August already~ hot, humid August and all that comes with it. Back to school, increased electric bills, 'cause we need to utilize more AC, an increased chance of hurricane threat, though the eastern Atlantic seems quiet at the moment *whispers the latter* Don't want to jinx the weather patterns:)

Kudos to Cari Quinn. Excellent blog the other day. While I await her critique of my blog and website design, which I've done probably 75 per cent of the things she explicitly said not to do, I thought we'd talk briefly about a subject that is just as important as the design of your cyber representation and that is UPDATING.

How many of you update your blogs daily or at least every couple of days? How many update your websites at least once a month or so?

I personally update my blog usually every couple of days or so. I noticed something I hadn't realized while surfing friends' blogs who list my link. And this is a valuable little tidbit of information at least in my opinion. I didn't see my link listed, so I scrolled down and, low and behold, found it down at the bottom of the list! Why? Well upon further investigation, I realized that the way a blog is listed on the favorites list goes by when said blog was last updated. The number one spot was updated maybe an hour ago, number two, a couple of hours and so on. My blog was updated a mere two days ago but all the others were more recent which tossed me to the bottom of the list! I found that interesting. And I must tell you, gives me even more incentive to keep on top of my site updates.

So that's just what I did today:)

How about you?

D~

Wow! it's way too quiet. Where is everyone?

Well as many of you have noticed, I have been very busy with visibility. Something that for us fledgeling authors is so very important. Without the funds for broad advertising, agent representation, or that dreamed of sale to a large New York house we are at our own mercy.

So what do we do? We put our name and brand on any and every venue we can. We collect people as 'friends' and resources to utilize and keep our names in the proverbial limelight. We help each other by doing blog visits, interviews, and just plain word of mouth advertising.

I am not the highest skilled computer techie-type person but I can eventually figure my way around most venues. If I can't I have Catherine! LOL But I will warn you, everything takes time and patience. As many of you know I recently signed up for Twitter(easy), My Space(full day project for me), and Facebook(not complicated).

Now while we're busy trying to get aboard all these networks, other venues are
slipping by the wayside. I have slacked the last couple of weeks on the loops, blogs I frequent, and writer forums. Yikes! It all takes so much time and effort to keep visible, when does a writer take time to...write?

Well, remember a few months ago I did some time management blogging? Well, here is where scheduling your activities, updates, writing time, real life all come together. Maybe not as good as on paper but you can tick things off as you accomplish them and feel good about it. I make lists and notes all the time containing things I need to do or did do so I know where I left off. I have a household day planner and and writing day planner and index cards and even spreadsheets coming out the ying yang. Yeah, I know sounds like a chaotic mess but it is an organized chaotic mess *grin*

Today I plan on mapping out all the projects I need to deal with and handle and I will whip out a completed short titled, A Jersy Tale, and get it submission ready. It needs some reworking and lots of heat:) Started out as an imagery project for a class I took and turned into a story long ago. Blew the dust off it last year and did some revising and now I will finish it. I'd like to have it out and hopefully sold by fall. Perhaps even released next year for Halloween. Now all I have to do is make it happen:)

Wanted to remind you all that Michele Flagg will be hanging out here tomorrow so please drop by and visit with her. She is the author of Retribution! the very hot vampire series, The Champion Chronicles. Don't miss Michael Malone. He is one stacked vampire.

Have a wonderful end to your weekend.

D~

Twitter dee, twitter dum...

Okay, so I've finally joined My Space and discovered Twitter. I'm working on Facebook, considering the necessity of one more venue to update, LOL I'd like to have a full out discussion on the merits of all these hookup spots. Marketing/promo/branding for us writers is very important and like me most don't have the funds to hire advertising firms to take care of this for us. Let's put out heads together this weekend and share ideas for getting our names out there. What are you doing? What cost effective venues are you using?

While you're pondering the above don't forget to stop in and visit with Mary Ricksen tomorrow. She is the next guest up and author of Tripping Through Time.

Well, its off to the day job for me. Wishing you all a wonderful day:)

Dayana~