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Julie McCormick
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Homepage: http://www.lifehack.org
Posts by Julie McCormick
How to Become a Blogging Success Story, Part 1 – Getting Started
May 13th
Blogging isn’t something that only the nerdy types or teens do anymore, and it most certainly goes beyond posting pictures of your children (or pets for the childless out there) and griping about your job. Blogging is, for some, a business or a source of extra spending money. It’s also a source of money, power, and satisfaction. But as it goes in professional sports, there are millions playing in the neighborhood little leagues, but a very small minority will ever make it to the big leagues. So how do you improve your chances of taking your blog from beyond just a hobby into something that you add to your resume and turn into cash?
1. Be prepared to pour in your blood, sweat and tears.
Very rarely does a blog go from a readership consisting of your family, friends, co-workers, and admirers (or enemies) that have figured out how to stalk you online, to an overnight success. Sure, if you break a big story and CNN picks it up and gives you a shout-out, you might get an instant influx of visitors, but the chances of that happening are slim. So instead of banking on a miracle, be prepared to slave away at it for a bit. Know that you will at times doubt yourself and your ability to go on, that you will have to force yourself to blog when you really don’t feel like it. Be prepared, perhaps, not to know what “free time” is anymore. This may not be true in all cases, but for someone like me that runs a news oriented blog, it’s a 24/7 operation. A blog focusing on, say, technology might not have to be so vigilant in covering breaking news.
2. Before you start blogging, think about what you will be blogging about.
My interests are so varied that I couldn’t pick just one topic to blog about, and I knew I’d probably get bored writing about the same thing day after day, week after week, year after year. That being said, if you want to establish yourself as an expert in a field or topic area, then a more focused blog will be most suitable.
3. Avoid free blog services.
Resist the temptation to start with a free blog on Blogger, WordPress or any of the other free, hosted blogging services. You will kick yourself later, trust me. If you’re serious about taking your blog beyond a recreational activity, do yourself a favor and buy a domain and web hosting. You can start with something as simple and cheap as GoDaddy, and move as your site grows. I started out with shared hosting, and since then I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been kicked off hosts due to my site’s growth and resource usage. These days, we have our own server.
4. If you use a premade template, at least customize some parts of it.
A unique design will make your blog more memorable. If you do use a premade template that thousands of other people have also installed on their blog, which I have nothing against, try to customize it at least a little bit. At the very least, pay someone $50 to make you a nice logo.
5. Consider a collaborative effort.
You’ll have to share the profits, but sometimes two (or three or four…) is better than one. It takes some pressure off of you as you’re not the sole blogger, and if you need to step away for a few days, there’s someone else to cover for you. Just choose your partner or partners wisely, and strongly consider getting your partnership arrangement in writing, just in case things sour one day.
6. Socialize and network with others.
Join Twitter and Facebook and start a conversation with your readers. Make sure to reply to comments on your blog. By talking with your readers, you’ll keep them checking back in and you’ll be at the forefront of their minds, making them more likely to become a repeat visitor. Repeat visitors are very important in establishing your blog. Fly-by traffic is still worthwhile, but building a loyal readership base is crucial. Making friends with other bloggers and website owners can also be beneficial as they can help drive traffic your way.
It’s not as easy as it looks or sounds.
Many have tried and failed. It can be done, and it doesn’t take a huge advertising budget, a staff of writers, or luck. However, it does take some degree of talent (if you are a horrible writer, I’d advise against pouring your heart into making a career of blogging) and a whole lot of dedication and drive. Having a plan also helps, although if you don’t have one you can still become successful, it just might take you longer as you figure things out along the way. I’ve been doing this for years now, and I’ve learned a lot along the way.
In Part 2 – Mistakes to Avoid of this multi-part series on becoming a blogging success I’ll talk about what NOT to do, and how to avoid some of the pitfalls.
Stop Wasting Time – How to Search Like a Pro
May 3rd
While using a search engine to find information on the web isn’t quite as much of an endeavor as it was in the late 1990′s, it can still be a time-consuming task if you don’t know how to make use of the tools available to you that can cut down the time you’ll spend searching. I worked in a public library for the better part of the last decade and in that capacity I’ve been asked every question under the sun and am expected to come up with an answer in an instant. Thank goodness for Google is all I have to say. While library workers have plenty of fancy databases and books at their disposal (which is wonderful in-depth and specialized research), it’s hard to deny that much of the information we need to find quickly can be pulled up much faster online.
Similar to the library catalog, Google allows its users to input search terms to help retrieve the documents and information that they are looking for. Except with Google you are not just searching a few thousands books; instead you are searching millions and millions of websites that are growing in number by the day. But a problem arises – how do you sort through this mess and find the information that you need? How do you find something, and how do you find it fast? And how do you sort the questionable sites from the legitimate and reliable ones? Who do you trust?
Searching the web can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be that way. By learning just a few simple techniques, you can be on your way to Googling with the best. It’s a skill that in today’s day and age you need to learn.
Getting started with search, and narrowing down your results with operators and Advanced Search.
Searching Google can be as simple as typing a word (or words) into the search box and hitting “Enter” on your keyboard. You can make your search as broad as you want, or narrow it down to specifics for a smaller pool of results. Searching for “dogs” will yield you a high number of search results – way more than you or anyone has the time to search through. So at this point you would want to narrow down your search, and there are several ways of doing this. But first, the basic Google search rules you NEED TO KNOW:
- Punctuation doesn’t count. So don’t worry about it. (Punctuation referring to . , ! and the like. Does not include – or ‘)
- Keywords aren’t case sensitive. Google considers uppercase and lowercase letters to be equal.
- You are limited to ten words. Everything after ten words is truncated and ignored.
- Avoid misspellings. You won’t get the same search results. However, Google will show you the correct spelling and offer you the opportunity to do a search with the correct spelling.
- Be specific. The more targeted your keywords, the better your results.
- Singular and plural forms are different keywords to Google. So if the singular form doesn’t provide what you are looking for, try the plural form.
- Google ignores most common, short words like the, and, or, after in,, how, I, it, is was, will be, and so on. Google will notify you at the top of your search results if they have ignored some of your search terms. (Google will only recognize AND and OR when all capitalized and used as an operator.)
- Google finds results anywhere in a document, not just in its text (eg- the HTML of a page).
- Word order matters to Google. The first word is the most important word, and so on.
Now that you know the basics, let’s move on to some more advanced stuff.
Search Operators
If your search for “dogs” got you more search results than you know what to do with and you can’t find what you are looking for, you can try adding search terms, such as “English Dogs” if you are searching for a particular type, or “dog breeding” if you want to learn about dog breeding. If entering more search terms still doesn’t cut it down enough, try adding quotation marks around your search terms – this will return only results with BOTH or ALL of your keywords in it.
The asterisk or * is a wildcard operator, which can help you find something when you only know part of a phrase. The wildcard can be used to match whole words, but not partial words. For example the search “ I left my * in San Francisco” would return many matches for “I left my heart in San Francisco”, and might possibly return results for other similar phrases, like “I left my blood in San Francisco.”
AND, OR, +, and – are some other popular operators that can help narrow down your searches. You may remember AND and OR from traditional Boolean searches. The AND and OR operators work only when typed in all capitalized letters. The AND operator between two search terms tells Google that the terms on either side of the AND should be included in the search results. The OR operator between two search terms tells Google to match any of the terms connected by the OR operator. + is an inclusion operator, which forces Google to include the indicated word on each result returned. It must come before the term to be included without anyspaces. – is the exclusion operator, which tells Google to exclude the specified term from any search results. Like the inclusion operator, the exclusion operator must come before the term without any spaces.
Advanced Search
Another method of narrowing down your search is by using “advanced search” instead of just the regular simple search. You can choose this option by clicking on “advanced search” right next to the search box. The advanced search function allows you to narrow down your search to specific file types, publication dates, languages, specific sites, and more. The more options that you choose, the fewer search results you will receive, and the more likely they are to be what you are looking for. However, you want to be sure that you aren’t narrowing it down too much whereby you wouldn’t find enough stuff. If you don’t get enough results, then try removing some of your limiters. If you get too many results, try adding a limiter. Using advanced search will help you find what you are looking for faster because you don’t have to sort through as much stuff that is not what you are looking for.
Understanding Search Results:
Now that you have narrowed down your search and gotten your search results, how do you interpret them? How do you know that what was returned is what you are looking for? Understanding search results is a very importance aspect of research. If you know what you are looking for, you can save yourself a lot of time. Additionally, knowing how to read your search results can help you learn useful hints for refining a searching and finding what you are looking for.
By default, Google returns only 10 results per page. However, you can change this by clicking on “Preferences”, or through the “Advanced Search” page. The pages are displayed in the order of their PageRank. Pages with the highest PageRank are at the top of the list. PageRank is determined by a number of factors to ensure that you get the best quality information.
After you have completed a search, the number of search results found will be displayed in the upper-right corner above the search results, as well as the length of time it took for Google to conduct the search. This number of results is not the precise number, but rather an estimate. Next to the number of results and the time it took to complete the search, you will also find links to each of your search terms. These links will take you to the word’s definition on Answers.com.
Each result is represented by the page’s title and a snippet of text from the web page. The title links to the page. If a title is not available for that site, the URL will be provided. Beneath the site’s snippet of information, you will also see a Cached link and a Similar Pages link.
Cached Results
If you click the Cached link in a search result, a copy of the web page that Google has downloaded and saved in its cache server appears. It is a snapshot of the web page from a specific time- the date that Google downloaded it. It is very likely that the web page has changed since Google downloaded it. So why should you open a cached result? First, your search terms are highlighted on the cached page, so it makes it easier to find the specific block of information you are looking for. Cached pages open more quickly than the live site because Google’s servers are far superior to anyone elses, and if you can’t access the actual web page for some reason (it was moved, deleted, server is down, etc.) you will still be able to view the page.
Similar Pages
Clicking the Similar Pages link will return other results that are most similar to what you are you have found on a particular site. This will most often return competing sites will similar information, and when you are looking for information on a particular subject, but need more than one source, this is a great way to go.
Evaluating the Source
So you’ve found the information that you’ve been looking for, but how do you know if it is from a reliable source? Anyone can post anything on the web, so how can you judge the accuracy of the information you find?
Web Pages to Avoid
Spam Pages. Spam pages are pages placed by sites that are deceptive in nature. They contain keywords intended to fool Google and essentially exist for the sole purpose of displaying advertisements. Google weeds out most of these, but sometimes one gets through. Fortunately, you can report it to Google at www.google.com/contact/spamreport.html so that they can eliminate it from their search results.
Commecial Pages. These types of sites are obviously trying to sell you something, which is good if you are looking to buy something, but not good if you are trying to find reliable, unbiased information. These types of websites are typically not helpful to researchers unless you are looking to buy something or are looking for product information.
Logon Pages. These sites contain logon pages, which usually means you have to subscribe to the site in order to view the information. Subscriptions may just require you to fill out a form and provide personal information, or they may cost you money. Unless this is your last resort, don’t waste the time. You can always come back later. These pages can be identified by those asking for usernames and passwords.
Error Pages. These pages usually contain the word “Error” somewhere in the snippet and on the page and usually describe the type of error. There’s nothing useful to you here, so if you see “error” don’t go there.
Page Moved Pages. These usually contain the words “page moved”, “site moved”, “redirect” or “redirecting”. Often times this means that the web page no longer exists and you are being forwarded to the main page of the site.
How to Evaluate Resources:(AAOCC Guidelines Source: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENGI/eval_criteria.html)
Many websites exist simply to get you to buy into their point of view and disseminate inaccurate information. Although Google’s PageRank system does provide you with good results, it is still up to you as the user to determine the quality of the information.
In determining the quality of the information, following the AAOCC (authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, coverage) guidelines laid out by the University of California Berkley and ask these questions of the website:
Authority
- Who are the authors? Are they qualified? Are they credible?
- With whom are they affiliated? Do their affiliations affect their credibility?
- Who is the publisher? What is the publisher’s reputation?
Accuracy
- Is the information accurate? Is it reliable and error-free?
- Are the interpretations and implications reasonable?
- Is there evidence to support conclusions? Is the evidence verifiable?
- Do the authors properly list their sources, references or citations with dates, page numbers or web addresses, etc.?
Objectivity
- What is the purpose? What do the authors want to accomplish?
- Does this purpose affect the presentation?
- Is there an implicit or explicit bias?
- Is the information fact, opinion, spoof, or satirical?
Currency
- Is the information current? Is it still valid?
- When was the site last updated?
- Is the site well-maintained? Are there any broken links?
Coverage
- Is the information relevant to your topic and assignment?
- What is the intended audience?
- Is the material presented at an appropriate level?
- Is the information complete? Is it unique?
When to Call in the Pros
If after learning these search techniques you still can’t cut down the amount of time you spend searching for information, it might be time to enlist the help of a professional, such as a librarian. Head on over to your local library, or if you’re digitally inclined, most libraries offer live online reference help these days. Trust me when I say they’ll be more than happy to help you out.
How to Work Through Blog Burn Out
Apr 26th
Raise your hand if you have tried several times to start a new blog, and then completely forget about it weeks, months, or maybe even years later. You’re definitely not alone. Blogging can be fun, but it can also at times be very tedious, time consuming, and possibly even boring. In addition to the occasional case of writer’s block, another hazard of the blogging profession (or hobby) is burn out. Burn out is different than writer’s block; you can think of plenty of things to write about, but you just don’t want to or don’t have the motivation to. You’ve been there, done that. You’ve blogged so much that you don’t know if you can blog anymore. Burn out can kill even a well-established blog, something you might regret later when you’re feeling inspired again, so how can you avoid it?
Write About What You Love & Know
My primary website covers a multitude of topics and I have a quota I try to reach everyday in terms of what topics to cover. I don’t always meet the goal, but I try to. There are some days when I cannot for the life of me do a post on the latest health news, but I could easily whip out an entertainment piece. This is one of the same concepts that I use to overcome the occassional bout of writer’s block. Instead of trying to force out the kind of writing that I know I’d struggle with, I allow myself to write about something else that interests me at the moment. It’s more productive than sitting there staring at a black screen, and you’ll at least get some content up.
Create a Stockpile of Blog Post Ideas
Just as there are days when you struggle to come up with something to blog about, there are also days when you have so many ideas that you can’t possibly cover them all. When these days come around, make sure you write down all your ideas, either down on paper or in a file saved on your computer. When you aren’t motivated or can’t think of something “good” to blog about, consult your list – you might find yourself inspired again.
Reconsider Your Blogging Frequency
Perhaps blogging daily is too much for you, and scaling your blogging frequency back a little bit might help. It doesn’t have to be permanently, but you might find that if some of the pressure to perform is removed, your interest in blogging may increase.
Read to Find Inspriration
Sometimes blog burn happens because you just don’t know what to write about anymore. Similarly to overcoming writer’s block, with blog burn out you can try reading to find inspriration. Read some new blogs on a topics that interest you, read the newspaper or some magazines. Read and enjoy it. You might find something that sparks something in you, compelling you to write. Or, you might just enjoy the break from blogging and find enjoyment in simply reading for a change. Sometimes you really just need to take a break (more on that below).
Take a Break
If you find yourself struggling to write, no longer feel inspired, or dread the task of updating your blog, it may be time to step back and take a break. As an online writer, I am pretty much on-call every day of the week. It can get tiring and old, and there are times when I think to myself “It would be so much easier if I didn’t have to worry about the website.” I get that feeling like I don’t know how I can possibly go on, writing day after day after day. But I’ve always found that a break from it can really help recharge my mental batteries, renewing my excitement and interest. Sometimes, it could just be allowing myself an afternoon to take in a couple movies at home, or if I’m particularly burnt out, I might need a weekend free of blogging responsibilities.
Once I’ve had my time away from writing, I feel more inspired. I have more things to say and to write about, and amazingly, it’s not so much of a struggle to produce. The same thing applies to other forms of work — if you feel you’ve been slacking off, just don’t care, or are no longer excited or interested in what you’re doing, sometimes a break is just what the doctor ordered.
Enlist the Help of a Guest Blogger
If your blog is a topical one, and not a personal one in which you talk about your daily life, getting a guest blogger to step in when you’re burned out is a good way to keep the content flowing on your blog while you take a break. Networking with other bloggers is a good way to find willing bloggers, and if you guest post yourself from time to time, you’ll find that others are willing to reciprocate.
Coming Back from a Burnout-Related Absence
If you’re struggling to blog and will be taking an absence from blogging for more than a few days, it might be a good idea to give your readers a heads up that you may not be posting for a bit. You don’t have to tell them that you’re burnt out, but the least you could do is say “I’ve got a few things to take care of and I’ll not be posting as much for the next week.” This helps to protect traffic to your site and your relationship with your readers. They know you’re out there and that you’ll be back at it soon. Simply abandoning your blog for a week or two might lead your readers to believe that you’ve quit for good, and they’ll start checking in to see if you’ve written anything new less frequently. If you’re gone too long without any notice, they’ll stop coming back for good. If you’ve done this and notice less traffic when you do start blogging again, you’ll need to stay consistent in your writing. People might start coming back around.
Reader Feedback
Have you struggled with blogging burnout? What did you do to overcome it? How many blogs have you abandoned, never to post on again? I’d love to hear your experiences with this. We can all learn a little something from others’ struggles.
Is a Google Chrome Notebook Right for You?
Apr 21st
If you’ve been living under a rock, or just don’t follow the tech industry all that closely, you might not be aware that Google has been working on their Chrome operating system and a notebook that runs off of it. In late 2010 they began taking applications for people to test out the never-to-be-released, beta notebooks known by the moniker CR-48. They’ve since distributed the notebooks to a select group of media people and other random folks chosen from the applications, and on Wednesday word began to leak about when a Chrome-powered notebook might actually be available to consumers for purchase. It looks as though at least one Chrome notebook will hit the market this summer, but how do you know if this would be the right purchase for you? Here are a few things to consider:
What will you use it for?
If you’re hoping to get a Chrome notebook to replace your existing laptop or desktop computer, it’s not quite there yet. Having used the CR-48 for several weeks now, I would say it’s a great internet device. There is no physical harddrive included in the setup, and you can’t run programs like Photoshop on it. But if all you want to do is surf the net or type up a report, it’s perfect. It’s lightweight, boots incredibly fast, and has an amazing battery life. It’s great for taking along, and for browsing the web while lounging on the couch.
Like Android and iPhone smartphones, Chrome notebooks rely on apps for additional functionality. Apps for the device are available in the Android Market. And if you really do need to save something, the device includes a SD card slot so you may as well invest in a fairly large capacity SD card if you just can’t break away from the habit of saving everything on a physical piece of memory, rather than having it out there in the cloud somewhere.
Right now, a Chrome notebook won’t completely replace a traditional computer. You’ll want to check them out though if all you really want is another cool toy that will let you surf the net.
How much do you have to spend?
For a notebook that lacks a harddrive and a CAPSLOCK key (they replaced it with a search button — genius!!), I can’t say I’d see them pricing it ridiculously high. My guess is they’ll be valued at around $500 MSRP, give or take a few dollars.
The latest rumor is that the search giant will release the notebook as a subscription service, with users paying in the $10-20 per month range. Those who’d rather not deal with monthly fees could skip the installment payments and just buy it outright. In other words, if you’re lacking funds to pay for it, you can get on the subscription service and pay only a little bit at a time. Or if you’ve got extra cash and, you can just pay for the thing all at once and not have to worry about making a monthly payment. The subscription service, however, will make the Chrome notebook available to more people.
Summary:
The Chrome notebook isn’t quite up to snuff to compete with enterprise computing, but for the average Joe consumer, it’s got mostly everything needed. You can still plug-in your digital camera and upload your photos to Picasa, Flickr, Photobucket, or whatever other online photo sharing service you use, you can check your email, surf the net, and write a report with Google Docs. It’s a great device for when you really don’t need “everything”, and boasts some pretty good specs. It’s just so simple and easy to use.
If you’re itching to get your hands on a Chrome notebook and weren’t selected to be a part of the CR-48 program, don’t fret — they’re hitting the market soon. On Wednesday sources indicated that at least one model would be available in June/July, which is not that far around the corner. It will be interesting to see how the consumer devices have been altered from the CR-48 test units, but I don’t expect it to be a far cry from what I’ve already seen.
Kindle, Nook or iPad? How to Choose the Right eBook Reader for You
Apr 7th
There are many different eBook readers available on the market these days, but three stand out from the pack: the Amazon Kindle, the Barnes & Noble Nook and the Apple iPad. Each has their own pluses and minuses and all are fabulous devices, but its easy to get overwhelmed with all of the features. If you’re in the market for an eBook reader and are looking at the Kindle, Nook or iPad, check out my handy guide below which will help you make your decision.
The Amazon Kindle
There are two varieties of the Kindle – the Wi-Fi only version, and the Wi-Fi + 3G. The Wi-Fi only version is priced at $139, while the Wi-Fi + 3G version is priced at $189. Amazon touts their new 3rd generation devices as their best yet.
The Kindle sports a 6-inch E Ink screen, which if you are not familiar with, is much easier on the eyes than your traditional laptop or desktop screen. Looking at one, it looks amazingly like a matte piece of paper, and there is no glare or reflections. It’s exceptionally light and sized closer than ever to a mass market paperback book, so it doesn’t feel like you are holding a clunky device.
The downside of the Kindle is its refresh rate, which Amazon says they have improved. It’s still not quite as fast as flipping a page in a traditional book, and this is because of the E Ink screen. But, in terms of the Kindle, it’s their best reading experience yet.
The Kindle also features the Webkit browser, which is sufficient if you just want to look something up online while you’re reading, but it’s definitely not for heavy or regular internet use. Still, it’s interesting to see the Web in full-on grayscale.
The latest version also supports PDF files, which is a major bonus, but it does not yet support EPUB files (boo!). There’s also a feature that allows you to share your books.
Who Should Buy It:
Those who just want a nice reading experience, and who aren’t concerned about all the bells and whistles. As of publication, the Kindle Store has just over 900,000 titles to choose from, so you’ll have a fairly good selection of books to choose from. If you’re an Amazon Associate and earn gift certificates for your commission, this might also sway your choice because you can apply them to your purchase. The same goes for SwagBucks users who might cash in their points for Amazon gift cards.
The Barnes & Noble Nook
There are actually two varieties of the Nook to choose from, the Nook ($149) and NookColor ($249). The standard Nook features a 6-inch E Ink screen and is most similar to the Kindle. If all you want to do is read, this is a great device.
The NookColor features a 7-inch, full-color touchscreen LCD screen, and offers enhanced books, magazines, newspapers, & interactive kids books, and can be used as a media player as well.
Both the Nook and NookColor include the unique LendMe feature, which allows you to share eBooks with your friends, something that the Kindle lacks. B&N also has a Lifetime Library, which allows you to store your favorite books for download anytime, anywhere, with any device that you have the Nook app installed on.
With over 2 million titles to choose from, you’ve got a great selection of books to read.
Who Should Buy It:
If you want lots of choice in terms of titles, the Nook has it. B&N has more than twice the number of titles available as the Kindle. If you want an upgraded reading experience, with color instead of grayscale, a nice internet browsing experience, and lots of features, get the NookColor.
The Apple iPad
The Apple iPad is not a dedicated eBook reader. Rather, it is a computer device with eBook reader functionalities and capabilities. The iPad features a 9.1-inch full-color touchscreen LCD, and because of it’s larger screen size you can turn the screen horizontally and have 2 pages of an eBook open at a time, just like a real book. Just like the NookColor though, the downside is that it is LCD, so you might not be able to read on it comfortably for as long as you could on a device with an E Ink screen.
The iTunes store offers you both eBooks and audiobooks that you can download to your iPad (as well as your iPhone and iPod). The 2nd generation model that was recently released starts at 16GB of storage and $499, with prices and storage capacity going up from there.
Who Should Buy It:
Casual readers or those who want a tablet computer first that can also serve as an eBook reader. Apple fanboys and iTunes addicts will also like this.
My thoughts:
If you’re a serious reader and don’t care about frills, go for the Kindle or the Nook. If you want something with all the bells and whistles, the NookColor is your best value and the iPad is the best all-in-one device. If I were to be in the market to buy an eBook reader now, my choice would be the NookColor, which you can also reportedly hack and turn into an Android tablet computer.
Readers – what eBook reader do you have? Do you like it? What made you choose it over the others? Do you have any additional tips and advice for our readers? Please share in the comments!
10 Ways to Combat Writer’s Block
Apr 5th
All day long, nearly every day of the year, I write. I write and write so much that it’s almost become second nature, but sometimes I’m at a loss for words. I sit around trying to think of what to write, trying to find some inspiration, and sometimes even if I do find something that inspires me, I don’t know what to say. The words just won’t come out. As someone who writes for a living, you can bet that in the battle of beating writer’s block, I’ve tried it all. Here are some of my methods for getting around writer’s block, but feel free to share your ideas in the comments section as well.
1. Take a Break and Go Back to it Later
If you’ve been staring at a blank screen for hours, sometimes all it takes to get the words flowing again is to step back for a bit and take a break. Go run that errand that needs to get done, make yourself a cup of coffee, watch a television show, go for a run — do anything that takes your mind off writing for a short while. Sometimes it can be hard to write if there’s something else you need or want to do. In other instances, taking a break will take off some of the pressure and you’ll feel more inspired to write when you get back to it.
I like to allow myself the indulgence of stopping writing to watch an episode of a favorite TV show I may have DVRed, or if I am really struggling, a fun, light-hearted movie on Netflix or something to relax and refresh my mind.
2. Try Writing in a New Place
A simple change of scenery can work wonders. If you normally write sitting at the desk in your home office, why not try setting up your laptop on the picnic table in your backyard (if the weather is nice)? You could also try your local library, a coffee shop, a college campus, or anywhere else that is not where you usually write. This might not work for everyone, but it’s worth a try.
3. Write About Something Else
So you’ve got to write a 1000 word piece on green businesses or you’re trying to pen a new chapter for your novel, and for whatever reason it’s just not inspiring you. One tactic to try is to write about something else. Sometimes just writing about anything that inspires you will help you when it comes times to write about what you need to write about. I employ this tactic from time to time, when I have to write a political piece and it’s just not coming to me, so I’ll do a blog post on my news site about random celebrity gossip or whatever comes easily to me at that moment. It’s not what you are writing that matters, just that you are writing.
4. Figure Out When You Write Best
We all function on different biorhythms, and while some of you out there might find that you tend to write best at the crack of dawn, other people, like my husband, find that they get into a good writing groove at more “off” times, like in the middle of the night. Pay attention to yourself and find out when you write best, and when you find it more of a struggle. Then, avoid the times, such as just before lunch when your blood sugar is low, and you’ll have more good writing experiences overall.
5. Get Moving
Research has shown that exercises helps preserve memory because it gets the blood flowing, bringing more oxygen to the brain. I apply the same theory to writing. Get up out of that chair or off of the couch, and get your blood pumping. Go for a run, play a game of tennis, or even do a little Wii Fit. Just make sure you’re moving. Once you’ve cooled down, showered and are comfortable again, try writing. You might be surprised to find that it comes to you a little easier now. Thank the increased flow of oxygen to your brain.
6. Trick Yourself
There are a few different ways to trick yourself into writing. First, you can try telling yourself that you only have to write for five minutes. That can sometimes be just enough to get you going, and you’ll find that you want to continue. But like anything else, it might not always work. Another tactic is to pretending you’re emailing a friend a “guess what” type of message. Don’t worry about the format, you can change that later. Sometimes writing in a more conversational way is easier than a factual method.
7. Limit the Amount of Time You Have to Write
If you tend to procrastinate or slack off, this may work well for you. It might also work for those who work well under pressure. Instead of giving yourself an entire day to write an article or report, restrict yourself to just two or three hours. Sometimes knowing that you have a whole day to complete something will only succeed in giving you an excuse to slack off; you think to yourself “It’s okay if I go shopping because I have the whole day, it won’t take that long, and I can do it later”, or “I’ll just go on Facebook for awhile and maybe something will come to me.” That usually leads to wasted time. Tell yourself, for example, that it has to be completed by 2pm, no ifs ands or buts.
8. Read a Book, Magazine or Newspaper
If you’re reading a newspaper or magazine, sometimes just scanning the headlines or flipping through the images can inspire you. Seeing a headline that says “10 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues” might inspire you to write “10 Ways to Beat Stress”, and so on. Reading industry news can also help you think of an idea for your own writing. But reading for fun can help too, if only to distract you and give your brain a workout to get those gears moving.
9. Always Carry a Voice Recorder or Notebook
Write down or record your ideas, anywhere, anytime. This way, when it comes time to sit down and write, if you find yourself struggling to think of something to write about, you can pull out your notes or listen to your voice notes, and see what you thought of at another time. It’s so easy to forget about the things that inspire us as we go about our daily lives, so keeping a log can be a real lifesaver.
10. Use Mind Mapping
Simple mind maps can help you to get all of your ideas down on paper. Write down everything you want to say about a particular topic, or all of your topic ideas. To come up with a unique angle for a story, link together your most unusual ideas. Once you have everything written down, it’s easy to sort things into categories and find something interesting to write about.
Final Thoughts
Often times writer’s block is simply a result of the pressure we put on ourselves to perform. If you’re particularly stressed out or under-the-gun in terms of a looming deadline, writing might be more difficult. And sometimes, no matter what you try, the writing just isn’t happening, and in this case it’s a good idea to step back for awhile and try again later.
How to Declutter Your Life and Reduce Stress
Mar 31st
Excessive clutter is often a symptom and a cause of stress and can affect every facet of your life, from the time it takes you to do things to your finances and your overall enjoyment of life. Clutter can distract you, weigh you down, and in general it invites chaos into your life. Often times, however, tackling the clutter can seem an insurmountable task if you don’t know where or how to start. By devoting a little of your time to getting rid of the clutter in your life and maintaining things relatively clutter-free , you’ll reap the rewards of pleasing living areas, reduced stress, and a more organized and productive existence.
The best way to tackle the decluttering of your home, your work space, and your life is to take things one small step at a time. Combined, small steps will lead to big improvements that will be easier to maintain over the long-run. Here is a blueprint of how to start tackling that clutter and enjoying a less stressful life:
Your Work Area
If you want to be more productive and focused in your work, getting the clutter out of your work area is essential.
- Start with your desk. Clear everything off the top of it and take everything out of the drawers. Assemble the items in piles on the floor. Clean and wipe down your desk, and marvel at how pretty and clean it looks. Sort through all of the “stuff” that was both in and on your desk. Toss out as much as possible a relatively small amount. Once you’ve weeded things out, it’s time to sort through the remains. Set up a basic alphabetical filing system with a folder for each project or client. Keep your office supplies and other items in designated drawers. If you need to, label things, but the main thing you should do is designate a spot for every item you decided to keep and make sure that it stays there, or goes back there when you’re done using it. Keep flat surfaces clear, and have an inbox for all incoming papers. When the papers come in, sort them each day – toss, delegate, do immediately, or file simply file all documents, but whatever you do, DO NOT KEEP THEM ON TOP OF YOUR DESK. All you want on the surface of your desk is your phone, computer, inbox, and maybe a special photo in addition to the documents you are working with at the moment.
- Declutter your computer. Get rid of files and programs on your computer that you don’t need. Get rid of most or all of the icons on your desktop. They not only slow down your computer, but they also create visual clutter. There are better ways of accessing your information. Regularly purge old, unused files. If organization is not your thing, utilize a program such as Google Desktop to search for your files when you need them.
- Then move on to information. In the digital world of today, there are so many different ways that information creeps into our lives. Information in itself can become overwhelming when you have too much of it, and this is called information clutter. Instead of letting information take over your life, set limits. Reduce the number of things that you read each day and get rid of things from your RSS feed. Chuck those magazine subscriptions, and reduce your consumption of news and television. I’m not suggesting that you cut yourself off from the world, just that setting some boundaries will help. Instead of letting information, even the kind that friends share on Facebook, take over your life, control how and when you receive it by limiting what you read.r
Your Home
Outside of work, home is where many of a bulk of our time. So it’s no wonder that a messy house can add to daily stress.
- Simply your rooms. If your rooms are too cluttered, you’ll want to simplify them. Start by clearing off anything that is on the floors. Throw out or donate unused things. After clearing the floor, move to flat surfaces such as countertops, shelves, tops of dressers, etc. Clear them as much as possible, and then move onto furniture. Consider if you need everything . Sort things in piles – toss, donate, or keep. Organize everything that you’ve decided to keep into drawers, cabinets, and closets, keeping them out of sight, but still neatly organized and uncluttered. Do this one room at a time.
- Tackle the closets. Closets are a great place to store things that you don’t want out in the open, and can easily become a place where you shove things just to keep them out of view. Go through your closets – take everything out, clean it, and toss , donate as much as you can. Decided a specific place to store anything you decide to keep. Keep only the things that you love and use frequently. As for your clothes, get rid of anything that you haven’t worn in six months.
- Clean out your drawers. Drawers are prime place for things to get shoved into. Empty out your drawers, and sorting them by whether you’re keeping, tossing, or donating them.
Your Life
Decluttering your work area and your home are great ways to start reducing the clutter and stress in your life, but there’s still more than you can do.
- Reduce your commitments. Often times, our lives are too clutterd with all of the things that we need to do at home, work, school, in our religious or civic lives, with friends and family, with hobbies, and so on. Take a look at each area of your life and write down all of your commitments. Seeing it all written down can be quite an eye-opening experience, as well as overwhelming. From here, look at each one and decide whether it really brings you joy and value, and if it is worth the amount of time that you invest in it. Another way to reduce your commitments is to identify a few that you truly love, and get rid of the rest. Learn how to say no and decline offers. If you eliminate the things that don’t bring you joy or value, you’ll have more time for the things that you love.
- Reconsider your routines. Many of us do not have any set routines in our daily lives, and simply tackle our obligations, chores, and daily tasks haphazardly. Without structure, it can lead to chaotic days and a drop in productivity. Instead, batch tasks together. Instead of doing your laundry several times throughout the week, do it all on one day. It’s helpful to write down all of your weekly and daily obligations, chores, and tasks, and then plan out daily and weekly routines. Hang it up where you can see it and try to follow it. You might find that having a routine brings a new sense of calm and order to your life.
How to Maintain Order Over the Long-Term
Once you’ve successfully decluttered, whether it be one area or all the areas mentioned above, clutter will inevitably begin to creep back into your life. You must be vigilant in weeding it out on a regular basis, or it will just take over your life again.
- Set up a system to keep clutter in check. Examine the way that you do things and how things make their way into your life, and consider whether you can put together a simple system for everything, from your laundry to work projects and email. Write down your systems step-by-step and try to follow them as best as you can. Follow your systems and you’ll keep the clutter minimized.
- Don’t slack off. It’s easy to put things off for another day, but it’ll save you headaches in the long-run if you deal with things immediately. Throw it out, donate it, or keep it and put it in a designated area.
How to Continue Reading the New York Times Online For Free
Mar 29th
I get that the newspaper and entire print industry is going through a rough time with advertisers dropping left and right and their subscriber base dwindling, but I’m still not sold on the idea of charging for access to news stories online as the way to save the news industry. Nevertheless, the New York Times made the decision to begin charging for access to their online news stories and features, and that went into effect on Monday afternoon. You’ll still be able to read up to 20 articles per month for free if you come to the NY Times’ website via a search engine such as Google, but if you dial up the site directly you won’t have that option. My motto has always been, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”, and in this case, if you’re willing to do some finagling, you can still read much of the NY Times’ content online for free. If you’re lazy and have the extra cash to justify a subscription, then by all means, get a subscription. But if you’re like me, a casual reader of the NY Times who probably reads more than their 20 articles a month but not enough to justify paying $35 every four weeks, then you’ll want to check out some of these work-arounds that will help you achieve your goal of reading the NY Times for free online:
Use Social Media Feeds
The NY Times loves social media and makes good use of it, having more than 250 Twitter accounts that covers just about every section and blog and every writer. If you haven’t signed up for Twitter yet, now’s probably a good time to do so. Clicking through their Twitter feed links will take you to the full article, without harassing you to pay. But it’s not just the NY Times’ official feeds that will let you click through for full access to an article — any link shared on the site will put you through. The same trick will also work on Facebook. The NY Times does not want to stop people from sharing a big or interesting story with their friends and acquaintances by putting up a paywall, so for now this is an easy way to get around it.
Use the NYTClean Bookmarklet
Another way to beat the system involves utilizing the NYTClean bookmarklet. Sure, it will require an extra click for every article, but you’ll accomplish your ultimate goal of reading the New York Times’ for free online. To get started, point your browser to this page on the Euri.ca Blog and then click and hold on the NYTClean link located in the middle of the page and drag it to your bookmarks toolbar. Anytime you hit a page on the NY Times’ website asking you to cough up some cash to continue reading, simply hit the NYTClean bookmark in your toolbar. Magically, it works and you’re redirected to a free version of the article.
User the NY Times Paywall User Script
If the bookmarklet process described above sounds too complicated or time-consuming (it’s not really), or you’d rather just automate the process of getting to the free version of a NY Times article every time you hit a stop page asking you to subscribe, a user script is just what the doctor ordered. Install the NY Times Paywall user script from UserScripts.org. Firefox users will first need to install Greasemonkey, and then click “Install” on the script pages. Chrome users just need to click “Install”, while Safari users can set up Greasekit to manage user scripts. For Internet Explorer the Trixie add-on should help you manage user scripts.
Install the New York Times Paywall Smasher for Google Chrome
Chrome users have another option for automating their free access to New York Times’ online content. Introducing the New York Times Paywall Smasher browser extension. Just follow this link while using Chrome, and click “Install” and you”ll be good to go.
Access the Site Using a Proxy
The NY Times checks your IP address to see how often you’re visiting their site and reading their articles. So, you could use different computers in different locations to read their articles, but that’s probably quite a hassle. Instead of physically relocating yourself, simply re-route your web queries using a proxy. There are a number of free proxy websites online, such as HideMyAss.com, which mask your actual IP and make it appear as though you are accessing a site from elsewhere.
Use Google to Read 5 Articles for Free Daily
This method still limits you somewhat, but you’ll get a lot more free content than you would if you simply went directly to the New York Times’ website.
If you’ve stumbled on any other ways to bypass the New York Times’ limits on free access, please share in the comments.
Simple Steps for Tackling Spring Cleaning, Room-by-Room
Mar 22nd
After a long winter, the first signs of spring – new flowers popping up in the garden, buds on the trees, and warmer temperatures – may have inspired you to clean your house and yard from top-to-bottom, making it sparkly and new-looking again. But sometimes spring cleaning can seem like an overwhelming task leaving you unsure of what to do and where to start. By breaking down the big project into smaller parts, you’re more likely to find success. We’re going to break down your spring cleaning plans by room, and then task. You’ll feel more accomplished looking at a completed room than a partially cleaned house.
The Bedroom(s)
- Go through your clothes. At the change of seasons, many people simply pack up their warmer winter wear and put them in a big plastic container to store until the cold weather rolls around again. That’s all fine and good, but if cleaning and organizing are your goal, you’ll want to take it a step further. After you’ve gathered all your winter clothes up, go through them and ask yourself whether your wore each item that winter. If you didn’t wear it, you may want to consider donating it. Don’t hang onto it for another year. If you didn’t wear it this year, you’re unlikely to next year. If you have clothes laying around needing to be washed, don’t leave them lay or wait to wash them until next year, do it now. Gather up anything that needs dry cleaning and drop those off, and wash at home any other items that may be soiled. If something is damaged, like missing a button, fix it now, otherwise it’s likely to end up in your pile of unworn clothes next winter. If you have children, a spouse/partner or others living with you, try to get them to do the same and go through their clothes.
- Revitalize your bed. Things are starting to warm up, so now’s the time to trade those cozy but heavy flannel sheets for lighter, airier linen ones. You may also consider putting away a blanket or two. Wash it first, then pack it away. If it’s in disrepair, consider getting rid of it altogether if there’s a chance you won’t want to use it again when the cold sets in next fall or winter. Before you put on the new sheets and blankets, flip your mattress. That is, of course, if you have a traditional mattress. It will last long and wear better if regularly flipped. Want to treat yourself? Get a new, fluffy pillow.
The Kitchen
- Get rid of any expired foods. Go through the cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer. Look for any old and past date food, or containers that look like they may be growing mold (ew!). Toss them. While you’re at it, wipe down the shelves in the cupboards and in the fridge.
- Sweep & mop the floor, wipe the counters. Nothing makes a kitchen shine line a freshly mopped floors. Sweep it with a broom or a vacuum set for hard floors to pick up any crumbs first. I hope you regularly wipe down your counters, but if you don’t, do that now too.
- Clean & polish the cupboards. The cupboards below your sink or nearest the store are the most likely to be dirtied, through drips, spills and splashes of various foods and drinks. A rag and some wood cleaner are all you need, and it shouldn’t take too much effort to wipe things down and get them in tip-top shape again.
- Clean the stovetop. The stovetop is another prime area for grime to accumulate. Get yourself a multi-surface kitchen cleaning spray and get to scrubbing. If you have an electric stove, you’ll need to pick up a special cleaner to wipe on and wipe off.
The Living Room & Dining Room
- Dust. Clear off all your table tops and dust them well. Pull out your vacuum and its hose and brush extensions and vacuum up any dust on your lampshades.
- Refresh your decor. Instead of completely redesigning your interior, you can instead swap out little things, like putting new photos in your frames.
- Vacuum and get your carpet cleaned. Vacuum all your carpets really well, and use the crevice tool to get in the corners well. Since you likely tracked in a lot of snow and dirt in the winter months, now’s an excellent time to get your carpets professionally cleaned. Getting your furniture cleaned once a year is also a good idea to keep it fresh and long lasting. Be on the look out for spring specials!
Outdoors
- Replace your welcome mats. If they just have a few leaves stuck to them then a a good shake will suffice, but if they’re looking dirty and worn, it’s time for new ones.
- Clean out the gardens. Rake the dead leaves from the gardens. You can compost them or bag them up and toss them out with the trash.
All Over
- Get rid of clutter. Are there toys laying around that your kids no longer play with? Box them up. Anything you haven’t used recently can be considered for removal. And the best thing to do with the things you no longer need is to either donate them to Goodwill or another charity (if in good condition), or make a few extra bucks by holding your own garage sale.
- Wipe down the walls and baseboards. Get yourself a good bucket full of soapy water and a big sponge. You’ll get the fingerprints and other little impurities off the walls and they’ll look new again.
- Clean the windows. Windex and some rags will suffice, but if you want to go all out you can use a squeegee.
The are undoubtedly a million other things that you could thing of to do to get your house clean and in tip-top shape, but this list is a good start. And like I said, when you work room by room, it feels like you’ve accomplished a lot more than just don’t little projects scattered around the house, and it won’t be so overwhelming.
Helping Japan: How to Make Sure Your Money Goes to the Right Place
Mar 15th
The events that have unfolded in Japan over the past week are horrifying, sad, and devastating. The country is facing death and destruction at the hands of a massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the subsequent tsunami. Now they are also on the verge of a nuclear disaster. Many countries and organizations are pledging volunteers, supplies and money to help. But what about you, average Joe citizen, how can you help? How can you be sure that your hard-earned money will actually go to the people who need it? How can you be sure that it will get there as fast as it can, instead of months later? How can you be sure that half of what you’re giving isn’t going to “administrative” fees? If you are inclined to donate, please keep the following guide I have created in mind before you write that check, hand over that cash, or push “Send”.
Finding a Reputable Charity
One great resource to finding a charity to donate to is CharityNavigator.com. Using this site, you can search through their database of charities and find one that interests you. Each charity has star ratings as well as a complete, detailed profile. Information is included such as the organizations efficacy, how much goes to administrative costs, and so on. There are also links that will take you to the charity’s site where you can complete your donation.
See Where Your Money is Going
Be wary of the organization that assures you that 100 percent of your donation goes to help the victims or particular effort. They are likely not being truthful. Every organization, even charitable non-profits, have some overhead expenses. To make sure that you get the most bang for your buck, you’ll want to be sure that you avoid middlemen. Some groups may simply collect the money and then pass it on to more hands-on charities. Avoid diluting your dollars by giving directly to groups that are already on the ground and helping the victims in Japan.
Be Skeptical of Offers that Promise to Donate Money for Things You Buy
Lady Gaga’s heart might be in the right place with the new bracelet she has launched, with all profits going to help the victims in Japan, but you’re really not helping as much as you could. If your goal is to help and not score some cool gear, you’re better off giving directly to the charity yourself. The entire cost of that $5 item isn’t going to Japan, only the profits are, and what the company might deem to be “profit” can be kind of sketchy. From that five dollars, subtract the cost to produce the item, to market it, etc. If you’re going to spend anyways though, by all means, spend away – at least a portion will go to help.
Forget Putting Together Your Own Care Package
While it might be tempting to put together a “care” package for a needy family in Japan, it’s probably not the best idea. Right now, infrastructure is severely damaged in some areas, making things like delivering packages impossible. It’s also a logistical nightmare. You’re better off giving to a group with people on the ground and a plan in action.
Reconsider Texting Your Donation
Making donations through a simple text message became popular during 2010′s massive earthquake in Haiti. But one thing that a lot of people didn’t seem to know was that there’s a delay between when you send the money by text. The charities don’t get it for at least 30 days later. And while Japan will likely need help for many months and years to come, if you are wanting your money to help immediately, it’s better to send them a check or money order by mail. They’ll get it a lot faster that way. Even using your debit card or Paypal balance is a lot faster. Just keep in mind that when you donate digitally, there will be hidden fees taken out of your total donation, so it will get diluted somewhat.
Avoid Newly Formed Charities
Getting a new charity off the ground is a difficult venture in itself. In the midst of a disaster it’s virtually impossible to succeed. You wouldn’t trust your life savings to a financial firm that just opened, has no track record, and whose employees have zero experience, so why would you donate to a brand new charity? Find a charity with a proven history of success, and ideally one that’s already on the ground in Japan helping. Research before you write that check.
Watch Out for Scams
In the wake of disasters, it seems that while there are a lot of people willing to help out there are also plenty of unsavory types looking to cash in on your goodwill for their own devious means. You’re better off sending in your money to an official organization’s address than handing it over to a person going around collecting donations. While they might actually be doing good, there’s a chance they’re just looking to run off with your money.
Some Carefully Vetted Charities That I Recommend
- Doctors Without Borders USA
- American Red Cross
- Save the Children
- Relief International
- Food for the Hungry
- Direct Relief International
- AmeriCares
- Action Against Hunger
- Catholic Medical Mission Board
- World Vision
- Global Giving
- International Medical Corps
- Convoy of Hope
- Oxfam America
All of these organizations are have high ratings on CharityNavigator.com, and have people already in place in Japan distributing aid. You can find additional lists of reputable organizations to give your donation to on their website as well. If you don’t see a charity listed either on my list here or on their list that’s not to say it’s a scam, but you’ll want to make sure you do your research first.