Support Your Network and a Stellar Indie Film

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I’ve talked a lot in this blog about how important it is to have the support of your writing community and how important it is to support them. My personal writing network has cheered me on and supported me in all of the endeavors I have started in the past year and my ideas for the future.

Now it’s my turn to give back.

You all met her as Jamie Lee Scott back in December of last year when she was featured in my Seven Questions segment. Since then Jamie Livingston-Dierks has published another book in the Gotcha Detective Series, Textual Relations, and has written a short film.

No One Knows was written in a single sitting as the result of a single thought: “What could be the worst thing that could happen to you if you looked in the wrong window?” This led to another thought: “What would you do to keep your deep, dark secret?”

This led to the development of a screenplay:

A story about family, public perceptions, and secrets. What would you do to keep your secret? 

The Smiths could be any family. They could be your neighbors. When twelve-year old Jason looks in his neighbor’s window at , he learns he’s not the only kid living in an abusive environment. What he learns will change his life.

Now with a producer, director and cast in hand, No One Knows in the funding stages. If you love to support your fellow writers donate. If you love indie films donate. If you have a deep, dark secret donate. Every dollar will help make this awesome film possible. And if you can’t donate, spread the word about the film via Twitter and/or Facebook. To donate, head over to the Indiegogo page.

Thanks in advance to all of you who support this film and one of my biggest supporters.

Writing About Yourself is Hard

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Writing about yourself stinks. And I don’t mean writing an autobiography. I’m talking about cover letters.

There’s a point in all of our lives, whether you are a writer or not, where you get bored with what you are doing and decide to throw yourself back out into the water with the sharks.

I’m at that point right now. I am not unhappy with all of the opportunities that have been afforded to me over the last year. I think they just pointed me down the right road after I was stuck at the fork. I want more of what I’m doing and I want it to be challenging.

It has been a while since I looked for a new position in the traditional manner. I’ve been lucky enough to have been referred for much of my work. Now I remember why I love referrals. You don’t need a cover letter.

I hate cover letters. I spend entirely too much time crafting these documents. Why is it so hard to talk about yourself? I think it’s the pressure that comes with this brag letter.

  1. Grammar and Spelling: In my full-time position, I see terrible misspellings, uses of the wrong word and just plain bad sentence structure. I think this has made me overly obsessed with perfection on cover letters.
  2. First Impressions: This cover letter is supposed to be a first impression snapshot of who you are as a person and what you and your skills can bring to an organization. Obviously you want to look good on paper. But if you look too good are you disqualifying yourself? If you don’t look good enough will they just delete your email?
  3. Length: The jury is still out on how long cover letters should be and where you should be attaching them electronically. The options vary based upon the method in which you are applying for a job. I find that I just have to use my best judgment, take a stab at it and hope for the best.
  4. Accomplishments: Sure you think something is a great accomplishment to brag about, but really, is it an accomplishment to the hiring executive?

I think we should do away with cover letters all together. Just look at my resume and bring me in to talk to you face-to-face. I’m much better talking about myself when I’m in front of someone else who is asking me what they really care about, not about what I think they care about.

Do you hate writing cover letters? What challenges have they brought you and have you found ways to overcome them?

Robin Roberts: An Inspiration to All Women

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I love Robin Roberts. I’ve been watching her on Good Morning America for as long as I can remember. I’m an ABC girl and I’m not ashamed to say so.

When I was in school and thought about becoming a journalist, I started to really pay attention to the female journalists that I loved. Robin Roberts was one of my top three. I began to, and still do, admire her because she is real;  always at ease. I wanted to be able to tell the story of another person with such finesse. I wanted to be good at what I did despite whatever was going on in my personal life.  I still aspire to have the ease and love of the job that Robin shows us each day.

I start my day with Robin and the GMA team. I followed along with everyone else when she announced, underwent treatment for and beat breast cancer. I cheered to myself the day that she came back to the GMA set because I missed having her in my life each morning. Robin is part of my routine.

As I watched the video of her announcement this morning, I thought back to when I was in college and when I decided I wanted to encompass the traits of my favorite journalists. But today, it’s not only the job-related traits that I admire in Robin. I admire her strength, courage, fight and openness to share with the world her struggles and her hope.

All women can take lessons from Robin Roberts. Find happiness in who you are; strength when times are tough; peace in knowing you are not alone; and always remember to smile.

Robin, I wish you the best as you fight this new challenge in your life. I just know you can beat it!

Are You a Dragon?

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I came across this USA Today article about the Year of the Dragon and business when researching a blog for one of my clients. As I read its focus on small business, I thought about how it related to my writing career.

As many of you know, I’ve been thinking about taking the risk and moving out into freelance land. The last time I talked about this, I was very uncertain and didn’t think I could do it. Now, it is starting to feel more and more right in my gut. I have two fantastic freelance positions with steady work that I enjoy and take pride in.

So, I’ve decided I’m going to be a dragon. This is the year that I’m going to jump off the side of the building (with a safety net of course). Besides the obvious wealth that comes from the Dragon, ambition, virtue and change seem to be the most appealing virtues of the Chinese New Year for me.

I’ve been harnessing the courage to follow my dreams. I’ve been looking for more opportunities to give back to the community. And change, I’m planning a lot of it this year.

Are you are Dragon?  Gung hay fat choy!

Journaling: Just Thoughts on Paper?

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The Merriam-Webster Dictionary has many definitions for the word journal. My favorite is:  “a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use.”

I feel that this definition is inaccurate. How many journals have we seen come to life in publication? Anne Frank’s diary may be the most famous.  What others can you think of?

I’ve been thinking about this lately as Jen and myself have been entrusted with the journal of a good friend of ours. We’ve read it and obtained a new understanding of the writer, who may I say is an excellent writer.

It may even serve as notes for me for a special project that I may be undertaking in the near future. I’m sure this task will be something I share with you in the near future.

I’m not quiet sure why we have been entrusted to hold onto something so dear and personal, but it is really an honor to be in possession of it.

Do you journal? If you do, do you do it the old-fashioned pen and paper way or digitally? Would you share you inner thoughts and feelings with others? Do you now? Let me know!

The Real Meaning of the Bookstore?

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I’ve blogged frequently about how I love books and cherish the few remaining brick-and-mortar bookstores that are still open. I found this quote in my Twitter feed and I wanted to share it with you.

A bookstore is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking.

Do you agree?

Toasting to an Already Busy 2012

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Hello everyone! Happy 2012! I hope that your new year if off to the same busy start that mine is!

As I’ve gotten into the groove of balancing all of my freelance work along with my full-time job, my hope is that I will be able to post more content on this blog again! Look for more frequent posts.

I’m also looking for guest bloggers who want to share their love of writing with the world and for suggestions for my seven questions segment.  I look forward to continuing to share my writing experiences with you this year and I hope that you will continue to share your with me as well.

HAPPY WRITING!

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