One of the reasons I haven’t been posting much here is that I’ve suddenly gotten much more involved in “growing my blog” over at My Church Journey. I’ve been following a number of other blogs related to the whole topic of changes in the way we . . . → Read More: commenting and commenting-on-comments and posting about comments…. and pondering what to do next with my blogs]]> July 20 (looking back over the past week or so)

One of the reasons I haven’t been posting much here is that I’ve suddenly gotten much more involved in “growing my blog” over at My Church Journey. I’ve been following a number of other blogs related to the whole topic of changes in the way we approach “church” (being the church rather than doing church or going to church, for example). And commenting on other people’s postings. One of the outcomes of commenting, is that my blog link is left at the end of my comments, and other readers follow it to see what I’ve been thinking. Others comment on my comments on other blogs, and then I comment on their comments, and that gets me thinking, so I post about the topic on my own blog, and link back to the original posts on other blogs… and quite suddenly I find myself in the middle of some pretty amazing conversations… and my own blog is getting more hits and comments…

And I suddenly realize that I have 590 posts over there, which cover several years of posting (during which I was mostly just trying to think things through myself, and not very concerned about on-line coversation) … and other than a “search” box, and the title of the blog, “My Church Journey,” and the titles of past half dozen or so posts, there really isn’t any way for folks to explore my explorations. I haven’t even set up pages with specific topics, and there aren’t any “tags” or “categories” like on WordPress blogs. So now I’m really trying to decide what to do. Set up separate pages for different topics within the big topic? Set up separate blogs? Switch from blogger to WordPress? Whatever I do, I need to do it quickly, I’m thinking!

Yesterday I posted two blog entries, both expressing frustration with some roadblocks I’ve run into recently with my writing and blogging. Although I haven’t received any responses in the comments section, I was delighted, this morning, to find some answers to at least one of them in a couple email newsletters to which . . . → Read More: answers to my questions!]]> May 29, 2010

Yesterday I posted two blog entries, both expressing frustration with some roadblocks I’ve run into recently with my writing and blogging. Although I haven’t received any responses in the comments section, I was delighted, this morning, to find some answers to at least one of them in a couple email newsletters to which I subscribe. Check them out! (And yes, please, I still want to hear your thoughts, too!)

The first set of questions I asked was in this post: learning, getting inspired … but not much doing. So this morning I read Chris Brogan’s Author’s Plan for Social Media Efforts which really demonstrated to me how to lay out and organize my efforts! And then Seth Godin wrote The distraction, the tail, and the dog, and I realized that, as he put it, “it’s time to come up with boundaries so the tail doesn’t end up wagging the dog.” Right on! Thanks to both of you! Onward!

By the way, the other set of questions I asked had to do with what to do about all life’s unexpected distractions. Come on! Your suggestions – please!

Just wondering….

Why does it seem there are so many more “successful” (large followings, money-making, influential/leader) male bloggers than female?

Why are female authored blogs usually different than male-authored blogs? What are the differences, anyway? Why? (I really want to take a look and check that out!)

Even on male-authored blogs, who signs up . . . → Read More: male or female bloggers? and followers? what’s the difference? does it matter?]]> May 18, 2010

Just wondering….

Why does it seem there are so many more “successful” (large followings, money-making, influential/leader) male bloggers than female?

Why are female authored blogs usually different than male-authored blogs? What are the differences, anyway? Why? (I really want to take a look and check that out!)

Even on male-authored blogs, who signs up more? Women or men? What about on female-authored blogs? What differences? Why?

Has the arrival of blogs increased men reading? (Historically – or at least in recent years, lol) women have tended to do more reading than men, of traditionally published writing. Isn’t that right? Same at school – girls are more enthusiastic readers than boys, generally).

Do women look for different information from blogs than men do? Is that significant for blog planning? Who is my potential audience, anyway? What difference does it make?

What do you expect from your “devotions” or your “time with Father” or whatever you call your focused time with God? Prayer … Bible study … spiritual enlightenment?

How about some pretty direct “direction” about your business?

I tend to think that God maybe kind of drops incidents and information and such in our . . . → Read More: a very unexpected conversation with Father]]> 18 May 2010

What do you expect from your “devotions” or your “time with Father” or whatever you call your focused time with God? Prayer … Bible study … spiritual enlightenment?

How about some pretty direct “direction” about your business?

I tend to think that God maybe kind of drops incidents and information and such in our way, and if we are keeping our eyes open and walking with Him, He’ll use those things to kind of “guide” us in the “practical” areas of our lives.

But sometimes He really surprises me with the directions He takes me in my “conversation” times with Him. Check out what happened this morning, at this is not what I expected from conversation with You!!!. Direction on setting up email subscriptions? What kind of devotional is THAT?!?!?

New next-door neighbours moved in over the weekend. Very nice young couple with 3 children. Reminds me how I want to reach out to (and reach!) my neighbours!

I’ve been wondering how to “grow” my “audience” – and at the same time wondering about what size and kind of audience is really necessary . . . → Read More: pursuing “success in blogging” ??]]> May 17, 2010

New next-door neighbours moved in over the weekend. Very nice young couple with 3 children. Reminds me how I want to reach out to (and reach!) my neighbours!

I’ve been wondering how to “grow” my “audience” – and at the same time wondering about what size and kind of audience is really necessary to be “successful.” Of course that begs the question: “What is success?” Does it mean having lots of readers and subscribers, making a good income, having a lot of “influence?” What kind of influence? Sacrificing what, in the process? Whose “way?” What worldview?

I’ve read some pretty useful blog postings and books and case studies and such, that have a lot of good ideas (successful ideas, if the number of readers and subscribers and income and so on at those sites are the desired markers of success). But sometimes when I am reading them, I feel uncomfortable. I may feel that their foundational beliefs, their core world-views, conflict with mine.

I find myself picking out some ideas and leaving others, but at the same time wondering if the ideas I have picked out are going to somehow draw me into their way of approaching the world after all? Are methods, ways to do things, pointers on how to grow your blog (for example), mostly just neutral, just what they are? Or do they really reflect something deeper? Is it possible to skim the useful tips off the top, and avoid/ignore the underlying purposes, beliefs, approaches? To use the same methods to accomplish or serve different ends and purposes?

Does it matter? If it does, then what?

The blog advice keeps saying to be true to yourself, true to who you are, what your passions are, what you believe, in developing your blog. What does that mean? And do they really mean that? If they do, why are they charging big bucks to their customers, urging them to buy their particular “ideas” (aka products)? They present themselves as authorities (a big part of blogging, apparently); and it seems to follow that buying their products, and following their methods, then becomes buying into their particular way of doing things… and possibly buying into their particular world view, belief system, core values… etc…?

(I want to follow You, Father…)

(In case you’re wondering, dear reader, what I’ve been reading today – and yes, picking out a lot of potentially useful ideas from – here are some links!

Leo Babuta at Zen Habits: various short posts – and a longer one: How I Got 100,000 Subscribers in Two Years

Chris Garrett at cgarrett.com, especially Killer Flagship Content

Seth Godin’s blog and email updates.

And, oh yes! I signed up on posterous.com today. And did some more “stumbling.” You can check out some of my “favorites” here.

And I started reading ProBlogger (2nd ed) today. (By Darren Rowse of the ProBlogger site and Chris Garrett – see link above). Yes, I bought the book!

Lots of good ideas in all of them. Just wondering, though, what applies to me?)

(Father?)

I spent a long time going through all the sites I’ve been bookmarking since I started my “new job” (self-employed, entrepreneur, writer etc) exactly two months ago. I hadn’t been keeping them organized – that was a mistake! So I quickly checked each site, and organized them according to topic(s). . . . → Read More: organizing! … visits with friends … encouragement for my “Novel Under Construction” project]]> May 14, 2010 (Friday)

I spent a long time going through all the sites I’ve been bookmarking since I started my “new job” (self-employed, entrepreneur, writer etc) exactly two months ago. I hadn’t been keeping them organized – that was a mistake! So I quickly checked each site, and organized them according to topic(s). After that I re-organized “My Documents” on my computer. Yikes! How can such a supposedly-organized person get so disorganized? Guess I didn’t realize what a complex “job” this was going to be!

In the later afternoon, a young man who used to be one of my son’s group of “best buddies” when they were pre-teens, came by for a visit – and a knife-sales demo! It’s fun to keep up with young people on facebook – and to actually get to see them sometimes! After that, hubby and I, and our son, went to visit some friends for supper. It was wonderful! Thanks, Gerry and Julie!

By the way, I had a couple of really encouraging “confirmations” about my new Novel Under Construction project! One was Gerry loaning me a book, From God to You: 66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God that Invites You Into His Story, by Dr. Larry Crabb. Gerry pointed out that this book is somewhat similar to this blog and My Church Journey, and especially to my A Mother’s Journey blog which is the basis for my new Novel Under Construction project!

The other “confirmation” was that shortly after I got the new Novel Under Construction site set up, I received a prayer request from a mom who is struggling with the same issues that “My Mother’s Journey” deals with. So I was able to refer her to the site, and to encourage her because I have been down a similar path, and can confirm that God does indeed answer our prayers for our wandering children. The prayer request was a reminder to me from Father that He does have His purposes in leading me to develop this novel! I also was thinking that if there are other moms out there who are struggling with these issues, or have been through them, participating in the Novel Under Construction project might actually be an encouragement to them in the process! If that might be you, or someone you know, why not check out this project and see what it is about?

I flipped through the “2010 Christian Writers’ Market Guide” by Sally E Stuart – as I am still of course interested in pursuing writing published in traditional formats (on paper!). I also signed up for Twitter! You can follow me @penandpapermama!

I also continued to work on my . . . → Read More: working on “my business” … checking on, and signing up for, social networking sites…]]> May 13, 2010 (Thursday afternoon)

I flipped through the “2010 Christian Writers’ Market Guide” by Sally E Stuart – as I am still of course interested in pursuing writing published in traditional formats (on paper!). I also signed up for Twitter! You can follow me @penandpapermama!

I also continued to work on my new Novel Under Construction project, choosing a new theme, adding gadgets, adding my other blogs to the blogroll, and so on. Why not go on over to the site and check it out – and start participating! Remember, this is a “participatory” novel-writing project! Your input will be appreciated!

In the evening I signed up for StumbleUpon, and immediately started stumbling! You can find me and my favorites here at my penandpapermama page, and if you’re a stumbler, let me know so I can check out you and your favorites – and your sites – too!

I also checked out Reddit and Digg.

(In case this seems a bit scattered – you have to understand that I wrote most of it between 3:15 and 4:00 am … but after some more sleep, and some serious thinking, and research, and reflection… I am going with it!)

I just woke up with an epiphany – that’s an . . . → Read More: epiphany: ah-ha moment! Novel Under Construction!]]> May 13, 2010

(In case this seems a bit scattered – you have to understand that I wrote most of it between 3:15 and 4:00 am … but after some more sleep, and some serious thinking, and research, and reflection… I am going with it!)

I just woke up with an epiphany – that’s an “ah-ha! moment” for those of you who may not have your dictionary close at hand!

Here it is: Write my Mother’s Journey blogsite story (which is currently in the form of many chapters of journal notes, mostly conversations with God) as a novel!

So how do I go about it? Hmmm…

Read some similar novels (similar storyline, similar worldview/perspective…)

Study/review on how to write good stories; and on novel forms/techniques.

Maybe even contact writers of such novels and pick their brains, ask for advice…

Father! YOU spoke this idea into my mind – and heart! Wow! It certainly never occurred to me, though I’ve wondered and wondered what to do about that site…

E-book? Maybe… but more likely (first, anyway) paperback. Self-published? Or even produced by a real publisher?!? Oh, Father! Your will be done!

Get out those writing books I ordered and start learning…

NaNoWriMo the first draft? (You know, sit down and just write, write, write…)

Print out the online blogsite edition, and read it through. Start marking it up.

(Father, You eed to help me with that – give Your direction! Some one out there – perhaps many someones – need something this book has to offer… Or You wouldn’t have planted this idea! Something You can offer them – through this book?!?!)

Read The Shack again? Other books that feature conversations with You? Papa? Please lead me to any and all books, stories, etc, that You know I need to get prepared. Thank You!

Father, that blog/web story has seemed to have just “sat there” for so long… doing almost nothing… and yet – who knows? ___ read it, didn’t she? (And if she alone was helped by it, encouraged to turn to You, walk with You more closely, that would be enough in itself. But I sense You have more. A much larger plan. Thank You! In Jesus’ name!) Lead please! Your will, Your way…

Probably, start with a “present” incident – looking back… to the beginning. And then the story of those years – and finally, back to the present again?

Integrate any suitable material from the Prayers and Meditations part of my Conversations, Reflections & Meditations website, into the Mothers Journey material. (Hmmm… better do that on the computer since so much of it is typed already… but how? Just cut-and-paste it into the current version? But I don’t want to confuse things that way…)

I can print out and work by hand as well, of course. (Yes, that small laptop would be handy, lol… the one my son and son-in-law have been encouraging me to get the past couple days… still, I really like the one I already have…)

Maybe end up with an e-book options too? Perhaps… but I hear You saying, “Traditional novel format first!” Okay. Your will. Thank You, Father.

Oh! Integrate stories from The Hill Gang story site too? Totally makes sense. A novel is STORY – not just reflection and commentary. Well then, I better “fill in the blanks there, eh! I have jotted down so many “missed” stories since I did the original. Well, this will be excellent motivation to get those written down – and those will be great story-writing practice, too. Yes!

Father? How “real life” do I make this? Oh my goodness…. What will the “real” characters think? How will they react?

Include them in the process? Papa? Is that YOU telling me that? I mean, it seems like a great, exciting idea. IF it is from You … because at the same time it seems pretty scary….

Hmmm… maybe a multi-author book? For sure, send them the drafts, proposal, etc etc as the process unfolds. And include them and their thoughts, ideas, memories in the whole process?

Wow. That would be something! You speaking into their lives – my life too – our lives, together – through the writing process, drawing us together – with You! Oh Father, that would be so amazing!

What? Write this as the beginning of a blog? A blog that tracks the entire novel-writing process, and includes others’ comments and input and suggestions and feedback? I mean, the story is the story – but what should be included, how it should be presented, writing technique… Open to all blog followers who want to be part of the process? Their comments part of the whole process? They themselves part of the process? Maybe the process becomes, in some way, the opening chapter?

Well! That would be different, for sure. That’s what “they” keep saying new writers and new on-line entrepreneurs need to do. Find a unique niche. Offer something that not only is a passion for myself – but meets needs of others, and offers them the opportunity to participate, share, learn together, produce together. On-going conversation. Involvement. Excitement!

And of course, the process then becomes its own buildup to the book’s release down the line!

Hmmm… I could actually do the process right on the Mother’s Journey” site, couldn’t I? Or maybe better yet, start a whole new site – a site that could become a “hub” for the other sites, pulling everything together.

Record all the process. List and describe other novels I read, books and other resources I research, and what I’ve learned. Post my drafts and edits and encourage people to critique. A novel-in-process. Under construction. For all the world to see – and take part in, if they like! (Has anyone else tried this? I wonder? I know that some authors, like Piers Anthony with his highly entertaining and successful Xanth series, includes many puns suggested by his readers – and gives them credit! Very multi-authored in that sense.)

Network! E-mail the 110 plus e-mail friends I have – and also notify my nearly 500 facebook friends – and the members of the e-groups I belong to, especially the writing groups, and The Word Guild Canadian Christian writers group I belong to, and the local Penticton Writers and Publishers club I attend. Send out a survey to get initial input and ideas. (And more later on, if I get stuck). And ask questions at related blogs and websites I follow. And, oh my, guess it’s time to start tweeting on twitter and hooking up to other similar networking sites (well, yes, I need to do that anyway, on my present sites, including my two main daily blogs, Pen ‘n Paper Mama and my Church Journey blog (which, now that I think of it, also has some potential material! And my other two blogsites and my website which I’ve already mentioned…

Crazy! I love it!

Oh Father, if creativity comes from You – this is surely proof of it. You, the Creator, the Source of all great creativity! Amazing!

(If this is really from You…. yes, it has to be… please show me, Father! Thank You! Woohoo!) (Is it okay to say “woo-hoo” to You?!?!?! lol…)

The automatic sprinklers just turned on outside my window… reminding me of Your Spirit… watering the dry and thirsty ground… Reminding me of You, Jesus, offering Living Water to the woman at the well of Samaria – and to her whole city – and to the whole world! Reminding me of the waters of baptism. Reminding me of sprinkling rainfall, of spring showers, of new life!

That old song comes to mind:

It’s beginning to rain, hear the voice of the Father
He’s saying “Whosoever will, come drink of My water,
I promise to pour My Spirit out on your sons and your daughters,
If you’re thirsty and dry, look up to the sky,
It’s beginning to rain!

(Well, those are the words we used to sing! I checked the internet for the lyrics – and found many versions! The original lyrics are by William and Gloria Gaither, 1979).

Oh Father! Let Your rain fall on me, on my family, on all Your children! The world! Papa, please use this book, this story – this gift from You! Thank You!

Well, I was only going to jot down a couple quick notes to help me remember this ah-ha moment when morning comes, then turn off the light and get more sleep. But now it’s almost an hour later, as Your ideas just kept coming to me, tumbling over me – and I had to switch the light back on, and write them down… as they kept coming.

Oh! The automatic sprinkler just switched off. Does that mean I can go back to sleep now? Lol… Good night!

And to my readers: It’s almost noon now. And I’ve started my new hub site. It’s definitely in the “under construction” stages … but I’ve posted this “start” there – and your comments are welcome! Check out the original site of this story to get a general idea of what it’s about. And then come join in, and become a (recognized!) participant in this newNovel Under Construction project!

I read this in the April 26 entry in the 2010 Bible League of Canada planner:

“Today you will probably have opportunities to get more than you actually need. Why hurt yourself? Take only what you need. Hint: What you need is probably less than what you could get. Why . . . → Read More: world-changing choices using small pebbles]]> May 3, 2010

I read this in the April 26 entry in the 2010 Bible League of Canada planner:

“Today you will probably have opportunities to get more than you actually need. Why hurt yourself? Take only what you need. Hint: What you need is probably less than what you could get. Why is it so hard to set limits? Why is less sometimes more?”

Great questions, eh! I really am trying to learn to live that way! Important choices to make… even the little ones! Speaking of choices – another great quote I came across today:

“How will your choices change the world today?” (Chris Guillebeau).

A small pebble dropped into a pond starts a ever-widening series of ripples reaching wayyyyy out! I’m thinking that every choice I make – every choice you make, too – is a potential world-changer in ways we can’t begin to imagine!

Still doing lots of research … and note-taking … two pens have died today! Now I’m using a pencil … I need to get a GOOD pen instead of all these cheap ones! I do have a fountain pen … which I can refill with ink (assuming I can find places to buy ink, lol). I love the idea of that. But then I have to use better quality paper… Choices… I wonder, would recycled paper work better, not to mention its other environmental benefits? Should I just go to “thinking” on the computer, rather than on paper? I suppose it would save time, as I wouldn’t have to transcribe from paper to computer. But I really am a “pen and paper mama!” I do seem to think better in the old-fashioned ways. (Though this particular paragraph just came directly from my fingers to the computer, without paper in-between!)

As I’ve been doing my note-taking (for my “research”), I’ve also been stopping now and then to “take action.” So, for example, I just now stopped to send out welcome emails to my new followers, and to respond to new comments. I know that when I write comments or ask questions, I certainly look forward to some response. And yet, I find myself not passing on that courtesy to others. Hmmm… “Do unto others…”

I am typing this sitting outside. It’s lovely – except that I can barely see the screen in all this beautiful natural light. I do seem to be more “creative” out in the fresh air. Maybe when I go for that good pen and/or recycled quality paper, I ought to check out ways to solve my screen problem, too? Or better yet, experiment with creative ways to shade my screen – hmmm… my big umbrella?

So I finished typing and posting my blogs. Then spent time working on my trusty laptop… have to do that once in a while, if I want to be able to keep on blogging! Disk clean-up, disk defrag, upgrade my anti-virus to the latest version (and research various anti-virus software choices), . . . → Read More: lap-top tlc … daily stuff … research]]> May 1, 2010 (again!)

So I finished typing and posting my blogs. Then spent time working on my trusty laptop… have to do that once in a while, if I want to be able to keep on blogging! Disk clean-up, disk defrag, upgrade my anti-virus to the latest version (and research various anti-virus software choices), do a full-system scan with the upgrade (it was all good!).

Then a break for those daily things that never go away, lol … cooking and eating meals, doing dishes, laundry, house-cleaning … and the good stuff: time with my family.

And finally, in the evening, some researching, reading and collecting ideas (but converting them into “my ideas” as related to my own business and site-building and so on. There’s a lot of great stuff at Chris Guillebeau’s site The Art of Non-Conformity!