a productive pen

Today I’m just chillin’ at home and surfing around on mybloglog. I found these cool things that I’m passing along because I found them useful, so you might as well. While you’re at mybloglog, join my community!

First, there’s the Complete Blogging Resource List for the Pro-Blogger. I’ve bookmarked this page because it’s got a lot of juicy links all in one place.

Then I signed up for the Slash My Search, ’surf and earn’ program. You simply sign up for the free program, change your browser’s home page to the slash my search page with your affiliate link and you’ll get paid .25 cents per hour, and your earnings will increase if you sign up people to join the program. I’m testing it out and I’ll have a full blog report on it when I actually start generating some cash.

Finally, on Bon508’s , I found this fun little site called RedKid.net which allows you to create a sign for your blog using a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a bumper sticker or even your own custom fortune cookie fortune. It’s cool and fun.

I’m getting ready to go and make a chocolate cake and some cool apetizers for us to enjoy while we watch the Academy Awards tonight. I’m rooting for:

• Little Miss Sunshine in the Best Picture Category
• Jennifer Hudson in the Best Supporting Actress Category
• Djimon Huonsou in the Best Supporting Actor Category
• Penelope Cruz for Best Actress, although girlfriend has some stiff competition from some fabulous actresses in this category
• Will Smith for Best Actor
• Martin Scorsese for Best Director

By Paula Eder 

Finding time is like finding treasure, right? The next question is how to spend it!

If time is money, then to-do lists are the smart budgets that ensure you pay your bills and still have cash left over for that special something. They’re powerful and they’ll work for you. If you hate them, lose them or never even start them, learn how to use them to your advantage.

It’s easy, once you’ve decided you want to use your time well and will do whatever’s necessary. Here are 3 common To-Do Lists Myths and 3 Tips to dispel those myths with Effective To-do Lists.

To-Do List Myth #1: “To-do lists don’t work.”

Reality: Effective To-do Lists are extremely successful if you construct them well and follow them! Make sure you construct to-do lists as realistic plans that align with your values. Then they’re like mini-navigation systems, guiding you through your day and keeping you on track.

To-Do List Myth #2: “To-do lists will just make me feel rotten (or guilty or overwhelmed) at the end of the day.”

Reality: Effective To-do Lists will make you feel powerful and accomplished at the end of the day! The secret? Make them short. Only put on what you can realistically do and are motivated to do. If a project can’t get done today, don’t put it on today’s list. Or only enter the small portion you can accomplish. Anything else goes onto your weekly or monthly list, in doable chunks!

To-Do List Myth #3: “To-do lists will just remind me of what I hate in my life or what I’ll never be able to get around to doing anyway.”

Reality: If making Effective To-do Lists helps you face what you dislike and identify what you want and never find time for, that’s a benefit. Examine what you have identified as necessary. If it’s truly necessary, then clarify why you value it. Don’t waste your time resenting it. If it’s not necessary, omit it. If you feel a pang over a valued activity you never get around to, commit to reworking your time choices!

For reinforcement, print this out and post it prominently. Make Effective To-do Lists. Learn to plan and accomplish tasks in manageable increments.

You’ll love how Effective To-do Lists help you find time!

Want to find more time? Visit http://www.findingtime.net/ and learn more timely tips. When you sign up for the free, Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine, you receive two insightful articles at http://www.findingtime.net/ezine.html. Let Paula Eder, Ph.D., The Time Finder, help you find time to revitalize your life!

I started this blog because I wanted to start a freelance writing practice. I put out the intention that I wanted to be able to work from home writing articles and doing ghostwriting and other freelance writing assignments. I looked all over trying to find freelance writing jobs, I signed up for all of the contracting web sites, but as a newbie just starting out, it’s difficult to compete with those who have been around for a long time and have developed a track record. After weeks of making an effort I have finally landed what looks to be a steady writing gig. I have also landed a Virtual Assistant gig as well, where I will be doing invoicing and other tasks for a small manufacturer who’s business is suddenly growing by leaps and bounds.

Now that I have found some steady work my foot-loose and fancy free days at home have come to an end. Now I need to learn to balance my time and energy so that I can get my work done, and still have time to spend with my girls. I have noticed that while I have, for the moment, found work that I can do from home, I have not satisfied the second part of my intention, which is to find a way to earn passive income. With my spare moments I am putting together some side projects that I hope will eventually start bringing in some residuals.

So, while I’m now insanely busy, I’m happily making progress towards my goals.

In my effort to be more organized and make sure that everything gets done I have turned to making ‘To-Do’ lists. I am posting an article by Paula Eder about using to do lists effectively.

Keep on writing.

Today, I have a guest article on my blog ’cause I’ve been typing my ’lil fingers to the bone against a deadline. So, enjoy this article by Hope Wilbanks. She has a lovely site, and I am always pleased to encourage others who are adding positivity to this world. Read on!

I used to say, “As if!” It had one of those, “Whatever!” connotations. Negative. Not going there. Won’t do it. Uh-uh.

I stumbled upon a unique concept several days ago that I’d never heard of before. It’s called the Law of Attraction. Now, I know this isn’t new, but it’s new to me. So if you know about it, then why didn’t you share it with me sooner?

Anyway, the basic idea of the Law of Attraction is just what is says. You get what you attract. You are what you think.

In other words, you live as if. As if…it’s already happened. As if…you are [whatever you want to be]. As if…

I have to be honest with you. When I first started reading about this, my first reaction was that this was some hokey-pokey mythology. And then I remembered this scripture in the Bible:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” - Philippians 4:8 

 

This applies to every area of your life. Think about it. Whatever you think…that’s what you get. If you think you’re poor and deep in debt, that’s exactly what will happen. If you believe you are happy and love the house you live in, then you’ll be happy and will stay put right where you are. 

The key to this is (in my “new” opinion) faith. Because things won’t change overnight. That’s the clincher. You have to keep believing, keep talking positive to yourself, keep thinking the good thoughts, no matter how long it takes.

And let’s get real here. If you have barely been making ends meet, the Universe isn’t going to dump a million bucks in your lap overnight. Why? You wouldn’t know how to handle it. So you’ll get a trickle at first, and then a little more, until eventually the tap is turned on and the blessings are pouring forth full blast.

This is encouraging, to me anyway. I’m going to start applying the Law of Attraction to my own life. I’ll fill you in on details as they happen. Let me know if you’ve already experienced this in your life and how it has changed your life.

By now ya’ll must have heard of the phenomenon that is squidoo.com. My concept of it is that it’s like all of the coolest aspects of web 2.0 in one neat little pacakge. Squidoo was created by Seth Godin, and the potential it holds is absolutely astounding. He is distributing this free ebook, which is a must read to get an idea about what squidoo is. So, if I told you that squidoo can help you dominate search positions, allows affifliate links, is quick and easy to set up, allows you to add audio, youtube video, opt-in forms, rss feeds an anything else you can think of or link to–would you check it out? And did I mention that it’s free? If there ever was a bandwagon that you want to jump on, this is the one.

Creating lenses will generate more targeted traffic for your blog, along with some increased revenue that is shared with several non-profit organization.

While setting up a basic lens is pretty straightforward, if you really want to make the most of this opportunity, you’ll want to hook up with someone who is experienced–a teacher who can show you the ropes and help you to hit the ground running. I found just such a teacher, who is actually a teacher. (go figure) Bob the teacher is a squidoo master and he has written an ebook called Squidoo Secrets to help you make the most of the whole squidoo experience.

So go, check out this squidoo thing, and after you’re all inspired to create your own lens come on back here and grab this ebook and then keep on writing.

I am an emerging freelance writer, which means that I am actively looking for writing gigs where I can earn money using my writing skills. Craigslist has been a great resource for me so far. I’ve found some good gigs there and hey, I sold my used car through craigslist, so I can’t be mad at them. However, you do have to be careful because there can be less than scrupulous people out there who are looking to take advantage of others. The other day I answered an ad on craigslist for a grant writer. It turns out that the folks who placed the ad are not with a non-profit organization. In fact, they are forming a for-profit company, and they are trying to find freelance writers who will write grants for the benefit of their company. The grant writer would only get paid for their efforts if the proposal got funded. So, they are essentially asking grant writers to gamble their time and effort for the company’s benefit on the chance that they might get paid.

Does this sound kosher to anyone? Would you write grant proposals for a for-profit company–albeit a fledgling up-start–but a for-profit company nonetheless? I declined to do so, but it made me wonder what other writers might do given this scenario. Please feel free to comment because I’d like to hear some feedback and if this might be a more common practice than I am aware of.

As part of my effort to find freelance writing work online, I have done lots of research. I’ve looked into to many freelance writing job boards like elance, guru, freelance work exchange and hotgigs, but these sites have thousands upon thousands of writers with established businesses already signed up as consultants prepared to bid on and win these contracts as they become available. I have learned with these sites that it takes time to establish yourself and learn the nuances of the bidding process before you begin to actually get work.

In the meantime, I am looking to do some work and get paid. I have set up this blog so that I will have a sample of my web writing available for those prospective clients who are looking to hire a freelance ghost writer. I am learning a lot about marketing and getting my blog out there.

Through craigslist I was able to land a freelance grant writing gig, and I’ve found some work re-vamping a non-profit web site. The process of becoming a freelance writer can be rewarding and frustrating all at once. I am learning a lot along the way, which will help me to be a better writer in the end.

In the process of my research I came across an experienced online freelance writer who has several successful blogs on the topic of freelance writing, Sharon Hurley Hall. If you are also looking to find online freelance writing jobs, you need to check out her blogs and get some good ideas.

I’ve mentioned Deborah’s site before, but her blog, Freelance Writing Jobs, is a great place to go to find freelance job listings, and Angela’s blog has some great articles about freelance writing and blogging.

So, for those of you who are also in the process of becoming a freelance writer, you will make it as long as you do not give up. Keep on writing.