Autumn = cozy & Nostalgic for some.

BARKERVILLE OLD GOLD RUSH TOWN AND MY DAD Summer 1966

 NOSTALGIC PHOTO OF MY DAD & AN OLD STAGE GOACH: HISTORIC TOWN OF BARKERVILLE

I’ve begun tweaking my blog hoping to improve the content and the layout as I learn. Suggestions are welcome.

Dawne Groves, an instructor at Whatcom Community College, encourages bloggers to make posts interesting.  In addition to that wisdom, during the 2015 Chanticleer Author’s Conference In Bellingham, WA  a corporate marketing expert, Steve Lundin,  offered a unique approach on ‘Branding for Writers.’ He said, “You are your brand.  Write about what excites you. And then you’ll connect to people who are excited about the same things.” (I’m not giving advice to writers here.)

This sounds like fun to me. Before fiction writing kidnapped me, many things fascinated me. Now I continue to search for time to get back to some of them.

• Drawing, watercolor painting, knitting, making cards, music, reading
• Travel to Scotland, Pioneers & their history in Canada & the US
• Organization, Healthy Food & good recipes, what is GMO?
• Obesity & weight loss surgery, Being assertive & informed when needing Health Care

Next Sunday I’ll post a survey asking blog visitors & subscribers “what interests you.”  I might eventually have a page for writers, & a page for those who want to read about other things. Or you can read both.

Those who look forward to Thanksgiving with loved ones &/or friends, enjoy! Those who can spend a quiet time with a good book, a movie, a hike, enjoy also! Every day is special.

BLOGGING AGAIN

Some of you may know that I deleted my website quite a while ago because of hacking.  I didn’t want to risk taking the time to research a solution just in case my subscribers might be attacked. You all were my first concern.

Finally I’m ready to try the world of websites again, and am fiddling with hostgator, but haven’t yet discovered how to set up a new website.  So  I’m dipping my toes back into the cyber-water by posting on my old original blog.  Waving at anyone who sees this after so long a time!

I’ll share a photo or two about the most exciting thing that happened to me in 2014.  My daughter Lori and I went to Scotland for two weeks.

Scottish Clearances

Photo of title of the statue

Scotland Highlands

TRANSFER OF SUBSCRIBERS TO NEW SITE

Flying Ahead to New Site

Dear Subscribers

Folks who have subscribed to the marionspicher.wordpress.com site are in the process of being transferred (by jetpack) to my new site marionspicher.com which will serve as both website and blog.

My former website is no longer accessible.  I’ll dress up the new site when time allows–currently the ambiance seems rather drab.

Jetpack instructed me that you will  no longer receive emails telling you of a new post, but the posts could be read in a reader.  That sound like a bit of a nuisance for you all! I don’t plan to post on this site once these little details are handled. Telling you this in case you wonder what the hey?

SIMPLEST SOLUTION:  He said you would also need to subscribe to the new site.  Please do!  I would think that no further action is needed. I look forward to posting on the new site more often and reconnecting with you all.  Hope spring becomes a reality for most of the nation!

Harbingers of spring

Work in Progress

My website and blog are being consolidated and transferred to WordPress. When all the adjustments and changes are made, you will find both by clicking on the link above.

One of Nature’s Lovely Creations

Amanda Hagarty is helping me with the transition.  I’ll keep you posted.  She is now working on transferring my subscribers to the new site.

I am excited.  I face challenges in the learning curve while  giving the site the look and feel I want to portray.  Hooray that the blog and website  will all be in one web location.

And who knows?  Maybe I’ll post interesting things more often.

Happy spring, everyone.  I’m waving and smiling.

Stopping by for a visit

Tulip Fields in Skagit County, Washington State

I’m dreaming of spring.  Did have some lovely sunshine after the brief snow shower this morning.  I’m just stopping by to wave at you all, and ask for comments on any changes on the blog appearance or blog roll additions.  Wana711 and others, please email me if you are not on the blogroll list and would like to be included. Suggestions and comments are welcome.  Hope you’ve all had a great day, and will glide along through Wednesday and on into the weekend.  Or … you could just enjoy each moment …  See you soon!

Organizing Content in Social Media

How sweet it is when we see a life rope headed our way.

Good morning, West Coast, and good afternoon in the East.

Jane Friedman, holding many credentials,  writes an excellent newsletter.  Anyone who participates in Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, Tumbler, and so on, would find the newsletter listed here something to consider.  The links she shared promise great help in organizing possible social network posts/topics of interest to your friends and readers.  She calls these linked sites “Curators.”  I hope those interested can find something that helps streamline managing social media.

Have a great week, all.  Put yesterday away, let tomorrow come as it will, and enjoy today.

Twitter, Tweetdeck and Finally Some Easy Answers

The Tall Ships visit Washington Ports

Patrick Thunstrom’s blog will elicit a sigh or relief from anyone struggling with twitter and/or tweetdeck.  I recommend the tweetdeckdownload for managing all social media . It appears in  columns for easy scanning and response to your social media programs all at once.  If you go to Patrick’s blog, it will take the mystery out of the functions, and make it simple.  Thank you Patrick!

Social Networking for Writers: To Do or Not To Do

B&B Whidbey Island Writer's Conference

Unpublished writers, would Social Networking work for you? Browse the pros and cons below:

Folks must budget time if they decide to network on line.  I budget an average of three hours a day, checking email loops, writing and reading emails, blogs, facebook, twitter an LinkedIn.

No budget constraints? Hire a professional to set up the website and the blog, etc.  The rest of us must learn as we go.

1st turning point suggest we get the learning curve out of the way before one is known and published.  The fear factor diminishes when we know no one but family is paying attention.

We can learn to make posts crisp, interesting or helpful, not dallying with readers’ time.

Why did I start ahead of the game?  Knowledge of how my mind works. My left-brain has one track, and that track needs repetition, using more time.  Stress freezes my brain cells, and when my manuscript is picked up by an agent or publisher, I’ll avoid the learning curve angst.  Published networking friends taught me pressure builds once published, as one marketing strategy is a network platform.

Ancient Whispers by Marie-Claude Bourque

Knight of Passion by Margaret Mallory

The clear message in an email discussion on the GSRWA loop by Marie-Claude Bourque and Margaret Mallory? Creativity and time redirects away from our manuscripts to social networking.

Whatever the decision, realize social networking cuts into writing time, and for some, dampens creativity.

Weigh the time pressures and alternate zones for creativity.  Techies breeze through social networking, learning to link efficiently.  In a former post on this blog, a pointed to a link ‘how to blog on wordpress for non techies.’ I suggest blog first, then graduate to a website if you must.

Agents admit that if two equal manuscripts in the same genre sit before them, and they must choose only one, the writer with a network wins.  Consider the odds. Perhaps not likely. But a great story?  I wager they’ll wait, and deal.

Social networking bumps your name up on the Google search. Something to consider when deciding when to choose a pen name.  A writer wastes a lot of name recognition exposure, waiting to switch names.  If you do comment or write blogs or have a website, Google yourself.  You might be surprised. You’ll reap great motivation to make the first sentence count because it may appear on Google.

One last thought? Would I have reaped the same level of motivation, inspiration, support, encouragement, resources, & education, without social networking?  No.

Would my passion for writing have continued to grow without social networking?  Maybe not. We’ll never know.

Blogging for New Writers

Finally got around to checking for comments today. I’ve had my head buried in a manuscript revision.

Thanks to all who stopped by and left comments.

Tia Nevitt, the author of one comment, listed the URL for an educational post she wrote. Check it out here. She has a new blog as well called Debuts and Reviews.  It is worth a visit as well.  Thank you Tia. I hope to make some improvements soon.

Writer’s Conferences

Mount Baker WA

Labor Day 2010 is history and two writer’s conferences are on the horizon.  Three weeks until the Emerald City Writer’s Conference in Bellevue WA, and in the last week of October, the Surrey International Writer’s Conferences.

The anticipation builds as each day draws closer and the lists for preparation are building.   The conferences work better for me if I do some preparation beforehand, and one of those preps is to decide what I expect and want to get out of the expense, and the time spent.

I outline a daytimer type of calendar page for each day of the conference, with the workshops I wish to attend marked, 1st & 2nd choice, and a ‘maybe’ marked for taking a needed recovery break if it becomes necessary.  I look forward to contacts with writers and other professionals involved in this business.

Have a great week, all.