Guest Post: That’s What Bloggers Are For
February 14th 2008 08:45
A Friend In Need
When my blogging buddy, Michele Tune, learned of my family's battle with sickness, which prevented me from posting as often as usual, she did a very gracious thing: She wrote and sent me a guest post to help fill in the gap and take some of the pressure off me. (Now I know why I gave her the "Blogging Gem Award" recently: because she truly is one gem of a blogger!)
Now, on to Michele's post!
That’s What Writers Bloggers Are For
By Michele L. Tune
Since I've joined the online writing community, I've noticed how gracious other
That's why when I read Jeanne's recent post, my heart melted. I sympathized with her illnesses and those of her family members, as I've struggled through many health issues, surgeries, and trials of illness myself. I have the special gift of also being able to empathize. I can feel other people's pain. My heart literally hurts for them. I think that's why when I write, I write with such emotion. I not only share my own heart, giving my readers a peek into my very soul, but envision the aching hearts of my readers and aspire to touch their hearts, stir their emotions, and make their day better. It's why I created my motto: Inspiring readers one word at a time...
Jeanne's "Please Bear With Me!" plea really got my attention. Bear with her? Why not help her? Why not use my talent with words to write a guest post and take a little pressure off? It's bad enough she has to tend to sick family members while not feeling well herself, meet clients' deadlines, and be superwoman overall, why should she have to worry about pleasing Writer's Notes readers with fresh and unique posts every day all on her own? That's where I come in.
So, do you want to know how to step up your writing game? I decided to share a few techniques I use as I write the cyber highway.
1. Be open. Let your readers in. Search deep inside your heart, sweep the cobwebs of your soul, and expose the real you. Your readers will feel comfortable knowing you’re genuine, that you care enough to write what’s hardest to write, and they’ll come begging for more.
2. Keep your eyes open. Just like this guest post, I saw an opportunity to help a writer friend while at the same time write for a new readership. It never hurts to guest post. I’ve made up my mind to do more of it this year. If you see a window of opportunity, crawl through! The person on the other end may very well love your idea and who knows where that will lead?
3. Get organized. I mention this often on my blog. If you know where you’ve sent your queries and submissions and when you sent them, you’ll be able to focus on actually writing instead of wondering. Make copies of your checks or print out PayPal invoices when you’re paid and staple them to your acceptance letters and contracts. Keep them in a file and update that file or make a new one each year. It’s refreshing, and inspiring, to be neat and be able to find things. It leaves more time for creativity and writing!
4. Listen. Eavesdrop. Pay attention! Some writers take a notebook and pen with them while they’re out and about, even jotting down snippets of conversation they overhear. That dialogue may set your fictional piece or novel on fire!
5. Care. Care about your writing, yourself, your readers, your work. Write from your heart, write often, write to engage your readers and bring them to the edge of their chairs. Don’t just rush off the first thing you write. Let it sit. Clear your mind for a day or so. Then go back with a fresh eye. Be willing to cut words or entire sentences or paragraphs to polish your piece and make it the best it can be.
I hope these five tips help you. Never think that you have no room to improve. Don’t feel like you have nothing left to learn. Writers evolve, change, and grow. We get better with time and practice, by studying and writing more.
And the next time you see a blogger friend struggling, help. Because that’s what bloggers are for!
Michele L. Tune is a Freelance Writer and Blogger. Find her at www.michele-tune.com or her blog, Writing the Cyber Highway
--
Kindest Regards,
Michele L. Tune
Inspiring readers one word at a time...
Freelance Writer & Blogger
www.michele-tune.com
Writing the Cyber Highway: a blog
ADDED NOTE: Michele has written an excellent blog review of the Writer's Round-About blog as an entry to Rebecca Lafarr-Smith's exciting contest. She has the opportunity to win $100 worth of books from Amazon.com. So, why not stop by, read her entry, Cyber Contest: Win Prizes from Amazon!, and give her your support by voting for it via Rebecca's You Decide The Winner! post. (You'll be able to read the other contest entries, as well, by using the links in Rebecca's post.)
Michele got my vote--not merely because she's a great person (though she certainly is that)--but because her post is excellently written and is also the only entry that followed every one of the contest rules--and then some! Also, if you'd like to Stumble her post, feel free to stop back by Writer's Notes and use the link. Check out her great post! The contest ends Saturday, February 16th. So, if you haven't voted yet, please vote before then! Thanks! (If you're reading this post after that date, visit her blog anyway! It's fantastic!)
Did you enjoy this post? Why not let Michele know it! Have any thoughts or experiences to share? Michele would just love to hear from you!
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Comment by Lillie Ammann
Jeanne, hope you and all your family members are on the mend and back in good health soon.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Isn't Michele a doll? Thanks for your comment to us both!
Jeanne
Comment by Joanna Young
This is so typical of you! Though I think I might change the headline to "bloggers" because in my experience it's bloggers who are so generous, kind, thoughtful. I'm not saying writers aren't, of course! Just that there's something about the medium of blogging that encourages and rewards generosity and kindness.
Jeanne, hope things are getting better for you and your family. Just thought I should mention it took a long long time for the page to load, seemed to be the good blog server that was taking the time. Maybe just a blip, but thought I should let you know
Best wishes
Joanna
Comment by Michele L.
Joanna, you are right! It was just in my mind that Jeanne and I are writers and I imagined her slaving away writing, not being able to post often. Either way, I think, gets the point across. I know some bloggers don't think of themselves as writers but I believe they are, don't you?
I definitely agree about the blogging community rewarding generosity and kindness .
Thank you both for your generous comments! Happy Valentine's Day!
Hope your day is going beautifully, Jeanne!
Smiles,
Michele
Comment by AmyHuang
Project Job Search
Travel Debate
Travel String
Love Adventures
Jeanne I hope everything is well now?
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Little by little things are improving, but the going is slow! I still have my fingers crossed, hoping I won't catch the flu on top of the residual, low grade illness that's been hanging on for a while.
I, too, noticed that my page has been loading slowly as of late last night, after I ran this post. I wouldn't have thought TheGoodBlogs widget would present any more of a problem than any other one--unless they're having a temporary glitch--because I've had the widget on my blog for quite some time, and as I mentioned, this only started last night. That's what I think is so odd, because there weren't even any images in this post, which can often be the root of a slow-loading problem.
I'm hoping the problem will soon correct itself. Otherwise I may have to remove some buttons, badges, and/or widgets from my sidebar, which would be too bad, because they're so much fun--and the GoogBlogs and MyBlogLog widgets are helpful for bringing reciprocal traffic to their member blogs. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for letting me know about your experience!
And thanks for the visit!
Jeanne
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Isn't it good of Michele to do this? I'm so grateful to her for her kind gesture--and the work it involved! I hope that someday, when she needs me (and hopefully I'm not drowning in work), I can return the favor.
We're working on getting well here--and I'm trying to avoid catching the flu bug my son had. The going is slow, though. Thanks for the good wishes!
And thanks for dropping by!
Jeanne
Comment by Michele L.
Thanks! I feel like it was the least I could do for Jeanne. For quite a while now, she has been a loyal reader of my blog and through her comments has provided me with much encouragement, inspiration, friendship, and much more! Had I been closer to her, I'd have taken her some hot soup, but since we're on the cyber highway, a guest post will have to do.
I knew you'd do the same for me, Jeanne. You're just a great lady!
Smiles,
Michele
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
And I really did enjoy and appreciate that wonderful bowl of "cyber soup"! It really hit the spot!
You're the best!
Jeanne
Comment by Michele L.
Smiling bigger than ever,
Michele
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Wasn't sure all my readers knew about your contest entry, so I thought I'd share it with them, since they're already reading your guest post. Glad I was able to return the Valentine favor you gave me--an excellent guest blog post!
Thanks again!
Jeanne
Comment by Rebecca Laffar-Smith
Jeanne, I hope you and your family recover swiftly. I can understand how difficult it must be for you and I'm in the same position of being truly grateful to Michele for her support and love through the good times and the bad.
You're both shining lights along the cyber highway. Thank you for lighting the road to all our futures.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Laffar-Smith
Really Long Link
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Isn't it, though! I can't say enough about Michele! She's a very special person--one in a million!
Thanks so much for your kind wishes for my family's health! I so appreciate it!
I'm more than happy to help light the way for my fellow writers and bloggers in any way I can--as I know both you and Michele are, also!
Great to see you! Thanks so much for the comment!
Jeanne
Comment by Michele L.
Jeanne, the same applies to you. You're sweet words send me to soar above the clouds!
I really appreciate both of your compliments, kind words, and friendship!
Smiles,
Michele
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Hello, up there! Glad to see you soaring! That's a good thing! I'm sure I speak for Rebecca, as well as myself, when I say that I, too, appreciate your friendship and all the kind words you always so generously share!
Blessings,
Jeanne
Comment by Anonymous
This is great advice, as always. You are such a caring person, as well as a talented writer. I enjoyed reading this article! Thank you!
Tina
Jeanne,
I hope you are better soon!
Tina
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Thanks so much for dropping by to comment! I agree with you completely that Michele can always be depended on to give great advice! And ditto to the rest of your comment about her caring nature and writing talent!
Thanks for your good wishes!
Jeanne
Comment by Michele L.
Smiles,
Michele
P.S. Thank you for your sweet comment, Jeanne!
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Jeanne