Honeymoon Over? 4 Ways to MaintainYour Blogging Mojo!

Ah, young love! Whether it’s relational or creative, the beginning is always magical.
You know the script:

You’re geeked about spending time with the object of your affection--be it a soul mate, or fans of your work. You cherish the time you spend together. They make you feel special. They seem to "get you". The interaction is engaging.

But, weeks, months, maybe years into it, they don’t seem to show the same level of appreciation. You know they’re digging you, but the effort is not as great on either party’s part. The cute compliments are far and in between. Some days it may feel like an obligation, instead of a passion. “You’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’.

Could it be that the honeymoon stage is over?

Don’t despair. And don’t call your mom. You can still salvage the relationship and have a happy ending, if you follow these tips to go the distance.


1. Keep a positive perspective. Truth is, every relationship goes through stages and tests. And your blogging experience will be no different. Sometimes you’ll receive rave reviews, and other times, well…let’s just say there will be a hush over the land. Don’t personalize it. Instead, remember what appealed to you in the beginning. And stick to it like Velcro.

2. Try something different. That’s right; what relationship isn’t enhanced by a little variety? For instance, if your posts are always short, make them long. If your tone is always serious, try a playful approach. If you typically do book reviews, try how-tos. If you post on Fridays, sneak in a Monday post. Never become boringly predictable. Change your “look” every once in a while.

3. Take a break. There’s great truth to the expression, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Spend time away regrouping and renewing your spirit. Time apart can lead to a greater level of interest and esteem. Try it, you might like it! Just make sure to give notice and give it a time limit.

4. Recognize that there's something to be said for a job well done. Even if nobody's saying it. Take satisfaction in your commitment to your craft, and your contributions to the blogosphere. And before you know it, and maybe when you least expect it,(if it was meant to be), one day you'll feel that magic again! :-)

What say you? How do you maintain your "mojo"?
Image Arvind Balaraman

6 Ways to Bounce Back After a Bad Blogging (or writing) Episode!

It happens to the best of us. The worst happens. For me, it was a simple task to tweak my blog and make it more appealing to give it a more competitive edge.

Two lines. I tell you, just two lines.
And what should have taken two minutes took about three hours. GEE WHIZ.
“I could’a had a V-8“!

I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, but feared my neighbors would call 9-1-1 thinking I was crazed, or had been attacked.

So, for the purpose of venting and edification, allow me to elaborate.

I had a guest post appearing at a few highly-ranked sites this week, and simply wanted to make sure that if the link to my blog created a few more “new eyes” and potential fans, I would be up to par.

I kind of liken it to when visitors and family members come to your home. You know the deal: you make sure you tidy the washroom, have all the essentials, infuse the air with aromatherapy candles---that kind of stuff.

In and out was my objective.
Especially in that my to-do list was in need of getting done.
To my horror, it was like a blogging episode from hell.
Can’t say just why, but the Blogger software, or platform went all askew. The formatting was looking fiercely wrong, and no matter how much I revisited, revised, ranted, and wrestled with the thought of tossing my laptop out of the window, I was stuck. Nothing was going right. Simple changes that I had made many times before on my blogs, as well as clients’ was just not happening.

If you blog recreationally, it’s perhaps not a biggie, and depending upon your topic and tone, folks may be a bit more forgiving. But, if you blog professionally, (as I do), it can have different consequences, as both potential clients and “fans” who view your blog as a blueprint for their personal success, can come to question your ability and credibility. After all, appearance matters. And you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Hopefully, it won’t happen to you, but if it does, here’s how to bounce back from a bad blogging (or writing) episode and still score winning results!

1. Don’t retreat, reload. I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. The more you freak out and feel frustrated, the more Murphy’s Law prevails and spoils your day. Don’t let the “forces” force you to give in! I fixed a big bowl of Captain Crunch, refocused, and started again.

2. Write a Blog post or article about it. Perhaps it will help someone to troubleshoot a similar problem and earn you cash. For example, when I had a negative experience, some months ago, with customer service provided through tech support, I wrote an article entitled, “5 Tips to better customer service” and earned fifty bucks and a published piece at WorkAwesome.com.

3. Shift gears. Instead of hiding under the covers, or escaping through your favorite soaps, make needed phone calls, answer Emails, do research, or jot down article ideas. Stay the course. After all, no output means no income.

4. Have realistic expectations. Technology has flaws! There, I’ve said it. With all its capabilities, it still has flaws, limitations, and drawbacks. Keep it in mind to move forward. Make sure to have hand-written notes for back up, as well as other means of retaining your work.

5. See the humor in it. It can be a challenge. But you’re up to it!

6. Cut yourself some slack. No matter how hard any of us try, perfection is impossible. Excellence, instead should be our daily goal!


Keep these six tips in mind to make the most of any writing day, and to earn the most for your efforts.

How do you bounce back? Is it a cup of tea? Wine? Meditation? Prayer? A break? Curious...
Image digitalart

Stuff That "Made My Day" This Week!

Okay, come clean. No matter where you are on the freelance writing spectrum, chances are that some days you simply question your “success” and your sanity. True?

You contemplate, meditate, cogitate, on Shakespeare’s infamous question---”to be or not to be?” That is the question.

Either you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, or you start off great, but you get a biting rejection from an editor, who obviously didn’t get the memo that you are indeed a human being with feelings behind those words. Hello? :-)
Or maybe it’s a client that doesn’t pay on time. Or perhaps a sinking feeling that everybody else has more on the ball than you do when it comes to the freelancing game.

Anybody with me here? :-) “Don’t it make your brown eyes blue?”

Well, my week started off in that direction. Don’t know why exactly. But I felt I wasn’t “achieving” enough. That I didn’t have enough income based on my output. That I was overwhelmed and underappreciated. Yada, yada, yada. You get the script.

And though I admit that it doesn’t happen often, I too have days where I host my own pity party. Yep. I do, y’all. But that’ll be our little secret.

Anyhow, to make a long story short, without much effort on my part, things started shaping up like Kirstie Alley!

Here’s the stuff that made my day this week, turned my direction around, and merited mention!

1. I got a new Pen and Prosper follower. No matter how many I get, I’m always pleased and tickled pink to add to the mix. A special welcome and shout-out to all of you that joined recently. I appreciate your time, interest and support. Please feel free to jump in and comment. I dig the exchange and the energy!

2. Pen and Prosper was referenced in one of my favorite, popular sites for freelancers! And I quote: “When veterans like Jennifer Brown Banks speaks, I think we should listen.” See it all at : diaryofamadfreelancer.com/

3. I had some really good shopping days, where I scored some household and gift items dirt cheap! And what woman doesn’t love that? I also made some more lovely gift baskets that I'm thinking of donating to local charities.

4. I was able to bounce back and realize the benefits of a new virus protection computer membership program that I recently signed up for. I was surfing the Net, (actually Googling for some of my listings), when I accidentally clicked on a site that rendered the following warning: “this site contains files that may be harmful to your computer.” All of a sudden, all kinds of weird stuff started to pop up! But, luckily I didn’t have to sweat it, as the situation was rectified almost immediately through tech support. Yay!


Okay, that’s it for me for now. How about you? Anything you can relate to here? Anything that made your day this week? Do tell…

IMAGE Photographer domdeen

Call me Butter, Cause I'm on a Roll!

Started off this morning kinda' rough.
Won't bore you with the details, just a caveat: Beware of toxic people!
Anyhow, the "Divine" is divine. I've got good news:
1. My article "How to Overcome Writing Setbacks" was just published this morning in Writing for Dollars! Love that ezine! This makes my (40th) I think, article published here.
See it at: http://www.writingfordollars.com/2010/vol14num06.cfm

2. I got news this morning too, that a piece I submitted to Daily Blog Tips (an award-winning site for Bloggers and professional marketers) will be published by the end of this month. Yippee!

3. I learned that another article I submitted on Blogging will appear in yet another awesome Blog, The Urban Muse (listed in Writers Digest as one of the top Blogs in 2010). It's slated to run in the next week.

My message for today? Find out what works for you and continue to work it, despite the naysayers and critics. As they say, "The proof is in the pudding."

I appreciate your time and comments.
Wishing you a wonderful and prosperous writing week!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S WEEKEND

For some it's the best day of the year---filled with warm sentiments and sweet gestures.

For others, it's a day that serves as a reminder of romantic longings and unfulfilled dreams.

As writers, the events, experiences, and emotions associated with this holiday can make for great creative materials.

Whatever your philosophy,(or occupation) remember that there are many forms and expressions of love, and so many people who are in need of receiving it.

Don't miss the opportunity to "show some love" to a distant relative, a misguided youth, a friend in need of prayer, or your church family.

In fact, make it an everyday thing in 2010!

Wishing you love, laughter, and long walks on the beach!

Jen

MONDAY, MONDAY...

It's a little after 10 p.m., and I was about to retire after a long day of what seemed like "spinning my wheels" and going nowhere.

This writing day started as most do, at about 5:30 a.m...
with online research, updating my Blog, reading articles on the writing business, fussing at my computer, and an assortment of other scribe-related rituals.

Anyhow, I decided to check my Emails once more before shutting down (figuratively and literally)--glad I did!

To my delight, my piece entitled "How to use the boob tube to get in the groove" ran today in WRITINGFORDOLLARS. COM

My relationship column also ran today.

The moral of the story...don't let "rainy days and Mondays get you down."
Keep forging forward.