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The Perfection Paradox
I recently listened to a motivating, inspiring podcast where the guest shared this advice: Be OK with B- work. B MINUS. That stopped me in my tracks. I’m not a B- person. I suspect you’re not either. We strive for that A every time, right? After my initial shock wore off, I thought it through. What does B- work look like? Well, it’s a passing grade. It’s not perfect, but it’s not a failure either. And, I think more importantly to her point, it’s done. Taking that a step further, it’s done in a reasonable amount of time. That’s the thing with striving for that A every single time: Sometimes the…
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What I’m working on…
Somehow we’re well into 2018 Q2. I know I say this every year–every month, really–but the time is just slipping past. In part, it’s because things have been so busy! I say “busy,” by the way, as a positive thing. Productive. Full. Purposeful. I’m never anyone who would subscribe to the “busyness as a badge” mentality, so when I say it’s been busy, I mean full. Happy! So, here’s what’s kept me full and happy: West Paw: Oh, man. I love this brand. I’m so stoked to contribute to their blog, The Scoop. Watch Twitter where I’ll share my posts as they publish! Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food:…
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5 Steps to More Authentic Writing
How often have you, as a blogger, been told to write authentically? How frequently have you read the advice to be authentic and your audience will find you? Sure, you should absolutely write authentically. Yes, if you are authentic, the right people will find you. But… How do you do that? How do you write authentically? How do you balance all the social media dos and don’ts with being your true self? Here are my 5 steps to authenticity that apply to anyone creating content: Write like you speak. Nothing makes your work sound weirder faster than trying to write in a way that you think sounds “smart” or, really, anything…
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What I’m working on…
Balancing a new baby–our daughter is now 16 whole weeks old!!–with work has been a juggling act! Some days, it’s super easy to keep those balls in the air. Other days, they clatter to the ground. #dirtyhairdontcare Honestly, though, I’m someone who has always preferred to be busy, so I don’t really mind the juggling act. That said, I have cut down on some projects. Here are three recent articles I’ve gotten to write: BlogPaws, of course: This active voice vs. passive voice post was my favorite one to write all July! PAW5: I love writing blog posts about enriching your dogs’ lives. It’s a true passion for me! Pet Age:…
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The hardest part of any writing project? Starting.
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What I’m Working On…
It’s been a bonkers 2016 so far! (I feel like I say that about every year…) I took on the role of Senior Editor at BlogPaws at the end of 2015, and it’s been a whirlwind of activity since. I’m proud of all that’s been accomplished on the BlogPaws blog and would love for you to go check it out. I’ve also contributed two columns each month to Pet Age Magazine. It’s such a pleasure to work with leading pet industry manufacturers and media pros on a monthly basis. I learn so much with every story I write. Check out some of my recent work. It’s been a travel-heavy year,…
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Why BlogPaws?
On a sunny May morning in 2010, I pulled into a gas station somewhere between Bloomington, IN, and Columbus, OH. I pulled out my phone while the tank filled. I spotted a ton of tweets from other folks who were on their way to the first ever BlogPaws conference. I actually considered NOT tweeting that I was on my way, too, because I felt like such a fraud. Who was I to be going to a social media conference? Who was I–a blogger with less than a year under her belt–to think I could hold my own in a professional crowd? Of course, it all turned out fine, despite myriad…
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Here’s what I’ve been working on
Whew. Things have been busy, busy, busy. My goal for November was simply to keep my head above water! We relocated, and the move took up far more time than I ever imagined. And we’ve moved a lot. This one was an extra-big-beast for some reason. Thankfully, though, we’re settled in and (mostly) unpacked. I’m grateful it was all completed before the bustle of the holiday season! In the meantime, I’ve been working away. I’m finishing up the semester teaching writing skills to an eager bunch of adults who are all working like crazy to get to the final paper. I’ve also been writing for one of my favorite sites,…
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BlogPaws 2015 and eBook News!
I’ve attended all but one of the annual BlogPaws conferences (darn chemo ruined my perfect record), and this year’s was a remarkable experience. They’re all wonderful, of course, but this was the first year I got to speak. That’s me. Speaking. I need a haircut. Anyway, it was an absolute pleasure to chat about authenticity in blogging. I truly believe that the key to long-term success is being completely, wholly true to YOU with your blog. In a cluttered online environment, discerning readers can pick out who’s being honest and forthright versus those bloggers who are just shilling. That isn’t to say you can’t earn money on your blog; you…
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How to Hone Your Writing Voice in 3 Simple Steps
The term “writing voice” is bandied about but rarely defined. Your voice, though, will make you stand out from the crowd of other writers and bloggers. So, how are you supposed to hone your writing voice if you’re not sure what–or where–it is? For starters, I like to think of my writing voice as the sound of my work. If you were having a conversation about your article/book/post, think about what you would say and how you would say it. You want to capture the sound of that discussion in your written work. I admit: It’s often easier said than done, especially while you’re still refining your craft. Why? We all want…