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Grab a cup of tea or coffee (oh what the heck, get a danish too!) and sit a spell. You might want to grab your notebook and pen because you never know when you will be inspired to write down a quote, or jot down a poem of your own. Words are like that, they take you on a journey and the next thing you know you are breathing life into your own magical world of words.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Beginnings and Endings - Round 3 Comes to a Close

Life has been interesting to say the least for me this round. My daughter and grandbabies moved out the first part of July and that sent me into a bit of a tailspin. Once I worked through that I began to be more productive again; rather like a dog with a bone as I can be sometimes.


I have been working on the computer pretty much all day everyday lately. I did take a couple of days off when I was sick with a cold last week. I purchased Kristen Lamb's book, We Are Not Alone; The Writer's Guide to Social Media thanks to my friend Stacey Brewer as I mentioned in my last check in. I must say there is quite a lot of good info in it but it does need to be updated. I asked Kristen Lamb about that and she said she is currently working on an update that she is hoping will be coming out in December. I highly recommend you watch for it.

Consolidating to gain focus and conserve energy for writing.

I had already decided to combine my blogs before I started reading her book and she confirmed what I had been feeling; that it is wise not to spread yourself too thin especially the way writers seem to do. I have noticed that there are some writers that feel the need to have a separate Facebook page and blog for almost every book they have. How tedious that must be. I had four FB pages and four blogs to what I thought were separate interests. When I really looked at it they weren't. They were just all parts of me. 

I am slowly getting rid of the extra pages on Facebook and I have already pulled the other blogs I have on Blogger into this one. I still need to go through and edit them a bit to allow for them to flow with this blog. I am currently working on getting my page set up on Wordpress over at HostGator. I was going to change from them to a Green site but I was pleasantly surprised when I was doing my research to discover they are green as well. Hopefully by the time the next round starts I will have everything pulled together the way that I want it on that site.

Stirring the imagination

I am getting excited to begin OctPoWriMo: 31 Poems in 31 Days. Writing the tips for poetry with Julie Jordan Scott has been quite a treat as well as stirring up much inspiration for my poems. I am chomping at the bit to begin.  For those that don't know but know Julie, she is under going surgery today for Melanoma. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. If you feel called to, I am sure she would love sweet and healing words posted on her FB page. You can also check out her poem, Awake Before Sunrise, expressing some of what she has been feeling.

The thoughts for November's NaPoWriMo have also been floating in my head. I wasn't positive what I wanted to work on during it but lately it has become more clear. I am getting quite excited about that as well. 

I still need to complete Write to the Finish Line but I can see it being completed possibly by the end of this month; setting that intention anyway.

Enjoying my online friendships

I have made so many new friends this round, on Twitter and on Facebook. Most aren't even participating in Row80 but they are mostly writers. Some I have met through StoryDam. I have been quite a bit more active on Social Media. I think it is because with my grandbabies gone I have been lonely as well as had more time. I have even gotten out more and I am beginning to make more friends offline as well. Life didn't come to an end after all. It usually doesn't. 

Is this the end?

Not sure if I will be continuing with Row80. I really haven't felt the support of it for awhile now. I do have a couple of friends that I have made within it that I stay in contact with but for the most part I felt a bit abandoned by the group over the last couple of months. Not sure what that is about. Not sure if I wasn't supportive enough to the group or if everyone was just exceedingly busy over the summer or my content was just boring and not worth a comment. I'm not worried about it but I have to look at where I put my energies and set priorities. Please understand, I care about the group and I am very thankful for it. I don't know where I would be if I hadn't been a part of Row80. But, it is a bit disconcerting to check in with a group and then have only one person check in with me. I guess I should just be thankful at least one person checked in with me. I am also wondering if anyone else had this problem. I also try to be good about visiting and commenting on the blogs of those that do comment on mine. 

I will be spending a lot of time on OctPoWriMo and NaNoWriMo. I am also looking at the fact that September 23 is officially 100 days until the end of the year. I am determined to get at least one book published by then so I will be in crunch time for the rest of the year. 

Who knows what the future holds. 

I may return at some point but for now I must say goodbye and thank you for all the love and support I have received in the past. For those that have checked in with me in the past month, Shan Janiah Burton, L.S. Engler, Elizabeth Anne Mitchell, Michael, Feather Stone,  thank you so much, your support and encouragement means the world to me. 


Peace to you on your writing journey,
Morgan 


Please visit the other A Round of Words in 80 Days  participants and share word love in the comments.

Do you sometimes feel you are writing and no one is listening? What have you done to increase your reader participation in the past?


20 comments:

  1. I have had the same experience that you have with ROW80 -- not many people checking in or commenting. I'm not sure why there hasn't been much traffic or support within the group lately but I have felt the feelings you felt over the past couple of months as well. I wouldn't take it personally, though. I honestly don't think it has anything to do with you. I think people have the good intention to support but end up not having the time to do it adequately. I'm guilty of that for sure. Life can get crazy busy. Not an excuse, just a fact, I think.

    I apologize personally for not checking in with you and supporting you though I notice and read your entries often -- usually, in between other stuff going on around me.

    Hope to see you again in ROW 80 (don't really want you to leave - Boo!) but I'll be following you on your FB page and blog, so hopefully we can keep in touch that way.

    Good luck on the book!

    Melanie

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for sharing your feelings and that you have felt similar. I am sure that is all it was, people just being too busy this summer, but I still must think of the best use of my energies. I am also looking at doing things differently on my blog so I am just unsure whether I will continue with Row80.

      Thank you for stopping by and sharing.

      Peace,
      Morgan

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  2. I think, from what I've seen when I've managed to wrangle time to read blogs, that everyone has been slammed with a lot of busy, hectic, stressful stuff this summer. I think we've all just run out of time and emotional energy to read and comment. I feel horribly guilty about it, but that's what happened to me.

    Hopefully as the fall settles in we'll all have some calm time and space. I could use some of that to get going with my NaNoWriMo planning for sure!

    Best wishes to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It wasn't my intent to create feelings of guilt. I think mostly I was just trying to figure out, "Is it me?" or if it was other things. It seems from all of the responses that it has just been a crazy busy summer.

      Thank you Kim for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

      Peace,
      Morgan

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  3. Autumn tends to bring a desire to nest, to cuddle, to stay inside, to look out the window rather than be out amongst it. Thank you so much for being YOU! and for showing so much love for me and I know for all the other ROW80er's as well.

    Thank you for rooting for me...I will be grateful once they get "Nora" out of my face! LOL.

    Much love!

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    1. Sweet, Sweet Julie! My heart has been open to you from the beginning and I will continue to be in your corner.

      Thank you for joining me on the journey of OctPoWriMo! I very much appreciate all that you do!

      Peace dear friend,
      Morgan

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  4. Maybe it was a summer thing? This is only my third ROW80 so don't know what the trends are.
    I know I didn't check in as much with people this past cycle - just priorities I think. Or maybe the need to always say something pithy on a site, as opposed to - looking good, hang in there. I do try to check in on and comment on the Flash Fiction sites I submit too, just to encourage others and also hopefully to get them to go to my site. But - not a lot of other check ins. Maybe I'll make that a new objective for the next ROW80.
    Yes - I will sign up for the next session too. I do it mostly for the structure it adds, and the nudge to work on the list before the next check in.

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    Replies
    1. Hey Mike! Yes, I haven't visited as much as I would have liked on the Row80 bloggers as well. If I ever choose to participate again it will have to be one of my goals to do a certain (feasible) amount of visiting and commenting. Still working on a good balance for myself. Yes the structure of it is great but when you feel like no one is paying attention to whether you hold to your goals can be disappointing, at least for me. I will have to think on it some more.

      Thanks so much for stopping by, it means the world to me.

      Peace,
      Morgan

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  5. lost the first comment:( I have appreciated your support over the monthsand am so sorry you are thinking of leaving us - that you feel abandoned - there has been a drop in comments butI think a whole lot of stuff has been going on in people's lives - I confess I have been one that hasn't communicated much this row - I have had problems with health - you could give us another chance next round see if all our probs are sorted - if not, all the best with wherever you wander:)

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    1. Hi Alberta, I know how frustrating it can be to lose a comment you tried to post. I am sorry you are having trouble with your health. I just want to reach through this computer and give you a big hug! You know I had really convinced myself that no one would even care if I wasn't in the group any more and the connections that I had made, like you, I would continue to have outside the group. Thank you for helping me see that isn't the case.

      Much love and hugs to you.

      Peace,
      Morgan

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  6. Morgan, I'm glad I could lend some support--you've been there for me so much, it is truly appreciated. I didn't get anywhere near as many comments this Round as I used to, and the sponsors tend to get more, since I think folks feel they have to return the favor. Although I did cover my responsibilities as a sponsor, I didn't get around to all the blogs I wanted to visit.

    I have no clue as to how to reach an audience, or even what my niche audience really might be. I do feel often as though I'm talking to myself, which has resulted in my blogging less and less. I'm also planning to combine my blogs, which I hope will help my focus and my willingness to blog again.

    This site is gorgeous, by the way.

    All the best, and wherever you go, you know where to find me.

    Love,
    Elizabeth

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Elizabeth for your sweet words! As for reaching your audience and finding your niche, I highly suggest you read Kristen Lamb's books. It may help you. Things finally started to click in my brain about what I need to do while I have been reading it. If you would like, I can take a look at your blog later and see if I can give you any help in narrowing things down for you. Let me know.

      Peace to you,
      Morgan

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  7. I agree with the summer being a little busy. August and September have flown by and I've not managed to check in on my own blog as much this round and subsequently there has been little in the way of check in's to other blogs (and I am so so sorry for that.) I really hope to see you in Round Four. You've got so much going on and it all sounds amazing.
    If I don't see you in round four, maybe see you in NANO?x
    Laura
    x

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    1. Hi Laura, This whole year seems to be flying by not just the last two months but things seem to be moving even faster now. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. I will be doing NaNo in November so I just might see you around. :D

      Peace,
      Morgan

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    2. Having an empty house to yourself after so long must be wonderful for writing, nowhere near as many interruptions. I think this round of ROW80 was quieter for everyone in general, I guess it's just a busy time of year (I know it certainly gets hectic for those who have uni to deal with). I know I'm one of the ones who hasn't checked in as much this round, but I'm hoping that next round, once uni is over, I'll be able to be more active in the ROW80 community. It's so nice being able to talk to other writers and ramble about things only we writers understand lol I might be doing NaNo as well, so I may see you on the NaNo discussion boards :)

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    3. Yes I do get a lot more creating/writing done but I still miss my morning and evening hugs. Not sure what uni is.

      Hope to see you during the NaNoWriMo in November.

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. Hello, Elizabeth. I'm new to ROW80 this time and have been energized by all the writing talk, the commitment to goals and the accountability I've been reading about. But I too must confess that blogging twice a week was pretty intense for me -- and that's before I read and respond! Most weeks I tried for 10 (selected at random), so this is my first visit here, mostly because I just found the FB page and your post! So, first, thank you for the October poetry challenge. This is perfect timing for me. Second, I hope you stay in ROW80 for the next round. Sometimes I think writing is a conversation with ourselves; it's such a privilege to be part of a writing community. Now, enjoy the break. I hope to see some of your wonderful poems in October.

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    1. Hi Beth, I decided this last round that I was only going to check in once a week because I felt it was all I could handle. It makes it easier to visit and comment on others when I do it that way. I'm glad you found the Row80 group and they can be a great source of support, encouragement, and information. Doubly pleased that you found your way here.

      Yay! For deciding to join us for OctPoWriMo!

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Peace,
      Morgan

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  9. I am guilty as anyone for not checking in... I missed updates too this round. My mind has just been so taken up by life and everything it's thrown my way. I have not been as visited this round either, but admit to visiting a lot less so put it down to that. I hope you come back and hope you love OctPoWriMo. I couldn't commit to a poem everyday, I do wish there were one for every week though :)

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    1. Hi Shah, thanks for stopping by! Yes it seems everyone, me included, didn't visit and comment as much as usual.

      I will think about doing a weekly poetry prompt for those that can't do the full challenge. Others have said they can't commit to every day either. Yes I will create a special Wednesday post on my blog for those that can't do the full challenge.

      Peace to you,
      Morgan

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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