Blogs and Tweets and Web Sites--OH MY!

OK, first of all, I’m am amateur—I really feel like I have absolutely NO IDEA what I’m doing out of bed, let alone behind a car, a computer, a book, etc….

When I get to oogle on Google and muck around through the incredibly vast world of online publishing across this little blue planet we inhabit, it totally amazes and overwhelms me—not underwhelm, not whelm, OVERWHELM even.  Here’s why.

You never know who’s reading what these days, nor who’s writing what. I’m not trying to scare anyone with Big Brother or Wiki Leaks conspiracy stuff; it’s just a fact of life.  Truly, people—readers, writers, performers, audiences—all across the world are on a LEVEL playing field, so to speak.  The virtual world is indeed your oyster.

So, now more than ever, putting it out there is becoming more and more important—but how you put yourself out there needs to be just as varied as the multiple platforms out there. 

Someone like myself, who is navigating the creative writing waters and exploring the avenues of becoming published, paid, or even recognized by anyone out there;  testing the waters by blogging, tweeting, Facebooking (or any other type of social networking), and submitting works to contests, journals, or other publications or publishers can be a very confusing and daunting task.

In addition to daydreaming, hair twirling, and munching on Twizzlers and chocolate-a-plenty, I’ve been reading up on the issues facing publishing and booksellers with the ever-evolving technology—and the shift from publishers to go from “publishing companies” to “MEDIA companies” to adjust and change with these shifts. 

Very interesting, Grasshoppahhhh….

The more I read, the more disheartened and confused I felt.  The more I read, the more I realized I needed to know.  One thing that totally shocked me: so many conflicting rules—some sites consider “published” materials to be anything on your blog, website, social networking page, or email—so that automatically ruled ANYTHING I’ve ever written to date, with the possible exception of my college admission essay on my dog biting off my finger….Grrrrr….

The entire reason I made a blog was to unite and mingle with the virtual world around me, sharing my thoughts, feelings, talents, and rantings—in the hopes that someone somewhere might be able to connect, relate, or enjoy it enough to read more and get to know lil’ ol’ me…so, was that a mistake? 
Did I go in the totally wrong direction? 
Funny, it didn’t feel wrong. 
Not to me.

Others, however, welcome items that are previously “published” as long as credit was given, etc.  Some award cash payments, others actually have the NERVE to ask YOU to PAY THEM to read your stuff and then have them judge you?!  'Scuse me?!!! 
Wow, ummm, no way, no how….NEXT!!!!

I’ve ventured out to explore some great poetry sites. 
One is MyWordWizard at  http://www.mywordwizard.com/ 
( check out two of my poems on their site at http://www.mywordwizard.com/stuffed.html  and also http://www.mywordwizard.com/buried-treasure.html ). 
I've also submitted to publishers and publications such as Able Muse Poetry, Segullah—a Mormon Women’s literary publication and blog—and a few others. 

Even though I know TONS of folks submit stuff to these and many more places in the hopes of becoming published—I still softly hold my breath, giddy as a little girl on Christmas. 

Still a girl can dream, can't she?

Hmmm, ok, maybe I wouldn’t be a published poetess, and definitely not rich NOR famous---hey, I’d settle for a simple column, journal entry, or humorous story every now and then.  Even for my local paper or something.  That’d be just DANDY with me J

I’m so grateful that, through my Church calling as Public Affairs Director for my local area, I’ve had the opportunity of having some articles published in Church online newspapers and will very soon have an article appear in The New Era Magazine.  That’s fantastic, an international publication targeting the youth of our Church worldwide.

That still isn’t where my creative spirit wishes to go,
however grateful I am….
Still I write,
still I dream,
still I stumble and scream,
struggling to grab a hold
of my teeming mind,
to find that path that is me,
that sets myself free and simply BE….. 

However, when I pondered pulling down all my posted content, thus disabling my blog, my heart simply sank.  It just didn’t feel right—and those of you who know me know I always follow my heart. 
I like my blog.  The look of it, the feel of it.  It's SO ME!!!

So, in the spirit of “to thine own self be true,” I still believe in sharing my words, thoughts, and feelings, with my friends, family, and community around me. 
Whether I get paid for it or not.  It just feels like the right thing to do. 
For me.

So, for now, still I write.

Someday, I feel I’ll make a living “following my heart” writing my little Twizzz off—I just feel it.  Becoming one with the inner Twizzz.  Om.

Hmmm, Grasshopper nothing—where I come from, that’s a TASTY milkshake, and a milkshake sounds just wonderful right about now.

“To thine own self be true”—How about you?  How are you following your dreams? Making them real? 

C’mon, people, open up and TALK TO ME.