When Everything Falls Perfectly Into Place!

Don’t you love when you put a plan into action, and it unfolds just as you hoped? Even the smallest accomplishments in life can be satisfying. At least they are to me. As an optimist, I believe the small achievements give way to the major ones.

I have been writing full time for six months now. Which has always been a desire of mine! The ability to do what I’m most passionate about for a living. When I started virtual assisting, I thought most of my work would come from social media marketing and management with a splash of writing tasks. In the past, it did, but as of lately the majority of contract work has been writing content for websites, articles, and research. I’m not complaining, in fact, I am excited!

Two Drops of Ink adds to my excitement! For those of you who do not follow Two Drops of Ink, first I say… “shame on you!!!” Just kidding, to each their own but you don’t know what you’re missing! I have noticed many of my followers here, and on Instagram and Twitter are now regulars on the site. The literary site has grown tremendously, conquering many obstacles. The move from Blogger to WordPress! The move due to growth served up a hit to it’s following, but Two Drops of Ink overcame it by leaps and bounds. When people love something so much, they will do everything possible to keep it a part of their lives. Along the way the site has earned many awards and is on its way to becoming the best literary site for writers. It’s already in the top 50 best writing blogs that achievement is huge!!! All the new features are a great addition to the site. The Book Shelf is for authors to promote their novels. Wall of Poets debuts the work of seasoned and upcoming poets. Hump Day Humor gives us writers something to laugh about so if you have a funny story or memoir piece submit it. Sunday Spotlight highlights contributors to the site. The site is excellent! I remember coming on board right after the transition. The growth I have seen along the way has been incredible. I also credit my growth as a writer to the site. The camaraderie of the team is like no other. I am ecstatic to be in the company of such great writers. As we speak, I’m working on my next three pieces for Two Drops, and I hope to read a post from you in the future as well.

I will continue to Live, Love, Share!!! This blog is my baby, and yes she has been a little neglected, but I have a strategy. I can function on less sleep!!! LOL!!! For my love of writing and my future literary career, I’m willing to give up a lot!!! So my friends, until next time…soon, have an awesome week and may the power of the pen be with you!!!

 

Qimono on Pixabay

Two Drops Of Ink Literary Blog

 

 

Writing… What Will It Do for You?

“It’s hell writing and it’s hell not writing. The only tolerable state is having just written.”
― Robert Hass

My literary muse arises most when I’m passionate about a subject or an event. The ability to provide information, to entertain, or share some great epiphany I may have had. All of which motivates me to get out of bed in the morning, enjoy each day whether good or bad. Life and all of its occurrences gives me something to write about later.

A day ago I was on “Two Drops of Ink” blog, reading and commenting on articles. I read a post by writer and editor Peter B. Giblett, entitled “Do You Ever Promote Your Older Articles”.  In his piece he writes about the benefits of promoting your older articles. I was thoroughly educated by it and I encourage you to read it for yourself.

Persuaded to revisit past work online, in notebooks, stored on thumb drives and disks. As I reviewed these pieces, I found myself on a trip down memory lane. I noticed how my writing changed over the years and during different stages of my life. Being the hoarder that I am of notebooks, journals and various storage devices, I was surprised that I was only able to go back ten years. Although, those ten years seemed like an eternity.

As I embarked on the journey down memory lane, I felt as if I was intruding on the private thoughts and life of a stranger. Observing the knowledge, wisdom, love, sentiment as well as the trials of this seemingly unknown woman. With every written reflection, article or blog post, I noticed her evolution and growth. I do admit, I have a long road ahead to get to who I truly want to be. It’s amazing how writing can foster change, not only in the style of writing, but in life as well. After turning 39 a few weeks ago, I’m anxious to see where my writing will take me this year.

Writing itself is a process and like other skills and routines the longer we do it the better we become. We get better at the art, but we also work out the things that haunt us as well. A tool to inspire thought, writing brings about ideas, emotions to life and educate our peers. Allowing us to come to a resolution as if it was some sort of complex equation.

My ability to write developed from my love of books. I longed to be as eloquent and creative as the authors I read. There are many reasons to write and ways to develop your writing. To build or advertise a business, reflecting on life, spiritual growth and nurture relationships.

As I looked through all of my past work, it became clear that subconsciously a part of me was writing for life. Life Writing is the recording of selves, memories and experiences, whether one’s own or another’s. Applying to many genres and practices under which can be found autobiography, biography, memoir, diary, letters, testimonies, personal essays and more recently, digital forms such as blogs and email. My past worked contained most of these!

Most people don’t write as much as a grocery list. They aimlessly wander down grocers’ aisles hoping to remember what they needed. Jotting a thank you letter is not a life changing experience nor will it win you a Pulitzer Prize. Adding writing to your lifestyle can be helpful in many ways. I challenge you to read the article by Peter Giblett and with an open mind look over your past works to take inventory to see how writing has helped you. If you are not a writer…. Write something today, even if it’s just a simple thought. Most great things began as a simple thought!

 

Do You Ever Promote Your Older Articles by Peter Giblett

https://goo.gl/Fizaay

Wikipedia: Life Writing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_writing

Word Cloud Image

http://worditout.com/

 

Trials and Tribulations… An Opportunity for Growth.

It’s been three months that I have been out of the loop. Life has been a non- stop roller coaster ride with many trials and tribulations along the way.

Everything was wonderful…. business was going great. I had steady clients keeping me very busy, writing for my blog and two others. Doing everything I love to do for a living. Slowly, everything began to change.

My trials began with the loss of my first client due to cut backs. This was not at all alarming, it’s to be expected when working with a start up business. I made such a great impression that I knew once business picked back up I would be contacted.

Two weeks later one of my computers crashed…. I did not see that coming at all!!! I was not worried it was a back up that I used from time to time. It was mostly used by my fiancee and my step- son.  So being the technology geek that I am, I restored the computer. I saved it from going to computer heaven but it’s not like it was before the virus.

Just when I thought I made it through those two incidents unscathed in July I lost another client. Now it’s safe to say I’m in panic mode. My fiancee was laid off from his job at the chemical plant here in Montgomery and I’m making enough to just get by. The storm is now in full effect!!!

Optimistic, I’m like okay I working full- time with my last client and I still have my main computer. I have the ability to write and win new clients while I wait for past clients to need my expertise. So, I continued to work and write articles. I was too caught up in the rat race to blog or come to the couch. Many of my readers know that I refer to my blog as a therapy session.

Continuing to remain strong through all the trials and tribulations. Positive that all would end very soon on a good note. One day in August, I’m working on an article for Two Drops of Ink when my computer shut totally down. Calmly, I gave it about five minutes and attempted to power it back up. Nothing happened!!! In my mind I’m starting to panic but I remained calm and decided to end my work for the day.

The following day I powered on my computer to only see a black screen. Needless to say I’m in a full panic. In the midst of my panic I find out that my fiancee and stepson were downloading Win Games onto both machines. For those who don’t know often times hackers plant viruses on different types of sites. Game sites are very prone to carry viruses. Unfortunately, I can attest to this first hand!

I know there is a reader saying… “So whats the problem? Use the second computer!” I could and I did! The secondary computer is a slow Compaq with Windows 8. That computer was not good for everything I do on a daily basis. My main computer was a super fast HP with Windows 7 Professional and lightning fast. One week then two weeks go by and the computer would only show a black screen. Thank God I back up all my work both to the cloud as well as on disk.

Wait!!! The plot thickens…. my last client calls me one morning to inform me that we will stop work for a while. The suspend of work was not due to monetary issues but due to my ability to work at a fast pace and efficiently organize a businesses administratively. As an entrepreneur these are the types of situations that should be expected. It still pulled the rug out from under me!

Not only was Jimmy out of work so was I. Bills compile, cellular phone are disconnected and your living on credit alone. Of course depression starts to set in and I cannot make it through the night with out 2- 3 glasses of red wine. The bad out weighs the good and you only see the dark clouds. There is no rainbow when the storm over!!!

Feeling sorry for myself, I spent many days in bed or on the couch wondering what to do next. As a believer that everything happens for a reason I had to pray. Why? Was a constant question in my mind.

I can either give up or use my circumstances an opportunity for growth. I decided to use the downtime to my advantage. Write more and revamp my virtual assisting business strategies. Learn more about computers and technical support. Most importantly spend more time with my future husband and revisiting our goals in life.

I’m grateful that in trying times Jimmy and I are able to pull together. He is definitely a great motivator and my best friend. If it was not for him and my mother I would still be in the dumps and wondering. It just goes to show that even the strong have weaknesses and need someone to lean on.

Today, I’m back in business. I’m still cleaning up but the storm is over and I do see the rainbow. The road to success is rocky and sometimes life gives us a nudge to make sure we are paying attention. If every day of our life was smooth sailing would we really have something to look forward to?  Would we be grateful for the good and the bad? How would we grow? 

May my trials and tribulations motivate others. I hope you can read this post and say she made her negatives into positives and so can I. The only war wounds I walked away with was a weight gain of thirty pounds. LOL!!! I guess I didn’t suffer too much!!!