we arrange into stories, articles, even blog posts. We spend time and money learning how to write, constantly improving our skills.
Then, we take a deep breath and share our words with the world. So often that world can be less than kind. To face the tumultuous life of writing, we have to take time to nourish the writer within.
Today I want to share some tips you can use—even if you’re doing NaNoWriMo—to feed your writer’s soul.
Come up with a schedule—complete with breaks—and stick to it. It doesn’t have to be a to-the-minute sort of thing. I promise myself a break every hour to hour-and-a-half. But breaking things into small bites reduces the stress.
Goals give you something to shoot for and something to celebrateSet goals, some small, some large. The variety keeps it interesting— and doable!
Reward yourself when you meet a goal. Goals give you something to shoot for and something to celebrate. It could be something as easy as 5 M&Ms when you write 500 words. But take time to give yourself positive feedback.
Surround yourself with cheerleaders. Enlist your family and friends in your dream. Share your struggles, share your goals, share your success. You’ll be richer in the end.
No, not really!Take time to be a vegetable. For me, that’s mindless TV. I love Survivor, Castle and Big Bang Theory. For you, it may be time to thumb through a magazine or have a cup of coffee. And on that note…eat right. I know, it’s become a cliché. But things are clichés for a reason—they’re usually true. Make sure your diet is well balanced. None of us can exist for days on end with nothing but junk food.
Don’t forget to exercise. I hate it like the plague (talk about a cliché). But I ALWAYS feel better when I take time for it. No only do I feel better physically, but I’m sharper mentally.
Me and my NaNo buddies, Mary Denman & Reba J HoffmanJoin a writing community. Or if you already have one, take part in it. I’m part of My Book Therapy. And a lot of us are doing MBTWriMo together. And that’s where I head when I need someone who understands.Give yourself permission to write junk. Sometimes I just have to write bad before I can write good. Knowing it’s going to happen makes it more palatable.
Don’t neglect your spiritual life. None of us would be here without God. Make Him your priority and He’ll handle the rest.
These are my ten tips. What would you add to the list?
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,
Edie
TweetablesHow do you take time to nourish the writer within? (Click to Tweet)
10 Tips to Keep the Writer Inside Healthy—Inside and Out! (Click to Tweet)
November 3, 2013
Social Media Monday—Get Your Social Media Pages Ready for the Holidays
by Edie Melson
I know November is just starting, but Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, with Christmas right on its heels. Now is the time to get your social media pages are ready for the holidays.
The first thing you want to look at your cover photo on the different platforms. Consider ways you could enhance it to give it a warm, holiday feel. You’ll probably want to change it twice, once for fall and again for Christmas.
The best way to create a cover photo is to use PicMonkey. It’s an online photo editing site and even includes templates for sites like Facebook. Here’s a post I wrote about Working with Images.
Beyond changing the look of your platforms by changing your images, you’ll need to plan ahead for social media updates. Below is the header I created for my Steampunk Fables Facebook Page. (and yes, I'm working on new holiday headers for all my pages)
Header I created using PicMonkey.
Let’s face it, the holidays are fun, but they’re also hectic. By planning out some holiday updates in advance can save your sanity and keep the momentum going. Here are some ideas for fun social media updates:
Share your favorite holiday recipe and ask your friends/followers to share theirs. Ask your followers to give you tips on sanity savers during the holidays.Share a crazy holiday faux pas and ask others to share theirs.Share some of your favorite holiday reads.Ask for decorating ideas.Share a holiday tradition and ask for others to chime in.Ask about favorite holiday movies.Share your favorite Christmas carol and ask your friends to share theirs.
I think you get the idea.
But by planning these out in advance, you can have a list ready to go and not have to spend valuable time creating them.
You can also plan some blog posts in advance. The holidays are a good time to plan a giveaway. You can also plan a holiday cookie recipe exchange and a holiday potluck recipe exchange for your blog. The easiest way to do this is through a Meme. I use Linky to do all my memes. Here's a blog post to Get Started with Memes.
Now it’s your turn, share some holiday conversation starters, and blog post ideas.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,
Edie
TweetablesAre your #socialmedia platforms ready for the holidays? (Click to Tweet)
Timesaving tips from #socialmedia mentor @EdieMelson to get your blog and social media holiday ready. (Click to Tweet)
I know November is just starting, but Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, with Christmas right on its heels. Now is the time to get your social media pages are ready for the holidays.The first thing you want to look at your cover photo on the different platforms. Consider ways you could enhance it to give it a warm, holiday feel. You’ll probably want to change it twice, once for fall and again for Christmas.
The best way to create a cover photo is to use PicMonkey. It’s an online photo editing site and even includes templates for sites like Facebook. Here’s a post I wrote about Working with Images.
Beyond changing the look of your platforms by changing your images, you’ll need to plan ahead for social media updates. Below is the header I created for my Steampunk Fables Facebook Page. (and yes, I'm working on new holiday headers for all my pages)
Header I created using PicMonkey.Let’s face it, the holidays are fun, but they’re also hectic. By planning out some holiday updates in advance can save your sanity and keep the momentum going. Here are some ideas for fun social media updates:
Share your favorite holiday recipe and ask your friends/followers to share theirs. Ask your followers to give you tips on sanity savers during the holidays.Share a crazy holiday faux pas and ask others to share theirs.Share some of your favorite holiday reads.Ask for decorating ideas.Share a holiday tradition and ask for others to chime in.Ask about favorite holiday movies.Share your favorite Christmas carol and ask your friends to share theirs.I think you get the idea.
But by planning these out in advance, you can have a list ready to go and not have to spend valuable time creating them.You can also plan some blog posts in advance. The holidays are a good time to plan a giveaway. You can also plan a holiday cookie recipe exchange and a holiday potluck recipe exchange for your blog. The easiest way to do this is through a Meme. I use Linky to do all my memes. Here's a blog post to Get Started with Memes.
Now it’s your turn, share some holiday conversation starters, and blog post ideas.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,
Edie
TweetablesAre your #socialmedia platforms ready for the holidays? (Click to Tweet)
Timesaving tips from #socialmedia mentor @EdieMelson to get your blog and social media holiday ready. (Click to Tweet)
Weekend Worship—Are You Writing in Faith?
by Edie Melson
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
This is one of the first verses I learned when I began memorizing scripture. But until today, I had never thought about applying it to my writing. This morning I was texting back and forth with a fellow writer, trying to encourage her to move forward and leave the result up to God.
You see, Novemberis National Novel Writing Month. Or in the vocabulary of writers, NaNoWriMo. The goal is to write 50,000 words in one month. It was started to help writers get a story down, BEFORE editing. A good idea, but it can carry a lot of pressure. That’s what my friend was dealing with.
So I texted that my friend should just sit down at the computer and write in faith . As I hit send, the words were highlighted, and it hit me like a message from God. I knew, in that moment, that I desperately needed to take my own advice.
Let me explain. To get ready for NaNoWriMo, I’ve been working hard at mapping out a fiction manuscript. I’ve gotten to know my characters, researched the location, even brainstormed the major plot points.
But still I was overcome with doubt and indecision every time I sat down to write.
I had forgotten that, prepared or not, the outcome of my writing is in God’s capable hands. Sure I need to be obedient and do my homework. But then, I have to leave the results up to him.
Even the SMALL results.
He’s in charge of how each scene turns out, as well as how the book turns out, and even whether it’s published or not. He cares about the people who will read and WHEN they read it.
My part is small, just obedience. I know, it’s NOT easy, but the big stuff is Gods. It’s not my place to think too far ahead in the process.
Today, I sat down and wrote with this in mind—and the joy returned
The pressure had disappeared and the fun of playing with the words returned. So join me, as I move forward with NaNoWriMo and—
Write in Faith!
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
This is one of the first verses I learned when I began memorizing scripture. But until today, I had never thought about applying it to my writing. This morning I was texting back and forth with a fellow writer, trying to encourage her to move forward and leave the result up to God. You see, Novemberis National Novel Writing Month. Or in the vocabulary of writers, NaNoWriMo. The goal is to write 50,000 words in one month. It was started to help writers get a story down, BEFORE editing. A good idea, but it can carry a lot of pressure. That’s what my friend was dealing with.
So I texted that my friend should just sit down at the computer and write in faith . As I hit send, the words were highlighted, and it hit me like a message from God. I knew, in that moment, that I desperately needed to take my own advice.
Let me explain. To get ready for NaNoWriMo, I’ve been working hard at mapping out a fiction manuscript. I’ve gotten to know my characters, researched the location, even brainstormed the major plot points.But still I was overcome with doubt and indecision every time I sat down to write.
I had forgotten that, prepared or not, the outcome of my writing is in God’s capable hands. Sure I need to be obedient and do my homework. But then, I have to leave the results up to him.
Even the SMALL results.
He’s in charge of how each scene turns out, as well as how the book turns out, and even whether it’s published or not. He cares about the people who will read and WHEN they read it.My part is small, just obedience. I know, it’s NOT easy, but the big stuff is Gods. It’s not my place to think too far ahead in the process.
Today, I sat down and wrote with this in mind—and the joy returned
The pressure had disappeared and the fun of playing with the words returned. So join me, as I move forward with NaNoWriMo and—
Write in Faith!
November 2, 2013
Social Media Image—Autumn Bliss
What's your favorite part of this fall season?
Share your stories in the comment section below.
I also invite you to use this image any way you like online. Post it to your blog, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, anywhere you'd like. All I ask is that you keep it intact, with my website watermark visible.
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
Share your stories in the comment section below.
I also invite you to use this image any way you like online. Post it to your blog, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, anywhere you'd like. All I ask is that you keep it intact, with my website watermark visible.
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
November 1, 2013
Life Lessons—Walk Through the Open Door
by Reba J Hoffman, Ph.D
There are times when youhave your career all planned out. You know each step you are going to take and have it strategically planned down to the nano-second.
Then right in the middle of your best laid plan when you are least expecting it, a door opens right in front of you. It could be taking you in a different direction than you thought you’d go.
So what’s a writer to do? Stay put, or walk through the open door? It’s not always an easy decision to make. Here are some things that will help you determine which you should do:
1. Is it a good opportunity that will keep your writing career moving forward? If so, consider walking through that door.2. If it is a good opportunity, why are you questioning whether you should walk through the door? Is it image? A diversion from your neatly mapped out plan for success? Getting to the root of your hesitation will shed a lot of light on what decision you should make.
3. What if you walk through and it bombs? What’s the worse that can happen? Will you be worse off than if you stayed put and you became stagnant in your career?4. If you did walk through the open door, would the topic, offer, gig, or opportunity tarnish your reputation? For example, if you are a Christian women’s fiction author and you were given the opportunity to write erotica, that’s a no brainer.5. If the open door took you in a much different course, would you be happy in that new place if you were successful at it?
This is always a challenge to work through and determine the best course of action for your career. And, it’s not even something you can follow someone else’s example. Each open door is unique because YOU are unique.
While you should never throw caution to the wind and run through just any open door, neither should you discount it just because it wasn’t exactly what you were expecting.
I promise you, there isn’t a writer out there who’s career followed the exact same path they envisioned, yet they are very happy and fulfilled in them. You can be, too.
If you feel you should walk through it, you’ll find the courage. You—and the world—will be better off for it!
Have you been faced with an open door recently? Struggling with what to do? Share it here!
Reba J. Hoffman is the founder and president of Magellan Life Coaching (www.magellanlifecoaching.com). She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling and is a natural encourager. She serves as Member Care Coach for My Book Therapy and is the author of Dare to Dream, A Writer’s Journal. You can connect with Reba through her motivational blog, Finding True North, or by email at reba@magellanlifecoaching.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @MagellanCoach.
There are times when youhave your career all planned out. You know each step you are going to take and have it strategically planned down to the nano-second.Then right in the middle of your best laid plan when you are least expecting it, a door opens right in front of you. It could be taking you in a different direction than you thought you’d go.
So what’s a writer to do? Stay put, or walk through the open door? It’s not always an easy decision to make. Here are some things that will help you determine which you should do:
1. Is it a good opportunity that will keep your writing career moving forward? If so, consider walking through that door.2. If it is a good opportunity, why are you questioning whether you should walk through the door? Is it image? A diversion from your neatly mapped out plan for success? Getting to the root of your hesitation will shed a lot of light on what decision you should make.
3. What if you walk through and it bombs? What’s the worse that can happen? Will you be worse off than if you stayed put and you became stagnant in your career?4. If you did walk through the open door, would the topic, offer, gig, or opportunity tarnish your reputation? For example, if you are a Christian women’s fiction author and you were given the opportunity to write erotica, that’s a no brainer.5. If the open door took you in a much different course, would you be happy in that new place if you were successful at it? This is always a challenge to work through and determine the best course of action for your career. And, it’s not even something you can follow someone else’s example. Each open door is unique because YOU are unique.
While you should never throw caution to the wind and run through just any open door, neither should you discount it just because it wasn’t exactly what you were expecting.I promise you, there isn’t a writer out there who’s career followed the exact same path they envisioned, yet they are very happy and fulfilled in them. You can be, too.
If you feel you should walk through it, you’ll find the courage. You—and the world—will be better off for it!
Have you been faced with an open door recently? Struggling with what to do? Share it here!
Reba J. Hoffman is the founder and president of Magellan Life Coaching (www.magellanlifecoaching.com). She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling and is a natural encourager. She serves as Member Care Coach for My Book Therapy and is the author of Dare to Dream, A Writer’s Journal. You can connect with Reba through her motivational blog, Finding True North, or by email at reba@magellanlifecoaching.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @MagellanCoach.
October 31, 2013
Calendar Days—Holidays, Special Days & Downright Crazy Days in November
by Edie MelsonIt's that timeagain—Calendar Days. I sure hope you all are enjoying this column as much as me. It's funny, as I research these each month, I think of so many of you.
And I can't help but giggle at the holidays that fall on the same date, like Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day on November 29. That just hits me as ironic.
I always share this info on the last Thursday of every month. So be sure to drop by. Today I’m going to continue with the upcoming crazy and normal holidays in the month of November.
Using the calendar for blog post or even article ideas is a great way to jumpstart your creativity. It's also a fun writing prompt idea.
Calendar days are also great conversation starters for social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and others.
November Holidays, Special Days & Downright Crazy Days
November is:
Aviation History MonthVegan MonthAviation History MonthNational Life Writing MOnthNational Adoption Awareness MonthPeanut Butter Lovers MonthMilitary Family Appreciation MonthNational Sleep Comfort MonthNational Epilepsy MonthNational Native American Heritage MonthChild Safety Protection MonthFamily Stories MonthGluten-Free Diet Awareness MonthWeekly CelebrationsWeek 1:Chemistry WeekNational Fig Week
Week 2:National Young Reader’s Week (Send Full Week in November)Pursuit of Happiness WeekNational Hunger & Homeless Awareness WeekWeek 3:Game & Puzzle WeekAmerican Education WeekNational Book Awreness Week
Week 4:Better Conversation WeekNational Bible WeekNational Family Week
Daily CelebrationsNovember 1Author’s DayAll Saint’s Day
Book Lovers DayNovember 2Book Lovers Day (First Saturday in November)All Soul’s DayLook for Circles DayGive Up Your Shoulds DayDeviled Egg DayPrime Meridian DayWorld Vegan DayPlan Your Epitaph DayNovember 3Cliché DayHousewife’s DayZero Tasking Day (we have an extra hour because of the Daylight Savings change – use it to do NOTHING)Sandwich Day
November 4King Tut DayFill our Staplers DayJob Action DayUse Your Common Sense DayTraffic Directors Day
November 5Gunpowder DayGuy Fawkes Day
Marooned without a Compass DayNovember 6Marooned without a Compass DayStress Awareness DaySaxophone dayNovember 7Men Make Dinner DayBittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day
November 8Cook Something Bold DayX-ray DayDunce DayAbet and Aid Punsters DayNational Parents as Teachers DayNational Walk to Work Day
November 9Chaos Never Dies Day
USMC Day & Veteran's DayNovember 10Forget-Me-Not DayUSMC DayTongue Twister DayArea Code DaySesame Street DayWindows Day (Microsoft)November 11Veteran’s DayOrigami DayWorld Orphans Day (Second Monday in November
November 12Chicken Soup for the Soul DayNational Young Readers Day (Second Tuesday in November)Pizza with The Works Except Anchovies Day
November 13World Kindness DayNational Indian Pudding DaySadie Hawkins Day
November 14Operating Room Nurse DayLoosen Up, Lighten Up DayNational Pickle DaySpirit of NSA (National Speakers Association)World Diabetes DayNational American Teddy Bear Day
I love to Write DayNovember 15I Love to WriteDayClean Your Refrigerator DayAmerica Recycles DayNational Philanthropy DayNovember 16Guinness World Record DayButton DayNational Day of PlayHave a Party with Your Bear Day
November 17Take a Hike DayHomemade Bread DayWorld Peace DayNational Unfriend Day
November 18Mickey Mouse DayPush-button Phone Day
Rocky and Bullwinkle DayNovember 19Mens DayHave a Bad Day DayRocky and Bullwinkle DayWorld Toilet DayNovember 20Name Your PC DayAbsurdity DayBeautiful DayUniversal Children’s DayNational Peanut Butter Fudge Day
November 21False Confession DayGreat American Smokeout (Third Thursday in November)World Hello DayUse Less Stuff DayWorld Television Day
November 22Go for a Ride DayHumane Society Anniversary Day
November 23Fibonacci DayEat a Cranberry DayNational Cashew DayNational Adoption Day (Saturday before Thanksgiving)Dr. Who Day
November 24Celebrate Your Unique Talent DayD.B. Cooper DayMother Goose Day
National Parfait DayNovember 25International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women DayBlasé DayNational Parfait DayNovember 26Shopping Reminder Day
November 27Pins and Needles Day
November 28Thanksgiving (Fourth Thursday in November)French Toast DayRed Planet DayMake Your Own Head Day
National Day of ListeningNovember 29Black FridayYou’re Welcome DaySquare Dance DayFlossing DayBuy Nothing Day (always the day after Thanksgiving)Electronic Greetings DayNational Day of ListeningNovember 30Small Business SaturdayComputer Security DayStay at Home Because You are Well Day
Now let's do a little brainstorming for next month. What are some of your favorite days from the list and how do you propose using them?
Don't forget to join the conversation!Blessings, Edie
Tweetables
Looking for ideas for articles & blog posts? @EdieMelson has November holidays all in one place! (Click to Tweet)
All the crazy November holidays in one place—a great resource for fun social media posts! (Click to Tweet)
October 30, 2013
Popular Hashtags and How to Use Them Effectively
by Edie Melson
Hashtags can be a confusing conceptHashtags can be a confusing concept, so today I’m sharing a list of popular hashtags and how to use them effectively.
First, lets back up and evaluate the reason we’re all working at building an online presence. We are looking to deepen existing relationships and build new ones. But building new ones can be difficult if the only people we interact with are those we already know, either online or in person.
We can get a little bit of exposure to new folks by our existing connections introducing us, but that’s a time consuming way to go about it.
What if there was a way for someone to search a given social media network by topic and find new, interesting people to interact with? That would be a great way to grow our connections.
THAT, in the simplest of terms, is the purpose of using hashtags.
When you compose a social media update that includes one or two hashtags that summarize the topic, you are giving folks a way to find you.
For example, I’m working on a new series of Steampunk novels. Because of that, targeting a specific type of reader—one who reads Steampunk. I find those readers within the larger group of people who read science fiction (ABA – secular) or speculative fiction (CBA – Christian).
Twitter started the Hashtag revolutionHere’s a sample tweet I might send out, targeted at those specific readers:
Step-by-step instructions to help you turn a plain top hat into a #Steampunk masterpiece! Via @EdieMelson http://bit.ly/HoGs3w #Specfic
Let’s break down how I composed this update. I know that the Steampunk community loves to create costumes. So I’m giving them information they’d find useful and interesting.I used #Steampunk so that anyone searching Twitter for others who are interested in this genre can find me.I also included @EdieMelson, because on Twitter, that is a clickable link that takes them directly to my Twitter page.Finally I used #specfic, because that’s the hashtag for speculative fiction to pull in readers who might find this interesting.If I was targeting the general market reader, instead of #specfic, I would have used #scifi.
NOTE: Use # (hashtags) to denote a subject, and use @ (at sign) to denote a person or organization. With organizations, you’ll find some that hashtag their names and others use the @ sign.
Twitter isn’t the only social media network that has hashtags. You can use hashtags in the same manner on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. There may be other networks that also use them, but those are the main ones.
Hashtag Etiquette
Don't use more than 2 (occasionally 3) Hashtags per updateTry to never use more than three hashtags in any one tweet. If you can make it two that’s even better. Otherwise you end up looking like a used car sales man. If you’re trying to reach more groups, schedule multiple tweets, at different times, about the same subject and target your groups two at a time.
Always research your hashtag before you use it. Never assume it’s the correct one. For example, I was targeting military families with tweets about my devotional for military families and I thought #military would be the logical hashtag. No, turns out that hashtag is frequently used by those trying to date someone in the military. Not really the demographic I was trying to reach. The hashtag I wanted was #militaryfamily and #deployment. The best place to research hashtags is also the easiest, just type it into Google or the search engine of your choice.
Now, I’m going to give you an updated list of popular hashtags.
This list is extensive, but by no means exhaustiveFor readers, the most popular hashtag right now is:#amreadingFor writers, there are two popular hashtags right now:#amwriting#writeIf you’re editing something:#ameditingIf you’re quoting a literary agent:#askagent#author #authors#Christian #Christfic Christian fiction#devo Christian devotion#devotion Christian devotion#ebooks#editing#editmark #fictionfriday #flashfic flash fiction#freebooks#freelancelife#freelancewriter#fridayflash flash fiction on a Friday #Goodreads#Indiauthor self-publishing#Indiepub self-publishing#Kindlebooks#kindlefree#Kindle_promo#JesusTweeters from believers
#MBTWriMo My Book Therapy NaNoWriMo #microfiction
#MyBookTherapy writing community#nano national novel writing month#nanowrimo national novel writing month #novels #novelists #poem #poet #poets #poetry #pubtip publication tips #publishing #reading#scifi #selfpublishing #socialmedia#socialnetworking#specfic#suspense#twitter#vss very short story #webfic web fiction #weblit web literature #wip work in progress #womensfic#womensfiction#wordcount #writegoal #writequote #writer #writers#writetip writing advice #writing #writingtips writing advice #wrotetoday
All of these should help you find the hashtags best suited to your situation.
I’d love to hear from you now. Twitter is ever-changing and hashtags come and they go. What are some of your favorites? Also, if you still have hashtag questions, post them below in the comments section.
Don’t forget to join the conversation,Blessings,Edie
Tweetables
Social Media expert, @EdieMelson shares popular hashtags for writers and readers. (Click to Tweet)
Learn how to use hashtags effectively and expand your online network (Click to Tweet)
Hashtags can be a confusing conceptHashtags can be a confusing concept, so today I’m sharing a list of popular hashtags and how to use them effectively.First, lets back up and evaluate the reason we’re all working at building an online presence. We are looking to deepen existing relationships and build new ones. But building new ones can be difficult if the only people we interact with are those we already know, either online or in person.
We can get a little bit of exposure to new folks by our existing connections introducing us, but that’s a time consuming way to go about it.
What if there was a way for someone to search a given social media network by topic and find new, interesting people to interact with? That would be a great way to grow our connections.
THAT, in the simplest of terms, is the purpose of using hashtags.
When you compose a social media update that includes one or two hashtags that summarize the topic, you are giving folks a way to find you.
For example, I’m working on a new series of Steampunk novels. Because of that, targeting a specific type of reader—one who reads Steampunk. I find those readers within the larger group of people who read science fiction (ABA – secular) or speculative fiction (CBA – Christian).
Twitter started the Hashtag revolutionHere’s a sample tweet I might send out, targeted at those specific readers:
Step-by-step instructions to help you turn a plain top hat into a #Steampunk masterpiece! Via @EdieMelson http://bit.ly/HoGs3w #Specfic
Let’s break down how I composed this update. I know that the Steampunk community loves to create costumes. So I’m giving them information they’d find useful and interesting.I used #Steampunk so that anyone searching Twitter for others who are interested in this genre can find me.I also included @EdieMelson, because on Twitter, that is a clickable link that takes them directly to my Twitter page.Finally I used #specfic, because that’s the hashtag for speculative fiction to pull in readers who might find this interesting.If I was targeting the general market reader, instead of #specfic, I would have used #scifi.
NOTE: Use # (hashtags) to denote a subject, and use @ (at sign) to denote a person or organization. With organizations, you’ll find some that hashtag their names and others use the @ sign.
Twitter isn’t the only social media network that has hashtags. You can use hashtags in the same manner on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. There may be other networks that also use them, but those are the main ones.
Hashtag Etiquette
Don't use more than 2 (occasionally 3) Hashtags per updateTry to never use more than three hashtags in any one tweet. If you can make it two that’s even better. Otherwise you end up looking like a used car sales man. If you’re trying to reach more groups, schedule multiple tweets, at different times, about the same subject and target your groups two at a time.Always research your hashtag before you use it. Never assume it’s the correct one. For example, I was targeting military families with tweets about my devotional for military families and I thought #military would be the logical hashtag. No, turns out that hashtag is frequently used by those trying to date someone in the military. Not really the demographic I was trying to reach. The hashtag I wanted was #militaryfamily and #deployment. The best place to research hashtags is also the easiest, just type it into Google or the search engine of your choice.
Now, I’m going to give you an updated list of popular hashtags.
This list is extensive, but by no means exhaustiveFor readers, the most popular hashtag right now is:#amreadingFor writers, there are two popular hashtags right now:#amwriting#writeIf you’re editing something:#ameditingIf you’re quoting a literary agent:#askagent#author #authors#Christian #Christfic Christian fiction#devo Christian devotion#devotion Christian devotion#ebooks#editing#editmark #fictionfriday #flashfic flash fiction#freebooks#freelancelife#freelancewriter#fridayflash flash fiction on a Friday #Goodreads#Indiauthor self-publishing#Indiepub self-publishing#Kindlebooks#kindlefree#Kindle_promo#JesusTweeters from believers
#MBTWriMo My Book Therapy NaNoWriMo #microfiction
#MyBookTherapy writing community#nano national novel writing month#nanowrimo national novel writing month #novels #novelists #poem #poet #poets #poetry #pubtip publication tips #publishing #reading#scifi #selfpublishing #socialmedia#socialnetworking#specfic#suspense#twitter#vss very short story #webfic web fiction #weblit web literature #wip work in progress #womensfic#womensfiction#wordcount #writegoal #writequote #writer #writers#writetip writing advice #writing #writingtips writing advice #wrotetoday
All of these should help you find the hashtags best suited to your situation.
I’d love to hear from you now. Twitter is ever-changing and hashtags come and they go. What are some of your favorites? Also, if you still have hashtag questions, post them below in the comments section.
Don’t forget to join the conversation,Blessings,Edie
Tweetables
Social Media expert, @EdieMelson shares popular hashtags for writers and readers. (Click to Tweet)
Learn how to use hashtags effectively and expand your online network (Click to Tweet)
October 29, 2013
Social Media Image Cheat Sheet—What Size Does that Image Need to Be?
by Edie MelsonThere's not a lot as frustrating as trying to look at an image on Facebook that's the wrong size. By the time I blow it up big enough to see it, it's too blurry. Here are some exact dimensions to help you avoid that trap, and not just for Facebook.
It's my Social Media Image Cheat Sheet
This list will give you the specific information you need to upload photos to various social media sites.
Profile Photo: Pixels: 81 x 81
Maximum file size: 700k
File Type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Header Image:
Pixels: 520 x 260
Maximum file size: not listed
File Type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Custom Background:
Pixels: 1600 x 1200
Maximum file size: not listed
File Type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Cover Photo: Pixels: 851 x 315
Maximum file size: not listed
File type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Profile Photo:
Pixels: 180 x 180 (will size down to 160 x 160)
Maximum file size: 5mb
File type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Video:
Maximum file size: 1024mb
Maximum length: 20 minutes
Optimum file type: mp4
Post Photo:
Pixels: 403 x 403
Maximum file size: 5mb
File type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Google Plus Cover Photo: Pixels: 2120 x 1192 Maximum file size: not listed File type(s): jpeg, png, gif Profile Photo (also the photo for Blogger account):Pixels: 250 x 250Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Profile Photo:Pixels: 165 x 165Maximum file size: Pinterest recommends you upload photos with square dimensions that measure 600 x 600 pixelsFile type(s): jpeg, png, gifPins:Pixels: 238 wide, Pinterest will adjust the height automaticallyMaximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Cover Image:Pixels: 217 x 147Pixels: 51x 51 (this is they tiny thumbnail found below the cover imageMaximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
YouTubeCover Art:Pixels: Depends on where it’s being viewed from:Desktop: 2560 x 423Tablet: 1855 x 423Mobile 1546 x 423For best results everywhere, size to mobile!Maixmum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Profile Photo:Pixels: 200 x 200, not to exceed 500 x 500Maximum file size: 4mbFile type(s): jpeg, png, gifHorizontal Logo:Pixels: 100 x 60Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Cover Photo:Pixels: 646 x 220Maximum file size: not listedFile type(s): jpeg, png, gif
Favicon Specswww.tools.dynamicdrive.com (to generate the .ico file)Pixels: 16 x 16Maximum file size: 150kb File type(s) before conversion: jpeg, png, gif
If you have a question about posting images to social media, but sure to leave it in the comments section below.
Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
Tweetable:
Not sure what size an image needs to be to fit a social network? @EdieMelson has the answers! (Click to Tweet)
