By Mary Jaksch of Goodlife ZEN
Do you dream of being discovered? Imagine if someone spotted your novel, dragged you into the limelight – and publishers came crawling. Or what if your blog post went viral, admirers crashed Twitter, and readers scrambled to subscribe – wouldn’t that be great?
It happens. New writers are discovered every day. It may look accidental, but there are ways to become ‘accident-prone’. Here are five shortcuts to fame that work:
Tip #1: Throw yourself up the learning curve.
Every worthwhile endeavor has a steep learning curve. If you want to have success as a fiction writer, you need to learn how to create a compelling novel or short story. If you are a blogger, you need to learn how to write a blog post that can go viral. Make sure that you learn what has made others successful. Money spent on education and training is always a good investment. And if you can snag a mentor on your learning journey – you’re allready half-way to fame.
Tip #2: Hang out where you can be spotted.
One of the sure-fire ways to fame is to be endorsed by an expert in your field. You can see how that works when you read the blurb on the back of books. Be discovered and endorsed by a leading exponent, and you are on the fast track to fame.
But how to get discovered?
It’s simple. You need to figure out where the experts hang out and join them there. Let’s say for example that your dream as a blogger is to have a guest post on Zen Habits which was recently listed by Time Magazine as no. 1 of the 25 best blogs of 2010. Zen Habits now has about 200,000 subscribers, so a guest post there catapults you automatically into fame.
How do guest posters snag a primo gig like this one? Well, the last two posts on Zen Habits were from Jeffrey Tang of The Art of Great Things and Barrie Davenport of Live Bold and Bloom – both of whom are members of the A-List Blogger Club. That’s where their talent was spotted by Leo Babauta. They both hung out where they could be discovered.
Tip #3: Be insanely useful.
I was recently writing up my blogging experience as a case study. I noticed a weird pattern, over and over. I’ve always tried to help others, whether they were newbies or experts. Being helpful is the main reason behind my success. It’s the same with people I’ve pushed into the limelight: their relationship with me usually started with consistent offers of help. So, be insanely helpful to others in your field.
Tip #4: Grab opportunities as they flit past
The Internet is a place of fast change. Opportunities only come around once. If you’ve built a connection with an expert and they ask for help, say “yes” – even if you are over-committed and unpaid.
Here’s an example: a joint-venture project that emerged from the A-List Blogger Club is just about to launch. The Daily Brainstorm – a blogazine to rock your mind – has turned into an amazing opportunity for three Club members destined for the A-List: Barrie Davenport is the Editor in Chief, and Katie Tallo with Jean Sarauer are Managing Editors. They embraced this opportunity without hesitation. The combined count of monthly unique visitors of all the blogs contributing to The Daily Brainstorm is already in the millions – and that’s even before today’s formal launch. This thing’s running hot and is going to be BIG!
Tip #5 Use ‘vitamin’ C in high doses.
Vitamin C is something that aids vitality. But I don’t mean pills here. C stands for Connection. Because connection is what makes opportunities happen on the Internet.
How can you connect? Start with your end of the conversation. If the expert you want to connect with is on Twitter, send him or her regular Tweets with relevant comments. If it’s a blogger you want to connect with, comment on her or his blog. In time the expert will notice you, and a connection will form. Once you’ve forged a connection, make sure that you’re insanely helpful.
Meet good fortune half way – and don’t sit around, waiting for it to find you.
But what about those who are disadvantaged? What about those who are eager to become top blogger – but they can’t afford the cost of training? I’m thinking in particular of writers in the Third World.
In my experience, blogging is the quickest way to create a career with fast fame and a solid income.
The A-list Blogger Club has grown to more than 500 members, and as a celebration, Leo Babauta and I want to offer five scholarships, each worth $20 a month. We’re looking for talented writers who can’t afford the A-List Blogger Club membership fee (although it’s less than the price of a cup of coffee per week). If you would like to put someone forward, or nominate yourself, please write a comment below and tell us why we should consider them or you.
If you have some more tips to add about shortcuts to fame, please share that in the comments as well, ok?
Mary Jaksch is the Editor in Chief of Write to Done. You can enjoy more of her stuff on Goodlife Zen. Remember to check out the A-List Blogger Club.
Good advice Mary. There are oodles and oddles of would be writers out there but few can become starlets of the pen-set but you can give yourself a leg up (or a write up!). Love the vitamin C tip it’s zesty in the best way. I also would like to add that you need to get started. So many writers, authors, bloggers etc always seem to say that they took a long time to take the plunge in beginning their blog or book. If it’s true that you can earn while you learn you can also become right as you write. Pick up the pen (or keyboard) and let things flow.
Great tip, John. It’s so true – the most difficult step is to actually get started.
Dear Mary and Leo,
Hi, I’m Jessica, nice to meet you. Firstly, thank you for creating such a valuable resource for us budding writers. Both of you have built something really incredible here with Write to Done, where like minded writers can get together to share and chat about what we love to do best!
I have always wanted to join the A-list Blogging Club but although it is quite reasonably priced, as a university student without time for a job, I couldn’t quite afford the cost.
Since discovering Leo’s blogs, I became more interested in living a minimalist lifestyle but as I researched, I couldn’t find many minimalist/personal development resources out there for young adults/students beyond patronising advice and a few study tips.
So eventually I started my own blog (Minimal Student) in an attempt to learn more about minimalism for myself to share with others and I have been writing and running it for a year now. It was only supposed to be a personal blog, but it has had a bit more success than I had anticipated, having been featured on Becoming Minimalist and eventually gaining a few hundred subscribers.
I know it’s not much at the moment, but that’s why I would be honoured if you would choose me to receive an A-list Blogging Club scholarship.
Over this past year, I have discovered a lot about writing, blogging and about myself, but I know it doesn’t end there. I learnt that writing is something I really want to do, and the freedom and experience I gain from it will is something that I have come to treasure greatly. With your help, I would love to take it to the next level.
Thank you,
Jessica.
We’ll put you on the list as a possible candidate, Jessica. I love the focus of your blog!
Great post! Very useful advice.
Hi Mary – I agree with John Sherry – I love the part about C for connection. And hanging out where you can be spotted. It’s true – there’s no better way to increase visibility and get noticed than to just get out there. It’s hard. I don’t know whether I think people should wait until they are confident in their blogging/writing or whether they should fake it til they make it. I guess the only thing that matters is that you just have to “be around” in order for anyone to take notice of you.
Cheers,
Tia
That’s an interesting question, Tia: “Wait until they’re confident” or “fake it till they make it”?
I’m not that keen on either option.
I like REAL people, not fakers! And I don’t care at all where someone is at. Even if they know squat all. Because that’s where we all start from.
All I care about is that someone is motivated, and is eager to learn. (Ok, it does help if they’re a nice, friendly person too…)
Wonderful advice Mary. I am so thankful that helping people is your thing because, wow, have you helped me. I will never forget it. I hope you’ll considering helping Jessica too, she sounds like she’d be a wonderful addition to our blogging family at A-List Blogger Club. Go Jessica!!
I’m so, so excited about the talents emerging from the A-List Blogger Club. It’s been a pleasure to help you, Katie, and I’m enjoying helpgin others too. (And yes, I’ve put Jessica on the list for consideration…)
Hi Mary and Leo,
I was so excited to read that you two were generously offering scholarships to join the A-List Blogger Club! Like Jessica mentioned above, the membership fee is very reasonably priced for all the resources and help members have access to. However, my family and I are in such a financial hardship that even paying such a reasonable fee was something I had to wait on.
My husband and I have two kids (a teenager and a toddler!). When our daughter was born two years ago, we couldn’t afford daycare (we both work for non-profits, so we don’t get paid a lot) but were able to work out flexible schedules with our employers so we alternated taking care of our daughter. However, my husband just got a different position where the schedule is more firm, which means I have become the main caretaker of our daughter. Which, in turn, means that our income has been drastically cut. And that is why I seek a scholarship to your amazing club.
On the bright side of things, I am using this time to explore my dreams of writing. I have a few blogs right now (www.gathertwigs.com, http://www.youmeandfivebucks.com, http://www.ficklefaith.com), and I’m looking for ways to grow these blogs. I mainly want to grow them just to reach more people–to connect, entertain, help, inspire. But, of course, it would be great to generate some income to help with our finances. I feel like being a member of the A-List Blogger Club would be an amazing resource and blessing.
Thank you for all the help and guidance you provide to all your readers, and for your generosity in offering these scholarships.
Hey, congratulations on getting your two blogs up and running, Shirlene!
I’m going to take this opportunity as it flits by… to nominate myself for one of these subscriptions.
I’ve been building a dating advice site for 8 months. I am finally getting the hang of using social media and connection to create content that is engaging but something is missing. I’m stuck on the viral and watching my friends at punchdebtintheface.com and nerdfitness.com have so much success in the same span of time is like running face first into a wall. I am about to launch a series of events and related posts – including a manifesto – and know I need to be strategic about creating something that people want to pass on. Honestly, I’m trying to create a MOVEMENT. I want to learn from the best and would LOVE LOVE LOVE a chance to be in this group.
Sincerely and gratefully,
Shauna
Your project look very interesting. And lucrative.
I’ll add your name to the list of people we’ll consider for a scholarship.
Okay. I’m going to nominate myself. I’m a budding freelance writer although I’ve been on the web for awhile. My weaknesses are in promoting myself, getting consistent comments, subscribers, etc. My strengths are that my audience is very loyal and very encouraging. I rarely have critical comments. I mainly write faith(christian)parenting and family articles so that sets me outside the normal “general” writing/blogging category.
Thanks for your comment, Dionna. We’ll put you on the list as a possible candidate.
Hi Mary (& Leo too),
A shortcut to fame: You can gyp tens of thousands out of tens of billions! Does the name Madoff ring a bell? Hmmm, something tells me that’s not what you had in mind…
But speaking of Madoff, I want to nominate *myself* for an A-list blogging scholarship. “Wha??” you ask. I had been a retired software engineer until finding out that Madoff had, indeed, stolen all my retirement and savings. And so here I am, starting over again, at the ripe old age of, well, nevermind… I’ve recently discovered blogging and I LOVE IT! I enjoy writing and know I can excel at it with a little practice and some good direction. I have so many avid interests that my biggest difficulty is paring them down for a blog I can get my arms around. It’s currently pretty unwieldy.
Two wonderful friends gave me $10 recently for seed money. They wrote on the check memo line “the future”. Know what I did with it? I joined the A-list Blogging Club! Just about 20 min. before I saw this post! I chipped in my own $10 after deciding it’s a good investment, and I reeeaaally wanted to try it out. So you see, I’m serious! (Did I grab this opportunity quickly enough? See, I’m also a quick study.)
Thank you so much for your inspiration, your generosity, and for considering me.
Have a great day.
Patti
Hi Patti – your comment made me cry. It touched me that you’re willing to start over and start out, after that incredible kick in the guts Madoff gave you.
What I notice straight away is that you can write :-)
The great thing is that in the Blogosphere nobody cares a flying fart whether you are a woman, a man, or something in between. Or whether you’re 12 or 102.
We’ll put you on the fast track: Ask me for advice on the forum in the EXPERT ANSWERS AND REVIEWS thread and let us know where you’re at with your blogging.
We’ll also consider you for a scholarship, once your first month membership is over.
THANK YOU! Gosh, I hardly know what to say, what a nice reply!
I see immediately that there is so much good info on the A-List Bloggers Club site! WOW. I’m sure I will be busy perusing it (and USING it) for a little while and then I will certainly catch you on the forum as you so kindly offered.
I already feel so welcomed, very excited, and a tad overwhelmed.
This is gonna be GREAT.
Patti
How is it that I never realized that the Club and the Bootcamp were two separate entities? Hmm. All right then, grabbing the opportunity over here!
Like Jessica, I’m also a student. I’ll be returning to school in August, and wading into the brave new world of student loans in pursuit of a master’s in public health. This summer, I’m setting up the framework for an author’s platform (I have a novel on submission to agents) and a separate blog focused on helping multi-passionate people learn to manage their interests without having to abandon the majority of them. Both sites are in the birthing stage at the moment and thus don’t look like much (though they are live), but they’ll be ready for business before I move on August 7th!
I would love the opportunity to learn from everyone in the A-List Blogging Club. One of the things I always advise people with multiple passions is to connect with those who are further along than you are because by doing so you can learn from them and sidestep a lot of the pitfalls that will slow down your progress. Since I’m just starting out with these two sites and I don’t have much experience with the professional blogging world, I need to make sure I practice what I preach!
One thing to add to your list, that I’ve learned from the A-list blogs I’ve been reading: be consistent, both in your posting schedule and your usefulness. From observation I’d argue that it’s more important to be insanely useful, but if you’re irregularly insanely useful then people won’t know what to expect and you’ll be kind of like one of those dog toys with the weird shapes that dispense treats at random intervals.
It looks like you are heading straight for success, Kirsten.
I like your point about being regularly helpful. I’ve always loathed the idea of ‘random’ kindness.
Here’s my problem. After reading your shortcuts, I realized that being dangerously close to success can be, well, just dangerous. For instance,
!. Throw [yourself] Up [the learning curve]
2. [hang out where] you [can] be spotted
3. Be insane[ly useful.]
4. [Grab] opportunities [as they] flit past.
Time for me to eliminate the brackets standing between me and success. And that’s why I would like to be considered.
Thanks.
5. [Use vitamin C in] high doses.
You’re right on the button, Christa: we bloggers are a pretty insane lot. Have to be. Because the start is so slow, and dear ones laugh to see us write like crazy for just a handful of subscribers.
Things change, though. Once a blog grows, everyone and their cat wants to know how to do it :-)
I’d like to nominate myself, also. I currently blog about life & nonsense at my blog – being 30something. Given that I’m in my final 6 months of being 30something…I would love the boost that the A-List Blogger Club could give me to start my 40somethings in style…
Thanks, Katrina – I hope you don’t find the transition to 40something too too traumatic :-)
Hi Mary,
What a beautiful post filled with solid advice.
You know you walk your talk too. When I joined the A List Bloggers Club in February you were so hands on and helpful, and that’s what made me stick with my blogging. I’ve never gotten around to thanking you, but what better place than here where I can say it publicly, and loud and clear: You made a true impression and big difference to this writer and blogger. A difference between me throwing in the towel in frustration and carrying on. I thank you for that!
Oh! Thanks so much for your lovely words, Angela!
Mary, you are such a bright light. Leo too, of course. And I think that’s why A-List is so different from anything out there. There’s this deep desire in the founders and the members to help others succeed. The day I got an email telling me about the A-List Blogging Club was the luckiest day of my blogging life.
I hope they have laptops at the old folks’ home because I’m still going to be blogging and hanging out with the A-Lister’s when I’m 105.
Great plan, Jean! I think the secret of the A-List Blogger Club is that we’ve brought together such lovely, inspiring, and helpful people! Like you, Jean :-)
Hi Mary,
This is certainly one opportunity I don’t want to lose for lack of trying! I want to nominate myself for the A-List Blogging Club scholarship and would be honoured to be considered for it.
I am a published author of a book on Hindu temples in South India and am a freelance writer of articles on Indian history and culture. Though I’ve been an avid reader and user of the Internet, I have not yet been able to leverage all its advantages towards my writing career – and I know there are lots of ways of reaching out and helping people who want information on these topics. I need to find a way out and I think the A-List Blogging Camp can help me.
The cost has been beyond my earnings so far and I have always felt that this was an opportunity I was missing. However, there was no way I could spend on the course at full price. This scholarship would be a great help in my initial foray into blogging and who better to do it with than with you and Leo?
Thanks for your comment, Savita. It looks like you’re doing well as a writer. Congratulations on becoming a published writer!
Excellent post Mary and fantastic advice. As an A List club member for a few months now, I can no doubt vouch for the unreal value in what Mary mentions. And reading a post like this gets me even more fired up to take personal development and blogging by storm to make it the success I know it can be. And it’s such a blast. I’ve really enjoyed spending time with all the experts too Including Mary. I feel it rubbing off!
Awesome scholarship idea too. Can’t wait to see who our 5 new members are.
Thanks so much,
Scott
Hey, Scott – You’re certainly developing like crazy! I loved you awesome guest post here on WTD: Become a Book Review Ninja: 10 Steps to Mastery
Please consider me for a scholarship. I’m a third-year law student at Arizona State University who likes to write. Because drafting memos and writing briefs can get dull, I started The Reading Writer website to maintain a connection with the world of non-legal writing.
I’d like the help and encouragement that the A-List Blogger Club could provide, but I’d need the financial boost of the scholarship to make that happen.
Why? Our fourth child is due in October, and it isn’t easy paying for diapers and law books simultaneously!
Hi James, thanks for your comment. I’m impressed that you are studying law with (almost) 4 kids!
Mary,
I agree, A-list club have produced a great bloggers who were great already before but they are more polished and now people are aware of them. I know because I read most of them daily. I have been reader and follower of Zen Habits, write to done, goodlife zen, minimalist, ZFH and many things you both have done alone or together. Actually Zenhabits was a great influence for me to start blogging in the first place!
Blogging is much easier to get started but to be great and successful requires lot of work, time and some luck.
But that does not stop me from learning a huge learning curve ahead of me, slowly on my own or with help from a blogging friends. Without help of each other and readers no blog can exist. Helping truly without any expectations is such a good idea.
Even with might be reasonable pricing, A-list blogger club is out of our budget. I do wish great success to daily brainstorm site, looks very promising and I know Jean, Katie and Barrie and their leadership it will surely thrive.
Hi Preeti, you have the kind of mindset that will make you a successful blogger – no matter what. The most important thing is to keep going.
Hi everyone!
Thanks Mary for your fantastic initiative and useful and generous advice. The single most influential advice I ever received, fortunately when quite young, was Let’s Do It Now! Admittedly, I have not applied it to my writing lately, so here I am submitting a comment only to scuttle back to my blog and finish my first post. It is, after all, about Now.
As a fellow gmail-er, I see Mary’s name on my email sidebar, always with the reminder “busy writing”. My response was to set my own status to “busy righting”. I hope to update the spelling asap. Or rather NOW.
Mary,
This was a great post. And I think it relates to every aspect of life when creating connections. It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice, if you can be helpful and “give, give, give” to mentors, then you got a lot going for in the field you’re trying to break into.
I would love to be considered for a scholarship into your bootcamp. I need focus – I currently work a day job, I created a sports bra, I just completed my MFA and am trying to finish my novel by year end. The current focus of my blog is to find simple happiness – but its more of a narration as to what I do, rather than advice to others as to what they can do to find happiness.
I know that with the help of you and Leo and everybody else in the bootcamp, I can improve my blog.
Thanks so much, Carolina
Sounds like you’re multi-talented, Carolina. Which is great. But also difficult because it’s hard to focus on one thing.
Thanks for this great opportunity to suggest someone in need of the boot camp.
I would like to nominate my daughter,Jess.
She is one of the most upbeat, positive people you could meet.
Recently she had a set back (she calls it a great learning experience)
Her business was consumed by the ravishes of the recession and owning a restaurant in a small town. She is now 26. She started this Bistro with her sister, she was 21 and her sister was 23. They were nominated runner up for best eatery in the southern province. She is not discouraged, she closed shop picked herself up and pursued a new career. She is now a personal trainer. A true inspiration to all who train with her. Her determination to move her life in a forward direction is awe inspiring. She lives 2 blocks from the gym, walks to work and doesn’t own a car.
Presently, she is putting together a proposal to get funding for a “Green Gym” in her community to encourage disadvantaged folks to come to the outdoor “free” gym and receive free training and life style coaching.
At the present time she has 2 blogs, one is selffitness.wordpress.com to encourage folks to exercise, get fit and make positive changes that will affect not only their immediate family but the whole community.
Her second blog “inspire,believe,move.wordpress.com enables folks to do the little things that make big changes. Recently she has been sharing her experience of training and running a marathon.
You would not regret adding her to your A-list, she is all gold!
Thank you again
Your daughter sounds wonderful. And she has one great advantage:
she has a loving and supportive mum!
Hi Mary,
These are great universal tips that you can apply to anything you want to do in life. I’m just starting out as a blogger and I’m struggling. After reading your post it made me realize I’m doing all these things at my current job and I’m very successful at that. If I apply the same habits I’m doing to be success with that area of my life towards blogging, I should achieve at least some success. I think that’s a life lesson: reflect on what you know you’re good at and take those tools and apply them towards what you want to grow at.
I look forward to many more posts from you and Leo!
Leah
Hi Leah – it’s great that you’ve discovered that you’ve already got the strategies to be successful! All you have to do is to transfer the skills.
Hi Mary,
Let me confess at the outset that I am judgmental.
I really appreciated your insights, especially since you make it sound so simple thereby inspiring and encouraging a lot of bloggers to take the next step, or simply hang in there.
I almost got sold on the idea of joining the A-List Blogger Club. There’s the key word: almost.
I am a writer and editor by profession and a nitpicker by choice. So, when I read that one of the special benefits of becoming a member was: “Continue to grow as an blogger,” I couldn’t bring myself to click on the Subscribe button.
While it may be an extremely helpful resource, I don’t think I’ll be joining a group whose leaders haven’t even spent enough time proofing their sales pitch.
Warm regards and best wishes,
Mansi.
Hey Mansi – my bad! Thanks for kindly pointing out the glitch – I’ve corrected it.
I congratulate you on your eagle eye, Mansi. It’s a useful skill. But not one that will determine whether you’ll become a successful blogger or not.
Great tips. Like one of the commenters above, I am also ‘almost’ sold on joining the A-list blogger club. Even though I am picky about grammar my reason is nothing to do with the occasional typo that catches out even the most professional of writers occasionally (you are in good company there – selling authors often receive emails from ‘fans’ telling them they mis-spelt a word or missed out a comma on page 103!). I am simply ‘almost’ ready to take my blogging to the next stage and invest some more money in it, which brings me to something I think you are doing right – providing ongoing value to those of us who are interested in what you have to say and may be interested in joining you in the future. Always the sign of super professional blogging, I feel ;)
Just to drive my point home, I missed a whole word out of my previous comment. Clearly I meant ‘best selling authors’, not ‘selling authors’. Clearly we all need a grammar bootcamp/catching typos bootcamp :)
I’ve decided to push through and submit this, gasping for breath that threatens to stop forever …
I love to read blogs, particularly writing and publishing blogs. I like reading about the experiences of other writers, and I particularly like learning the tricks of the publishing trade. Publishing is an alien world to me, and I have come to appreciate the openness with which many literary agents and bloggers share their expertise with publishing hopefuls like me.
I don’t, however, like to comment on blogs.
It isn’t because I have nothing to say. I have plenty of thoughtful, reflective, funny, engaging, and even wise things to say (as I tell myself when I am dreaming about writing). Yet as every true introvert knows, once you enter the crowded room, even if the crowded room looks like 235 comments from other readers, your well-prepared ideas and reflections leave you standing open-mouthed.
One of my favorite blogs, Write To Done, had a guest post earlier this week from the A-List Blogger Club, a group of blogging experts who have formed a club to mentor new blog writers. Guest writer Mary Jaksch of Goodlife ZEN offered readers a scholarship of $20 a month to join. All that is required is to write a response in the comment section that convinces the A-List Blogger Club that you are one of the top five people who deserve it.
How loaded is that? First I have to believe I am good enough (who ever believes that?). Then I have to enter that “crowded room” and push past my natural tendency to quiet myself, to listen rather than speak. All this before my response even begins to pass whatever invisible hoops the A-List Blogger Club has in mind when selecting the scholarship recipients.
I’m not complaining here. As a blogger, I so appreciate the very few who have commented on my words. I go back and read them again and again, so I can only imagine how encouraging it is to those who get so many comments. Good for them, I say.
I’m just trying to think through the resistance. My solution today is to just write my thoughts here instead, and to seriously consider just paying the fee and joining the club. I bet they can help.
A very wise young woman once told me that the best way to work a room is to go to one person at a time and start a conversation. Maybe I’ll try that too.
And I just want to point out that this is the first time I have ever named myself as a blogger. Just saying … progress slips right up on us when we aren’t looking.
I was so nervous I forgot to ask … will you consider me, please, for scholarship also?
Hi Mary,
At the risk of seeming like a 3rd grade student sitting in the front row of the classroom, waving her hand in the teacher’s face begging, “Ooh, please, please, Puh-LEEASE choose me!” I’d like to nominate myself for the A-List Blogging Club scholarship. :)
I’m quite the baby blogger; on June 1st of this year I carved out my little space in the Blogosphere and named it Brave Bride. Not that the world needs another wedding blog or anything. But I started it as a sort of “pay it forward” act. You see, other indie/ budget wedding blogs gave me the confidence over the last few months to push through with my casual summer BBQ wedding (in 2 weeks!), knowing full well that my vision for the day would be harshly judged by a wedding culture that only promotes luxury and sophistication on magazine racks. The purpose of my blog is to support other women who are seeking to have a wedding that embraces AUTHENTICITY, SIMPLICITY, and KINDNESS. I want to be part of the new-ish indie wedding revolution!
As a newly graduated (and unemployed – Sigh!) woman who has just finished her psychotherapy studies at a seminary, I also enjoy writing on the blog about inner transformation, mindfulness and bravery when planning for a wedding and a marriage. For example, I write about my personal struggle with marital cold feet, and also the bravery needed to *kindly* establish boundaries with people as they impose their wedding expectations on you. Also, 2 weeks ago I found the blog zenhabits for the first time. I referenced a zenhabits guest post about simplicity and applied it the purchasing frenzy that many brides-to-be experience.
So. The top 3 reasons why I need this scholarship are…drum roll, please…
1. I’m a baby blogger with LOTS to learn.
2. I’m a broke joke. Okay, maybe not quite a joke, but I’ll put it this way: the price of weekly morning coffee (which you likened to the A-List Blogger fee), is a luxury for me right now.
3. I want lots and lots of people to feel encouraged by my blog. Your scholarship would mean the world to me because it would help me help others.
Mary, I hope that you’ll consider me for your generous scholarship. Thank you!
Warmly,
Kimberly
Mary and Leo,
I’ve just discovered zenhabits and writetodone and I’m inspired. Your attitude of simplicity and positivity reflects the way I’m been aiming to live my life for a long time!
I’d love to be considered for your A-List Blogger Club – Here’s the story… I’m from England, but live in Dali, Yunnan, China. (Escaped to Asia 8 years ago searching for that simpler kind of life). I’m a fire dancer, songwriter, yoga student, philosophy graduate, I run a guesthouse (see http://www.dalihump.com – I write the content), I have half a book and an agent, but I do not yet know how to blog.
This is the beginning for me. I want to expand my writing mind with a completely new approach, share this strange and beautiful life here in Dali, and connect with artists, writers, performers, travelers, musicians, and people who make me laugh. The book’s half done because the money ran out, and I run the guesthouse so I can do something positive and creative in the world while I make ends meet. But the ends don’t quite meet yet so the subscription is out of my league.
Please let me know if you’d like more information or writing. I’ll be sure to follow your blogs in the future. Thanks!
Jo
Dear Mary and Leo,
I have just found about you, firstly about Leo Babauta from Annabel Candy’s web site. Just today, I read Leo’s writing, just one of them, I would of course will read more – so incredible. I am a biker and a gardener; his writing about to have less quite rings into my heart.
I live now in North Sumatera, Indonesia; I wonder if the club you are talking here is for all the global citizens. I guess so?
I like to write but I am still bad on managing myself on how to apply those things you mention above. I once have my blog but then I didn’t really put time to nurture it. Then I moved to a blog: http://www.kompasiana.com/limantina_sihaloho. I still need to have my own anyway. I am too lazy to set up my own again; one of my weakness.
Again, thanks!
Limantina
Great tips Mary, I’m a web designer in the UK and have a blog I daily post on. At first, writing those blogs took me along time due to a mixture of reasons, too busy and lack of confidence in writing. But once I got into a routine of writing, actually setting aside time to write, the blogs flowed out of me. And don’t only do I enjoy blogging now but my followers have increase now because the articles are more passionate and interesting. My tip for writers BELIEVE in what your writing.
I have a “little” blog but it seems to be getting no where.
I am a teacher who dreams of publishing a book that would have a blog to go along with it. I need to learn better blogging technique. If I could create a better blog-one that would tie in with a future book- I would be able to get a little more income to help during this time of salary freezes.
I am not looking to live off my blog, but to supplement would be nice.
Just to be able to energize me towards realizing my blog and book dream, a scholarship would be appreciated.
Thanks for the consideration.
I would like to nominate myself for the A-List Bloggers Club scholarship. I very recently started a blog (this past weekend) as well as a new chapter in my life. I realized that I wasn’t satisfied with my job/career path, where I lived, or the direction of my life in general. I was finding it difficult to see all of the positive things around me and in my life.
Now I am at a point where I am starting to make significant changes in my life for the better. There are a lot of changes that I need to make, but I am looking forward to the journey. I started my blog to help motivate me and hopefully inspire others down the path to minimalism and living life well.
I have worked for a nonprofit for the past three years while trying to pay off my undergraduate and graduate student loans – which is not at all easy. So, I can’t commit to a membership fee as little as $20 a month, because I use all of my money to pay bills. I would love to be published in the future, but right now I’m still very much in the early set up stages. The information I would have access to as a member of the A-List Bloggers Club would be invaluable to me, especially at this stage.
I hope you will consider me for the scholarship. If I don’t receive it, I’ll just have to glean as much information as I can from this blog! Thank you for all of the advice!
Hi Mary!
Thanks so much for the tips, especially about jumping into the learning curve. It is really reassuring that everyone must go through that in order to be successful. Sometimes, I forget…
Thank you, as well, for offering the scholarships, of which I would like to nominate myself for.
I am a recently single mother of a two-year old, and would love to learn more, connect more and ultimately make my writing career something that would allow me to stay home with my daughter and feed her delicious organic foods.
My blog, currently, is called “Everyday Infinity” and I try to bring every blog post back to the magic of everyday. I have themed days, right now, as I have so many interests and things to write about that I couldn’t figure out how to focus my blog down to one topic. I would love to learn how to make it more attractive to readers.
Thank you for your consideration.
Blessings
Hi All:
I just dropped in from the dark ages and cruised through this blog–a blog,imagine that, blogging may previously been a misspelling of logging a diminishing occupation, and apparently quite the opposite of blogging.
Helping people is the foundation of how I live, and I am moved by the attitudes here where certainly the opposites can easily grow. I’ve always written, always read, listened,and volunteered, so blogging seems a sudden blend of passions.
Where have I been? Quietly writing in the backroom of my house… where do all of you write? I earn very little on writing, and actually earn very little period. Do I have to confess?
The starving writer alone in the attic is no longer alone. I hope you will tolerate my newbie state.
I’m delighted to have stumbled upon this site that explains blogging and to discover people who are both new and experienced.
Will you spare me a moment of DUH? What is the scholarship for and what does it cost?
Your advice here has already brought growth, and here my hand reaching to you with an enormous thank you.
Karen