Words Matter Week: An Invitation to Write on “Words Matter”

My last post tells about Words Matter Week, coming up next week.

GregR wrote this comment:

What would be fun if in Words Matter Week get a pile of Bloggers to post their thoughts under the tag WordsMatter to build awareness.

Janice Campbell, Director of the National Association Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE), the sponsor of Words Matter Week, came along and wrote this:

I love Greg’s idea of having bloggers post on the topic. Let’s spread the word!

Bloggers, please consider yourselves invited to write on the idea that “words matter.” I’ve added a Mr. Linky to the news.naiwe.com blog, so that people will be able to easily find the various posts. This ought to be interesting!

So, bloggers, let’s share how words matter! You’re invited to write your post and add the link to the NAIWE blog.

Words Matter Week

A comment posted on my recent post on Freelance Writers Appreciation Week alerted me to another week for freelancers.

Janice Campbell, Director of National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE), let me know that March 2-6 is Words Matter Week.

NAIWE, which describes itself as “The professional association with the business-building difference,” is an organization of freelance writers and editors, both commercial and literary.

Words Matter Week is “an exciting week of teleseminars, book giveaways, and a charity challenge for First Book!”

Speakers include:

• John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books
• Peter Bowerman, author of The Well-Fed Writer and The Well-Fed Self-Publisher
• Linda Leigh Hargrove, Novelist
• Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine-Herman, Literary Agents
• Tim McMullen, co-founder and managing partner of tech company UltimIT Solutions
• Ruth Thaler-Carter, award-winning writer and editor with over 30 years experience, who will be speaking on “Getting Started in Editorial Freelancing”

You can learn more on the Facebook event page for Words Matter Week.

You can also contribute to First Book to help give children books of their own.

Ash Wednesday and Penitence

I grew up in a non-liturgical church, and I always wondered why Roman Catholics (the only liturgical church in my hometown) got ashes on their forehead on Ash Wednesday. Even after I joined a liturgical church, it took several years for me to really appreciate the Ash Wednesday observance. I wondered if it wasn’t contrary to Jesus’ instruction:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. … When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” ~ Matthew 5-6, 16-18, NIV

However, Jesus also said:

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” ~ Luke 9:26 NIV

I’m not ashamed of Jesus and His words, and I don’t want him to be ashamed of me.

The Ash Wednesday observance has become important to me as an excellent way to begin a season of penitence in Lent. Certainly, we should be penitent at all times, but most of us benefit from a structured time of prayer, fasting, and penitence.

Jesus himself went into the desert and fasted and prayed for 40 days and 40 nights. If He felt He needed that time with the Father, I certainly do.  Father Chip Harper’s Ash Wednesday liturgy lesson and the description of Lent on the All Saints’ Web site explain it much better than I can.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ Ash Wednesday Collect, 1928 Book of Common Prayer

Blogging Friends

Nearly three years ago, I decided to take the advice I’d been giving to my clients and start a blog. At the time, I expected the blog to be an opportunity to share what I’ve learned about writing and editing. One of the things I love most about editing and helping authors self-publish their books is mentoring the writers—to see them constantly hone their craft and become better writers. I hoped to help writers online, but I didn’t expect to have any direct contact with those I taught.

In the first month, I had a couple of comments from offline friends who stopped by to encourage me. Then it was a couple of months before another friend stopped by. I participated in a blog carnival and got a trackback but no more comments for weeks. The next comment was also from a friend … but then—almost six months after my first post—I had a comment from someone I didn’t know! That was a thrill.

I started visiting other blogs and leaving comments, and some of those bloggers reciprocated. I joined MyBlogLog and participated in a couple of blog carnivals and memes and met a few more people. Many of the people I met in the early days of blogging are still my blogging friends. Some are no longer blogging, but I will always appreciate their blogging friendship for however long it lasted.

Recently, I recognized some of my blogging friends with the Premio Dardos Award for their blogging excellence. I’d also like to thank those same bloggers for their friendship: Alina, Brad, Cath, Deb, Helen, Jeanne, Joanna, John, Karen, Lori, Matt, Mig, Misti, Renee, Robert, and Tammy.

Bloggers who hold a special place in my heart are all those who hosted me on my blog book tours, including these who aren’t listed elsewhere: Bluestocking, Lenin, Ron, Mayra, Genesis, Father Jerry and Shirazi. 

Other bloggers whose friendship I value include:

• Laura Spencer, Writing Thoughts
• Lisa Vella, Getting It Write for You (a busy mom who doesn’t blog much anymore who was one of the bloggers I met early on)
• Merry Monteleone, Mom and More
• Michele Tune, Writing the Cyber Highway
• Phil Davis, Authors on the Net
• Sharon Hurley Hall, Get Paid to Write Online
• Theda K., Crayon Writer
• Yvonne Russell, Grow Your Writing Business (Yvonne had some health issues and hasn’t been around much lately, but she hosted The Writers Cafe where I met many wonderful bloggers.)

After my slow start in getting comments, I’m blessed today to have comments from 150 to 200 people each month. Some of them visit once and leave a comment for the Do-Follow link, but others become regulars. Each month, I thank the commenters from the previous month as I truly value them.

Some of the top commenters each month, in addition to many who have been listed elsewhere, are:

• Andrew, Good Honest Dollar
• Morgan Mandel
• Wilson, Will You Mind

What a blessing of blogging friendships! And I know I’ve forgotten someone—if your name belongs here, know it’s in my heart. I’m just overwhelmed with thinking of so many delightful blogging relationships.

And to think that less than three years ago, I thought I would be teaching my visitors about writing and editing. Instead, I’ve made friends and learned more than I could ever teach.

This post is an entry in Alina Popsecu’s 4 Year Bloggiversary Group Writing Project at Words of a Broken Mirror. You still have a few days to enter. Alina is offering some outstanding prizes (not that I’m biased or anything—one of the prizes is an autographed copy of Dream or Destiny), including a two-hour PR consultation with Alina. But even if you don’t win, just spending time thinking of great blogging friends is a prize in itself.

Thanks to January Commenters

Thanks to the 128 December commenters, and thanks to those who read without commenting. I appreciate you all.

Top Contributor (8 comments)
Wilson, Will You Mind

Major Contributor (7 comments)
shellywagar, Women’s Boots

Outstanding Contributors (3-5 comments)
Andrew, Good Honest Dollar
Bluestocking, The Bluestocking Guide
Mihaela (Mig) Lica, Online Public Relations
Morgan Mandel
Justin, East Coast Airsoft
Matt Keegan, Matt’s Musings

Significant Contributors (2 comments)
Alina Popescu, Words of a Broken Mirror
Ana, Dating Better
Chris, Bible Knowledge Bookstore
geek05, Third World Geek
Jana, Go Articles Make Money Business
Jeff, Bratwurst Recipes
Jewelicious
Karen Swim, Words for Hire
Lance, Ryan P.A. Johnson
Renae, Morning Coffee
tam, Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Important Contributors
Aaron, Best Baby Strollers
ajay, Dayspring Center
ajay, Web Datamation
Alex, WordPress Web 2.0 Spot-Er
Amar Shah, Limotek
Andrew, Growing Hair Tips
Annabel, Forex Book
Arman, Mobility and Accessibility
Arno, HR CV Ketles
Ben, My Shiny Things
Betsy Wuebker, Passing Thru
Bill, Wear Your Beer
Bowel Cancer Symptoms
Canon Camera Reviews 
Cath Lawson
Charles, BEL Signs
Charlotte Phillips, Char’s Book Reviews
Chelle, Talk Rehab
Christopher T, Yacht and Boats
Clayton, Emily Wynne-Hughes
Dan, Golf Gear Select
Dan Hansen, Baseball Tickets
Daniel Molano
Darlenvennita, Printers Search
David, Grow Thicker Hair
David James, Prevent Hair Loss
ed hardy, Danger Style
Eric, Artist Radio Online
Eric, Donate a Car to Charity
Eric, Trillion Stars
Erik, Taylor Vaifanua
File Lock, New Software’s Professionals
Free PC Software
Gary Sims, Gary’s Bible Notes
Golf Irons, Pro Golf Shot
Greg, Pet Vet Insurance
Gro Geschenke, Geschenkewunder
Guffin Mopes
Huang, Chinese Weight Loss Tea Information
Ian, Portent Interactive
Ian, Seattle SealWize
indian call center
International Shipping, Gem Relocations
Janet
JC, PopDirt
Jerry, How to Have a Baby Boy or Girl
Jerry, Mogo Media
Jim, Meyerson & O’Neill Law Firm
Jim, Rose Pest Control
Jo DeVizes, Your Power 2 Be
John, Best Priced Furniture
John, Cheap Flash Drives
John, Maternal America
Juan, Audio Radio Online
Judith, Ravendale House
Kaiser, Obama Speeches
KDL-46XBR8 TV Store
Kevin, Trees Buy
Khaye, Melting Chocolate
Lauren, Women’s Divorces
Lena, Supergaver
Lilla, Social Media Helper
Linda, Strategic Market Segmentation
Lindsay, Writing for Your Wealth
Lisa, Woodbury Commons
Liver Cancer Symptoms
loan modifications dude, Loan Advocacy Group
lucia einsamkeit, eDarling
Major, eLocal Plumbers
Marcus, Business Supply Blog
Mark, Hair Growth Pills
Mark, Luxury Rentals
Mark, Shampoo for Hair Loss
Matthew, Franklin Pest Solutions
Melbel, Melbel’s Post a Thought
Mercenary Blogger
Mo, Free G-1 Phone
Neumidides, Play It on the Web
new home guide, Casa Nueva
Noni Juice Goodness
Olter David, Olter Ego
Online Marketing Firm, The Outsourcing Company
Pariu Combinant, Parior
Pat, West Florida Components
Phoenix, Community Gift Ideas
Randi Reese, Baby Cribs and Toddler Beds
Regu, RecycleINMe
Richard, Littman Bros
Robert Hruzek, Middle Zone Musings
Ruri, Relationships Articles
Salihu, Vitamins Well
Santa Cruz Day Care, Auntie Wendi’s Day Care
SEO Tool Book, Internet Marketing
seowoman, Deniska
Shirazi, Light Within
snv, Astada
Stan, Free iPods Etc
Stanley, Hidensneek
Steve, Stop Sweating Reviews
Taylor, Skolnik Steel Containers
Tess, Woga Gartenpavilloon
Tina, Tina Fountain Realtors
Toldo, Handi-Ramp
Toppgaver
Toyota Camry Windshield, Emergency Glass Repair
Van, World Net Long Distance
Vanessa, The Yellow Brick Road
web design, Indianapolis SEO
Women’s News Journal

Read an E-Book Week

Read an E-Book Week, the annual event to educate readers and encourage them to “read an e-book,” is coming up the second week of March.

If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you know that I am a big fan of e-books. Check the  series and related posts page for more information about e-books.

During that week, I will be offering a free e-book to each of my visitors.

Several of my editing clients have generously offered copies of their e-books. The following titles in the quantities indicated will be available on a first-come, first-served basis:

• As Shadows Fall by Grace Anne Schaefer (5 copies)
• The New Day Dawns by Grace Anne Schaefer (5 copies)
• On the Wings of the Wind by Patricia Eytcheson Taylor and the Reverend Doctor James Taylor (2 copies)
• Some Monument to Last by James Doughty (2 copies)
• Spring House by David Bowles (5 copies)

I am offering an unlimited number of my own e-books:

• Dream or Destiny
• Stroke of Luck

Be sure to return on Monday, March 9th and leave a comment indicating your first, second, and third choices for your free e-book. I will e-mail you the e-book (typically a zip file containing several different e-book formats) within one business day.

The Premio Dardos Award

Bluestocking, of The Bluestocking Guide, has honored me with the Premio Dardos Award.

Premio Dardos means “prize darts” in Italian. It is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing.

The rules are as follows.

First, accept the award by posting it on your blog along with the name of the person that has granted the award and link to her blog.

Second pass the award to another 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment, remembering to contact each of them to let them know they have been selected for this award.

I’m passing the award on to blogs that I feel deserve it. Some have already received the award, but it’s been a couple of weeks since Bluestocking gave me the award, and I’ve lost track. If this is a duplicate award, that shows how much the blog deserves to be recognized. Some of the bloggers I’m honoring do not participate in memes and similar activities. If you aren’t comfortable acknowledging or passing it on, just ignore the award, but know that I appreciate your blog and want to recognize it.

The list is in alphabetical order by the blogger’s first name.

• Alina Popsecu, Words of a Broken Mirror
• Brad Shorr, Word Sell
• Catherine Lawson, CathLawson.com
• Deb Boyken, Punctuality Rules
• Helen Ginger, Straight from Hel
• Jeanne Dininni, Writer’s Notes
• Joanna Young, Confident Writing
• John Hewitt, Poewar
• Karen Swim, Words for Hire
• Lori Widmer, Words on the Page
• Matthew Keegan, Word Journey
• Mihaela (Mig) Lica, eWritings Online Public Relations
• Misti Sandefur, Life of a Writer
• Renee Brumbaugh, Morning Coffee with Renae
• Robert Hruzek, Middle Zone Musings
• Tammy Hensel, Dedicated Writer

Thanks for your contributions to the Internet and to my blog reading pleasure.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day to my readers. I hope each of you enjoys a day filled with love, joy, and pampering.

The Knight-League Scholarship

A reader e-mailed me and asked me to help spread the word about the Knight-League Scholarship, a writing competition for high school seniors that will award three $5,000 scholarships.

Holly Alonis wrote:

I write to you as an online liaison for the LEAGUE, which is a school and web-based system for service learning that empowers young people to make a difference in their communities. …

The KNIGHT scholarship is a national scholarship competition where 3 students will be awarded $5,000 each for their writings or reflections on their civic experiences in one of three categories …. The scholarship is open to high school seniors from all over the country; even students who are not part of a LEAGUE classroom can apply!

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of 26 U.S. communities. Since 1954, the foundation has given more than $300 million in journalism grants.

I hope you can join me in supporting The LEAGUE by informing your readers about this scholarship opportunity.

If you are or know a high school senior who writes well and who could benefit from a college scholarship, enter or encourage them to enter the Knight/LEAGUE Scholarship competition. The deadline is March 6.

The Author Platform

In her recent guest post, Jennifer Mattern shared five ways to build a writer platform online. She gave an excellent overview, but many authors need more help. They know they need to start a blog and do more to build their platform, but they don’t know how.

The Author Platform provides the solution. Instead of stumbling around learning by guess and by gosh, authors can join The Author Platform and learn how to build their online platform.

The course consists of four modules: Blogs, Amazon, Social Media, and Publicity. Each module takes you through all the steps to maximize each tool.

Every author wants her book listed on Amazon.com, but what happens then? In far too many cases, the book sits there waiting to be discovered. With millions of titles in inventory, Amazon isn’t likely to put your latest novel on the home page. Yet there are many ways to promote your book on Amazon that most authors don’t know. You will know the tricks when you complete the Amazon module at The Author Platform. The other modules offer similar benefits.

With Silver Membership, you will learn how to launch a complete book promotion campaign in three months.

Gold Membership gives you full access to The Author Platform for 4 months plus the following: monthly Q&A calls with a coach, monthly teleseminars with Phil Davis, and The Self-Publishing in a Box kit.

Platinum Membership gives you everything in the Gold Membership, access to The Author Platform for a full twelve months, plus monthly one-on-one coaching, a 12-month virtual book marketing campaign, and blog site optimization services.

You can learn more from watching a couple of videos about The Author Platform.

If you’re not yet ready to promote a book because it’s not published yet, take a look at Self-Publishing in a Box. You might think I’m a little biased because Phil Davis’ interviews with me about my Self-Publishing Primer are included. Even if I am a little biased about my own contribution, it’s only a tiny part of the whole kit, which is packed with lots of valuable information.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of The Author Platform because I think it’s a valuable resource for writers. I plan to take the course myself, especially the social media module.

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