Ruth L. Snyder's Blog, page 11
July 8, 2015
What I Learned at Write Canada 2015 – Part 2: Indie Writer Continuing Class
July 1, 2015
What I learned at Write Canada: Part 1 – Magazine Editor Panel
June 29, 2015
Which Cover Would You Choose: Learn Twitter Intermediate
June 27, 2015
Week of June 21 to 28, 2015 – Technology blips, Last week of school, and Editing
June 24, 2015
Summer Writing Fun: Compose Your Summer
June 16, 2015
5 Things I Appreciated About Write Canada 2015
June 2, 2015
Lessons in Trust and Technology
Sometimes I just have to laugh. (I’d rather laugh than cry, wouldn’t you?!) After I posted last time, I ran into major technology issues. It all started quite innocently, with the addition of a new e-mail address. After the creation of the e-mail address, I wanted to add it to my e-mail program so that I don’t have to check e-mail on the web. Although I thought I had the address configured properly into my Apple Mail program, I soon discovered I made some errors, which not only resulted in me not being able to access my new e-mail address, but also resulted in me not being able to access my website, or the website of InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship, or the admin panel for either of these websites. Why? Because my IP address was singled out as the source of a possible virus . . . and blocked. This happened on May 21st and today is the first day I’ve had access to all my services again!
At first I felt stressed, frantic. I’m in the middle of taking an excellent course from Shelley Hitz, called Author Audience Academy. I started the section of the course on building an e-mail list, only to find myself locked out of my website. I couldn’t change anything, I couldn’t apply what I was learning, I couldn’t even look at my website.
Instead of focusing on what I couldn’t do, I decided to focus on what I could do. I’m also in the middle of writing my second how-to book for Twitter (Learn Twitter: 10 Intermediate Steps). My original goal was to have the rough draft finished at the end of last week. That didn’t happen. I still have three chapters to write and edit. I’ve already told people I’m going to publish it the end of June and next week I’m going to Write Canada, which means no time for writing. More cause for panic . . . Or not. As I thought about it, I remembered that I could upload a draft copy and put the book up for pre-sale. As long as that happens in June, people will be happy because they know the book is on its way. That gives me some breathing space and allows me to finish the book well. It also gives me time to get the book to beta readers for feedback. (If you’d like to be one of my beta readers, e-mail me!)
Although I wasn’t able to post on my own blog, I was still able to write two posts which were shared on other blogs:
Shadow (German Shepherd/Collie/Mongrel) joined our family when our oldest daughter was eighteen months old. He died peacefully in his sleep when she was fifteen, under the trampoline where he spent many hours “supervising” as our children played and jumped above him. He lived a full, long life, but it was hard to say “Goodbye” or think of replacing him. Nine months ago a beautiful white bundle of energy (Husky/Malamut) joined our family. Our children named him Olaf, after the snowman from the movie, Frozen. Olaf has reminded me of several important truths regarding parenting (Click here to read the rest of this post on A Beautiful Life.)
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” -William Wordsworth
It started at the breakfast table. After we read about what qualities God looks for in a person and how we should look beyond people’s actions and appearances.
“You’re dumb. I don’t like you.”
“I don’t like you either.”
“Mom, Levi’s bugging me.”
I sighed. My husband was already at work. “Are you guys being kind to one another?”
They gave me crooked grins and shook their heads. It was quiet for a few milliseconds before they were at each other, again.
(Click here to read the rest of this post on InScribe Writers Online)
I believe God’s timing is perfect. I know that He is trustworthy. But sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to lose sight of HIM.
What have you been learning about technology and/or trust lately?
May 19, 2015
Update and future direction for ruthlsnyder.com
In January I shared my writing goals for 2015. I haven’t finished anything on that list! But I am still focusing on non-fiction, specifically the Author Social Media Mastery Series. After I finished Kindle in 30 with Kristen Eckstein, I decided to take the Author Audience Academy course with Shelley Hitz. I can’t say enough about this excellent course. The first month we focused on Publishing:
Week 1 – Strategy
Week 2 – Writing
Week 3 – Publishing
Week 4 – The Launch
I followed Shelley’s hints and helpful tips and my book, Learn Twitter: 10 Beginning Steps, is now available on Kindle!
This month we are focusing on Platform:
Week 1 – The Foundation
Week 2 – Author Website
Week 3 – E-mail Marketing
Week 4 – Social Media Marketing
Month Three will focus on products to accelerate our business.
While I’ve been taking this course I’ve also been:
Writing guest blog posts for A Beautiful Life Ministry
Writing blog posts for InScribe Writers Online
Teaching a workshop (Author Media Kits) at three different workshops for InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship
Overseeing the development of the InScribe Anthology
Keeping the InScribe website updated (I’m thankful the webmaster is back now)
Helping plan the InScribe Fall Conference
Overseeing the work of InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship
In my non-writing life:
Parenting our five children ages 7-17
Teaching four Music for Young Children classes (and substitute teaching four classes for two weeks)
Teaching private piano lessons to four students
Hosting a piano recital for all my music students
Playing piano for the Glendon Community Church
Helping select a digital piano for the church (This was FUN! I had the opportunity to play pianos most of the day, including a $200,000 Steinway and a $240,000 Bosendorfer – concert grand pianos. Of course those instruments were WAY out of our budget.)
Writing a grant application and doing other paperwork related to a playground project for the Glendon Playground and Park Society
Hmmm. No wonder I’ve been busy…and haven’t written too many blog posts for my own website!
As I’ve been working through the Author Audience Academy, I’ve been thinking about what I should be focusing on here on my website. What do I need to keep doing? What do I need to stop doing? What do I need to start doing?
That’s where you come in. I need some feedback from you, my readers. Which topics are you most interested in (Devotionals, Family life, Parenting, Writing, Twitter, Marketing, Publishing, Other)? How often would you like me to post? (I want to post consistently!) Any and all feedback is welcome! Please leave a comment below. Thanks 
May 5, 2015
Parenting: Getting through the tough days (Parenting Blog Hop Week 1)
Question: What do you find most challenging about parenting?
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)
For me, the most challenging part of parenting is adjusting my expectations, training, and discipline to the uniqueness of each of my children.
I have five children ages seven to seventeen; Each child is different. One child craves hugs and responds better to life if the hug quotient is full. Another child doesn’t want hugs, but responds well when I take the time to sit and listen. One child has a sensitive spirit and rarely needs discipline. Another child constantly challenges authority.
It takes time to get to know my children. The way my children enjoy spending time with me is also different. My youngest just wants to be with me and often offers to help with whatever I’m doing. My next child loves to play games. Another son enjoys riding in a vehicle with me – the destination is unimportant. His brother still comes and sits beside me, or even on my lap, gives me hugs, and compliments me often. My eldest child prefers to communicate with text messages.
Some of my children also have special needs. This means that I can’t expect my fourteen year-old to act like most fourteen year-olds. Sometimes a younger sibling things I’m being unfair because I expect more from the younger one than the older one.
Parents have the challenging job of knowing our children and then teaching and training them accordingly. I’m thankful I don’t have to tackle parenting alone. My children have a hard-working Dad. We all have a Heavenly Father who stands ready to give us His wisdom if we will only ask:
“If any of you lackswisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5 NIV)
Question: What helps you get through the tough days?
Several things help me when I face challenging days as a parent:
Prayer – God is never too busy to hear my desperate pleas for help.
Reading God’s Word, the Bible – There are many encouraging passages I return to again and again. Some of my favourites are Psalm 37, Psalm 1, Isaiah 41, and Ephesians 6
Perspective – Talking to parents who’ve gone through similar situations and have survived is a great encouragement to me.
Sufficient Sleep – It’s always easier for me to handle challenges when I get my sleep!
Healthy Food – I try to choose more fruits and vegetables rather than products with refined sugar. However, chocolate is still part of my diet – in moderation.
Respite – Sometimes I need a break from my children to clear my thinking and renew my perspective. I find an occasional break is good for both me and my children.
Confession – When I make a mistake as a parent, I’ve found things turn around quickly when I’m willing to “‘fess up.”
What about you? What do you find most challenging as a parent? What helps you get through the tough days?
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April 27, 2015
New Bestseller from Canadian Author, Ruth L. Snyder
(Glendon, Alberta – April 27, 2015) Ruth L. Snyder, an author from Glendon, Alberta, hit Amazon’s Bestseller List with her book, Twitter: 10 Beginning Steps the first day the book was available for pre-sale and it remains there. In Learn Twitter: 10 Beginning Steps, Snyder explains the benefits of Twitter for writers and leads readers step by step through the process of setting up an effective account. Using this manual, readers learn the lingo, find their way around the Twitter dashboard, and start building relationships with their worldwide audience. She shares many tips and tricks to engage an audience and build a solid marketing platform in minutes a day.
Author Michaelann Smith says, “When I started reading this book, I had a Twitter account, however I had no idea what to do with it or how. Since I read this book and followed its very easy steps, I have a lovely Twitter homepage and have figured out whom to follow. Thanks for making the overwhelming world of Twitter understandable and very doable. I can’t wait to read more books in your series and learn how to tweet with the best of them.”
Snyder ventured into the virtual world of Twitter in 2009. She says, “Authors are busy people. Not only do we have to write, but we are also expected to connect with our readers. At first it can be overwhelming, but I’ve learned to do it by spending an average of ten minutes or less a day on Twitter.”
Ruth L. Snyder has had numerous articles, three novelettes, and one devotional book published. She has hit the Amazon bestseller list with all her published books. This is her first book in the Authors’ Social Media Mastery Series. She is working on Learn Twitter: 10 Intermediate Steps, which is scheduled to release later this year. Ruth is a member of The Word Guild and The Christian PEN. She currently serves as President of InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship
Download the news release Download the Kindle book from Learn%20Twitter: 10 Beginning Steps (Authors' Social Media Mastery Series" target="_blank">Amazon.ca or Amazon.com
