Inspiration for a joyful and creative life

As an addition to the series about 10 Reasons Not To Have What You Want or maybe it would be better named (too late!) 10 Reasons Why You Don’t Have What You Want, reason # 2 was You Can’t Afford It.

One of the ways we talked about changing that predicament is to Earn It.  And, of course there are a lot of ways to do that if you open up to the possibilities.  As discussed in that post, it might be part time, on the side, full time, etc.

I read a very appropriate post by Darren Rowse of ProBlogger called How To Make 30,000 a year Blogging.  He gives very good, practical advice for how to become a full time blogger.  He has built an amazing reputation by offering really great, non-hyped information about blogging and how to earn income from it.

In his article, I really like that he breaks things down and tells about how he started and gradually built things up.  And he also mentions how he started his first blog while still working.  So he didn’t start off by quitting his job then figuring out how to earn enough to get by.

He also talks about getting specific about how much you want and need to make.  If you start out with a target, you have a better chance of taking actions toward building that goal.

I purchased Darren’s 31 Days to Build A Better Blog e-book and love the straight forward explanations and great ideas from this seasoned professional.  I will admit that I have not had time to do everything yet since I’m in the middle of a big project of writing an e-book right now but I will definitely implement his strategies.

Also I like that there is something very doable and Kaizen (small gradual improvements) that you can do each day or you could take a longer time (like I am!) and still end up with a much better blog.

As a full disclosure, I have signed up as an affiliate for the book but as I’ve mentioned before, it is definitely not worth it to me to recommend anything I wouldn’t buy myself (and I did!).

I know there are several of you that could write about something you love and are passionate about.  This is not to say that it will be easy to develop a following.  It definitely will require work and some patience.  It is not a get rich quick scheme. But if there is something you have a passion for and would love to share, it can be a lot of fun.

Writers, Artists, Moms, Book Lovers, Jewelry Artists, Organizers, Quilters, Avid Readers, Photographers, Travelers, Bakers and People who love to cook,  are just a few of the topics that have fueled some successful blogs.  Julia and Julie is a movie about Julie Powell, a blogger who worked her way through Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking cookbook!

There is probably a topic close to your heart that other people want to know more about.

I realize that it may seem out of reach when you see some of the super successful bloggers out there, and not everyone is going to be a millionaire, but what if you could earn enough to create more of the quality of life you want?  What if you could start something and build on your success one day at a time?

It’s just one of the many possibilities that might fit in with your personality and plans

Check out 31 Days To Build A Better Blog if you already have one or want to create one and start it out right.  It’s only 19.95, and is packed with valuable knowledge about blogging. And he is offering 3 special New Year bonuses that will only be available until Jan 18th – so don’t wait if you are interested!

How can you keep your writing fun and creative?

How can you keep your writing fresh, creative, and fun?

Sometimes it can be tough to have a blog or ezine and figure out what to write on a regular basis.

Create Regular Features or Categories

One thing that helped me with my ezine is to come up with some regular features or categories.

For example with my ezine, each month I write a featured article about living your dream and keeping inspired, a quote of the month with comments, a resource or two a month, and a Dear Sally column from clients and subscribers where I answer questions and give some suggestions.

For this blog, I’m going to play with some categories like Living Your Dream, The Art of Everyday Living, Creative Ideas and Brainstorming, Marketing Masters with ideas and tips for your business, and Nurturing Your Soul.

Use an Acronym

My sister is starting a home and organizing blog and we talked about ideas for her using an acronym of HOME, with each letter standing for a category.  That was a very helpful way to come up with some fun categories that will help stimulate ideas.

You can have a folder or pile or keep a journal and make a note of which category it fits.  It makes it easy to come across things and save them for later.

Find Pictures and Images that Speak to You

Find images that you are drawn to that spark some ideas.  Play with brainstorming anything that comes to you when looking at the image.

Tell A Friend – Resources

You know how natural it is to share with a friend something great you’ve found that you think they might like too?

Whether you realize it or not, you are constantly using and seeking resources for yourself, your business, and just for fun. The things you find that help you or that you enjoy might be things that your readers would like to know about.  These can be blogs, websites, services, people, businesses, books, places you go, things you buy, or music you like.

Random Thoughts

Of course, many people have random blogs about whatever is happening every day.  I suspect I won’t always have everything fit into a neat little category but it doesn’t really matter.  It is just a starting point that can be fluid and change as I go.

Please comment about how you like to come up with fresh material and ideas for your blog or ezine.
P.S. If your blog needs some help or if you are new to blogging and would like some advice about creating content or getting more readers, you may want to check out:

Blog Triage: Maintaining a Healthy Artist’s Blog

Next operation scheduled for August 19-September 16

with Alyson B. Stanfield, who writes a wonderful blog called ArtBizBlog for the last 5 years and resident blog doc Cynthia Morris . . .

During this month-long operation, you will take part in the following procedures:

* Healthy writing habits and content for great blog posts
* Blog cleanse: Fixing your About page, categories, sidebar, and more
* Visiting hours: How to get more blog readers
* Feedback: How to get more comments and be a better commenter
* Health maintenance: Create a blogging schedule, conduct regular checkups, balance your priorities

Hurry, there are only 30 spots!

That is the question.  I questioned whether I wanted to add a blog.   I already write a weekly short ezine.  And I kept reading that you had to post every day.
I decided there are so many things that I can share to give you more ideas and insights on designing your inspired life.  And I can make up my own rules for my business!  So, I might blog a couple times a week or more if I want to!  I look forward to connecting to all of you.