The Joy of June! Stats and Stuff...

It's here!
My favorite time of the year---June.
Well, actually, I kinda' have a love/hate relationship with June.
I love the fact that it's my birthday month, the anniversary of the formation of my poetry group, the ushering in of warmer weather, and summer break from school.

I hate the fact that it's the ushering in of 100 degree days in the big city, too many folks populate the streets, it can get too noisy in the evenings...well you see where I'm going here. Right?

This year, to add to my joy, Pen and Prosper celebrates one year of existence! Yippee!

And what better time than now to thank each and every one of you who grace this site as a "follower"-- some of you since its inception, day one.
On dismal days when I was in the dumps and didn't get many comments, you guys kept me motivated. ;-)

HERE ARE SOME STATS ON PEN AND PROSPER (For those interested)

1. In 12 months I average about 3 new "followers" per month.
2. Pen and Prosper has a "Google Page Rank" of 3 out of 10.
3. My profile has been viewed 442 times to date.
4. Pen and Prosper has had about 12 guest posts from award-winning journalists, authors, financial wizards, and a host of other professions and personal backgrounds. If you're interested in having your work appear here, please see the Guest Post guidelines below.
5. I've also received recognition for my work and my writing here at Biz Chick blogs! (See the award and the link at the trophy area, (at the right side of this message).

On a personal note...

I love writing. Not just at Pen & Prosper, but at other sites as well. Over the last 12 months, I've blogged at BloggingPro, Search Engine Journal, Blog Catalog, Site Sketch101, Live Well For Less, and a host of other sites. Stay tuned for more in the future. If you're interested in having me to guest post at your site, please feel free to connect via the "comments" section, or by email at: Jenniferwriter@yahoo.com

Well, that's it for this morning. It's about 5:30 a.m. and my yard work calls!:-)
Feel free to add anything you wish to this, if the mood hits you.

Thanks again for your support and kindness!

In weeks to come, you'll enjoy more good news, contests, guest posts, and good info! Stay tuned.

Image: Michelle Meiklejohn

Guest Post***The Roar Series** Poet Cop

VET COP
By: Gail Merriwether

Ever more life’s observer
Than participant
Master of evasive replies;
Effuses solid presence
With invasive edges
Upon entering any room.


Twenty years of bitter memories
Accrued like pension interest
Make the face
An irascible, authoritative frown
And
Eyes like Teflon-coated rounds
Force truth from evildoers.
Heart like a righteous rock
Ears that have Heard It All;
Twice.

BIO:
Gail Merriwether is a retired police officer who formerly covered various beats on Chicago's mean city streets. She is the author of Cop's Eyes, and a member of Poets United to Advance the Arts.

Pen and Prosper welcomes your comments on her poetry or her former profession.

And the Award Goes to...!

I'm pleased as punch to share with my Blog family some good news.
I didn't want to disclose this until it became official.
Effective this month, I will be Blogging for the fine folks at BLOGGING PRO.COM!
It's a great site with quality content and news related to the blogging world.
I did not know until today, however that I was chosen from over 1100 applicants!
Say what? :-)
Read the details here: http://www.bloggingpro.com/archives/2010/03/15/cold-call-blogging-applications-how-not-to-apply/
This may mean that I'll be posting less frequently here, as I am also teaching online and working with several creative clients as well.

Thanks so much for the support and the energy you all have shown me here. I hope that you will also show some love at my new blogging home at BLOGGINGPRO.COM.

Have a wonderful week and please keep the comments coming.
Even motivators need to be motivated.:-)
Pen and Prosper welcomes your comments.

Guest Post***The Roar Series**Pamela Ferdinand

For years, I had succeeded at work as a journalist for leading daily newspapers – The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald. More importantly, I enjoyed it: the craft of writing, the adrenaline rush of covering deadline events from elections to hurricanes, and the hope of making a difference in someone’s life or the well-being of an entire community.

And yet, well into my 30s, I was a failure at love. Falling for men who either couldn’t commit or just couldn’t commit to me, I yearned for my soulmate even as girlfriends mocked me as a hopeless romantic. I also wanted a child and knew my time was running out. In each other’s down moments, my girlfriends and I reached into the Hat of Hopeful Stories—the coworker who met her husband on the commuter train, the neighbor who had her first child at 44. Finally, as I neared 40 and another relationship collapsed, I didn’t give up on love entirely but I decided to take motherhood into my own hands.

One of my friends, Carey, had already taken the bold step of buying donor sperm when she turned 40 and her own biological deadline for becoming a mother struck. What she found was not a father in a vial, but a sort of magic potion. She met a man, fell in love, and got pregnant the old-fashioned way. She passed the vials to our friend Beth, and it happened again. Beth met a man, fell in love, and got pregnant. Beth passed the vials to me. Magic struck again. There were setbacks and disappointments, but discovering love and becoming a mother ultimately meant for me that I had found happiness and success in my personal life as well as my work.

Not only that, but I had done it in my own way, on my own terms, and with the unyielding support and encouragement of women friends.
BIO
Pamela Ferdinand is a Chicago-based journalist, mother, and co-author with Carey Goldberg and Beth Jones of the triple memoir “Three Wishes: A True Story of Good Friends, Crushing Heartbreak, and Astonishing Luck on Our Way to Love and Motherhood,” published this April by Little, Brown & Co.
Links:
http://www.pamelaferdinand.com/blog/?cat_ID=4
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000531024929

Pen and Prosper welcomes(and encourages)your comments on this post.

30 Days "Net"! My publishing gains and losses

The good, the bad, and the ugly on my online blogging and writing career in the last 30 days...

Wow! It's been a frantic 30 days folks!
First off, I'd like to start this post by welcoming my new "followers" and saying hello to the former ones who have remained loyal from day one.
Thanks so much for your interest and your support.
Whether it's 2 or 200 assembled, I am pleased as punch to have you here.

Now, let's see...where do I begin?
My focus has changed a bit lately, in that I seem to be doing more guest posts for other Blogs than I've been doing for my usual creative writing markets.
Which has been pretty cool. It has allowed me to connect with like minded individuals and cultivate a larger following. A win-win situation for all, right?

In the last 30 days, here's where I've been a guest blogger:
URBAN MUSE
DAILY BLOG TIPS
LIVING WELL FOR LESS
QUICKONLINETIPS.COM
SMALLBIZBEE.COM
Marketing tips for authors also listed one of my pieces in the top 15 articles on blogging in their net round-up.
See it here: http://blog.marketingtipsforauthors.com/
Not too shabby, huh?
Please show these sites some love and visit when you're surfing the Net.
Additionally, I've been excited to continue The "Roar" Series here at Pen & Prosper.
We've had some pretty fierce females featured! Have we not?

I picked up (1) new client--a tax and accounting service.
On the down side, a few of my regular Ezines where I've been a frequent contributor have been booked up lately and not accepting new submissions. Bummer.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention the new look here. I've done a little "remodeling" here at P& P trying to make it more user friendly and attractive.

Well, that's it for me. I'm anxious to hear from you.
What's got you excited in your writing world this Tuesday?
This week? This month?
Do tell.

Guest Post***The Roar Series** Amy Parmenter

As Pen and Prosper invites women to share success stories, we are reminded of the ‘brilliance’ of Helen Reddy’s hit song ‘I Am Woman Hear Me Roar’. Great tune and perhaps an appropriate call to action in its day but I, for one, think Helen Reddy got it wrong. As a woman, I don’t want to roar. I want to purr.

Let’s look at the definitions.

A roar is loud, intimidating and often used as an expression of ‘distress or rage.’ While a roaring lioness may be captivating to watch from afar, would you dare approach?

A purr on the other hand is the ultimate expression of satisfaction. The dictionary defines a purring cat as ‘content or pleased’. As exciting as a roar might sound, wouldn’t you prefer to listen to the lioness purr?

A year ago I was roaring. Roaring about everything and everybody.

- Though I had landed a dream job, I was unhappy in my work. ROAR!!!
- In order to be with my husband, I had to move away from family and friends. ROAR!!
- I lost a sweet, kind brother who had a difficult life and a tragic death. ROAR!!

I could go on, but roaring is exhausting. It’s exhausting to listen to and it’s exhausting to do.

No doubt you could be ‘known’ for your roar, but being known for something and being respected for it are two different things. Think of the people you respect. Do they roar?

So, one year later I am purring. I am purring so loud that I can barely hear others roar. In fact, I think I noticed some roarers stop to hear me purr – which of course only made me purr more.

Do you roar or purr?

If you are roaring, then the greatest thing you can do for yourself is to figure out what makes you purr.

For me, it’s been writing. And, I have to tell you, I’m shocked. Really. I’ve never thought of myself as a writer. I’ve been a daughter, a sister, a friend, an entrepreneur, and an award-winning reporter – but I never realized I was a writer - until I started to blog.

One of the goals of blogging is to make money, and I’m sure I will. But, in my opinion, the greatest measure of success – blogging or otherwise - is self-satisfaction, because so few are able to achieve it.

We live in a day and age where ‘success’ may come sooner to those who roar. So, everybody starts roaring and nobody is heard. Bloggers, writers and other artists are often encouraged to ‘find your voice’ - but roaring makes you lose your voice.

“Oh yes I am wise but it's wisdom born of pain. Yes, I've paid the price but look how much I gained. I am strong. I am invincible….”

I am woman. Hear me purr.

BIO
Amy Parmenter is a blogger (ParmFarm.com) and a longtime radio and television reporter. In addition to her blog, Amy currently works for NBC in Connecticut and KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia. Not only has she enjoyed success in the media, Amy brings to her work a broad range of experience in other fields as well.

During her early years at KYW, Amy was offered an opportunity to host a CBS radio talk show - and did so for more than two years. But ultimately, Amy says, she returned to her first love, once again delivering the news rather than just talking about it.

Prior to joining the news business, Amy spent several years running her own business, a successful clothing manufacturing company that sold to virtually every upscale store in the country. She has also enjoyed success in venture capital, playing matchmaker between entrepreneurs and investors.

Amy attended Temple University where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Sports Medicine. She now lives in the greater Hartford area with her husband and together they enjoy golfing, biking and all Connecticut has to offer!

See more of Amy Parmenter’s work at: www.parmfarm.com.

Pen and Prosper welcomes your comments on this post. Do you roar or purr? Is being a "strong" woman an asset or a liability for business or relational success today? What are your thoughts?

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!

OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD!

I did the "happy dance" til I was dizzy!

The long awaited for package had arrived at a little after 3 p.m.

The postal delivery lady could not have known that it was as valuable to me as gold-- evident by the fact that she had carelessly tossed the package face down in the snow on my front porch.

I hurriedly tore open the manila envelope, and was delighted to discover, "A STEP IN THE WRITE DIRECTION" by Donna Clark Goodrich.

It was beautifully designed and packaged, and exceeded my expectations.

AND THERE I WAS IN BLACK AND WHITE, MY OWN CHAPTER--well actually I was a chapter in the appendix--pages 299-300 to be exact.

Just the same, I felt like a supporting actress in an award winning movie!

"I'd like to thank my mom who always believed in me..."

It made my day, my year!

The review to follow tomorrow as soon as I come off cloud nine!

WRITING ROCKS!

Okay, so I hadn't really intended to blog today.
Too busy with crafting columns, pursuing freelance leads, research work, teaching online classes, and de-stressing.

Then much to my surprise, I got an email from a fellow writer and "fan".

(Don't you just love it when someone writes to acknowledge the impact your work has had, or just to express warm regards?!)

Anyhow, Donna Clark Goodrich, (a prolific author and instructor), has just informed me that she is including a quote from me in her new book, (soon to be released) "A Step in the Write Direction."

It just made my day...my week...my month.

What a blessing!
What has you shouting these days?