My Divas Dish

Make The Most Of Your BlogPaws Conference Time

If you weren't already aware, Blogpaws 2012 is fast approaching! Have you taken time to make your plan for the event? Here are a few of my favorite conference-attending-getting-ready-tips for you:

1. Check out the program and decide which sessions you want to attend. The best way to determine this is to have an idea of what you want to get out of the conference; is it networking, learning more about writing, monetizing your blog, finding a publisher, etc. 
2. Dress for the weather. Sure, it's warm outside but the air conditioning in hotel conference rooms range from steamy to downright hypothermia inducing. Bring a sweater. 
3. If you're bringing your beloved pet, make arrangements for him or her to be entertained while you attend sessins. If you're leaving your pet in the room, make arrangements for him to not escape if housekeeping makes its rounds. 
4. Bring business cards. Don't have business cards or don't think you need them? If you don't have something on it with your name, email, phone, etc. how will any connections you make at the conference remember you or get in touch? There are many sites at which you can get free business cards. You'll be glad you didn't leave home without them. 
5. Following the conference, don't forget to follow up. Chances are you will shake a lot of hands, collect a lot of business cards and make numerous connections. Send a follow up email after you get home, remind the contact of your connection and keep in touch until next time! 

This is just a quick and dirty list to get you thinking about what you'll need to do for this -- and any -- conference. Bear in mind that at times conferences can get overwhelming and you can get information overload but relax, have fun and shake a lot of paws! 

 

Can You Make Blogging Pay?

You're a diligent blogger, putting up at least a couple of posts a week, you're building your audience,right? But now you're wondering, "is there anything more for me?" The answer is a definite "maybe!" 

Chances are you've all heard of Julie and Julia; the blog by the woman who cooked her way through Julia Childs's cookbook, blogged about it, then sold the movie rights? We all want to be her, don't we? While there may be no magic formula for success, we know that diligence and persistence pays off and in some cases it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time. 

Reuse Your Writing

This week I want to blog about... hhhmmm didn't I write about that last week at Blog X, Y or Z? Perhaps you did, but then again perhaps you didn't explore all of the options in those blog topics. You know, it is possible to reuse and/or recycle your blog posts, right? It's true you don't want to use the title word for word and the content as is, but they're your thoughts, your words and chances are you can massage them into a whole new blog post. 

10 Ways To Break Into The Pet Writing Market

You’ve just become the proud owner of a new dog, cat, ferret or lizard and now you want to tell the world about it! Where can you go to spread the word? What do you even want to write about? One thing to keep in mind is that even though you know your pet is the most adorable, smartest pet to ever walk the earth, if you’re looking to break into a magazine or newspaper market, the readers really don’t want to hear about that. Know why? Because they believe their pet is the smartest, most adorable one in the universe as well.

10 Tips To Hone Your Writing Skills

You’ve long dreamed of being a writer. You read alot about how to go about becoming a writer but it still seems out of your reach. You have chosen your niche – you’re going to be a pet blogger. You’re a lifelong lover of pets and have one or more of your own. So, how can you go about becoming a great writer? Well, it won’t happen overnight. It takes time and effort but if you’re looking to build a niche, become an expert and be recognized for what you do and what you know, the benefits are worth the hard work.

What's Your Blogging 'Voice'?

Are your writings humorous? Do you have a serious tone when you write? Are you an expert in your field or do you write about current events? Is there a particular type of animal you love that you want to blog about? Know yourself before you begin writing. 

If your readers come to your blog on Monday and find themselves laughing out loud, they will likely expect the same thing on Tuesday. If, however, on Tuesday you write in a technical tone the won't know what to expect when they come back on Wednesday. 

Blog Posts: Does Size Matter

Do you judge a book by its size? If it doesn't weigh in at at least 500 pages do you pass it by? Do you feel that if you have anything to say it's worth saying it in a LOT of words?

That may be good, and may work in novel format but when it comes to blog posts bigger is not necessarily better. But, series posts are great! Readers love series (as long as they know when the next post will be available for viewing, that is). If you have a blog post idea that you simply have to tell but if you can't do it in 400 words or fewer, consider doing a series. 

Make A Plan To Find New Markets

Whether you're a new writer or a writer of repute that is looking to break into new markets here is a quick top seven list for you to make the change from becoming published to becoming even more published. Regardless of whether you're a new or established writer there are no shortcuts to success and publication. Writing is hard work and requires perseverance and dedication. 

How To Draw Readers To Your Blog: 5 Tips

Regardless of whether you’re a business owner or an individual with a dream, you want people to know about you and buy your “stuff,” right? If you have a blog you can become known as an expert, a thought leader, and can use your blog to engage your readers.

Are there bloggers out there that you simply love to read – so much so that you can’t get through a day without checking them out? What do they have that you don’t? They’ve found a way to make their blog a place where things are happening and they want to be part of it. What do the other pet bloggers have that you don’t? Probably a niche. What’s yours? If you can find it you can corner the market on it and soon readers will be flocking to your blog like kittens to a milk dish!

Be A Published Writer, Outline A Plan

You’ve written a book on, oh let’s say, “How To Write A Romance” and now you’re looking to snag a publisher. Which one will you choose? The book publisher that only publishes scholarly tomes on ancient Egyptian history or one that publishes sci-fi cozy mysteries? No, you will want to find a publisher that specializes in romance publishing, right? It would seem obvious but there are many people I found in my career as an editor who will simply see the word “publisher” in a search and drop their manuscript in the mail.

When I published my magazine – which was for writers and discussed the craft of writing – I would receive manuscripts on how to grow a garden, the number one brake pad on the market or the best grooming tips for your poodle. What the heck? Did they not read our guidelines? Apparently not, right? But, the worst part was when the writer would argue with me about the greatness of their manuscript and that I should publish it. Word to the wise… don’t argue with the editor.