Interactive Spirals

I started using interactive spirals from the very beginning. Over the years I have tried different systems but always come back to the spiral. I learned about the interactive spiral (IS) at a TCI (Teachers Curriculum Institute) training. An interactive spiral, is a binder, spiral or composition notebook (I let students pick what works best for them) that becomes a working portfolio of their learning. In the beginning I was much more rigid with pages but over time I have adapted it for my own teaching style. The basics are: One side of the the spiral is for the teacher (notes, handouts, the learning), the other side is how the student processes that information (analogies, poems, mind maps, thinking maps, drawings, speaking bubbles, and creating something from the information that is provided.)

Every interactive spiral starts with a cover page, a table of contents and each unit needs its own cover page. I tell my students that unit page - it needs

• A quote from the chapter (I usually guide students to pull what looks like an important sentence)
• Images to represent the topics you see
• 3 key vocabulary terms
• Essential question (I provide)
• 3 or more colors (No white, black and blue don't count)
• No white spaces

Resources you may want to check out: 

•  Livebinder with tons of processing tools and fun stuff for students. 
• Teacher website with a focus on US History (More worksheet based but some hidden treasures)
• Foldables
• Or you can check out this wikki for more foldables 

Note taking ideas: 

• Cornell notes 
• Charting a text 
• Text mapping 

The key is to have the students make it their own. Student at the end of the school year have this beautiful, and personal story of their learning that has meaning to them.

Textbook Project a PBL Gone Right

Every now and then you get something right. When my state adopted new learning standards for Texas History, the class I had taught for over 13 years. As we all know, the money in districts goes to subjects that have end of the year test.  I knew that we would not get the resources we needed for a long time. There aren't even that many resources online for it.  The only major website that has information is produced by college professors, a little above the lexicon of a 7th grader.  

Knowing that our textbooks would not meet their needs in two years I decided to act.  I had my students create their own textbook. I used our districts chunked TEKS, or standards similar to the common core.  Each six weeks students would adopt a TEKS and create an interesting interactive piece that students could learn from as they use it. 

It was my first project based assignment.  I told my students that it was an experiment.  They seemed to like the idea that they were doing something for future students...and that I had no idea where it would lead.  I know some teachers feel like they always have to be the expert about all things, but I find students love it when you are learning with them and are honest about it. The first year I ran into a couple of surprises. 

1. Initially when given a choice students will always pick the easiest thing. I thought for some reason they would use the time to create beautiful imaginative masterpieces.  They went straight for the PowerPoint and essay writing...strange right? 
2. Given enough time and support students will try new things.  It isn't a natural instinct to do something where you do not know how it will end up but with enough support and encouragement they will try new things...eventually.
3. There is power in the cloud.  My computer died three times the year I assigned this project.  Make sure the students turn in to a Google folder, or on Edmodo so if there is a meltdown you still have access to it. 

The textbook is still out there and kicking.  After year one, I was moved up to 8th grade.  Now a dear friend is carrying out the project having students fill in the blanks, and add "stuff" to it that make it super fun, and interactive.  He has noticed the same surprises.  Creativity takes practice, time and a community where risk are celebrated.

The Problem with Inquiry in PBL

Via TeachThought

Last year after a single day of training, I took the plunge and attempted the impossible, 100% PBL (Project based learning) classroom.  I spent a month of my summer planning, organizing and creating.  When the students came in we were pumped and ready to watch the learning magic, complete with fireworks and dancing unicorns.  Fast forward six weeks into the school year.  I hated the students they hated me it was mutual...very.  The parents were confused, angry and eager to give me a piece of their mind. Everyone was begging for worksheets and the students were telling me of these amazing teachers that lecture everyday and let them take notes or not and how this was truly the best teaching they knew. It hurt. I died a little inside.

I learned 3 huge lessons from this giant failure.

1. Give students structure to succeed.  Middle school students struggle with the inquiry process. They aren't there yet and need structure for success.  I could see it but was unsure how to provide them the structure they required. They were new at it and didn't know what to ask.  TeachThought posted the above graphic and I am so printing it for my classroom as a tool.  What I ended up doing was I broke down the questions.  We discussed them and added them to a classroom reference (large sticky note) to go back to and add to as we go through our pbl. I have them write them down and then I would ask them to use those to drive their research.  


2. Inquiry isn't copy pasting.  A group of my little darlings in the beginning thought if they wrote down everything then they were doing what "I wanted." They didn't understand that volumes of information did no good until it had been interpreted. The bulk instead got in the way many times hiding the true meanings they were looking for.  I modeled using Thinking Maps to explore cause and effects, and timelines of events.  The lure of writing less was enough to encourage some to use this technique. For some though it was a battle all year.     


3. Failing isn't bad. Trust me it doesn't feel good.  The true lesson is in how you respond.  When that first PBL tanked.  I could have easily blamed it on poor training and gone back to the old ways.  But instead I sat down with the students and we talked about the entire process.  We discussed where we felt it went wrong and how we can improve it for the next time.  This is when I got some students begging for me to "teach at them." And instead of shaming them for being lazy.  We talked about what it was they really wanted from me as a teacher and the root of their request.  After discussion we discovered it is easier and that they are not use to doing this kind of work. I explained that even though this didn't work out like we wished we are still going to keep going because the research shows this has too many benefits to give up on.  

My Nerdy Obsession- iTunes U

This summer I have discovered greatness.  It isn't new but this is the first time I checked out iTunes U.   I have taken all sorts of fun and free online courses.  I have learned about branding myself, and looked into writing techniques. 

Once I experienced those I had to try out some history courses.  The best part about college for me was listening to my older professors tell their stories.  They paint pictures of lives, times and tragic events with such passion I feel like I am there.  I love history.  I have found something like my old college experience on iTunes U.   "Teach-In on America's Founding" is a collection of teachings about our country's founding with national leaders in civic education throughout the United States. It is like hanging out with the grown ups at Christmas and hearing about the old days.  The video, George Washington's Gift by Professor David Hackett Fisher made me want to sit cross legged at his feet and listen to him over and over. He describes Washington like a dear old friend.  I have already watched the hour long video 3 times.  So good!

Web tools for teaching: Diffen

Every teacher has a different process and I think mine changes each summer. This is the time we book our doctors appointments, dig out those recipes, see family, check those cleaning projects off the list and (my favorite) find fun stuff to do next year.

A few web tools for Sunday:

Do you ever need two things to be compared quickly for students? Go to Diffen.  So cool!  Super easy to use and you don't need an account to compare.  First pick two things say presidents.  Type in their names and then click compare. Viola!  Beautiful chart that break down information for students in an easy to understand manner.


I love this. So easy to use and beautiful end result. Or even better...Anti-Federalist v. Federalist

#Teacher Party

 

I know, it is July, this "school being out" is truly old news.  But not for me.  I was super smart in May and signed up for professional development...it was good but it was a week.  The first week of summer.  A week I say.  Then I was presenting at ISTE, for the first time.  So the next three weeks were burned by me fixing, redoing and practicing my presentation.  EXHAUSTING!

Just as I am starting to feel a little burned out my break has finally arrived.  So what do I chose to do with all this newly found extra time? Sit on the sofa and hit the Netflix classic, Destination Truth, while I pound away on my laptop.  This is basically a description of my paradise...Josh, laptop, and that sofa. Honestly, I have been getting up at 4:30 am to go to boot camp but as soon as I come home I shower and nap.  Hardly athletic. 

It has been so nice to be home.  I finally have a minute to process and discover all the cool tools I saw at ISTE. (I promise I will tell you all about them, eventually.) I have started working on rebranding myself..and jazzing up the blog as you may have noticed.  

I want to celebrate my newly found summer with everyone.  I can't think of a better way to party then to save money and shop.  Good times!!

Head on over to my store (here) and enjoy!

3 Ways to Win an Audience as a Presenter

I didn't think it would work.  I found out on Twitter that applications were going to close soon for the largest education technology conference in the world.  We had a week to get it turned in.  No time to actually put in a winning application.  Little did we know the power of our mad writing skills.  After three to four hours of research I sat down with my very good teacher buddy (VGTB)  and we hammered out a work of art and hit submit.  My VGTB had to submit a presenter proposal for her doctorate class.  I did it because...well I am a dork and like to keep pushing myself.  I love teaching and sharing ideas.  But I know I need to grow as a teacher trainer.   I saw this a huge opportunity to throw myself in the deep end.

We found out we made it and well, we were completely shocked.  Elated.  Giddy.  Terrified.  Yup, but it was so far away we could relish in the idea of it without being overwhelmed by the stress of what it meant.  I don't know how it happens but it seems that the Spring semester just vanishes.  Poof. There I am in June. Kids long gone from the classroom and I am sitting in a sweaty hot building with three day old hair in a pony, wondering when the last time I showered and trying to figure out a way to stay true to our description while showing our elite audience something new and innovative. 

The presentation that we had given in our own district was not the one we ended up taking with us.  For that matter, the presentation that we brought up with us was not the one we gave two days later.  We shed blood, sweat and tears dumped and organized in that presentation. Through the process we learned three keys to win over an audience.

People do not want you to waste their time. They spent a ton of money coming to conferences and they want to leave with something that will give them ideas to move forward or will actually be something they can immediately apply in the classroom or the office. 

We were obsessed with giving them as much as we could.  We created hyperlinked e-handouts for them to look at and refer to later if they wanted.  We were constantly, obsessively,  adding to it and fixing it for them to use. 

Our session was about authentic learning and how to assess it. We worried it sounded a bit general so we made sure to include tons of examples of how authentic learning looked in our classroom and how we assessed it.  We included student made videos, and pictures of projects. 

Teachers love to talk.  Love. To. Talk.  It is the second biggest reason that people go to conferences. They go to see friends from other states, Twitter PLN and to spend time with those friends in their district they don't get to see very much.  This is their chance to learn from each other and they want that time to do so in their session to process the connections they are making as you go through the session. 

Our session was an hour.  Not very long at all but we still had to give time for processing chats. We struggled with how we wanted to facilitate conversations in a crowd where everyone could have a voice. We settled on strategic tweet outs that answered questions.  The tweets were a fine starting place but looking back we needed more.  More of them really talking to each other in some way or another. The tweets were great but the conversations after the session would have been so much more powerful if they had occurred during instead and everyone could have been there to hear and take part.

This is the most difficult.  I have been to plenty of sessions in professional development where we are given something to do that is a giant waste of time.  It is a time filler...I teach I can recognize those very quickly.  Teachers want to be involved, working with the information and learning in an authentic way.  If the session is about gaming then we should be testing games, assessing games and practice making games. 

Our session was about authentic learning. They should have been looking at a problem they were having and deciding on a authentic conclusion.  We ran out of time. Looking back this was a huge misstep for us.  We were super fortunate, the group was patient understanding.  They forgave us for this.  If we had it to do again I would have cut the amount of student examples and research and given them a chunk of time...at least twenty minutes to sit and create, practicing what we were talking about.  They had the e-handout to refer back to they needed to get their hands dirty.

I think the main reason we didn't lose most of them was our passion and excitement for what we were talking about- that goes a long way.  Plus, let's be honest we are pretty adorable especially when we are hyperventilating and waving our arms around like crazy people. 

Over all it was a great experience.  That is the best part about throwing yourself in the deep end you sink or swim.  We swam...it was ugly and way too much splashing around but we made it and are even planning on doing it again next year...if they let us.

ISTE...Teacher Nirvana

The build up to ISTE has been killer.  I found out six months ago that my application to present was accepted.  I along with my best friend tried on a lark.  A shot...mostly believing that it would be good practice filling out the form for when I really do it.  Well, my practice was really good and having the help of my very dear friend, did the job.  We are scheduled to present tomorrow.  At 4pm.  Good God that is close.

We were both excited...are excited but we saw the room we are going to be in and it is freaking huge.  So my prayer has gone from, "Dear God please don't let me accidentally say something inappropriate and bring shame to my family." To..on my knees, a tiny tears slowly working their way out..."Dear Jesus, please let those people be nice.  Please let me be loud enough...but not too loud.  And please don't let me accidentally say something inappropriate and bring shame to my family." 

Other than practicing, changing our presentation, practicing and eating we haven't done much in the way of investigating the city or the conference.  We are saving that for after. When we can breathe a little. 

I will let ya know how it goes.

Steps back to childhood

Jeanne Birdsall weaves a beautiful tale of how we need to unwrap our memories to embrace our inner child in our writing.  Soft spoken she carefully scoops you up and takes you through her process and experience.

I love her quote, "Memory what a gift and blessing they are to me."  Enjoy, you  deserve it. 

2013 Resolutely Downton

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It is the day, that we sternly sit in front of the blank page and dutifully self-assess.  Sometimes this is marred by the previous night bender.  Perhaps that is just me.  I discovered how to watch Netflix on my phone last night at the same time I decided to "try out" this Downtown Abby show I have been hearing about from Facebook "friends."  It was New Years eve, a girl can live it up a bit.  I came staggering out of my bedroom at ten this morning with no sleep, eyes darkly shadowed and glassy and a terrible cramp in my hand from balancing my phone and the charger plug all night.   The Facebook "friends" failed to add a warning that watching the show will transport you into the most fantastic time machine where you lose yourself and all awareness of time and prior commitments or duties.  Not putting one in the best position to begin a fresh new year.  After watching I suddenly can barely help myself from clinging to their most beautiful canter of speech they use. It is a bit more appealing to the ear than when I went on that summer long Dog the Bounty Hunter binge and spoke a most lucid form of Hawaiian ghetto slang ever heard in these parts of Texas. I finished one season last night.  Then decided if I was useless that I would only feel better about my situation as long as I had someone with me so I started my mother on the series.   It is now nearly midnight and I have accomplished one thing today....watched season one.  So much for my self-assessment.   I would like to sit here and explain how I will correct this all tomorrow but I have found season two on Hulu.  I will not come out of this for another day.

On the bright side...on this second round of viewings I have decided that this is the most perfectly written show.

Characters: 
They are all brilliant!  So perfectly broken and beautiful at the same time compelling and true to themselves.  You know the choices they will make but are shocked still.  The goodness and honor you see in them inspires but stands in stark contrast to the evil slips and character flaws they can't fight.

Setting:
What an amazing time period to tell a story in! The regular introduction to base levels of what today are considered modern tools taken for granted are their own colorful side stories.  And then there is the Abbey.  Lord be, that place is spectacular but the rooms feel familiar and are home.  There is no monologue about the history or importance of the building...it is understood.

Plot line:  
Each episode is perfect complete story reconnecting to a masterful closure yet connecting to the overall bigger picture.   It is not a single tale but a handful of them that intertwine and weave before you.  As a writer I am in awe of the skill it took to piece this together so perfectly.  There is not a plot line yet that has bored me or that was superfluous to the brand or the over arching progression of the story.  I would love to see how they have mapped this all out.

As a young, beginning writer I would have languished and beat myself up over "lost" days like this. Getting older I can see these days are necessary.  When you are writing it feels like there is no fitting this together and that it is impossible to have this many objectives and goals for a single piece you need these days...where you went on "vacation" and lost yourself completely to another writer's world and it felt perfect.  You can notch it in your belt and know that this exist and is possible and if it has been done can be done again.

In 2013 whose writing are you going to get lost in? 

Follow that dream...plan your trip

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We survived yet another NaNoWriMo, a doomsday prophecy, Christmas with the family and snowcation. That can only mean one thing...it is time to get back to setting up those writing goals for the New Year.

I am a huge fan of creating list, so goal and resolutions are a yearly favorite.  Somethings to keep in mind as you start to come up with your own list...

• Time is ticking.  Be honest with yourself and the restrictions you have on your day. By setting up a clear regular schedule you are preparing your brain for writing. The same time everyday the process becomes easier and you can slip into the flow of it faster.  
• Re-writing takes time.  It is the beautiful stage where your lump of clay becomes refined with an artistic hand.  Make sure that serious time is given for this process, it is not one that can be rushed.
• Final edits are important.  There is nothing more frustrating then reading a book and tripping over the text because of grammar and spelling issues. If you feel it is at the stage where it is time to pass it on don't be cheap, pay someone else you trust to look it over and weed out the problems.  I have been on the receiving end of this before...please make sure that you have given it an honest attempt to fit within the commonly acceptable guidelines of our English language before expecting your poor friend to fix your pile of random words.   
• Publishing is a business for a reason.  All artist want their art shared. The process to getting it out there is scary, heartbreaking and requires just as much and sometimes much more research than writing your sweet labor of love. It is important to give this time but to also remember to keep writing. Don't let yourself get swallowed alive and stop the creating that you love. 

I have a huge favor to ask....please take my survey.  I will not track your name, or anything like that I just need information to better serve you, dear reader.  

Thank you.

Art feeds the soul

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Day 4-6...no really I'm not cheating

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I am learning a great lesson this week.  When you want something to happen get moving and seek your blessings.  You have to reach for them that is when the magic happens.  

In the process to better define my writing company I have had more writing opportunities come to me...or maybe I went to them. I have been researching, writing, rewriting and editing for the last 4 days.  From when I wake till I go to bed.  I love it!! 

A contract that I started prior to the challenge has resulted in a flood of work the last few days not to mention an article that I wrote in May needed further editing. In between all of that...I have stayed strong and continued my personal growth experience. 

My novel- I write and write and write...then had to erase 2k words the last few days.  I got rid of one of my favorite chapters.  It didn't work with the plan.  I love the writing and lovingly copied and pasted it in another document but it won't work for this book so it is out of there.  I have been putting that off for a while but not any more time to get this done. 

My blog- I have started the rearranging of the blog. (As you may have noticed.) Moving to the two columns gives me more possibilities and I can start setting up for sponsors and add a more uniform method for my dear readers to follow me and my misadventures.  Who doesn't want to do that?

I also have been working on marketing and branding.  So far the focus is on social avenues.  I think this will be the easiest to start with because of the low entry cost.  I am excited. When I wonder away from my social networks I forget about all the incredible people you meet this way.    

My business- Thankfully my contracting work has been prolific.  I am still working on the business plan...which is a little behind schedule for me.. But it will get done.  In the meantime as I work on it I am doing it.  I have contacted a few freelance groups and am looking forward to getting more work.  

My growth- Again...this part is continual. Everyday I open up my WIP and trudge through that business plan I feel validated in my growth.  I know that when I get that feeling that I am intimidated to submit something or contact someone for possible work I am growing again.  

This process is interesting.  To my family it looks like I am chilling on the sofa.  Meanwhile, I am emailing, writing, researching my butt off.  I have noticed a strange cramp starting in my right hand..pointer finger.  Pretty sure it is the early signs of carpal tunnel.  All athletes get injuries.  Maybe I need to start stretching.  

Write on folks.  

How are your challenges going?  What kind of progress are you seeing?  Any suggestions of stretching to ward off carpal tunnel? 

PSP Challenge: Day 3

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The adventure continues.  I have found that I am enjoying the structure to the day. I did get one day off because of unexpected "life" stuff but am back on it.  

My Novel:  For the last three days I have added 1k words to my WIP.  The restructure has really helped me to focus what I have and to shape it into a stronger story line.  I am happy with it.

My Blog: Well...I know how I want it set up but when I study html it makes my head spin and eyes cross.  I will have to keep working on this.  Lucky for me I have a few more days in the challenge.

My Business:  Found a great posting on this subject...well, besides the amazing ones I have been putting out there. The blog is The Self-Publisher's Notebook and he has a pretty extensive list that completely matches what I have been finding as I have been going through this process.  Swing over and check out what he has put together.

I have been researching...a ton on this.  And have more questions as I go.

My Growth: Next week will be better.  I am focusing on (this sounds redundant but...) focus.  I don't know about you when I am writing it is a full spurt of writing that blast out 200-400 words then a good twenty minutes piddling on the interwebs bouncing back and fourth between Facebook, Pinterest and what ever my ADD clings to. Then I wonder back to my writing. It is a wonder I have been getting my word counts.  Next week I am closing out all of the tabs and all of the documents and focusing on one, just one. 

P2P Challenge Day two: Refocus

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Aw now that is it!  You know it is funny the minute you set your mind to achieving great things is when a million other things come up to distract you.  That was my day 3.

A previous article I wrote needed some immediate fixes before it could go to print. Another piece I did needed to be edited and sent to the publisher. Then there was regular life. I know sounds like a list of excuses. But the thing is..it wasn't I stayed up a little late but I persisted. 

The week is set on the theme of "refocusing" regardless of the things that are thrown in front of you, one must choose.  Is it the path that others want for you or do you want to be the one that determines your fate.  

I like being in control.  

Day 2: 

My Novel- I continued working on reshaping my wip.  It was one hot mess, but now is pretty exciting.  I can't wait to see what it is by the end of day 30.  After reshaping it I have to go through and make sure that the chapters I have all contribute to the plot progression and story structure. It will take a few days to get it fleshed out and refigured into the stronger form.  It sounds overwhelming to reshape 30k words to fit the new structure but I am thrilled to be doing it. 

My Blog- I really felt like I needed to do research.  It seems stupid, I read blogs all the time but not looking for structure and the purpose of the blog. It was really interesting.  I have the blog mapped out...mostly. It is a work in progress. 

My Business- I am really enjoying writing my business plan..I know I am a sicko. It is all about pricing, goal setting and really "seeing" your business how you envision it being.  I reached the pricing section. It is all about market research.  You guys know how I love some research. :)  

My Growth- This has been my stumbling block.  Ironic.  Today I was supposed to set up my metrics for growth. I do this all the time for students. But that is easy...it is them not me. I will keep working on this today.  Grrr.   

P2P Challenge: Day One, Refocus

P2P Challenge

The challenge, Personal 2 Professional, officially kicked off yesterday. The challenge is to dedicate 4 hours of your day five days a week for the next 6 weeks (Monday through Friday) to your writing.  Each hour will focus on a different area of your writing life. For me I chose: my novel, my blog, my business, my growth.I challenge you to share this journey with me and begin your own challenge. I suggest creating your own 30 schedule.  Once it is laid out it become a process of checking the list for the day and getting started.

Challenge rules: 

1. Commit 4 hours a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks to your growth in writing. 
2. Share your experience on your blog.
3. Grab our button and post it to your blog.
4. Put your name and link your blog to the linky thing below. 
5. Visit as many of us on the challenge as you can daily and share the encouragement. 

<a href=http://www.cubbybunnyiesink.blogspot.com" target="_blank"</a>

Day one: focus

Day one for me is building the challenge and determining how I want to grow over the next 30 days.  Each area required me to develop essential questions that I would need to answer as I go through this process.

My Novel

It meant really defining what the true story is that I want to tell.  I have had a picture in my head of this small town with all of these people.  Every single person has a unique story and in this single story they have been chiming in to get their story told too.  As I was writing I knew something was amiss but could not put my finger on it.  As part of my epiphany for this challenge I found an article, 'How to Create a Story Structure to Die For,' on the blog Write to done. The article discussed a model of story structure where there are really two stories in every novel.  The first story is the all of the action leading to the disillusionment of the hero. The second is everything the hero does once he has waken up from the dream. All I had was story one...my poor hero was wondering around and all this bad stuff was happening to him and he wasn't having that big moment.  

My Blogs

I didn't start blogging thinking I was providing a product.  I was writing and if someone read it and liked it, cool.  As I invested more time into my blog I started really rethinking it. What if I did make money by blogging then I wouldn't have to have that scary second job teaching students to drive... intriguing.  To make the transition I had to ask what is the product and how am I selling it?  

I decided that the product is writing...duh. I then had to decide how I wanted to position myself to make this product something that is useful to other writers.  I have mapped out several ideas.  Over the next 30 days I plan on writing a book that follows this challenge with all of the data, additional templates that the readers can use, and stories of my experience.  Some of that I will be sharing with you through my daily postings.  I also will be creating a writing program to teach on weekends to fellow starting writers that are looking to "go pro." Over the next 30 days I will be restructuring the blogs to better fit my goals and products. I look forward to hearing your advice as I proceed.

My Business

I didn't realize I owned a business till last summer.  Till then I wrote but it was a hobby. I found an article on The Guardian, 'Live Q & A: How to become a freelance writer.' The article had some great links (I love those) and it was through there that I found a template for a business plan. This week I am asking how do I defining my business and the goals I have for it? The business I have decided is multifaceted, because I like more than one pile of money and it insures I will always have something going on. I decided that Chubby Bunny's Ink has three departments: epublishing, contract writing and education. Over the next 30 days I will be more clearly defining each of these departments, their mission, goals, structures and processes.

My Growth

I needed to figure out what areas I believe I need to improve. This part was tough.  I think it was the hardest. Thinking about it I asked myself, how can I improve as a writer and business woman?  This is probably a pretty extensive list overall.  However, I decided for this 30 days I would focus on increasing my technical skill, character development, story structuring, community reach and consistency. Now I understand as a writer my life goal is to continually build my skill with all of these areas and that I will not master them in 30 days. But my goal is to improve them through steady focus for the next 6 weeks.

I look forward to hearing about everyone's journey and changes.  Please link below and start you challenge too.

30 days from now...from personal to professional writer

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Ever find a blog post that gives you a spark?  There is some kind of magical mix with what is going on with you and something clicks? It is a powerful time.  I got the chance to experience that last night. I was suppose to be in bed...it was 3 in the morning. I had stumbled from one blog to another and then locked in and could not stop reading. When I finally pulled myself from the postings I laid in bed and couldn't stop thinking what it meant. 

Funny thing is I saw this blog, Write to Done, last year and didn't think anything of it. The student has to be ready for the lesson to be learned.  

After reading and thinking I came to the conclusion it is time for a 30 day challenge:  

For the next 30 days I will focus 4 hours a day, 5 days a week for the next 6 weeks to my business of writing.  Each hour has a different purpose: my novel, my blog, my business and my growth.  I have spent the day mapping it out and cannot wait to share with you as I go through this learning experience. 

I encourage you to take the challenge with me. As a community we can create the change in ourselves that we want and need to move forward. 

Set yourself up for success

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There is a point as a writer you have to decide if you want to keep this as a hobby or take it pro. I have been tottering on the edge and have finally taken the plunge.

It is funny...I would be bankrupt if I had treated a traditional business like I have been treating my writing. You know if you were opening a business you would commit everything you had to it.  It is yours and you dare not risk your huge investment.  The only problem is that many writers don't see what they do daily as an investment.  We have our computers and internet so when we research for hours and write an extremely powerful piece on Monday we figure we can give ourselves a break on Tuesday.  Right?  I know I have. I think it speaks to my slow rate of success especially in the beginning.  But can you imagine if you owned a store and had a great day on Monday and made a pile of money would you shut down for Tuesday because you were tired. Huh..no.

Yesterday I was cruising around the blogosphere and found a great post.  She stated that writers should create their own business plan. You would do it for any other business. For a brief minute 6 years ago I thought I wanted to leave teaching and go into business.  During that time, while getting my MBA, I discovered the importance of having a plan for your business.  A business that has a plan knows where to invest time and resources.  If one area is in a lull then there are other areas to focus on growing.  With no plan there is a lot of running around like a crazy person and nothing happening or if it accidently does it is a shock to everyone and tough to replicate.

The main goal of a business plan is to define your business as a writer.  It makes you ask what type of writing do you want to do?  What audiences can you write for? How do you want to develop your brand? Where do you see yourself as a writer in three, five and ten years?

I have been working on my business plan for the last two days.  It is not easy. There is math involved.  (Not my favorite.) But it is well worth it. Invest in yourself and define your future..create a business plan if you are ultimately dreaming of taking this pro.

In the quest for greater communication...

Writer? Do you get paid for that?

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Doesn't every writer wish and dream of the day they move from the amateur column to the paid professional column? Or even better to the elite well paid professional column.

I have been a writer in my soul since I was in 5 years old and made my mother write down my stories. Or when I would make my Barbies and little ponies act out epic adventures of love, war, and loss.  When my 7th grade English teacher sweetly told me that my horrible sad little poem was "really good" I knew it was meant to be.  Sure I did the college thing. And I lucked into a career that is the perfect accent to writing and that I happen to love...teaching.  But I still wrote.  Poems, short stories, essays, proposals, detailed classroom observations, long list for groceries organized by aisle, and when I was out for a wild night on the town with my girls I did character sketches of the drunks around me.  (No not my friends...mostly patrons, well okay but my friends are so damn funny they slip in there.)

The million dollar question is how does a passion obsession become a professionally paid skill?

Well I am close...I do  know, how to become a fledgling freelance writer.  Not nearly as sexy...but extremely exciting.    

Taking that giant leap from non-paid to paid is a painful and long ride. I had my blog for 3 years and wrote for free.  I started other blogs for work and wrote in those for free.  I volunteered to write articles/advertisements for the friends to publish in the newspaper. I wrote for professional journals.  All for free. At first it is really cool to see your name in print and your sassy words out there for everyone.  But then at say...the 10th hour of research for a that long article that just won't end and is fighting you like a one armed gator...you get those feelings...like damn I wish I was getting paid for this.  It is in those times of frustration you have to stay strong because you are on the brink of greatness...and if not that at least a reprieve.    


The more you write, the better you become.  Sounds trite, but it is true. I wrote a novel. I blogged about that journey. I shared and marketed that blog on Facebook, twitter, and every writer's social network I could find.  I built up a small following. I am still working on creating a larger following.  

Funny thing is when your friends and people around you know you are a writer they share that information.  And when they hear of opportunities they recommend you and tell you about them. It is through my small following that I have gained all of my current freelance writing jobs.  Some have been small, almost like a test. Others have been pretty big, and paid well.

I think it is better that it starts off this way.  If you started a restaurant you wouldn't want to be the top one in the nation before the doors open. You have to play with pricing, recipes, branding, training of your staff and develop your business savvy.  You have to learn.  I am learning.

I have figured out my most effective way to research. I know my natural patterns and when I write the most the fastest.  I know my triggers that get me writing.  As I get jobs I am learning about book keeping and how to keep records for myself and taxes.

I have determined that to bring more jobs I will have to go get them.  I will have to apply, call and contact those in my niche and introduce myself and my skills.  


So these next couple of weeks the experiment continues...how to reach beyond your circle to get those sweet writing jobs?  I will keep you posted on my success. 


P.S. 
I am continuing to write in my WIP.  I am amazed at how much better this WIP is over the last one I wrote.  It feels better going in, and the process is flowing.  I wish the same for you.