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Now I Need Advice!

Written by Rose M. Garland on 01.23.10

I have a lot of hopes and dreams for this website.  I’m hoping to use it to become a professional writer, whether that is as a blogger or a journalist.  Yes, I’ve written a lot, but it’s all been for free. I don’t think you can call yourself a professional writer until you get paid once.  When you look at all my link sections, even though I’ve been published a lot – and in one case, even have an article that has circulated nationally for the past 10 years – I haven’t gotten paid for any of it.

It’s not the end all be all if I don’t get paid for writing – I enjoy writing, and I especially enjoy writing things that I think may help someone else feel better about themselves, or give them a smile, or makes them feel understood.  My imaginary audience is people who feel emotional distress, are hurting because of relationships, or life events, or are having difficulties with mental illness, or feeling misunderstood or all alone.  I write because I feel empathy for those who are suffering, and this is the best way that I can see that I can give back to my community.

I’m reading things about website optimization, SEO, professional blogging advice, etc, all the time, but the one thing I haven’t figured out how to do is to get readers.   Maybe my content isn’t that interesting?  I don’t know, but I’d love to hear some advice.

Here are some questions I have for my readers:

Do you have any thoughts on the new website?  Things you like, don’t like, would like to see?

Is everything working ok on it?  It looks good on my side, but different computers will show different things!

Does it look professional enough, while still being a reflection of me?

What do you think of the things I write about?  Should I take me out more, or add me in more?  Should I add more humor, or keep it kinda serious?  What do you think people would be interested in reading?

Does anyone care about the things I write about?

How is my writing?  Do I need to concentrate more on grammar or sentence structure?  Or is it too formal?

Do I need to add more pictures?

Those who know me, know that I am a good listener.  Please consider letting me know your thoughts.  If you don’t feel comfortable posting them here, please go to my Contact page and send me an e-mail.

You guys are so freakin’ awesome!

All best,

Rose

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(Any advice is purely the personal opinion of the author and should be summarily ignored.)
  • Keith (QP)

    Rose,

    I love the new site! It is definately an upgrade. Yes, I do think you should have more pictures. You have an excellent eye, so that sholdn't be a problem. I also like your mix of seriousness and humor on this site. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! ;) If anything maybe a little more humor.

    Your grammar and and sentence structure is better than 95% of the population, so no worries there. I personally love your style. You allow "you" to shine through! I wouldn't change a lot other than some more pictures. Gaining more readers is the real tough one here.

    The more ways you can link to FB the better I think. Get as many smart "tags" as you can on here. Search engines are how the internet is navigated. I think the guest writers is a great idea (and not just because I am one)! They will try to bring their friends over just like I did.

    Keep trying, I think you're doing a great job!

    Keith

  • Keith (QP)

    P.S.–Everything works fine on my computer when I am here!

  • http://www.risingupward.com rosegarland1

    Thanks Keith! Your insights are AWESOME! I worry about spamming people on Facebook. What do you think – is that something I should worry about? I definitely get more readers when I post there, but I try not to post too much.

    Also, I love the guest authors idea, but had to stop because it was getting out of hand. I do plan to include you back however. :) You're just such a terrific writer!

    I haven't figured out how to add more pictures, but I definitely will! What do you think of the Cheer page? Good idea, or cheesy?

  • Keith (QP)

    Yeah, I totally understand what you mean about it getting out of hand. It is YOUR blog. I think you are very kind for doing it at all. Most people don't. I like the Cheer page. I don't think its cheezy at all. Maybe you can find a way for people to add there own things to that page. Or maybe just a plain "Add a picture" page. Just thinking outloud. Keep it up!

  • http://www.risingupward.com rosegarland1

    One person decided they were going to write daily blogs for me, and instead of me…. they called it 'our' blog site. I think they missed the point of what a guest author is… and that I actually love writing my blog. :p

    So, I temporarily put the kibosh on it, but will invite authors, more discriminately, later on.

    I LOVE the idea of people adding things to the Cheer page – I just don't have enough coding experience to know how to let them – LOL! I'm going to try to figure it out. Keith, your advice rocks! Thank you SO much!

  • Helpful Elf

    I think the main point to consider, Rose, is that it's your blog: your words, your wisdom, your experience, along with your vision. Everything you put here is by defintion coming from you. I think that by giving your blog the title: 'Rising Upwards', you are already setting yourself a specific direction – my own take on this is 'uplifting' and moving towards a 'higher self' – so as a reader that's what I would be expecting to read about. Having said that, it's your own defintion that counts – so to prevent people misinterpreting, you might want to include a mission statement on the front page, near the top, setting out what you intend to achieve/highlight throughout your blog: A mini-guide to your purpose in writing, if you will.

    I love the Cheer page! That's such a great idea. I freely admit I spent time completing the jigsaw puzzle. LOL

    As Keith said, more pictures would be good. You could use this as a platform for your own artwork/illustrations if you have the time and inclination.

    Regarding being paid for your work, include a paypal link, in case people feel like donating. Also, you could consider an online shop, to sell books that you review/ recommend, prints of your artwork (if you decide to go that route), or even perhaps an anthology of your best blogs (as an e-book or hard copy publication).

    Regarding utilising Facebook, you could set up a group for your blog. I'll join, and invite people who I think will like it. I'm sure Keith and your other followers would do the same, and maybe you could consider asking on the forum for people's support (maybe run it by the mods first).

    I understand that you hate biographies, but you could also consider writing a book length version of your life story, because you're an inspiring person, Rose, and you could help more people if your story were to be more widely published. Think big. Think NY Times Bestseller list. That could be the foundation of a career in self-help/public speaking/writing, which is, as I understand it, what you really want, and I say go for it. :)

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/rosegarland1 rosegarland1

    Thanks Richelle! That means a lot to me. :) I think that's great advice! I have an odd question – does it seem as if it can still turn into an advice column rather than just another blog? I can see it in my head, but I don't know if it's coming out on paper (so to speak) you know? Thanks again – you made me feel great. :)

  • http://www.risingupward.com rosegarland1

    Wow Helpful Elf, you're not only cool, but you're so smart and insightful too! Wow! Thanks for all the great advice!

    A mission statement, hmmm. I will have to think deeply about that! I'm glad you liked the cheer page, I thought of it because of you. :) I will have to research to add more fun things in it! I've only found a few things so far, and I will have to throw them in randomly so no one knows when new things will be added. ;)

    I think that could very well be my goal, like Oprah, but Rose – and without tv – ick! :p I love all of these ideas and will try them to the best of my ability. Wow, thanks so much for all of this! You are so thoughtful!

  • Richelle

    I really like your blog. I check it every time I am online. I’m afraid I don’t have much to offer in terms of practical marketing ideas.

    I think your blog would benefit from more of you in the recipe. I enjoy the most those blogs where I sense you’ve written from your heart. So my only suggestion would be to write about what matters deeply to you. In my experience that is when writing is the most powerful and touches people the most deeply.

  • http://www.risingupward.com rosegarland1

    Hi Richelle, thank you! I had been thinking that I should write less about myself because I think that I'm not all that interesting – LOL. I'm glad you said this – it came at just the right time. :) You're pretty great, thank you!

  • http://livelife365.com mike

    Best of luck with your goals and dreams and this blog. Writing is a passion that we embrace no matter the odds…it is a part of us. To receive recompense from that is gravy.

    peace,
    mike
    livelife365

  • http://www.risingupward.com rosegarland1

    Thanks for the comment, Mike! Pretty cool website yourself. I've been there a few times, and think you're pretty great, and that picture is hilarious. Thanks for the encouragement! Peace back. :) ~ Rose

  • http://www.risingupward.com Rose

    ELFey, I made my fan page like you suggested. :D

  • Helpful Elf

    I saw that!! Great job, Rose! :D