So my article about whether the Jello Temptations  commercial set to scare the crap out of any child thinking about eating mommy and daddy's "adult" dessert is set to break the 300 page view mark! That is my personal best so it feels pretty good. If you want to read it click here.

The great thing about this article in the great scheme of this writer's journey is that I again hit that sweet spot of being in my lane.  Doing what I do best. I am finding what that is and it has to do with starting a discussion that facilitates change for the greater good. It's my thing.

The interesting thing about doing your thing I found is this feeling of being perfectly aligned in the Universe. This feeling of energy that everything is just as it should be and as a person I am hitting that perfect place of potential. It doesn't happen often yet when it does, it is a thing of beauty. It is worth trying again the next day.

I imagine this is a feeling that many people feel in their own individual careers and crafts. That moment specific to that experience when all is as it should be and in alignment with the world. It is a universal "potential" the thing we call success.

Success is just being in that zone for as long as possible. As we practice something in life as each individual strives to reach their particular target bulls-eye. The more we can hit it consistently with that which we do. We achieve success. People want the magic formula, they want to take a potion or be bestowed the magic fairy dust from someone who has been there before them. What it is difficult to relay what cannot be told is that the only way to get there is to do it. You don't need anyone's permission, nor can anyone honestly give it to you.

The film Limitless, which I still have yet to see but want to very much, touches on this idea. That even if someone were to place the lightning in your hand the only way to be capable of holding for any length of time is only if you have earned your place. If you have done the time, build the muscles and experience. It takes time to learn the techniques and know what to do with them. That can not be transferred, it can't be stolen, it can't be bought.

Often people covet. They covet true love, they covet material wealth, they covet fame and good fortune. They think they can slide in and take someone's place and have the same result. It doesn't work though. Because there is a magic, a spark, a je ne sais quoi that cannot be duplicated when something is right, it's destiny and meant to be. Only that connection works that way.

Knowing that there is only one perfect fit can cause despair or it can be something to be hopeful for. No one can take what's yours because only you can create it. This is where the saying about you being unique and only you can be you comes in. As humans we appreciate and honor those who are the very best at what they do. The very best at being "them".  It's something to think about. So many times we are trying to be really great at being someone else and that is why success is not attained.

First off, I had this awesome moment looking at my computer desktop this morning thinking, I am becoming a writer. Besides my wallpaper that says "Don't judge a book by its movie" which I find to be very writer-ish. I also have a link to Kindle Reader and HootSuite which is an awesome tool for keeping track of all that is social networking.  So my physical world is beginning to take on that of a professional writer.

I read a statistic somewhere recently that it takes about 3 years to get a blog noticed. That is about right with just about anything. It must build momentum, an audience and with that it takes work, and time to put out interesting content to build readership. I am very excited about some current projects coming to an end so that I can but some time in.

The last few years have been about gathering information and tools. About practicing and figuring out what the game plan is so to speak. So that has been good. There is still work to do as far as considering this endeavor a business. I will study that more and I believe that will come over time however I think the best thing a successful person needs to have no matter what their endeavor in life is good tools and great time management skills! That's the difference. May could do "it" whatever "it" is for them but so few do. As the great quote says, the future belongs to those who show up.

So I am showing up. However I need to show up much more. My weakness being time management and putting the time in. Having my energy spread out on many things that do not bring me to successful results for my writing goals and that is counter- productive. What should I be doing with my time? I have to ask myself what would a writer do?

Speaking of great quotes, my writer friend Sevastian Winters came up with a great one the other day that I will share with you.  He said instead of Fake it 'til you make it, Do it until they notice. That is it in a nutshell my friends the great secret to how you really get there. Just keep doing what you know in your heart is what you need to be doing until someone notices. They will...eventually....right?

I have been doing a lot of shameless self promotion for a competitive scholarship I am trying to win.  Normally I would be intimidated by something like this. Not the case this time it is fun. I am really touched by the support of my people. My friends and family the community that supports me. I'm lucky. However there is a lesson in it. 


Don't wait for permission, be great anyway!
The lesson is don't wait for someone to validate you. Don't wait for permission to be great. First, of all those who are on top want to stay there and rightfully so. What, are you planning on buying there kids dinner or new clothes when you take the top spot? No of course not, however the people on top are going to want that sweet position and that is natural if you want it to have to work for it and earn it. That way people even if they don't like it respect you for it. Cause damit you earned it. So what can anyone say? 

So many writers, so many people are waiting like little bulbs in the soil for someone to make it rain for them so they can be "a chosen one" but it doesn't work like that. You need one of two things to start your success. You need capital money to back you up so you can essentially purchase some love from folks or you need folks. Folks who care what you are up to. That is what gives power to a person Love or Money honey. 


For Love or Money
Power given by Love or money translates to business, politics, fame, writing. You name it, the power is given.  By the people it's on loan, never permanent. Don't ever take that lightly. No one can give you the people's power. Sure it can be transfered in a way by endorsements yet it's on loan. To have access to it,  you earn it, you got it or you don't. 


Garbage out, garbage in


Some people attempt to use fear to try  to embezzle power from people but that never lasts long. Love that is earned is where its at. So how do you get this Love? You give it. You give it out whether it be by helping folks in your family, your neighborhood, your community or an even larger scale.  You say" Sophia what the heck does this have to do with writing? I am a writer. Not a politician or anything else!" Yeah I know. But first you have to know what people care about. 

If you put nothing out, nothing will return.  If you put garbage out, garbage will return. If you put kindness, generosity and love out into the world. Kindness, generosity and love has a way of finding its way back with dividends. 

People have to know how much you care, before they care how much you know. 

That lesson above is one of the most important ones I have learned. You need people to care about you. There are plenty of people that talk at us, very few that communicate with us and that makes a big difference.  Care about people, be a benefit to them, not a dictator of your will and things tend to work in your favor a lot more.  In addition  people of right action win respect. Take action about issues you care about. To put it simply getting out there and doing something helps you to have an impact on the world. It is good to know what someone has done before feeling compelled to listen to them. Talk is cheap, actions are not. Some say it makes the world a better place but that is up for debate what it does is make the world more palatable to you. And when we speak honestly that's all we really want right? 


Next level stuff
So in this vein my latest project is to go to this blogging convention in June. Man I really want to win this! I don't usually want things but I want this.  I really want to go. This is an opportunity for me to hone my craft doing something that is very authentic to who I am and what it feels my mission on this planet is. Seriously. So  I have been asking people to vote for me. Luckily I don't have to ask people for money that's still a stumbling block for me but I can ask them to click for me and click they have and I have to tell you its been pretty awesome!


I'd like to thank...
So thanks to those of you who believe in me. I see the path and I am ready to step onto it. I am ready to manifest the best me that I can. Let's do this! I hope you believe in you enough to express the best version of yourself that you can too. If you need permssion here it is "I hereby give you <insert name here> absolute and total control of your destiny. You now have permission to be happy, successful, to manifest your best work and to be rightfully rewarded. By giving the best of yourself to humanity may you get the best reward for that gift." Ok you have permission go forth and rock the world :o) 


** Side note**
Please help me win a scholarship to #NN11! Click to vote: http://bit.ly/emS60V

Thanks!

Today my action toward my dream of being a successful freelance writer was to apply for a two positions I am somewhat qualified for as a Featured Content writer. I applied though I am not sure if I am ready. I did it anyway  because I read a quote once that says, and I paraphrase, "Choose a dream that's slightly too big for you so you can grow into it." That's what I'm doing. We'll see how it goes.  

 If it doesn't work out I will keep working at it and I know in my heart that one day it will work out. Because I really have a feeling now that I am where I need to be. This is something I can do and that I am good at. Just keep plugging away everyday until I start getting some results. 

I was chatting with a group of writers that I network with on Facebook and we were comparing notes about which articles got the most clicks. The funny thing is it is hard to predict. We found as a group that the articles we did the most research and worked the hardest on were not the ones that got the most page views. Many times it was the article that was thrown together at the last minute on a whim that did better with readers. Who knew? Who knows the magic combination? If anyone did they'd be a billionaire because every one would want to know their secret. In the end it is just fishing. The more lines you have in the water the more likely it is that the nibbles will come. 

Going to work on getting another line in the water now and see if it gets any nibbles :o)

So the biggest struggle is making money with my talent. This is because time is limited and I am not making best use of it. I am going to work on it. There are some great ideas and links I would like to utilize and place on this page and those goals can be met in the upcoming weeks. 

I think I am narrowing in on what makes me unique as a writer. Which brings me to the next question in my progress does anybody else care about these things, who are these people and do they care enough about it to lay some money down for it so I can feed my kids? These are all important questions. Questions writers ask every day. 

How writers can get income. 

Winning Grants and Contests. 


There are many writing grants and contests. They are very competitive. However it is good to lay down the best of your work and see what you've got stacked up to others. It is a good way to hone the craft and if you happen to be awesome you win money and that is fantastic. 

Writing for Content Sites. 

With Google's new algorithm change they added more of a challenge to making money creating content for content sites like Associated Content, Helium, Demand Studios, Hubpages and others. Though these are still worthwhile ventures and I am optimistic that Google will work something out that will mutually beneficial for Google and the content creators though for now it sucks a bit in that category. 

Private clients. 

Yes. This takes marketing and like many fields it is always the first few clients, that breakthrough that is difficult to get. Once you have a few clients and you can show you are worthy to pay for then  referrals can bring in more. I am hoping to open up this avenue once I have the time to commit to making deadlines and that type of thing. 

Queries for magazines etc. 

I have heard about these but as I am not quite to that point yet. I don't have much information about it. 

Local Magazines and Papers. 

These mediums like to have contributors though it is difficult to get payment. Where they can be a benefit is to create credibility and as a marketing tool. 


So these are the things I continue to work on. I feel optimistic and excited that I will crack my particular code and be able to take my work and my credibility to the next level soon. Speaking of which I better get back to writing!