What Should I Write? Keep the Well Full

Why do people give up on blogs or newsletters or social media?

Two words. Content creation. Make that 3 words. Constant Content Creation.

Yes, when you set yourself up to "give" something to the public, you go in knowing you've got to create something new and interesting on a regular basis.

After a while, people just abandon their blogs, newsletters, and social media accounts. The constant need to create, creat, create on a daily or even weekly basis wreaks havoc on the very thing needed to keep going—creativity.

I have a better plan. Maybe it's because I wrote for newspapers, but I always seem to find something to talk about. In fact, my biggest problem is finding the time to actually write the blog or newsletter of FB post. That's because I'm always over-committed personally and professionally. (I have a hard time saying no, but I'm working on that problem.)

So, getting back to the big question: "What should I write?"

The answer lies in the second part of the title above: "Keep the Well Full." 

We all have a creative well inside us. If we don't fill it constantly by reading widely—books, articles, white papers. Watch informative documentaries or videos about many varied subjects including what's going on in the world arouond you.

Interact with people from every walk of life. observe the world around you. Experience life from the commonplace to the extraordinary.

When you fill the well with all of that, you must also make note of those moments. That makes it easy to prompt your imagination when the time comes. After all, how do you recall all of those moments and bits and pieces of information that intrigued you?

You take notes. Seriously, yes. Keep a notebook next to your chair where you sit when watching TV. See or ehar something interesting? Make a note. Same with reading anything. Make notes. 

Overhearing people's conversations when you stand in lines? Pull out a tiny notebook or your cell phone and make notes. I've done that. It's fascinating what people will talk about.

Be aware of what's happening around you and what you're experiencing, and write notes about it. Then you won't draw a blank when it's time to filter all of that through your own attitudes, experiences, beliefs, etc. and spill it onto the digital page.

Your creative well will help you write a blog, FB post, newsletter, or whatever format you've chosen to stay in touch with your readers, customers, family and friends, or whoever is your chosen audience.

Ready to write your monthly newsletter? Get your notebook out and skim through it. Where do you think the idea for this post you're reading came from? I've been on more than 1 group email over the years where people said they gave up on blogs and newsletters because they never had anything new to say.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Start filling your creative well and keeping track of what goes into it. You'll be surprised how the simple action of "taking note" literally and figuratively prompts your imagination when the time comes to write. 

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Saturday Share Recipe - Marmalade Cheese Spread

Today's recipe is something you probably won't find in contemporary recipe books.

It's Marmalade Cheese Spread, and the recipe is from the manual that came with my Mom's first blender bought many, many years ago.

The blender is long since dead, but the recipes in the manual live on. I hope you'll enjoy this "blast from the past" recipe.

For those who think they don't like marmalade, this will change your mind. It's easy to make, and you can substitute Apricot Preserves for the marmalade if you simply refuse to try marmalade.

Serve this spread on toasted bread. I like it on the multigrain bread I make each week. With a cup of coffee, this is often my quick breakfast.

It's also good at tea time in the afternoon with a cup of Earl Grey. If you try this, leave a comment and tell me how you liked it.

MARMALADE CHEESE SPREAD

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons oraange juice
• 1/2 cup orange marmalade or apricot preserves
• 6 ounces cream cheese cut in cubes
• 1/2 cup pecans

Directions

Place all ingredients into a blender. Cover. Blend for 20 seconds on Liquefy. Chill. Makes 1 1/2 cups of spread.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Food fashions come and go, but anything that tastes good lives forever.

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Friday Facts - 5 Things That Make Me Crazy

It's Friday, and I've had a frustrating week. Rather than scream or pound my desk until my hands hurt, I thought I'd vent here.

In no particular order or subject matter....

5 THINGS THAT MAKE ME CRAZY

1. People who go door to door to ask you to vote for their candidates. I hate this. At this time of the year, they're worse than the ____________ who want to talk to you about your soul's salvation. (I didn't fill in the blank because there are more than 1 religious groups that do this.)

2. Bananas that are perfectly yellow and nice when you buy them. Get them home and brown spots magically appear. You better eat them fast because 3 days later they're destined for the compost pile.

3. WiFi signal from AT&T that never delivers the upload and download speed advertized. I would change providers in an instant if there were any better ones, but I haven't found any. They all seem to have their problems.

4. While we're on the subject of AT&T and other similar companies, I hate it when you've been a loyal, long-term customer, but they never honor that with reduced rates or anything like that. They offer new subscribers rock-bottom prices for the first year, but never do anything but increase the fees for long-term customers. 

5. AI. I hate the intrusion of AI into every website I frequently use. It's everywhere, and it's as annoying as hell. Maybe it's great for someone who doesn't know how to navigate the internet and use various websites, but for me, it sucks!!! It takes me twice as long to do anything because of constantly having to say NO to the AI wanting to help. They're also a prime reason everyone's computer is running slower than molasses in a Minnesota winter.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I had to stop with number 5 because I could go on and on about all the reasons I hate AI bots. I'm going to get my Main Man to make me a cappucciono so I can calm down. If youhave any pet hates, feel free to vent in a Comment.

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7 Ways to Build Your Social Media Audience

I never thought about this before!

Building an audience for Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc. is about the same as building one for a Blog.

Any social media activity from Blogging to TikTok should be fun. If it's not fun, change something in your approach.

Also, your audience should grow each month. If it's not, then it's time to shake things up a bit.

I haven't talked much about blogging lately. I thought BLOG OPS, the book I wrote and published about the subject, said everything. (The book is in KU or sells for $3.99.)

But I realized that what I said about blog audiences also applies to the other social media platforms too.

For instance, try this which was originally written about blogging, but which can be adapted to virtually any social media.

7 Ways to Build Your Social Media Audience

1. Post often to the social media platform you've chosen as yours.

2. Comment on other accounts in the same platform. Your name/link is there for anyone to click and learn about you and your social media account.

3. Join a group account like RomanceGems...Where Authors and Readers Meet, the facebook group to which I belong. 

The burden of posting every single day is removed since there are many in the group with a date assigned to each. You get exposure and a chance to build an audience probably larger than you can do individually.

4. Always interact with your social media visitors. If in a group blog, be sure to support the other authors, Like and Share their posts, and comment on their posts as well as the visitors who leave comments.

5. Change your banner image at least every 3 months. That will keep your Facebook, etc. page looking fresh.

6. Try to engage your audience by asking questions, offering prizes occasionally for specific actions, and always use a clear call to action.

7. Be yourself and share from the heart.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Do you have any tips you'd like to share about how you built your audience? If so, please leave a comment. 

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Be Wary of Touchy Feely AI People

I watched an interesting video today that explains why there are so many "old people" videos on YouTube.

The creator of the video said up front that she was posting it to illustrate not only how easy it is to create videos but also to put you on notice not to believe what you see.

The Creepy Truth About AI and "Old People" is the video I'm talking about. I must say I didn't realize it was that easy to create an attractive video in a couple of minutes.

YouTube is supposed to flag videos that are AI-created, but there must be ways around that. I think YouTube outght to require an icon or image that plainly says AI, and it should be visible on the video all the way through.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Watch the video and tell me what you think about this subject.

Review - Jack Ryan: Ghost War - Prime

The long-awaited (by some) return of the Jack Ryan character as portrayed by John Krasinski premiered on Prime last week.

Jack Ryan: Ghost War, an American political action thriller film based on Tom Clancy's work of the same nave, was directed by Andrew Bernstein and written by Aaron Rabin and John Krasinski from a story by Krasinski and Noah Oppenheim.

In case you're keeping score, this is the 6th film and 3rd reboot of Jack Ryan, and it's distributed by Amazon MGM Studios.

Starring Krasinski as Jack Ryan, the film also has Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly, Max Beesley, J.J. Feild, Douglas Hodge, Betty Gabriel, and Sienna Miller.

SHORT BLURB

Jack Ryan reluctantly allows himself to be pulled back into an espionage operation action in which he reunites with his former CIA "friends" to uncover a deadly conspiracy. The international covert operation goes sideways, and he must go rogue to find those responsible.

MY THOUGHTS

I'd seen the previous Jack Ryan flicks with Krasinski. I remember a couple of them had the Ryan character trying to straddle the line of being hard-core covert operative and a man who found it all distasteful. One was a pretty good action flick.

This most recent offering has Ryan a little more firmly committed to being an effective operative even though he rails against the evil done by the CIA, etc. The opening of the movie has a pretty good action scene even though it's contrived to move the plot to the next act. The middle is a bit of a muddle, but the end gets back to action scenes that move the plot to the finish. 

I think Krasinski initially got the part of Ryan because of his work in the stellar film, 13 Hours. He was riveting in that movie as were the other actors. Of course, a story like Benghazi doesn't come along every day—thank goodness.

So it's probably not fair to compare the storytelling of this movie with that of 13 Hours where Krasinksi shone.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for light entertainment with an action story, this latest Jack Ryan film should satisfy you.

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Remembering on Memorial Day

The first person I personally knew who died in service to our country was Billy Joe Renfrow. He was a Senior Class Favorite who noted for Congeniality.

I've know many men and a few women who served in the military, but Billy Joe was the only one I knew who went to school with me. He was the last person I ever expected to see in the Army.

After his death, every time my Mom would see his Mom in town, his mother would tell mine to say hello to me. That's how it is in a small town.

Today, I'm thinking of him and how young he was when he was killed in action. War is hell in so many ways.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Remember those who gave their lives in service.