Author: jane gardner

    Journal Entry – What’s your Passion?

    soccer ball into goal

    I am watching the UEFA League FC Barcelona vs Internazionale footbal (soccer) game right now and I asked myself what’s my passion?

    Art is my passion as an artist which I am missing lately as I have been busy with other commitments.

    But why do I like watching football? Is it a passion?  No. But there are a few reasons, I enjoy watching football.

    If you haven’t watched football in the Champions or UEFA league, the quality and skill of the players are amazing. No missed passed, great skill and amazing goals whether by using a scissor kick or a header! Yes, I know some of the terms of football.

    The other reason, I lover football is the commentators who (if you get the best announcers) are knowledgeable on the players but they use metaphors and wit and analogies and their enthusiasm to create a story each game.

    The stadium crowd is the 3rd component to make watching football an event. In stadiums full of 30,000 to 50,000 fans with the visiting fans behind one goal and the home crowd at the other end of the stadium cheering, drumming, singing and standing for the whole 90 minutes create a magical atmosphere.

    Anyway, if you have never watched a Football (Soccer) game European style, try it and you may get addicted to the football culture.

    Categories: Journal

    Journal Entry – What’s your Why?

    Some people think your Why is you are on the internet because you want to make money.

    That is wrong.

    You are not on the internet to make money. There are easier ways to make money. 🙂

    You are on the internet because you want to improve your life.

    Whether you want to have income coming in to your bank account  so you can work less and enjoy your hobbies.

    Whether you want income coming in to your life so you can help your children go to college or help your children to afford their own home.

    Whether you have an “urge” to share your wisdom so others don’t have to go through health challenges you have had in your life.

    Whether you want to help because the act of helping gives you an emotionally positive feeling when you know you have helped others.

    Your Why is what gets you out of bed each morning to get onto the internet to make some money.

    Your Why can be you want to share your writings with the world.

    Your Why may be an urgent need to get some revenue to pay bills that are piling up in your life.

    Your Why is the reason you get out of bed each morning to go and earn some revenue in order to answer your Why.

    Defining Your Why will make it easier to prioritze what you do each day.

    When you first hung out your virtual shingle, you likely were thinking:

    • “I can’t wait to get away from this awful job.”
    • “I just want to be home with my kids.”
    • “This dead-end job is going nowhere.”
    • “I’m tired of working crazy hours and holidays.”
    • “I know I’m worth more than they’re paying me.”

    These and many, many other thoughts go through the heads of every would-be business owner, and are often the driving force behind that final, “I quit.”

    But while they’re great for lighting a fire and inspiring you to make a scary jump to business ownership, they’re not so fabulous at motivating you to grow and improve. They won’t inspire you to increase your skills and raise your rates and be brave and authentic in your marketing. They won’t help you find the courage to hire a new coach or launch a brand new program.

    To find the inspiration to make your business thrive, you have to identify the real why behind what you do.

    Passionate Whys

    “Passion based” is a phrase that’s found a massive following in the past few years, and seems to be the holy grail of entrepreneurial adventures. And for business owners with a true passion for their field, it can be a strong motivator.

    Some business owners are passionate about a subject, spending all their waking hours learning about the topic. Some are passionate about a market, and would do anything to help their ideal client achieve his or her goals.

    Whichever type of passion-based business owner you are, learning to harness that passion will help take your business to the next level.

    Financial Whys

    Maybe you want to retire at 40 to travel the world, or send your kids to an elite private school. Maybe you love fast cars, and dream of driving a brand new Ferrari.

    Whatever your big dream, you knew you’d never make it while putting in time at the day job. While everyone seems to go on and on about those passion-based dreams, the truth is there’s nothing wrong with wanting financial fulfillment. Money is a necessary tool. We need it, and the more we have, the easier life is. And wanting more of it is nothing to be ashamed of, as long as you maintain your integrity and authenticity in pursuit of it.

    Philanthropic Whys

    Plenty of online business owners go into business so they can have more to give. You’ve no doubt heard of—or maybe even know—marketers who use their earnings to fund mission trips, build schools in war-torn, third world countries, and support a variety of charities at home and abroad. Others use the time freedom they’ve built into their business to volunteer with local hospitals, animal shelters and children’s organizations.

    If you have a heart for a cause, a philanthropic why might be the driving force that takes your business to the next level.

    To find your own why, consider your biggest dreams. If money were no object, what would you be doing?

    Categories: Journal, To Write Tags: Tags: , ,

    August 28 2024 Journal on Internet

    hand and a cloud for internet marketing idea

    Today, I was busy with work, work.

    However, yesterday, I uploaded some training workshops on AI  (Artificial Intelligence) for content creation on my “AI” training membership.  I wanted to have some “beginner” level information and workshop on AI so people can get over their “confusion” “fear” of AI.

    I, also, have a membership i am developing for beginners to internet marketing because I don’t want others to make the same mistakes I have made while on the internet.

    There will be workshops on different business models on the internet sharing what the  advantages and disadvantages of each business model are, so a person can make a decision on what business fits their personality.

    Even though it is tedious, I have to commit to upload the workshops into the membership right away  so when I design a webinar to promote the membership, I will have the workshops ready.

    Categories: Journal, To Write

    Day Zero – Do a Journal Post per day challenge

    pen in hand writing in a book day zero

    In a way to increase my writing, I am going to challenge myself to write each day about my internet activities.

    Yesterday, it was Victoria Day, so I had a day off from work.  I have some pressure to get clicks on my email and social media posts. When I signed up for Proven Email Formula, I don’t remember any mention of doing a giveaway but it was the first thing we did.

    So I had my book “7 Steps to produce your first show” as a freebie but it is very niche-related. It is for people who know they need to get more visible on the internet.

    So I created an email where I screwed up the shortlink by adding a period in the hyperlink so it gave a 404 error. Also, I have two affiliate links for the giveaway so that’s going to confuse.  When I sent a sample email given for the giveaway – swipe mail- I made a mistake and I copy/pasted the Hi [first name] into my email that is what showed once I sent the email.

    So, I learned

    1. Never to copy/paste code as it just shows as text.
    2. Keep the hyperlinked short link separate from surrounding text so you don’t capture a period.

    Another issue with my website was my SimpleClick Tracker wouldn’t add any new shortlinks into it ‘s system. It’s probably a conflict with one of the other plugins or the ?  I turned off the latest plugins that were added but it didn’t stop the issue.  So, I added Pretty Links in which was quick and easy. Even though it is been years since the last time Pretty Links was added there were old shortlinks in it with the stats on the number of clicks history.

    The website is so large with 700 posts, mostly video, that I have to pay for a larger server. Nothing I can do about it as each Facebook broadcast gets put on the website. Then if I was to delete the Facebook plugin, I would have 500 empty posts!  So, I need to finish editing the HOME page so it links to other websites based on topic.

    T0 do this week:

    1. Finish the look of the HOME page for the website.
    2. Do a social media post every day.
    Categories: Journal Tags: Tags: , , ,

    Preparing To Write

    books and pen and writing getting ready to write

    Preparing to Write
    Some writers prefer to just sit down and get the task of writing done. This may be easy for some people but not everyone seems to have that constant stream of thoughts, waiting to be put onto paper. If you often find yourself stuck with what to write there are a few things that you can do to help you.

    woman writing in a book
    One of the first things you can do is to research your topic. This has a two-fold effect. First research can provide you with lots of content ideas, which you can use to create your articles. Secondly, it can help you uncover a less well-known topic or a brand-new topic waiting to be exposed! Imagine if you could regularly publish content with news that becomes the first to market. Your readers are going to love you and view you as someone with their fingers on all the right buttons.
    In addition, researching a particular subject allows you to easily create a writing schedule or calendar. By spending a few hours or even a couple of days performing research, you could easily come up with enough topic ideas to last you for months.

    View of Library Aisle
    Now that you have ideas spilling out of your head it is time to sit down and start writing.

    view of coffee shop

    Where you write will depend on your preference. Many writers prefer to write in a quiet place away from all distractions. Other writers may prefer to write surrounded by the hustle and bustle at a local coffee shop or bookstore. Pick a place where you feel comfortable writing.

    Anyone who is trying to improve their writing skills must be prepared to write drafts of their content. Very rarely can anyone write a perfect piece the first time out. When you have the mindset that your work will need polishing and editing you will find it easier to write.  No-one is asking you to write perfectly. This is often the pleasure of writing, discovering ways to refine and polish your initial thoughts and feelings. Once you have completed the writing and editing process you will feel proud of your accomplishment.

    Many writers experience feelings of nervousness and anxiousness. Top writers say that when you feel this way your writing has become top class. You have poured your soul into your words and are honestly worried about what others will think of you!

     

    Categories: To Write

    5 Tips on How to Learn How to Write

    Can Anyone Learn to Write?

    This is a question that gets asked frequently, so is it really possible for anyone to learn how to write? Most people assume that you must have a certain knack to be a writer. While it is true that certain people do posses a flair for writing, it is something which anyone can do.

    Of course it helps if you have the desire to want to become a better writer. As with learning anything new those students who are motivated and driven will learn better than those who have no desire to learn.

    A quick search online will bring up tons of writing tips and suggestions on how to write faster and produce more content. Some of these tips are extremely useful and helpful while others are not. Let’s take a quick look at some of the top writing tips.

    1. Make time to practice writing each day – this is probably the best advice anyone can give you. It is true that the more you write the better you become. So set aside some time each day and get writing.

    2. Read every day – another great tip which is definitely helpful. By exposing your mind to fresh content daily your vocabulary and your knowledge increases.

    3. Be prepared to write lots of drafts – this is again very true and something that you must get used to doing. By rewriting your work you are improving it each time. What may have started out as a vague idea can easily be turned into a compelling piece of content.

    4. Edit and proofread – valuable tips and something that every writer should get into the habit of doing. By editing your work you can find silly mistakes such as writing breast instead of beast. Plus you can check the flow and meaning of your work as well. Always edit your work after it has sat unopened for at least one day.

    5. Research and check facts – another helpful tip. Researching your content can help you state accurate facts and figures in your work. There would be nothing more embarrassing than quoting a wrong saying or date in your work. Researching is also a great way of discovering new topics to write about.

    As you can see it is not difficult to put these 5 tips into action. As long as you have the motivation to learn there is absolutely no reason why you can’t become a published author.

     

    Categories: Writing Tags: Tags: ,

    Adding Your Personality to your Writing

    taking a walk

    Adding Personality to Your Writing, Yes Please!

    It is quite easy to write a short article on almost any subject these days, but have you thought about adding some of your own experiences into your articles?

    When you inject personality into your writing it can take on a whole new life.

    Today is a Friday and I’m thinking about what to do this weekend.

    What long walk can I take the dogs on so I can lose weight without damaging my knees? It is supposed to be the hottest day of the year so if we go at 7 a.m., I shouldn’t sweat too much.  The dogs, Angus, my Cairn Terrier and Cookie, my California Rescue pinscher chihuahua cross look at me with imploring eyes and wagging their tails in the morning as they know we are going exploring. (Will have to add a video here. 🙂 )   Some days, I disappoint them as it is raining heavily or it is “Garbage Day” with several garbage trucks zooming around our streets but other days…. when we turn right down the path and on to the long stretch of road that lasts, they know it is a good day 🙂 . 

    The minute you start writing about something that has personally happened to you, you start using words which convey more feelings. The reader picks up on these and can identify with them. This also helps build a connection between the reader and you, which is definitely a good thing!

    Let’s say you were writing an article on having to make a decision about putting your dog to sleep. If you have been through this you can add more feeling and depth to your article. Instead of reading like a factual article, your article will become a short story and deal with the heart break of having to make this kind of decision.

    Readers love to feel an emotional connection to whatever they are reading. If they can feel your struggles and pain they immediately feel the same way. By the time they have finished reading they will remember your name and want to read more of your work.

    Some writers stay away from adding that personal touch to their work. Yes, it can be difficult to include some experiences. This is especially true for those experiences that evoke unpleasant reactions such as losing a loved one.

    On the upside though, you are letting the human side of you come to the surface. You have allowed your vulnerability to come through and honestly, readers love this!

    Of course you don’t have to write heart breaking stories all the time. It would be very draining to do so on a regular basis. Instead draw from some of your experiences so that you can add those deeper feelings into your content. May be you have struggled to lose weight at some point. Talk about it and remember the way you felt frustrated and how you found the motivation to keep going.

    When readers identify with your work they are more likely to become a loyal reader. This means that they may subscribe to your RSS feed or they may sign up to your newsletter. When this happens they are letting you know that they want to hear more from you.

    If you haven’t opened yourself up and let your personality come through why not try it the next time you write?

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    Categories: Writing Tags: Tags: , , ,

    Writing Strategies for Blog Posts

    notepad and ink pen

    The more you blog, the quicker you’ll grow at writing effective, punchy blog posts.

    Eliminate distractions

    Disconnect from the internet and don’t go near Facebook.  Turn off the ringer on your phone.  Shut your home office door, if you can.  Put up a “Do Not Disturb ” sign.  Use “Full Width” setting in your computer writing software or WordPress so you aren’t distracted by what tags or category you need and H1 or H2 to make the words pretty.

    Tell the kids it is “Writing Time.”

    Bribe the kids with one hour of computer time games before school.  Prepare lunches the night before.  Put an alarm clock on for 30 minutes writing time.  Get up at 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. each morning for time to write in your pajamas. Write about your pajama time!  You don’t need to watch “Real Housewives” with the kids.

    Go in the back room and shut the door! Set up a table in the bedroom with your computer or even just paper and pen.  Keep everyone away from this table and keep every pen and where you finished writing off on the computer  ready for you to sit down and just write!

    Pick the same time every day

    Try to pick your ideal time of day to write – for example, at 9:30 a.m. , when you’ve got that freshly-made cup of coffee sitting on your desk, the kids are safely in school and the dog is fast asleep after his morning walk.

    Or as mentioned before, get up while everyone is sleeping, brush your teeth and sit down at the kitchen table and write for an hour with a cup of coffee. Your family will be amazed at how much writing you are getting done even if you aren’t happy with it. It is the habit of writing and of thinking about writing which will get your brain awake and doing the good writing.

    Make that time slot sacred.  You’ll be amazed at how easy it becomes to start writing creatively, when it’s a daily habit.  You can become conditioned to be ready to write by making sure you pick the same time or the same day of the week. If your brain knows it is 5 a.m. so wake up your writing muse, it will become easier to write, write and write.

    More writing strategies tomorrow as I do my own Writing Strategies Blog Challenge with 30 days with 30 posts..see I am making it a habit. 🙂

    For more on writing, opt in for “52 Weekly Writing Tips” sent by email with your name and email and get in the habit of writing!   here

    Categories: Writing Tags: Tags: , , ,

    To Write

    Scriven is defined from Old French  “scrive” which is “to write.”  The action of writing ; the beauty of writing and the love of reading will be explored on this website.  Why?  As I like to say, “Why not!”.   A person should explore all things in their life they encounter because they are experiences that you can learn from.  This website has been here empty and unloved for a couple of years. So, now is the time to start the creative juices running and explore different topics.  Shall it be:

    1. My daily journal

    2. My writings in progress

    3. My podcasts on writing process

    4. Quotes i find for the day and why they inspire me?

    5. Chapters from a book that I am writing?

    6. Review of books I love and why?

    It can be this and so much more if I find the right theme.

    Regards, jane

    Categories: To Write

    Change in Focus

    I think I need to define what this blog is about before I can start writing.

    I know that you don’t want to read about my challenges while starting a business.

    I expect you would like to know about the challenge and then how to solve it!

    Anyway, I will be getting on to talking about blogging and some of the ways you can monetize your blog so you can continue as a business rather than a hobby.

    Also, I have a lot of books on writing I could review so you can decide if or it isn’t worth spending money for that book.

    We will see if I like this free Theme and if it can be made workable to be monetized. I have a feeling it isn’t but I’ll go check and see if I can add any plugins to it.

    So, I am starting over and I think the first thing I have to do is to define the purpose for the scriven.ca blog.   Talk later.

    Categories: To Write