Do You Ever Blog In Advance?

Sometime ago I mentioned that I was going to start developing web content for a web site of a new TV show, launching in September.

Well, all has been green-lighted, contracts signed and dusted, and it’s time for Ms D to get to work:-).

However, I’m already busy with my current projects and have to shift things around in my schedule to accommodate the new baby.

So, I’ve decided to blog in advance, and develop enough content to keep current sites ticking over for at least two weeks while I set up the main pages of the new site.

So how am I going to do this?

1. Develop and use evergreen content – Most of the work I do is informational, rather than news. So it’s easy enough to develop articles, short posts and upload images and videos that can go live at any time, without looking dated or making clients look like they are out of sync with current affairs.

2. Keep pace with current affairs – I am still going to regularly check my Google alerts for news and developments that may be relevant for client sites and use the info as and when is needed.

3. Continue the conversation – I am also going to keep responding to comments readers make. That also adds a vibrant “Now” flavour to the site even though I wouldn’t be actively blogging on the site.

Why you should consider blogging in advance?

Even if you blog for your pleasure, and your audience is still small, you should consider blogging in advance. Here are some benefits:

1. Avoid blogger's burn-out – Many of people started blogging because it’s fun. Others blog to market and promote their services and products. Whatever the reason may be, our human bodies need a break away from the constant content development and promotion. We need time set aside to relax and recharge our batteries, by taking a day or weekend or even a couple of days off.

2. Take time off – If you’re going on holiday with your family, you could consider blogging in advance so your readers still have content to read while you’re gone. It’s definitely going to you relax more easily if you don’t have to worry about your blog and readers.

3. Consistently provide your readers with content – No matter how small your readership base may be, these people need consistency from you. They want to be able to click on your site as they normally do, and find fresh content, regardless of whether you are on holiday or not.

4. Family emergencies and illness –Yes, your readers are human beings too and they understand illness and family emergencies. But personally, I hate having to explain myself. Even when people say they do understand, I still feel at a disadvantage. Having a bunch of posts in reserve can allow you to deal with your health or family situation in peace, with one less worry on your mind.

So, have you considered blogging in advance? How would blogging in advance benefit you?

Awkward Moments

I mentioned previously that I would blog about some of the awkward questions that Baby asked when we had the Big Sex Talk.

Anyway, check out the post on Female2Female, where I ask about the appropriate age to start talking to your child about sex. And what are the most important lessons that you feel that your sons and daughters need to learn about their sexuality?

Read the full post and join the discussion.

What story lengths are easiest for you to write?

I struggled most of the afternoon to write a 300-word article. It’s a PR piece that had 6 sources, and I wanted to get everyone to make one major point and still keep it short, as per editorial guidelines.

Writing the initial draft (around 800 words) was easy. It was the trimming down to 300 words I had difficulty with.

Around 460 words, it seemed that I’d trimmed the fat, and was now down to cutting the bone, which made for a very frustrating time.

Eventually I got to 370 words, so I sent the story to a copy-editor and asked for a fresh eye to read and cut.

So, what story lengths are easiest for you to write? Are you more comfortable writing news pieces or feature articles? Do you prefer to write a short story rather than a novel? And what processes to you use to get to the required length?

Developing Future Leaders

The launch of the CoachLab went very well last evening.

The speakers kept it short and sweet: 6 speakers from the two universities, city of Johannesburg, the Innovation Hub and sponsor companies + 5 students involved in the programme all spoke in about an hour.

Got some great story ideas, met a radio journalist who is very interested in the story, and had a chance to chat with someone who could become a friend. So it was a good day's work.

To learn more about the CoachLab@JCSE, read this article.

And a happy birthday to my younger brother, Boitshoko Senne. O gole o lekane le tlou!

Teaching Your Child About Sex

Last night Baby and I had the big sex talk. An educational theatre group came to their school to help them learn more about sexuality - the way their bodies are changing, sex etc.

We've had similar discussions, so a lot of the info was not new to her. But she did have more questions she wanted to ask (some of which were so awkward they rate a blog post on their own).

Thank God for the work I do for the OneLove campaign, because I had a lot of resource materials aimed at young people which I could lend her.

The one she liked the most was Choose Life. I guess she's going to be reading about sex for weeks on end!

My question for you is: what was the most awkward question that your child/niece/nephew asked when you had the big sex talk? Did you answer the question? Why/not?

Nurturing tomorrow's leaders

Sent out the media statement about the ICT leadership programme early this morning. A number of publications picked it up, which is great.

CoachLab ups innovative thinking
Universities partner for ICT leadership programme

Launch event is this evening, and two pubs have asked for stories: a 300-word piece and pic, and a longish piece looking at the issue from an HR perspective.

Contact me if you want to write/blog about this and need more information.

Do You Chat About Your Writing With The People In Your Life?

"So what are you doing today?" Baby asked me as she was getting ready for school this morning.
For some reason, Baby likes asking me questions like that. Like, what did you do today? What did you write about? Who did you interview? Who did you have meetings with and what did they want?
And most of the time, I feel like an eight-year old again, with my mother asking what happened at school, and me giving her my typical answer:
"Nuffing!"
My mother was the principal at the primary school I attended, and I learnt early on that I couldn't talk about what I did with the other kids ( especially if we shouldn't have), or if I was doing not doing well on a subject (felt like I was tattling on the teachers).
And I know I can't give Baby the same answer, because I want her to give me as much detail as possible about her day, and conversation has to be two-way.
Also, I work from home, and telling Baby about what I do gives her a concept of my work ( in the absence of my going to an office like some of her friends' parents do) and helps her understand why I have to work long hours when I have a deadline.
Still, sometimes she gives me an incredulous look when I reply with, "nothing much. I spent most of the day writing."
Of course she knows I spent most of the day writing. Writing what, exactly? That's what she wants to know. And nope, the "it was mostly grown-up stuff which I doubt you'd be interested in" doesn't work either.
Anyway, my problem chatting to non-writers in my family about what I do is that:
a) I think they'd find it details of the writing process very boring. I sit in front of my computer all day telling stories, whether it's articles, blog posts or even fiction. There are days when I don't even see anyone else besides the helper and my dogs. And I love the whole writing process. But how interesting can that be for someone else?
b) I think most people just want their information technology tools to work. I write about IT sometimes, and unless the people I talk to are also in the business, they don't really want to know how IT works. Which takes us back to the point I made about boring stuff.
c) Write more, talk less - I feel more comfortable writing about something, rather than telling people that I'm going to write about it. Then the people in my life can see the results.

Anyhoo, the question I wanted to ask was, do you chat about your work with the people in your life? Do you tell them what project/story you're working on? And what are the advantages and disadvantages of talking about your writing with people in your life?

The Power To Make A Difference

The birthday wishes started coming in early this morning, through emails and Facebook. And if you thought you knew when my birthday is, nope, you didn’t get the dates mixed up. The event is tomorrow, but a lot of people feared that they might forget /not get the chance to send their messages/gifts over the weekend. So they did it today. Which was great, because it feels as if I’m celebrating my birthday twice.

Thank you all for your warm regards and well wishes. Much appreciated.

Nurturing leaders of tomorrow

Started the work day with an early morning meeting at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria, where a group of post-graduate students were presenting a proposal for a case management system for real life use at the Department of Home Affairs.

The system itself sounded promising, and the presentation was good (and very funny). This was part of my research to profile The CoachLab, as the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering is launching a similar initiative on Tuesday.

The thing I want to highlight about CoachLab@JCSE is that focus is not on the software programme that the students develop as part of their project; it’s on helping students bridge the gap between student life and the world of work, acquire business skills and become strong leaders.

Competition to enter the programme is fierce, and the companies that sponsor the programme invest time and effort into their charges.

Meet the students of CoachLab@JCSE 2009

Email me if you do ICT, education and social impact related writing and would like to know more about the programme or want to attend the launch event. My email address is on the profile page of this blog.

BTW, this is the one time I will not whine about having to go to Pretoria. Traffic to and fro was light, and Pretoria was considerably warmer than the iceberg we call Joburg. Felt like I was being defrosted while in that city, so it was all good.

A ringtone for your mobile

My normal writing day began around 11am, and included the usual: writing, updating sites etc.
If you liked the OneLove DVD I posted yesterday, you might want to download the song. It’s now posted on the web site.

The power to make a difference

I also wrote and posted on NY Mafia. The post is entitled:"The Power to make a difference," and looks at what we, as bloggers, can use our skill and resources to contribute to society's development.

Thank you, Muhammad Yaqoob, for inviting me.

OneLove on Morning Live

I’m going to start today’s post with a short message for the person who emailed me asking for some info about what to pack when visiting South Africa: unfortunately, your server is rejecting my email, so my reply to you is not getting through. I even asked a friend of mine to forward my reply, but that also bounced.

So please email me back and give me an alternative email.

Had an early start this morning. Found out last night that the OneLove signature tune and music video were being showcased on Morning Live, so I had to convert the video into an MP4 file, develop a post around it and make sure that users can send the music video to their cellphone.

I haven’t used Handbrake much, so ripping the DVD was stressful part. That, and trying to get Baby ready for school with half my mind on work.

Zuluboy, Zonke and Bucie performed the song just before 8am, and they were fabulous.

Watch the music video





South Africans can also send the music video to their cellphones. To do that, visit OneLove Regional Campaign’s album on Zoopy.com.

After Baby left, I washed/dressed, grabbed an orange for breakfast then walked to a client’s house for a monthly meeting. It was the first time I walked to her house, and I thought the morning breeze would clear out some cobwebs.

Ha! By the time I got there, a steam engine would have sounded much lower than my breathing. It was an uphill walk, but I also think I’m less fit than I’d like. Come Spring, I’m really going to have to stick an exercise regimen of sorts.

I was a tad early, so I had time to finish an article for another client and send it through. The meeting went extremely well, so I’m happy. Got home by 10am, updated sites and got on with the rest of the work day.

By the way, check my guest posts on Female2Female if you have 5 minutes to spare.

How to use a female condom
Are we dismissing good men based on wrapping

Guest Post on Women At Work

I have a guest post on Women At Work, where I outline one of my days. It's not a typical day; just one of those days when I do a lot of writing and online promotion.

Read the post.

Disclaimer: the post is a tad long:-)

Work, Work, Work!

Got confirmation that I'm to develop another blog for a current client. The TV show premiers in September, so I have about a month to develop basic features and content for the site.

And ja, as is becoming habitual with me, the work is about social development /empowering people.
I'm soo excited!

Watch this space for details as and when I'm allowed to share.

Interview With Janet Grace Riehl, author of "Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music"

I first met American poet and blogger, Janet Grace Riehl, when we took part in the Lieurance King Article Challenge back in 2007.

We found out that we had a common interest in storytelling. And Janet had lived in Botswana and Ghana for many years and had fallen in love with the African continent, which gave us lots to talk about and debate.

And thus, our friendship grew, with the two of us guest-blogging on each other's sites, culminating in Janet's visit to South Africa in 2008 (and a stay with my family in Phokeng) while she was an enroute to Botswana.

Today I'm hosting Janet again, this time virtually, on her summer tour to promote “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” and audio book “Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music," together referred to as the The Sightlines Collection.

This is the 8th week of the Sightlines Internet tour. You can view the full Sightlines Internet tour diary on Janet's blog, Riehl Life.

WIN!

Win a free copy of “Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music.” View the featured video on Riehl Life and and leave a comment at the end of the post.

NOW ON TO OUR INTERVIEW

Damaria: Who is the Sightlines Collection of book and audio book aimed for, and what do you want them to take away from the collection?

Janet: I’m such a fool when it comes to commercial success that I never think much about audience or desired impact. It’s that funny?

In retrospect, now that both book and audio book are released, I can say that these are the characteristics of the audience drawn to the poetry (and now the music). The fans of these projects are people who love family—especially family history—as well as the sense of generational legacy going forward.

In some cases they are readers who have experienced deep loss and are buoyed by the message of spiritual reconciliation that they see as the message in Sightlines. They enjoy the straight forward approach of the story poem style I used and the controlled emotion. I could go on, but these are some common things I’ve heard from readers.

Damaria: Your sister Julia is a great inspiration to you as a poet and as a person. I love the way your poems draw a vivid picture of her, so that I am left with a wish that I had met her, and gotten to know her. Tell us more about Julia and why she remains a shining light in your life?

Janet: Julia was six years older than me. I was the younger sister, or “the baby.” That meant that Julia was always ahead of me, bigger than me, and stronger than me—by definition of our birth order. She was a force right from toddlerhood…and, frightfully brilliant. I was smart enough, but my gifts were of a different kind. I was well into adulthood before I appreciated that.

She was funny when she had a moment to be, incredibly focused in her work which amounted to an experimental physics and social justice empire around the world. In fact, she spent time training physics teachers in two locations outside of squatter settlements in South Africa.

She was tall and to the bone…stripped down in every way including what she wore and what she ate. Her metabolism ran fast. She existed on little sleep. Family and friends were important to her despite her heavy work load. She sounds like a paragon, but was all too human in her own particular ways.

Damaria: I love your father’s music, and the energy he puts into it. I also find it marvelous that at 93 he is around to pass his knowledge, wisdom, and sense of fun to the younger generation. I wish my grandfather had also had that opportunity. Is this a typical response from people who listen to your collection?

Janet: Yes, Daddy is an absolute doll as revealed on this collection. That sense of being endearing along with his complete authority seems uniquely his...but, maybe not. The family love that he’s so present here. We can see into the time that he’ll be gone and we’ll have this record of his voice and music.

You know, Damaria, on both my trips to Africa last year I traveled with the rough cuts of the audio book. When I was a bit lonely or needed company falling asleep, I listened to certain tracks where he speaks, sings, or plays. I found these comforting, like a bedtime story and rarely had to call home.

I met many of your family members when we traveled to Phokeng, a kingdom of villages where your family has lived for generations. I can see how there is that sense of knowledge, wisdom, and fun being passed down and shared in your family. It’s lovely, isn’t it?

Damaria: What is the biggest challenge you face when you work with your parent on a project?

Janet: With the poetry book it was pretty much my deal. But, I did consult Pop on points of family history. He has a bear trap mind for dates, details, and facts. His is the more literal approach of the historian. There were times I declared my right as author to use my poetic license.

With the audio book, the division of ownership was clear. I owned the poems. He owned the music. Meaning that those were the areas in which we each had absolute say-so.

In collaborating with anyone, that’s the essential fulcrum: What’s the decision-making protocol? Otherwise, people get hurt, and that’s no good. Pop is so pleased with both the book and the audio book. His pleasure is a big pay-off for me.

Damaria: You worked for five years in Africa (Botswana and Ghana), and these countries remain countries of your heart, even if they are not of your origin. How did working in these countries impact on you as a poet, as a human being and later, in your collection?

Janet: Oh, gosh. I could write a book! In fact, I am. My current project is writing a memoir Finding My African Heart: A Village of Stories. My life from 1972 when I first came to Botswana up until right now is distinctly shaped by my time there, the people I knew, and the work I did.

What was it that plunged into my heart and still holds me? Africa is, indeed, the Great Mother, the place where life was born and the place where my life was most vivid. My father feels it was my destiny to go there, but not to stay there. Strangely, I felt a sense of belonging and freedom to be myself in Africa more than any time afterwards. Perhaps I was just young and it’s my youth I cling to? Could be.

But, I feel there’s something inherent that I resonated to. There was a sense of graciousness and humanity in the places I was that is rarely shown in the modern media. I’m grateful to Alexander McCall-Smith for showing that side of Botswana. Though, I hope that now he’s introduced them, readers will go deeper.

My country background with its emphasis on matter-of-factness, basic work, and reliance on family was key in being able to slip to some small degree into the cultures where I lived and worked.

Damaria: As you know, I am very interested in capturing stories and legends from Phokeng, so that my daughter and other relations can enjoy them and learn from them. What advice would you give to storytellers like me?

Janet: In your two wonderful books for young adults—The Doll that Grew (Macmillan SA,1993) and Boitshoko (Heinemann, SA, 1996)—you reveal yourself to be an admirable story teller. Our ongoing conversation throughout the several days we spent together was like sitting around a camp fire telling stories. I loved it!

Damaria, I still recall our walk up in the old burial grounds outside Phokeng. These hills form a large part of your legend. We both felt it as a place of forgotten bones and stories that needed to be remember. We spoke of your mission for your blog Story Pot where you cook the complexities of modern African life with traditional spice.

These memories about you and your work show the primary elements needed for storytellers everywhere:

1) Have passion for your family history;
2) Have the drive and the craft to take these stories into a form that readers of whatever scope access and relate to.
3) Immerse yourself in your topic until you see with new eyes what you’ve known all your life.

Keep Jozi Cosy

My Digital Life is hosting a blogging fundraiser called “Keeping Jozi Cozy” to support a community initiative to raise funds and collect blankets for the street children of Johannesburg.

The event takes place from 25 July at 15h00 to 26 July at 00h00, at the Tri-Anglez Pub and Grill at the Honeydew Shopping Centre.

I wish I could take part in the blogathon, but the 25th is my birthday and I have prior plans. If you live in Johannesburg and have a free evening, please join them?

Details are on Facebook here.

Ask Me Questions: Tracking Readers & Encouraging Comments

Last week I suggested that readers Ask Me Questions. BeckyJoie at Leaders in Learning wanted to know:

1. How do you, as a blogger track readership and elicit comments from your readers?
2. Do you have a mission statement for your writing? I have goals and a vision for mine but am curious about others. I'm thinking about blogging on this and wondered about your views on the idea since you come across as very focussed.

1a) Tracking Readership:

On client sites, I use statcounter tool to monitor monthly, weekly, daily traffic, and my top 10 referral sites, top 10 entry pages, top 10 downloads, top phrases used to find the site from each of the major search engines.

The tool tells me who visits the sites, why they came and what they want to talk about (among the topics already covered).

1b)How I elicit comments:

• Asking questions on topics people want to talk about. I make the question as interesting/controversial as possible. Sometimes it’s a hit and miss situation, but I find that people are more inclined to comment when we talk about something that affects them directly, or if they find info they can use in your post.
• Asking people to comment in the body of the post. I usually prompt them by asking them a specific question related to the topic, though they can also add their own angle to the discussion.
• Including bloggers you know in your conversation. For example, mention other bloggers in your post if an idea for a post came from them, or if they gave an interesting comment to your post.
• Publishing links to selected posts on Facebook, Twitter, other social networks, and forums and discussion groups if it’s relevant for them.
• Email certain people directly because they have expressed interest before in the topic. Rule No.1, 2, 3.. 350 - Do not spam people. Send emails to people who you know welcome your emails and where you trully provide a service. A friend of a friend doesn't get included in my list, no matter how close the friend is.
• Search out blogs that deal with a similar topic and try to make new friends.
• Send links to certain stories to my clients, and ask them to forward the links to their own contact base. This introduces people I would normally not have connected with.
• Hold a blog party. Last Friday I held my first blog party, where I gave out a theme and ask bloggers I know and those who visit this site to write a post about the topic. The posts elicited discussions in other people’s blogs. I then highlighted the posts on the client blog. The helped me to expand the conversation on my theme beyond the blog and audience, to other people’s audience. Obviously, the ultimate aim is that the communities of bloggers who participated in the party would get curious about the origin of the party, visit my client site, comment there and also discover new bloggers who took part in my party. That helps to expand the conversation.
• Respond to people’s comments. Answer their questions. Find the answer for them if you don’t know it. Be a resource.

2. My mission statement

Gosh BeckyJoie, I’m glad to hear I come across as focussed. But my creative process is less structured.

At the beginning of 2008, I did write down my writing mission statement: “I write what I like.”

This was inspired by Steve Biko, a South African activist who was killed during the apartheid era. He meant it in a political way.

I meant that I would look for writing opportunities that inspire me to enthusiastic and passionate and speak from the heart.

I have found that when my personal interest in engaged, I can give more than just billable hours to the project, and the writing actually sparkles. When my heart is not engaged, I do my job.

Do I think writers should have a mission statement for their writing?

I think it depends on the personality of the writer. I’ve been in this business for more than a decade, and for a very long time, a mission statement scared me silly.

A mission statement seemed to me to mean committing to a plan-driven way of doing things, and even though you say I come across as focussed, my creative process is more driven by gut /intuition than a rigid plan.

Ask Me Questions

I actually regard myself as a writer, rather than a blogger, but it struck me today that there are days when I actually blog all day.

So I decided to write a post about a day in the life of a professional blogger. Problem is, the whole thing just looked too dull for words!

So instead, I nipped an idea from Harassedmom and decided that you should ask me questions.
That way, I can tell you what you want to know, rather than sharing the boring minutae of my life.

No questions? Come on now! Surely there must be something you want to know?

Bloggy Matters

The client I was uneasy about approved the blog framework, with only minor changes. So I’m very happy that that project is almost completed.

I’m also happy with the response the post I have on Female2Female is getting today. We’re chatting about how women feel about carrying condoms in their purses. Please feel free to join the discussion.

And finally, last call for people who expressed interest in joining me for a blog party to send me the links to posts.

I'm posting the links tomorrow, so you have until 7am GMT+2 time to yours through.

The Benefit Of Slow Internet

After screeching in frustration for the 100th time because the connection was so slow I couldn't even load a page, I gave up and decided to do something productive.

So I wrote. A LOT! This is good for business if you’re a writer.

I re-connected with the people in my life. Wrote lots of emails and made lots of phone calls just to say, hello, I hope you're well.

Happy birthday Neo!

I caught up on work-related reading. Now I have a lot more stuff to write about.

Luckily, there are days when I can even call watching DVDs work! I even have one or two DVDs I’ll upload soon.

I rearranged some bookshelves. Ja, I know Baby recently rearranged them alphabetically, but I was going crazy because I couldn’t find titles quickly when I needed them.

So I arranged the books in an order that makes sense to me – a couple of rows allocated for books I want to read soon or use regularly for work/reference, rows for my favourite authors in no particular order, and then the rest arranged based on whether I think I’ll them in the next month or two. New books piled horizontally at the corner of shelves.

Here’s the reason the Internet connection was almost non-existent in my area yesterday.

Late Adopter Of Tweetlater

I've finally found a way to make Twitter work for me without having to waste time watching for live-tweets, and the name of my answer was Tweetlater.

The online tool allows you to schedule your tweets so that they can go live at designated times. For me, that has meant, being able to write out what I want to say, spending 15 minutes in the morning and another 15 in the afternoon sheduling my postings.

This works especially well for client work, as I can put links to stories online and they'll go on when I want. So if you're using Twitter to promote your business, this might be a good tool for you.

Not sure how effective it would be for an individual tweeter, because it takes away some of the immediacy of posting. Can you really schedule what will be on your mind three hours from now?

Building buzz about the blog party

Many thanks to everyone who has agreed to join me for a blog party on the OneLove web site. Links to blog posts have already started coming in.

I’d also like to thank Laura for creating an opportunity for people who do not have a blog, or who do not normally blog about sex and relationships, to guest-blog at female2female. To publish your contribution on that blog, log on as:

User Name: Guest Contributor

Password: guest456

And to answer the date/time question, which everyone else must be wondering about, the posts will go live on the OneLove web site on Friday morning. So, blog posts can be published at any time before then.

Join Me For A Blog Party

Working in my home office is very different from working in the living room of my house. I didn't realise how much noise I automatically ignored while I was working in the house, until I moved into this very quiet space, where the only noise is the tip-tap of my keyboard, the laptop's fan ( yup, suddenly I hear it!) and the occassional music when I choose to play it.

This is sooo nice!

The only fly in the ointment is that my ADSL is not working well. Somehow I'm not getting the Internet connection ( even in the house), though the phone works.

I have reset the modem, turned everything off and then on again, in vain. So I'm using my 3G/HSDPA modem, but I really prefer ADSL, as I periodically upload videos and other materials online.

Time to bite the bullet and call Telkom. Despite massive criticism levelled at the company by a lot of people in the IT sector, I've found their tech support to be very good.

The problem is that, sometimes it takes a while to get one on the phone and I hate waiting. So I like to do trouble-shoot for myself, and only call them when I don't have a choice.

Invitation to a blog party

I'd like to invite you to join me for a blog party on the OneLove web site. Essentially, I'm asking people to blog about sex, relationships, cheating and its impact on their own blogs. I will link their blog posts to the front page of the OneLove web site.

Read here for more details about the blog party. The post also includes a handbook for journalists, which includes story ideas.

Please also encourage bloggers in your communities to blog about the issue. This will encourage more dialogue about love and relationships in the time of HIV and AIDS.

I Write What I Want To Know

BeckyJoie over at Rather Be Writing is having a very interesting discussion on How To Make A Living As A Freelance Writer. She has also posted a YouTube video by Laura Turner, who is also giving tips on the same subject.

I did post a comment on Becky's blog, but I also felt like saying something more detailed on my blog.

And what I wanted to say was, I have found that I write pieces that please editors more, when I write what I want to know. This does not apply to writing articles only, but to different types of writing.

I know this is not original advice either, but it is worth repeating: write on subjects that fascinate you, which you're happy to spend hours researching and writing about.

Here are some of the reasons this approach will make your writing easier:

1. Write more easily - The more interested you are, the more you will have something to say and the words will flow more easily. The added passion will make a piece that could have simply complied with editorial guidelines stand out more, attracting editors and readers alike.

2. The regular grind- And if you're in the writing business for the long haul, you're probably going to end up writing thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of words on your subjects.

3. The info is fresh to you - You're going to need to find fresh angles on topics other writers have probably explored already, and generate content ( whether it be articles, fiction, books, plays etc) on a regular basis.

It helps if you are also learning new things to share, because you will be able to present the info with the excitement that you feel.

4. When you're sick of your own words - For longer works, it helps to remember the passion you used to feel for the subject when you're just sick of editing and polishing the piece one more time.

The fine print ( aka it's not easy to find writing work on subjects I want to know about)

1. Make time to find work on subjects that interest you - Sometimes it won't be possible to write about what interests you/what you want to know. It may be that you have to take every assignment you can get, and the client brief leaves no room for you to infuse the work with your own personality.

If that's the case, make a conscious effort to grow the portion of your writing on subjects you want to know about. Set aside some time to look It could be an hour, 30 minutes, even 10 minutes where you look for these opportunities. Tell people in your circle that you are looking for these kinds of opportunities and ask them to send you links to interesting opportunities.

2. Find the needle in the haystack - Look for themes that resonate with you in subjects you have to cover but never knew could be of interest to you.

Once you find that thread, latch into it, because that could be the point where you gain a new area of interest.

3. Be open to possibilities outside your current experiences - Try new things, even if they don't seem to be what you want to know at the beginning, or even if they sound too scary.

4. Listen to your inner voice - Don't always go with conventional wisdom if it does not fit in with your vision.

When I left my journalism job, conventional wisdom argued that I should find a cushy job in a communications department of a corporate or government. This was especially wise advice considering that we were on the verge of a recession. Instead, I chose to write for a small privately-owned comms company, working from home. That has turned out to be a very successful career move, for me.

Relief!

I finally finished the first phase of a client blog, and it is now ready to be heavily populated before we launch later this month. Yay me!

Working on this project was not easy. I don't have an intuitive understanding of the client and what the organisation needs, and for many reasons I won't go into, I've had difficulty building rapport with them. So I just had to rely on my brief and give them what they asked for.

Which usually puts me in a bad mood, because I work more efficiently when I understand the client's business so well that I can take initiative and do things that enhance our relationship even if the client has not asked for them yet. I really need to do better on this one.

The rest of the month promises to be very hectic. I have a client launch event, and am doing their media statements and related targeted articles.

I'm not complaining - in addition to this being good work in a recession, the writing is on a subject I feel strongly about (training and empowerment of young people), so I am looking forward to it.

Meanwhile, my first post on Female2Female, entitled "Sexual Stereotypes Cut Across All Cultures" is live, and there's a very interesting discussion going on there.

It begins with you

And if you live in the African continent and you are familiar with the You Campaign by the African Broadcaster Media Partnership Against HIV/AIDS, a continent-wide coalition of more than 60 African broadcast companies, you've probably seen the new series of ads for television and radio.

The ads are built around the tagline “Imagine the Possibility of an HIV-free Generation: It Begins with YOU”, and the new series will roll out over the next year, broadcast across 38 countries.

The first set is on multiple concurrent partnerships and they've partnered with the OneLove Regional Campaign on them.

Which is why yours trully can invite you to watch the ad on YouTube and to talk about what you think about the relationships depicted. The main ad is 60 seconds long, the other two are 30 seconds long....

Female2Female

This week Laura at Harassedmom launched a group blog called Female2Female. As you can see by its name, the blog is written by women and covers female issues. So far, posts have been about growing up adopted and birth options.

Yours truly was invited to contribute to the blog, and to talk about women's sexuality. Specifically, I will be guest-blogging on female2female about some of the issues that comes out of the OneLove Regional Campaign.

My posts will be published each Wednesday, so please feel free to check out the blog and comment on some of the articles.

Laura is also looking for contributors/guest-bloggers. So if you have a story that fits in with the new blog, feel free to contact her.

Rewind Monday; Take 2

The day was exhausting, but not particularly productive.

I did a major job for a client ( I was very organised, got my ducks in a row over the weekend etc) and worked very smoothly in the morning.

Then in the afternoon I got a frantic call from the client saying my brief had to change, and I had delete every document I posted and use different materials.

Spent the afternoon redoing the job. It was not hard work, but somehow I finished the day feeling lethargic. I wish I could relive today; only I'd have a different brief, do the assignment just once, and then spend the rest of the day working on other projects.

Was cheered a bit by this big stuffed dog (image on the top left), which a friend brought me today as an office-warming present.

It's huge - I think heavier than some five year olds I've carried. He says its job is to keep me company while I work. I guess I'll just have to find a chair and put him in a corner. No idea what to name him though.

Baking Cakes In Kigali Is Librarians' Pick At Book Expo America 2009

My friend Gaile Parkin's debut novel BAKING CAKES IN KIGALI was Libarians' Pick at Book Expo America 2009.

Congratulations, Gaile. I am so proud of you!

And if you haven't read the book, buy it from your nearest Exclusive Books, or through Amazon.

I loved it. It's well-written, touches on some serious life issues including post-genocide Rwanda without getting boring, or worse, depressing.

In fact, I found it so funny I couldn't help reading bits of it to my sister as I went along, just to share the humour with her.

Taking Things Easy For A While

The ulcer is still giving me some bad moments, so I'm taking the next couple of days a bit easy.

It's month-end, so I'll still work on the reports,udate the web sites etc, but no new work for now. I hope!

I don't want to be stuck in bed again for days on end. And yes, I did change my meds, and they have alleviated most of the pain.

I've also started being more careful about what I eat, using lots of vegetables and fruit,but no wheat and dairy. A gluten-free, dairy-free diet always makes me feel much better.

But it's hard to maintain, because it rules out a lot of treats ( pastries, breads, desserts like pudding and ice cream, or even chocolate bars).

I wished I could eat this soup (image on the left), which I made for the family to keep them warm.

There was no particular recipe - I simply dumped leftovers from the fridge into a big bowl, added bits if carrots, mushrooms, green pepper and onion, some herbs and stuffed the dish into a microwave oven to cook until soft.

My version was a lot less exciting - no pasta,or the tomato bean soup that was part of this recipe. Ho hum!

Moving Into My Home Office Today

Today I started moving into the outside building that has been converted into my home office, and it has really been exciting!

But I'm also realising that the colour scheme that I wanted (blue, white and black) is not going to happen overnight, if at all.

I did manage to paint the wall a light blue colour which I like, and think it's going to be very soothing for me as I work.

But a neighbour gave me this lovely bench, whose insides is also a storage chest. The bench was made less than six months ago, and has a lovely bronze velvet fabric covering the seating area. The colour does not match my scheme, but it would be very silly for me to change it to try to conform it to a colour scheme in my head.

And Baby thinks the bench works really well with the maroon and grey scatter cushions, and the hand-made reed mat, which is a gift from my sister-in-law Pontsho.

But I am going to paint my desk white, get the big black leather chairs that will help me get really comfortable while I work, and later in Spring, invest in black and white floor tiles.

So furnishing and decorating the home office as I like will take time, but it will get there. And I'll share some pics once it's done.

Living Life, Rather Than Watching It

Meanwhile, Baby (aged 11) is valiantly trying to keep busy doing real life stuff during her mid-term break.

She finished her homework and there's some irony there: her task was to watch a DVD of a fairytale and then write a summary of the story, in Afrikaans.

Afrikaans is our third language. Or rather, it's one of the languages we have to learn to get by, because South Africa has 11 official languages, and it's smart to make sure you can at least ask for help in all of them. And Zulu is the second most used language in SA, so we really have to learn that one.

Baby also went through her bead collection and found that she had enough left-overs to make me this bracelet.

That was Monday and Tuesday. This morning she decided that it was time to organise my books and DVD collection alphabetically.

I personally think I have a very odd baby: whose bookshelves actually stay organised in alphabelical order?

But, it will keep her busy for a while, and maybe along the way she'll find some interesting books that are appropriate for her.