Webhosting Server Crash = Sites Offline!

FYI - ALL of my websites are temporarily offline. That includes:

39AndHoldingClub.com
PenchantForPenning.com
BlastFromYourPast.net
WomenWritersWorldwide.com 

(This article was originally published on Club39.com's blog.)

There are minimal holding sites at 39 and Holding Club and LRochelle.com ... where you'll also find periodic updates. Look for the others to be following suit asap. WHY the sudden termination of my sites? Well ... 

Sometimes, life just doesn't want to cooperate. I have plans ... but the Universe has its own scheme for me ... and it's always a surprise. 

Not necessarily a welcome surprise. 

Case in point ... I recently wrote on my Penchant for Penning blog about the trials and tribulations with my webhost's server(s) five-day crash. And the angst continues ... 

Own a Computer? How Does It Feel to be a Victim?

In our NewWorld Order of technology over common sense, we are not only slaves to our machines, we are hostages to their manufacturers and providers.

Our emotional stability and peace of mind is bound and gagged, and our bank accounts are being robbed at the same time. Shame on you, Microsoft, Apple, and so many more.

The scene mirrors a common crime – an unwitting victim may have taken a slight risk in walking alone through a darkened parking lot after the bar closed – but that does not give anyone the right to kidnap and pillage a hardworking citizen.

A little dramatic? Perhaps. But I’m a writer (hence the drama), editor, and a Boomer on a TIGHT budget, and don’t appreciate my computer (and my dollars) being held hostage by a rich conglomerate.

How? With the (practically) minute-by-minute upgraded devices we are FORCED to purchase. It may seem I am arguing for the stagnation of technology, but I am actually advocating freedom.

Freedom to choose between “keeping up with the Joneses” and simply content with the equipment we have at the moment, which works just fine for our purposes.

Be honest now – do you USE all of the features on your current computer?? I’ll bet not – so what is the attraction for you to upgrade?

A Bit O' the Irish for Everyone!

I'll make this short-n-sweet: Top O' the Mornin'! Or whatever time of day it is when you read this. 

We're celebrating me dear Grandpa Connelly's heritage -- and let's face it, no matter what your ancestors' culture, everyone is a wee bit o' Irish today.

This quickie note is just to regale you with a fun list of links to Irish sites, personally selected by yours truly, that will provide Irish fodder for your Erin Go Bragh get-togethers. Witty sayings, Irish lore and legend, and even wonderful wee gifts from the Leprechauns! Click on the shamrock!

I have no connection to any of these sites or owners -- other than we share a love for everything Irish. This information is for your pleasure and entertainment any time you feel like wearin' the green!


(I reviewed again, all of the links to ensure their current status, but of course, I cannot take any responsibility [or credit!] for any anomalies you might encounter.)

Publishing’s Redheaded Stepchild Waiting in the Wings for Center Stage

Yes, Self Publishing thrives! In spite of its beer bubbles in publishing's wine tasting room.

Four years ago I wrote “Publishing’s Death Knell Premature" (01/01/09),  about the redheaded stepchild of the book industry: Self Publishing. Of course, I’m using the term “self publishing” as the masses do – ANY form of publishing that is not through a traditional publisher.

I know, I know, that is not correct – have you tried changing public perception lately? (Click here if you want to know the difference between forms of publishing.)

So, let’s pretend this is January 1, 2013 again – seriously, I meant to write this then – after four years we can attest that the industry has indeed, changed. Not news. But the stagnation of self publishing’s image is.

After four long, recessionary years in which self publishing has exploded, unlike other industries, a recent journalist’s query requested to connect with “authors who have not yet been signed to a publisher,” still assuming all authors have the desire to sell their souls to a traditional publisher. I nearly choked on my coffee (OK, it may have been beer … don’t recall what time of the day).

Facebook – A Shiny Trojan Horse

A lifestyle comment ...


I thoroughly dislike Facebook. There. I said it aloud. And I know I’m not alone. Maybe I should start a Facebook Healing Program: “Hi. My name is LinDee and I’m a recovering Facebook member.”

I can’t say I’ve ever been a Facebook fanatic. I used to be a private person and my sole purpose for joining was to connect with others on a business level. But its uses for many people are multi-level, appealing to every aspect of life. And I do mean every.

 

Have you ever visited FB’s various policy and information pages? They’re very enlightening. Right from the beginning they tell us (and we ignore the connotation): “We are building Facebook to make the world more open and transparent. …” (www.facebook.com/principles.php)

“The world” – as in governments and enforcement agencies that are supposed to protect us, yes; but the world, as in each individual, should NOT be transparent to the point of vulnerability to the mass villains!

Dishing on the Newsletter Sign-up Marketing Ploy

Enter your email address below. By entering your e-mail, you will be signed up for X-Company's newsletter.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

 

Sound familiar? It’s a safe bet that you’ve encountered a similar request online at some point. To enter a contest, register for a webinar or other event, or even just to gather some research information, you often must “enter your email address” AND “you will receive our newsletter.”

I completely understand the marketing ploy behind this irritating request. But if you’re like me, chances are you already receive their newsletter, which is how you learned of the event or intriguing opportunity.

Entering your email address to validate the entry or registration is a necessary evil; and I’ll bet your next thought is, “I already receive their newsletter; if I do this I wonder if I’ll receive multiple issues?” (And you may not even want the one you currently receive).

Shock Jock Writers – Oh Yes, They Exist!

Shock-jock writers. Who are they? Think about it. We all know the name of the radio jock generally considered the epitome of the original broadcast shock-jocks. His name rhymes with “learn.” (I refuse to give him credit here – he offends me on so many levels.) If you haven’t a clue to my reference that’s OK; you’re not missing anything.

Somewhere underneath the vitriol diatribe, shock-jocks may have a valid point. But they apparently don’t feel comfortable enough with their normal personable charm (said with tongue in cheek) to attract your attention, so their agendas are punctuated with profanity and/or adjectives meant to disgust, berate, or shockingly suggest sexual exploitation.

Well, guess what? The world of authorship has its own breed of shock-jocks. What I’d like to offer is the viewpoint that if you’re a good writer, you don’t need tricks or trash-talk (fiction and erotica excluded) to make your points and gain a following.

Static Pages Could Be Sabotaging Your Business (Challenge below!)

So tell me – how many pages does your website contain? Five? Fifteen? A hundred or more? Large companies’ sites stretch into the thousands. Even with a website team, maintaining more than two can be time-consuming. And time is money.

Oh, and please don’t tell me you don’t have a website (or blogsite). Have you published a book? Do you own a business? (No matter how small – home based qualifies.) You MUST have a website. Are there true naysayers anywhere who disagree? I seriously doubt it.

It doesn’t really matter how many pages you maintain because the top five viewed are generally the most important. Why? For whatever reason – your marketing, backlinks, their popular searchability – interest in their hype or content has driven people to them. As such, they are your site’s foundation.

Good for you! Enticing people to your website is difficult. Of course, keeping them there and ensuring they click on your Buy Buttons is even trickier. But as an editor, I know one element of your website that once created is often neglected in updates, and just might be the biggest cause to losing your visitors’ interest.

But it’s true; but he said …

You know, I admit, off the cuff, I’m just a mediocre writer. If I don’t edit my writing several times, the original text is ripe with flaws like misplaced phrases and redundancies—similar to the news articles that are now shoved down our throats every day.

Once upon a time in a fairytale world journalists were writers of note, highly regarded for not only their style, but their writing acumen—realizing of course, most were edited prior to publication.

My morning routine is to grab a cuppa joe and check out today’s Yahoo! news. And every day I shake my head over the mediocre writing—sometimes to the point of overshadowing my interest in whatever report or rumor I’m trying to read.

Today’s pet peeve? When hurried, a writer resorts to familiar words … over, and over, and over again.

My Life According to FreeCell

Like checking your Horoscope every morning before your day begins, I play FreeCell to shake loose the dreamy cobwebs and help a cuppa steaming coffee stimulate my sleepy brain.

I’ve played it for years—back in the early 2000s I waited impatiently in a Phoenix Discount Tire Center for my Jeep’s new shoes to be installed. Looking up from the two-year-old magazine in hand, I spotted the counterman at the computer—you know how the monitors half-face front so customers can see the screen?

He was playing FreeCell. Solitaire is in my card-playing blood and I’d not heard of this game?! I eagerly attacked the counter and “John” showed me a few moves. When he was called to the service area, he graciously allowed me to play his game.

I was hooked—I rushed home, flying smoothly on my Jeep’s new wheels (yes, I splurged for custom rims, too—that was back when I actually had a budget) and installed FreeCell on my PC.

That was ten years or so ago and when I, PC, Sunny the cat, and the Jeepster, returned to my beloved San Diego, FreeCell moved with us.

It wasn’t until this past year however, that I realized how much the same strategic skills utilized in FreeCell mirror our moves in life. How you ask? Let me count the ways …

How Do I Master the Art of Radio Interviews?

As promised, this is an addendum to my blog of February 10, 2012, exploring the value of radio interviews. Have you decided that interviews should be in your repertoire of book (or any product/service) promotion?

The 18 tips below will help you provide a strong and entertaining interview to become a sought-after guest—and tips to decline an interview offer—yes, there are reasons to do so.

Great! You’ve been approached by a radio host or producer to interview with them—after you’ve high-fived yourself in the mirror …

Not All Radio Interviews are Worth the Effort

I’ve been fortunate to score some radio interviews with my new book’s release (about Rock & Roll Radio DJs of yesteryear). Imagine that—an author of a book about radio, on the radio! Will wonders never cease. (OK, I’ll pull my tongue out of my cheek now.)

If you’re wondering how I did that (no, not the tongue-thing, the radio interviews) I promise to discuss it in an upcoming post (hint/example: Steve Harrison’s RTIR).

But while the past several interviews are fresh, I want to address a couple of lessons learned. Hopefully, you will discover a few good tips and be spared the baptism by fire experiences. ...

An A-Musing Heartfelt Moment

Though Penchant for Penning as a service has been around for decades, and a formal website resides at its .com space, I've been slow to create a blog presence. Why? Time.

But timing is everything and the time is now to tell some stories and share some insights with other writers and authors who want some company. (I know, using "some" three times in a sentence is poor form.)

And it's appropriate too that this blog begins in the month of February. It's the Valentine month. Full of hearts and flowers ... and chocolate! ... the sustenance that feeds my muse. ...