WRITERS

Some Stretching Thoughts for Struggling Writers

How long has it been since your last adventure? I’m not talking about reading a book or using your imagination today. I mean the lapse of time since you last slipped on the shoes you don’t usually wear, walked to a place you don’t usually go, and tried something you’ve never tried before.

Writers are stereotyped for a reason. We can get really stuck in our heads. I don’t think we avoid adventures on purpose – I think sometimes we forget we’re not having them because we imagine a new escapade every day.

Experts say reading and writing each day will improve your skills, and it’s true. But if you’re reading, writing, and looking at your work with disgust every day, then doing the work isn’t your problem.

The problem could be you need to live a little bit.

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.  – Henry David Thoreau

This is one of Thoreau’s most famous quotes. The beautiful thing is he wasn’t just making up pretty words: he lived it. He went into the woods and deliberately lived. Your adventure doesn’t have to be as intense as Henry’s, but be deliberate.

Awhile ago, I had some free time that I could have spent writing, but I went downtown Grand Rapids instead. I put away my old sneakers for fancier shoes (that gave me blisters to remember them by) and strolled along the sunny streets. The city was full of history, busyness, mystery, and untold stories. I may or may not have forgotten where I parked at one point.

From the monument celebrating Rosa Parks to the curious Bull’s Head overhang, Grand Rapids was a beautiful place to deliberately live for an afternoon. When you step outside today, take in the air, the rain, and the mayhem. Let yourself be inspired.

Until next time,

Invent your story

WRITERS

WordCamp with Bluehost: The Gift of a Lifetime

We’re in the middle of “the giving season” and there’s nothing like receiving a gift and wondering what’s inside. Some gifts go beyond your wildest expectations. The WordCamp giveaway that Bluehost chose to send me to was one of those. This life-changing event started with some extraordinary people.
I wish I could introduce you to everyone at Bluehost. Their team was energetic, fun, kind, and genuine. From hugs-at-first-meeting to side-splitting laughs on the way to the after party (at the amazing Science Adventure Center) I felt like family with the crew, and I couldn’t be more thankful for them.

WordCamp itself: incredible. The Music City Center was as unique as it was grand. Over 1,000 people with different specialties, passions, and skills came together for the WordPress global community event. I met so many individuals committed to sharing their strengths to make WordPress the exceptional organization that it is.
 
 
 
My catch-phrase for the weekend: “I’m new.” I didn’t go to school for website development. I’ve loved blogging on WordPress, but I’m not a techie guru. I had a lot of questions, and not one of them was met with an eye-roll or deep sigh. People were not only excited share their expertise and opinion, many of them wanted to keep in touch. One girl explained to me (after an awesome Nashville hot chicken lunch with her group) that it’s “the WordPress way.”
 
The speakers and variety of topics covered at WordCamp were so vast, I really don’t know how to narrow down the focus. I learned about how to run a successful online business, create a financial forecast, use great tools and plug-ins, about Gutenberg and many of the things developers troubleshoot and innovate to make everything run well. It’s an intense amount of work! Another cool thing was…
 
 
 
Everyone could help. The final day of the conference was “Contributor’s Day.” Anyone could go, join a team, pitch in if you wanted to. I sat with a team to learn the ropes, and I found a typo! I know it’s a small contribution, but I enjoyed being a part of making something great even better.
 
I was thinking about my original post tonight; about why I wanted Bluehost to send me to WordCamp. I wanted to take a new step – the next step with inventing my story. And I wanted to encourage others to do the same. On my trip, I discovered through talking with people about their stories that I am not alone.
 
The Bluehost team, every Uber driver I met in Nashville, real techie gurus, moms, dads, authors, speakers, CEO’s, and even a nurse practitioner dedicated to ending cancer – there are many people in the world with stories full of hope and invention. When we grow & work together, amazing things truly happen every day. Thank you, Bluehost for the gift of a lifetime.
 
My challenge to you this week is give the gift of a listening ear to someone else’s story – then encourage them on their way! And check out Bluehost if you are looking for an awesome web hosting company. They partner with WordPress, and they have made a huge difference in my life story.
 
 
 
Keep inventing your story, and Merry Christmas!

Uncategorized

Dreams Do Come True – Thank You Bluehost

Grab your guitars y’all – we are going to Nashville, Tennessee!

Bluehost was true to their word. I took the challenge to enter their WordCamp US 2017 Giveaway on my last blog post – and I still don’t believe it, but I won!

I’m so excited (and amazed!) at this incredible gift. Here’s the low-down on how generous they’ve been with this giveaway:

  • A roundtrip flight to Nashville, TN
  • 4-night stay in a hotel
  • WordCamp backpack full of essentials for WordCamp ($150 value)
  • 1 entry ticket to WordCamp US
  • One $250 gift card for expenses during WordCamp US

YEE-HAW!

I feel like you can move my life into the fiction section of the library now. Seriously! Did this really happen? Yes, it did. Can it happen for you too? Keep stepping in the direction of your dreams and yes! Doors will open up for you. Keep inventing your story!

What is WordCamp anyway?

WordCamp is a community organized event that connects WordPress enthusiasts from all over. At the conference, speakers empower and equip attendees to grow in excellence and expand horizons. It’s a fantastic way to connect with cool, motivated people who make a difference every day. I’ve never been there before, and I can’t wait to soak it all in.

If you want to kick it up in Nashville with WordPress & Bluehost, follow their blog like I did, and stay up-to-date on what they’re doing. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone with a website. And you can still sign-up for this year’s conference. If you come, I would love to meet you!

I will definitely share more of my story with you as everything at WordCamp gets rolling. So far, in my excited flurry to connect with them, I accidentally gave them the wrong phone number to contact me! Bluehost couldn’t be cooler, and I am just thanking God that I get to hang out with them in a few weeks.

In the meantime, thank you for journeying with me.  I want to hear your success stories too, so we can celebrate together. What has been a catalyst in your story so far?

Happy Inventing!

WRITERS

Invention on the Go

Welcome Inventors! Do you like travel stories? Whether it’s an airplane to Africa or a walk to Ben’s Pretzels, getting away from home base is an invention adventure. My latest real-life adventure was a surprise birthday trip to Cross Village, MI. Huge thanks to my Alex, who wanted to give me the stars.

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Cross Village was less than a half-hour south of a dark-sky park. This stargazer’s dream gave us a full view of the night sky without competition of city lights. To be completely honest, we brought kids, and they were not enthused to stay out past 11:00 when it really started to get good. But the park and night were gorgeous. If this idea sparked your interest, check out:  http://www.darksky.org/idsp/parks/

IMG_0565Then there was Legs Inn – a restaurant with unusual history and a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan. IMG_0585

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Traveling was wonderful for inspiration because it challenged me to think differently. The house soup at Legs Inn featured hard-boiled eggs! Adventure was delicious.

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If you venture out, you could run into people like the artists at Three Pines Art Studio. Gene Reck and Joann Condino were not only gifted in ceramics & textiles, they were also kind. They partner with other artists internationally and host classes for all ages.

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I left with this fabulous oven-safe, dishwasher-safe salmon dish that easily decorates my home as much as my table!

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Also noteworthy: we did accidentally break a piece of pottery when we were there. We wanted to pay for the piece, but Gene and Joann insisted they had a better idea. They invited our kids to help them plant the (mostly intact) broken piece of pottery in a flower pot they had out front. I want to write book characters inspired by these two.

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We had breakfast at the Old World Cafe, and the stonework, ornate paintings and enormous fireplace within gave us the feeling we’d been transported to another country. The food was as grandiose as the building. But tastier. 🙂

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My challenge to you is to make some travel plans. Let yourself be inspired by the journey, and when things don’t go according to the plan, plant your broken pieces in a flowerpot. That may be the inspiration you were looking for all along. Now go – invent your story!

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