StepUP

Welcome the New Year, Welcome Changes

What is harder to believe: the fact that we just had to break out new calendars or that there is actually a new post up here at StepUP? Actually, I think both events are monumental and exciting.

Sho and Sho had crazy busy things going on the last few months of 2011 and have used our break from our regular posting schedule to plan for 2012. Things are still somewhat in the air, but I did want to share some of what I know I am tweaking for the coming year.

First of all, I am way too busy -- sort of like like the saying that goes something like this "jack-of-all-trades-masters of none." Have you ever felt that way? Well, the good thing for me is that over the two years (or is it three?) that StepUP has been in existance, it has helped me identify what I really enjoy and what God has given me a natural ability to accomplish. That is what I want to share in my upcoming posts.

Strictly Speaking Coming to Albuquerque, NM

StepUP and KKIM Christian News and Talk, are excited to announce Strictly Speaking, an all-day workshop teaching attendees how to build an oral presentation from the ground up. Shona Neff and Shonda Savage-Whitworth use their training and own experiences to teach others how to build and present a power message.

Learn how to use The Spiral Method to not only format your talk, but to incorporate all the nuances that build a powerful presentation. Hear from other speakers affiliated with KKIM Christian talk radio including Dewey Moede, station manager.

The workshop includes a working lunch where attendees have the opportunity to ask questions and chat with established Christian communicators.

If you are in the Albuquerque area and are interested in attending, the workshop will be held on Saturday, October 22 at Heights Christian Church on the corner of Lousiana and Comanche (6935 Comanche Rd. NE), from 8:30 to 3:30.

Registration is now CLOSED.

©2011 StepUP Writing and Speaking

The Fine Art of Creating Stories from Real Life

By Lawrence J. Clark, Ph.D

One of the biggest obstacles that many beginning writers encounter is “what (and/or whom) do I write about?”

The first place I always suggest to look is in your own backyard—literally. Your next door neighbor, a crazy uncle, that co-worker who just won’t shut up about all of her personal problems—these can all be rich sources for interesting characters, situations, etc.

Of course, one must always be careful writing about close friends or family members, especially since those are the people with whom you’ll want to share in the excitement each time you get published. If the character or situation is “too close to home,” it can sometimes cause resentment or hurt feelings. What YOU think is funny might not be funny to the person who is too close to the event in question!

Often Misused

Last month when I announced the StepUP monthly support group on Facebook, I wrote:

 If you're called to be a writer and/or speaker, Shona Neff & myself (aka Sho and Sho) are having a writers/speakers online support group on Tuesday, Aug 2 @9pm EST. Open forum. No fees. No agendas. Just support & discussion. Come on over and join us.

The following day, I received a gracious private message explaining how I misused a pronoun. And she was right.

Do you see it?

Shona Neff and myself. . . really? I thought it sounded good, but it is grammatically incorrect. It should read, "Shona Neff and I are having. . ."

Often times when writing, we write the way we speak. And I don't know about you, but I am one of the most grammatically incorrect speakers (that's a whole other post). It's an area where I'm a work in progress.

In the process of desiring to get the words into a document, we just type without thinking about grammar. And we should or the creative process may be inhibited. However, we do need to review and edit what we write (even when we post on Facebook so we can be a good example).

Here are a few other words that may give us some grammatical grief.

Path to Publication, Guest Post by Linda Gilden - CLASS Christian Writers Conference Director

The straightest path to getting published these days is to learn the craft of writing and learn it well. Competition is stiff and editors and publishers are looking for writers who know how to write well.

At the CLASS Christian Writers Conference November 2-6, 2011, at the Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, NM, you can learn to write well. Editors, publishers, and professional writers will be there to instruct, guide, and inspire. CLASS CWC is a great conference but what makes it unique?

One of the things that makes CLASS Christian Writers Conference different from others is that you can walk on to the campus of the CLASS conference unpublished and leave as a published author! How can that be?

Blog Blast Spotlight - Part 4, Jackie Brown

In our fourth and final spotlight, StepUP is proud to feature Jackie Brown of Mom on a Mission. When we first saw the title of her blog we wondered what type of mission she was on, but the minute we clicked into her cyber kitchen, our question was answered.

If you want to follow along as we share the things that Jackie does so effectively, click on her blog, www.momonamission.me.

Niche

Have you noticed that every one of our featured blogs has had a specific niche? That is because this aspect of what we do is an important part of creating a blog that readers will visit and revisit. Jackie has a definite niche with her food focus. She covers a lot of territory as is evident by scrolling through the "Cook N' Freeze" contents located on the far right-hand side of her main page.

Blog Blast Spotlight - Part 3, David Andrews

Our third spotlight goes to David Andrews, a blogger from New Zealand. His site is like no other that we visited. There is no mistaking David's passion, and he makes it easy to get lost in a sea of words beautifully crafted by him and others.

Follow this link to Poetry In Motion so you can click back and forth as we share the things David does to make his blog worth visiting on a regular basis.

Niche

David immediately establishes his purpose with the title, Poetry in Motion. However, what is so effective about his blog is the fact that it is not just filled with works by notable poets. David's content consists of lyrics from songs, inspirational videos that have touched him, notable books, and poetic words that leap from his heart to the page when his life intersects inspiration.

Blog Blast Spotlight - Part 2, Dianne Guthmuller

The second StepUP blog spotlight is Dianne Guthmuller's The Journey. Once again, Dianne has done a great job incorporating many of the strategies that make a great blog.

If you'd like to follow along as I share the many things Dianne does right with her blog, please visit The Journey so you can click back and forth to observe it as you read.

Niche

Dianne quickly establishes her blog's purpose in the banner: "Encouraging others to know Him more" based on Philippians 3:10. Dianne's audience is people seeking a deeper relationship with God, and she knows what appeals to her audience.

The name of her blog immediately sets the tone, The Journey. This is not fluff and stuff; seekers are on a mission. Her banner also supports this theme: it contains a no-nonsense photo of her doing her own seeking as she sits on a porch with a laptop and her own study resources.

Blog Blast Spotlight - Part 1, Karen Daly Cook

As promised, it is now time to spotlight a few blogs we think are doing some great things. We thank every one who shared their blogs with us. All of them were charming, but a few caught our our eyes as good examples of the helpful hints Sho and Sho have shared during our August Blog Blast.

Our first spotlight shines on Karen Daly Cook of The Couch.  Karen immediately captured our attention with her home page. (If you would like to refer back and forth between here and Karen's blog as we point out some of the great features, click: http://karendalycook.com/).

Home Page Appeal

The formatting of Karen's home page is not the usual blog fare; it has a fresh, cutting edge look. Instead of the typical banner stretching across the top, she uses a large photo of herself on a couch placed on the upper, left-hand side of her home page. Not only is this different, but, since she is pictured in the banner, she quicky establishes a repoir with the reader because she gives them a person to connect with.

To Write or to VLOG

Last Thursday, I saw a tweet by @5minutesformom about survey result that Mom bloggers hate to watch video blogs (VLOGS). Intrigued, I jumped over to the article and sure enough, mom bloggers prefer to read.

Surprised by the results (because I've been told VLOGging is the new way to blog), I decided to take my own Facebook poll. I posted my poll in several different groups on Facebook including my own profile page.

Ready for the results?

Sixty people responded to my informal polls. Fifty-nine were women, and one male made his voice count.

Those who prefer to read: 47

Those who enjoy VLOGs only: 0

Those who enjoy both: 13

Most of the comments from those who prefer both, were that the VLOG needed to be brief.

Will you be making any changes based on these poll results? Are you surprised by these poll results?