Reflecting On 2013 and Correcting for 2014

For the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on all of my writing and blogging ventures, including this site, and had to ask myself three questions:

1. Why did I create this site?
2. What is the purpose of this site?
3. What do I want this site to be and do?

After I answered these questions, I realized that I wasn’t being true to myself or to my site, and corrections need to be made.

REFLECTING

Marcie Writes was created for four reasons:

1. To serve as a portfolio of my published works;
2. To show my writing skills;
3. To write about topics I want to write about; and
4. To share resources.

Why Did I Create This Site ?

When I first started Marcie Writes, its purpose was to just to spotlight my published works and writing skills. I created it in the early stages of my writing career when my confidence was shot from being rejected by publications.

Remember, I left my job and 12 year career in human resources to become a magazine writer. I wasn’t putting forth the effort to bring that career to life after the rejections, and blogging became my saving grace. In addition to serving as a portfolio, it became my place to share my writing knowledge and experiences.

What do I want my site to be?

An accurate reflection of me.

Let me explain what I mean. Writing is who I am and what I do, and my site shows that part. It also does a great job at serving as my portfolio; displaying my writing skills; and being a resource.

What do I want my site to do?

To get me hired as a magazine writer and as a writer and blogger for businesses.

Here’s what I’m not doing on my blog: writing about topics I want to write about; conducting interviews; and sharing random thoughts. This is where correction is needed.

CORRECTING

Following are things that will be changed on Marcie Writes in 2014.

TRYING TO BE LIKE OTHERS  

This isn’t a bad thing, but it’s just not the purpose of my site. I was trying to make Marcie Writes a writing-focused site like Carol Tice’s Make a Living Writing or Jennifer Brown Banks’ Pen and Prosper or Anne Wayman’s About Freelance Writing. All of these sites are great and I visit them religiously.

However, my site is about my writing life, my thoughts and my experiences. I can educate and serve others like the amazing writers above; I’ll just do it Marcie style.

NOT BEING AUTHENTICALLY ME

THE Authentic Woman Clara Freeman encourages people to embrace their authentic selves. I was being me, but totally me.   In an effort to appear professional and non-threatening, I write cautiously. This is getting boring.

I am a very highly opinionated, snarky, curious word nerd who likes to use bad words on occasion. Ok, I like to say bad words but I don’t normally write them, even when I want to.

I don’t curse on my blog because it’s frowned upon by some readers, but I do believe that there’s a time and a place for foul language, and I may use it when I’m writing topics about which I’m passionate.

FEAR

Can you believe I was afraid to write about MY favorite topics on MY own site for fear of scaring people away?

My thought was, “What if someone who wants to hire me reads about my favorite topics and runs away?” That was a legitimate concern but shallow thinking on so many levels.

First of all, discussing race, gender and stereotypes are teaching moments. These are a few realities that very few people like to discuss open and honestly.

Second, having open and honest conversations about controversial topics distinguishes me from other writers. Somebody may even appreciate original thoughts and opinions in these days of constant regurgitation.

Third, they probably won’t read these posts anyway. People who want to hire me will most likely go straight to my “About” and “Hire Me” pages.

Am I Being Clear?

I am a writer, blogger and author. I write for publications and businesses; I own five blogs (Do NOT do this; it’s retarded); and I’ve self-published three blogging books.

When you look at my favorite topics, you’ll see that there are at least 10 topics that I enjoy. However, if you look at my posts from 2013, they are mostly about writing and blogging. You see very little about black history or women, two of my favorite topics.

I’m clarifying this for two reasons. First, I don’t want to come across as a jack of all trades and a master of none. I AM A WRITER with a lot of interests. Secondly, I want publications and businesses to hire me for my writing and blogging skills and knowledge, and not disqualify me because of my topics of interest.

Lack of Multimedia

I love multimedia and appreciate the engagement and interaction it offers, but I’m a writer. I would prefer to put pen to paper and paint pictures with words.

Honestly, I would love to conduct audio and video interviews but it is so time consuming. It takes time to schedule them; to prepare for them; and to edit them. And when you are a creative person, you start wanting to add extra creative stuff that sucks up even more time.

Once I get a more consistent schedule, I’m going to try to slip in one or two audio or video interviews per month. In the meantime, I’m just going to continue to do what I do best: write.

Trying to Brand Myself

This has been an unnecessary obsession. While I should be thinking about what distinguishes me from other writers (I finally got it!), my focus should be on writing about the topics for which I want to be hired.

I want to be a tech writer for publications but I have only written one tech article for Toastmasters and one blog post. It’s time for me to put my butt in gear and start building my tech writing portfolio. This is the easiest and most logical way to brand myself as a tech writer and to get paid to do it.

So, what is the point of this long article?

First, I was just reflecting on Marcie Writes, its purpose and what I want to do going forward. I will be doing thing a little differently going forward.

Second, I want to encourage you to be true to yourself and what you want to do.

Third, I want you to reflect on the things you are doing in 2013 and always ask yourself three questions:

• Why am I doing it?
• What purpose does it serves?
•  Is it adding value to my life or wasting my time?

Fourth, I want you to have a stress-less and more blessed 2014.

 

Images: seekingsharedlearning.blogspot.com,  www.accountingweb.co.uk