Blogging through Lent

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Yes, I will keep blogging through Lent. Just like last year. And the year before. And the year before that. And…well, you see where this is going.

And, just like last year, I think it’s worth bringing up here.

Many people in the Catholic blogosphere give up blogging or other social media for Lent. Though I’ve never done it for Lent, I have had blogging and social media fasts/breaks for shorter periods, and it’s been a fruitful experience.

I think a fast of some sort from online interactions is a healthy thing. Whether it happens at Lent or at another point during the year, it’s something to consider.

Will you give up blogging and/or social media this year for Lent?

Why blog?

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I’m baaaaaaaaack! The break I took from blogging about blogging here was a lot longer than I intended, and it’s GOOD to be back, y’all.

So today, let’s revisit the discussion of blogging.

Your publisher, your editor, and your best friend–not to mention that guy who heard you’re a writer and knows all about it–are all telling you that blogging is the thing to do.

Well, yes. And no.

It’s important to have an online presence.

Why? Because you want to have an audience who will buy your books. Your books–you–are a product that your publisher is selling.

Sorry if I just took all the fun out of it. But it’s true: publishing is a business. And for that business to succeed and pay writers, well, they have to sell books.

An online presence gives you a fan base. It might just be your mom, your best friend, and that person whose name keeps cropping up and may be a stalker, but it’s a start.

It’s important to note: your online presence doesn’t have to be on a blog. With all the other social media outlets, I’d advise you to discern long and hard if blogging is right for you. The answer may be no.

But the importance of an online presence remains.

Practice makes perfect.

When you write regularly, you get better at it. Period.

For me, blogging remains a way to keep my writing skills sharp. That said, not so long ago, my crit partner pointed out that a proposal I was putting together sounded waaaaaay too choppy.

“You’re not writing for an online audience,” she told me. “It’s okay to have longer blocks of text.”

So yeah, there’s that. But even so, over my years of blogging, I know I’ve gotten better at the craft in a number of ways. I can remember things better and flesh them out mentally. I have learned how to stash ideas in various places and ways. I map back to unexpected experiences in my own life to apply them to whatever topic’s at hand.

It’s fun.

This may not be true for you, but I like blogging. It’s its own form of writing. It’s current. It can be laid back. And funny. And out-of-the-box.

But…

Blogging may not be for you. There are many reasons not to blog. There are alternatives to blogging (such as guest posting).

Blogging can take a lot of time. It can be a drain on your creativity.

And you may just not feel qualified or called to it right now. That’s okay. Really, it is. I give you permission to say no.

Your turn:

Do you blog? Why?

Share your blog’s link and your reasons in the comments and let’s click around!

Ms. Manners Goes to Conference! Conference Etiquette for a Better Experience

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Headed for Catholic Writers Conference? Are you excited? You should be! What an opportunity to rub shoulders with industry professionals, to put faces and personalities to folks you’ve met online, to renew friendships, and to network. This is a once in a lifetime experience; make the most of it. There will never be another gathering of exactly the same people at this point in their faith and writing journeys. Truly you are in Arlington, Texas, because God has called you to be there!

Each of you has a specific reason for attending, a goal you hope to accomplish. If this is your first conference experience, the coming days are likely to be a roller coaster of euphoria juxtaposed with self doubt. Be assured that you are not the only one grappling with these feelings. I hope this knowledge translates into a greater sense of ease in a new and sometimes intimidating environment. Here are some words of advice (of wisdom, too, hopefully!) for both newbies and veterans, for authors, for agents, and for editors, geared toward making this conference the best it can be for everyone:

1)      Everyone’s goals are the same, ultimately. Editors want to find the next diamond of a manuscript to publish. Agents want to discover the next author whose career they can guide to new heights. Authors want to find a publisher and/or agent to promote their awesome work. And in this particular setting, all of these people want to serve God with their talents and gifts in the way that pleases Him the most.

When viewed through that prism, competition loses the edge of greed and rejection loses its sting. We’re all on the same side, and God’s looking out for the good of each person’s life and career. This doesn’t mean you should fail to promote your product, just that there is no need for fear.  Which brings us to the next point.

2)     Be confident. You have something no one else does: your voice, and your work. These are gifts that God has given you, gifts that you have honed with hard work and prayer. No one can duplicate your contribution. Take heart in that fact, and know that your work will find its home. Maybe through this conference; maybe not – which leads to…

3)      Don’t take rejection personally. Sometimes it just isn’t a good fit for the publisher or agent. Imagine a library with thousands of books. You have three days to find the best two. You will have to create a system to sort and discard the ones that aren’t suitable for your purpose. Do you see that many wonderful, deserving books will be overlooked? This does not reflect on the worthiness of each one, the same way it does not reflect on your particular project. And in today’s climate, many options are available. So…

4)      Be open. There are many possibilities that we may not recognize in our limited, human view. Be open to new ideas, new directions, new options. You may discover a brand new path, or even a calling! You may discover it through…

5)      Networking. This is the whole purpose of a conference. Meet people! Ask them what they write, who they want to represent, what they want to publish. Have a brief answer for these questions, too, so you can give a nutshell sense of your project when it comes up. (I write ___, and my current project is about ___.)

This is a remarkably small community, and the contacts you make in the next few days will serve you for your entire career. Do not discount the importance of these interactions. They are crucial for your success. But remember…

6)      Be nice. This should go without saying, especially in this setting, but we are human and sometimes we need to be reminded. Keep your comments positive; you never know who might overhear or repeat something you said in a frustrated or disappointed moment. Again, this is a remarkably small community even though it may not seem that way.

Also, restrict your interactions to appropriate venues. Don’t try to pitch to an agent or publisher in the restroom, or shove your manuscript under the door of the stall. I have witnessed the first and have heard of the second, so these are not as far-fetched as they seem. Be considerate of folks. If the target of your interest has a headache or gets a pained look on their face when you approach, be brief. Introduce yourself and say you’d like to send them a query if that is acceptable; believe me, they will remember and appreciate your kindness. And that goes a long way. Which leads to the last point…

7)      Be yourself. This may call for leaving your comfort zone, though. If you tend to be shy (many writers are!) push yourself to be more sociable. It’s not hard; smile and ask people around you about themselves. You’ll be glad you did. If you are an extrovert, recognize your tendency to overshadow the more timid among us and let them shine, too.

I hope each one of you has a wonderful experience at the Catholic Writers Conference! And… Oops! I forgot the most important words of advice! HAVE FUN!

 

 

 

 

 

New Evangelizers Blog Seeking Catholic Bloggers

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I’m writing today to ask you if you might be interested in writing for the New Evangelizers blog.

We’re trying to put together a team of writers/bloggers to write about the New Evangelization and build up both the content and the audience at New Evangelizers. Our goal is to have someone writing

In the event that you are interested, I’m including the guidelines below.

Please pray about it and let me know if you might be interested in it. Please feel free to share this information with anyone who you know who might be interested, to share it on your blogs and social networks, and to send anyone who’s interested my way.

That said, here’s the caveat: I’m offline next week due to family travel. (Smile, wouldja? It’s likely to be a hilarious picture.) So if you don’t hear back from me in a timely manner, know that I will do my best when I return (and maybe even from my iPad while I’m hiding in a bathroom in a rest stop somewhere, but you DID NOT hear that from me).

Many blessings and thanks!

New Evangelizers Blog Writers Guidelines:

Thank you for being willing to be part of the New Evanglizers blog writing team! We ask that you keep your writing 100% in line with the teachings of the Church. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to pay for submissions, but will be happy to work with you to promote your work and writing projects.

Items we need to get started:

1.  Your first two column submissions sent to Sarah Reinhard at [email protected] – you can send them as Word docs or within the body of an email. Please include “New Evangelizers submissions” in the subject line. If you have images, please attach those separately (not in the body of the doc).

Column/post guidelines:

  • Word count of less than 2000 words. The average blog post is around 500 words, but can be shorter (Sarah has been averaging 300 words with her weekly posts).
  • Feel free to be personable, but please only write things that somehow tie into New Evangelization and specifically with ideas of how to Know Your Faith, Live Your Faith, and Share Your Faith (which is the motto of New Evangelizers).
  • Your writings may also tie into any of the other missions of New Evangelizers (Rosary Army, Total Consecration, Promote Catholicism, That Catholic Show, The Catholics Next Door), but with an emphasis on how those things tie into New Evangelization (for example, Rosary Army and Total Consecration help people develop better spirituality (Know and Live Your Faith), etc.
  • Please note, you must have full permissions to use any images you want attached to your entries.  These can be royalty-free photos or your own originals, but you need to procure permissions for images that will be included with your blog entry.

2.  A digital author photo

3.  A brief bio paragraph – this will appear at the bottom of your columns, so please include any links, projects you would like to promote, etc.

4.  Your scheduling preference: weekly, biweekly, or monthly. When you give me your submission schedule preference, I will assign you dates on our publication calendar and notify you of your schedule. We ask that you submit your contribution the week prior to your scheduled run date or notify me that you will be unable to submit by that deadline. This helps me with planning and balancing content on the website.

5.  Contact information, including your mailing address and a telephone number.  This will remain confidential and is for internal New Evangelizers purposes only.

6. Facebook Page – We are working on getting our Facebook page active. Please go to https://www.facebook.com/NewEvangelizers and “like” the page so that you can be tagged and mentioned in posts on the Facebook page.

Submission Guidelines & Procedures:

Send your New Evangelizers submissions 1 week prior to your scheduled run date to Sarah Reinhard with “New Evangelization submission” in your subject line.

If you can’t make your scheduled slot, please notify us. This helps with planning and balancing content on the website.

Please let us know if you have any additional questions – we look forward to getting to know you and sharing your writing!

Using Photos and Images on Your Blog

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There’s something appealing about a good picture with a good blog post. I started using images as a matter of course when I noticed some of my favorite bloggers doing it.

It’s like a challenge, sometimes, finding the picture that expresses the post. Sometimes it’s a way of sending another message in the post.

Other times, it’s just a headache. Especially when you consider the copyright issues.

You need to make sure you list sources and that any images you use aren’t copyrighted. Lifting them from Google Images isn’t always kosher. (And, yes, I’ve been guilty of that in the past.)

Just as you don’t want someone just using your writing–or, to keep to the topic of blogging, your complete blog posts–without crediting you, photographers and designers don’t want people just lifting their images or artwork.

I’ve come up with a few rules in the last few months:

  1. No credit, no go. Whether I use an image that’s fair game online or one that my sister-in-law took, I try to give credit where credit’s due, usually at the bottom of the post.
  2. CYA. I cover myself and make sure I’m getting my photos from sources that are open source (meaning anyone can use them in a non-commercial way) or that I have permission. Period.

This is a serious issue, indeed. A favorite non-profit of mine was sued for money they didn’t have because, on their website, they had used a copyrighted image without permission. Lesson learned, for me AND for them!

Here are a few places I’ve found that are good for free, open domain images, suitable for blog posts and non-commercial content:

  • Creative Commons Search
  • Deviant (This an open online gallery and social site for artists. You can search it for paintings, cartoons, etc. that people have done. If you find something that you like and fits, contact the artist through his page and ask to use the image. Sometimes, they will want to charge. Others will be glad to let you use their image as long as you credit them. Be sure to thank them on their deviant art site and give them a link to your video when done.)
  • Flickr Advanced Search (use the option for Creative Commons licensed items)
  • FreeFoto
  • Gimp Savvy
  • MorgueFile
  • Stock Xchng
  • Wikimedia Commons

Here are a couple of colletions that have links to other places:

Have any to add to my list?

image source: MorgueFile

Design Matters

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Does design matter? Yes. Yes, it does.

Let’s use the example of books, because if you’re here, I’m assuming that (a) you write and/or (b) you read.

When’s the last time you picked up a book with a terrible cover? Or, even worse: when’s the last time you picked up a book that had terrible interior layout?

I think I did, a bit reluctantly, about a month ago. The book wasn’t so bad in content. But it was really, really, REALLY hard to get past my snobby opinion of the design, including the font choice (which was a little less than hard to read) and the page layout. And the editorial errors throughout? Well, yes, I consider those part of the design. It’s a package, and this package could have done a lot better at making what was a pretty good book into a far better book.

Content is king, but design matters. The same is true for your blog or website design.

There’s something to be said for different opinions of what looks good, so here’s my advice to you.

1. Do some research.

What sites look good? Make a list of why you think they look good or what elements you like. Try to find the underlying element to it: do you like the sidebars because they don’t have much in them? Do you like the way things are organized? Design doesn’t have to cost you money (though it can, and a lot of it). You can pull this off on the cheap, but you have to put some time in seeing what works and what you like.

2. Keep it UNcluttered.

This is a particular weakness of mine. There is SO! MUCH! I want to share in my sidebars especially, and keeping things uncluttered is hard.

3. Make it easy to use.

Your blog or website has to be easy to use, functional, intuitive. Period. My test is whether a certain family member, who loves me very much but is a little bit computer-challenged, can easily navigate through my site. If so, I consider it golden. If not, then it’s time to rework some things.

4. Stay true to you.

Years ago, in grad school, I read a copy of the Fast Company classic “The Brand Called You.” The idea of myself as a brand has stuck with me. Whether you like it or not, YOU are a brand. You stand for something. What is it? Or maybe it would be easier to answer if I ask it this way: What do you want it to be? Stay true to that. As a Catholic wife, mom, and writer who lives on a farm, I have a brand that includes prayer, poopy diapers, a husband, and shoes in my mudroom that have a fragrance all their own.

5. Have fun.

I tend to say this a lot in one form or another. Smile. Have fun. Enjoy yourself. Because you know what? God’s not calling you to do something that makes you miserable.

A few resources:

I didn’t want to leave you with just my advice when there’s so much good stuff available online. Here are a few things I found to share:

YOUR TURN:

What tips do have to share? Feel free to chime in with your favorite designs and ideas (because I’m all eyes!).

image source: MorgueFile

Using My Blog to Promote My Book

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Now that I have a few books under my belt, I can speak from experience about using my blog to promote my book.

At least, I think I can.

Before you read on, here are a couple of possible caveats:

  1. I have an existing audience. I’ve been blogging since May 2006. The people who read my blog and are my fans have been around for a while. They know me. Other people in the blogosphere know me. This making friends has taken time and commitment.
  2. I have a traditional publisher. I think my ideas would work for self-published works, but I can’t say for sure.
  3. I write nonfiction. Those of you who write fiction have my eyes, but I know your marketing work is far harder than mine.

My first feature-length book, Catholic Family Fun: A Guide for the Adventurous, Overwhelmed, Creative, or Clueless is fresh out on the streets.

The publisher, Pauline Books & Media, has a whole arsenal of marketing tools they use. They have actual brick-and-mortar stores, an online store, and promotional material sent to Catholic retailers and a large email distribution list.

I’m using my online presence to help build on what they are already doing. Here’s how I have been using my blog to promote my book.

Build excitement.

I’ve been sharing my book-writing journey on my blog from the beginning. When I first saw the cover art, I couldn’t help but gush to the world.

And then, when I heard that the book was at the publishing house, I asked them to send me a picture of it so I could share it on my blog. When I got my copies, I promptly took a picture of my girls with the book.

Having a book released is exciting, but it can be a lot of work. The work can be a burden that makes us forget the excitement.

People want excitement! They want to cheer for you! We all want to have fun!

So even if you feel like you’re lying, share the excitement!

Share the love.

I’m doing a book tour on a variety of different blogs. I invited people to participate, if they wanted, through a personal email. I also offered it to readers who were interested.

Though not many took me up on it, it was a chance to give some small bloggers a hook into the tour.

I’m also making sure I tell people what’s going on, when, and how. On the one hand, I feel like maybe I’m giving out too much information. On the other hand, the communications major in me wants to make sure that people who are interested have a way to find out what they want to know.

I’m also planning to liberally link to and cross-promote people who mention and promote my book.

Giveaways are another way to share the love. I am hoping that this generosity plants seeds in the buying sector. I’m promoting the giveaways through my blog and networks.

Ask for support.

This is, without a doubt, the hardest thing for me to do. Asking for support–whether it’s for prayers or for people to buy my book–does not come naturally to me.

When Welcome Baby Jesus was new, I gave people five reasons to buy it.

I’ve also asked people for their ideas…and I plan to keep doing this. What ideas work for them as it relates to the topic of my book? With Catholic Family Fun, that means asking people what they do for fun. It also means acknowledging that I’m not perfect (which has gotten easier to do with time), because I don’t have all the answers.

YOUR TURN:

How do you use your blog or online presence to promote your book(s)?

What I Love about Being Catholic Online

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Every week, I encourage you to keep going with your blogging. I share tips and advice to the best of my ability. I try to be candid and not too idealistic.

Blogging’s hard work. But, as I was reminded recently, so is life. Period.

Last week, I had a bit of a family emergency. It took over my life, and it also made me appreciate, once again, why I so treasure my online Catholic community.

I posted on various social networks, repeatedly asking for prayers. I did a blog post and stuck it at the top of my blog so that it was the first thing people saw for three days.

And my family was absolutely buoyed by the prayers streaming in from people who had no idea what exactly they were praying for.

Knowing that my brothers and sisters online, people who have never met me or my family, will so generously offer prayers and more for my intentions…well, it’s enough to make this hard work of blogging worth it.

image credit

Remember Your Priorities

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Last week, during the Catholic Writers Conference Online, I was reminded of something that I’m going to just go ahead and remind you of, too.

Because you know what? We all need to hear this.

Remember your priorities.

You are Catholic first, everything else second.

That means your big-V vocation–spouse, parent–comes before your little-v vocational pursuits or jobs–including your writing.

Blogging is something that’s easy to get into. But that doesn’t mean it’s right for you. It doesn’t mean you should blog.

When you’re not sure how you’re going to fit one more thing into your schedule, here’s my advice:

STOP. Pray. Listen.

I know, that’s so idealistic. You don’t have time to go to the bathroom unsupervised, and yet I’m challenging you to find somewhere quiet and turn up your ears? All you can hear is your own screaming. What the heck?

I was asked in two different chats, by at least four different people, how they should figure in blogging time.

“They,” after all, say that you should blog to build or grow your platform.

“They” say that blogging is a must.

But you know what? “They” are a bunch of idiots.

Do They have the same priorities you do? Are They called to the same Vocation and vocation as you? How are They even speaking to you?

Take what’s good and discern what’s not, and after you do, don’t look back when you leave it in the trash can.

Not everyone can blog, not everyone should blog, and hey! That’s OK!

We’re here to encourage each other, and I want to cheer in your corner.

Remember your priorities.

Frequent the sacraments, first and foremost, especially the Eucharist and Confession.

Spend time with Jesus BEFORE you spend time doing your work, whether it’s your primary vocation or your work pursuits.

Give it to him FIRST. Everyone else SECOND.

If you’re really stuck, take it to Adoration. Sit in the silence before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and lay your head in his lap. Let his mother stroke your temples and close your eyes.

This is where you belong. This is where you are headed. This is why you struggle through the day.

If blogging is something you are truly called to do, you will. You can.

It’s not easy to do God’s will, but it’s even harder when we’re deaf to what God’s trying to tell us.

Let’s pray for each other, shall we? It’s not an easy thing, being an artist. It’s not an easy call we’re heeding.

But easy isn’t what we’re after. Heaven is.

That rosary is one I got via Trendy Traditions.

Managing Multiple Personalities

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Usually, in this space, I give you advice and pointers, but I find myself needing some direction and insight. Hey, I thought, why not tap into that group of writer friends over at the CWG blog?

Besides, this may be a problem you find yourself facing someday, so here goes.

I love social media. Most recently, I’ve discovered Pinterest, but my first love is Twitter. (If you don’t like or love or even get Twitter, no worries. I advise staying away if that’s the case. Don’t force it. Not so different from my ongoing advice about blogging, actually.)

Since I have a strong background in marketing (a whole degree, as the case may be), the thought occurred to me that, though I had firmly established myself in the Twittersphere as @peerybingle, I should make sure I also had user names that were part of my “brand,” namely @SnoringScholar (my blog name) and @SarahReinhard (my name).

Now, some might advise that I should trash @peerybingle (which is a reference to The Cricket on the Hearth) and go with my name. I’ve seen other well-known writers do that.

We sell books by our NAME, after all. We market who we are by our NAME, right? We are selling US, as in the NAME.

But…but…but! I LIKE @peerybingle. It’s fun, and, more importantly, it’s ME.

Oh, and, I’ve noticed there are other Sarah Reinhards. It’s not a unique name, really (though I like it very much, all the same).

There’s a business side of things. But for me, so much of what I do is ministry. So much of what I do is personal. And to get through the low pay and long hours, I have to enjoy myself to some extent.

What I’m trying to say is that @peerybingle STAYS. Period. It’s the “me” I like, the “me” I choose to be, and, really, the “me” who is honestly more like the Real Life Sarah than any of the others.

I have been manually managing things with my other identities using HootSuite. I’ve come up with some “rules” for how I use each identity:

–> My @peerybingle identity gets everything. My blog posts go there, as do links to all my columns and articles in other places, as well as all my thoughts throughout the day, links I like, and conversation. I follow people back, chime in, and get all goofy, serious, and Sarah.

–> For my @SarahReinhard identity, I only include links to my blog posts and links to other writing work I’ve done.

–> For my @SnoringScholar identity, I only include links to my blog posts.

YOUR TURN: Do you have this problem? What solutions have you found? I’m all ears (and eyes, as the case may be).

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