How I Use Social Media To Connect With New Readers

 

Both of these photos were taken last night at sunset.  I shot the one on the left from my balcony and a friend of a friend captured the same shot from her front yard in Maryland.  We both posted our pictures on FaceBook at the same time.  Our common friend commented on the similarities.  She posted, "It's cool to think we can be out here in MD and you out there in IA and see the same thing. Love it."  

That was only one part of the connection.  I asked my friend about a park located in Rockville, Maryland that was inspired by Mattie Stepanek, a poet who published five best sellers by the age of thirteen.  Mattie's mother told me about the park when I interviewed her for a blog story.  My friend replied, "it's only about a half hour away."

I asked Chris to take a picture of the park and send it to me.  Visiting this park is on my bucket list.  Although I've never been to Maryland, my main character, Thomas, will be there soon in a future chapter.  I have Chris to thank for inspiring me.  She helped me connect the dots in my story line.  I plan to have Thomas stop at Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park and meet Mattie's mother in an upcoming chapter.  Thomas will learn some things about Mattie that help him on his journey to find the caveman who keeps appearing to him in the mirror.  If you are interested in reading the manuscript as I'm writing it, click here.

Today's blog is designed to help you understand how you can use social media to connect with new readers.  Here are three ideas I used today:

1. Facebook.  It's as easy as posting a picture at sunset.  When friends comment, you start a dialogue and others jump in.
2. Links.  Readers who click on today's links are directed to my other blogs.  I weaved the links into the story to entice readers to follow my novel as I'm writing it and to introduce my next writing project, "Free Lemonade Stories."  The links are subtle, yet they draw new readers and help me connect with them.
3. Twitter and Google+.  As soon as this blog story is published at 8:08 AM, Pacific Time, I will post links to the blog from my Twitter and Google+ accounts.  My hope is that the caption and the photos will attract people who are interested in expanding their social media presence.  And if they like what they see, maybe they will come back again for more stories. 

Do you have any ideas to add to the story?  Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Has Your Resilience Ever Been Tested?

Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb but how well you bounce. ~ Vivian Komori

Shortly before Mulligan's was shut down, my dad asked me to tend bar on a quiet Sunday while he ran some errands.  A woman walked in and sat down.  She complained about a fight she had with her boyfriend.  Five minutes later, he walked in and started shouting at her.  I politely asked him to leave her alone.  He ignored me and pulled his girlfriend by the hair.  I got between them and peeled the mans hands off of the woman. I pushed him toward the front door.  He was drunk.  Every time I pushed him, he stumbled backwards.  Once he reached the door, I heaved into him with all my might and he ended up laying on his back outside the bar.  My heart was pounding.  I pointed my finger at him and yelled, "Don't ever come here again!"

Once I got inside, J.T., the night bartender who was watching over me asked, "do you know who that man is?"

"No," I replied.

"He was in prison for murder,"  he said.

When my dad returned, the other patrons shared the story about what happened.  I wondered if the murderer would return and finish me off.  In a way, I really didn't care.  I was getting tired of all the trials in my life.  I had to make a decision.  Do I find a way to bounce back or do I give up?  That's when I discovered what resilience really means — it's all about the bouncing.  That's how I transitioned from a scrawny bouncer at Mulligan's who stood up to a convicted murderer and became the person I am today, a resilient husband, parent, and writer who has been tested to my limits and keeps on bouncing. 

Has your resilience ever been tested?  Did you pass the test?  Please share what you learned about resilience in the comments section below.

A Thank You Note To Our Son

The Cinderella season for our son's football season came to a close last night.  My wife and I were in the stands last night watching our son's team battle an undefeated team.  For two quarters the game was scoreless.  His team fought the hard fight.  Final score, 14-0.  It was a tough loss.  This team believed they could win it all.  They were stopped in round two of the playoffs.

This message is for my son.  Anyone who has ever been in his shoes is welcome to read on...

Dear son,

Your mom and I are so proud of you.  You and your team-mates had a dream.  Every morning you went out on the practice field and lived that dream.  You practiced until there was nothing left inside of you and you left everything on the field.  You may think your dream ended last night when time expired on the clock.  I disagree.  Here's why:

1. Your football season may be over but a new season is just beginning.  Everything you learned on the football field will prepare you for your next season.  Just like football, life has quarters.
2. Your next season starts right now.  Your wrestling team-mates will be eagerly awaiting all the football players who will be joining them in the next several days.  It's time to dream new dreams with them while still carrying the memories of this amazing football season you just completed.
3. The game clock of your life is still in the early quarters.  There is so much for you to look forward to.  One of the best experiences you will ever have is when you have a family of your own and you get to be in the stands supporting your children.  That's what you have given your mother and me, an opportunity to cheer for you in all your endeavors.  Thank you for that.

Hold your head up high, son.  Your team dreamed big.  You will have those memories for the rest of your life.  Way to go!

Love,

Dad

Are You Ready To Put On Your Game Face?

Our youngest son is wearing his game face today.  His football team is playing against an undefeated team tonight in the second round of the high school football playoffs.  I think he enjoys being the underdog.  His coach told the team that tonight's opponent is already looking past them and preparing for round three.  It makes me think of Rodney Dangerfield telling the world, "I don't get no respect!"

Your game face says a lot about you.  Your body language also plays a role.  It doesn't matter how big your giants are.  It doesn't matter if they are undefeated.  What matters is how you prepare yourself mentally and physically for the battlefield of life.

I would like to thank one of my team-mates at my day job who traded a day off with her husband today so I could share the playoff experience with my wife.  We will be rooting for the underdogs.  They are the ones wearing their game faces.  Make sure you have yours on today, especially if you're going against a Goliath.  And don't forget to tuck your slingshot away in your back pocket.  Show the world you mean business.  Go get 'em.

Would you like to share a time in your life when you put on your game face?  Please add your thoughts in the comments section below.

3 Men on a Cross

One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."  And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"  And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." ~ Luke 23:39-43

The best teachers are the ones who are willing to teach no matter how challenging their current situation may be.  I believe the reason Jesus was crucified with two others at the same time was for our sake.  He wanted to offer hope that it is never too late to turn to Him, even when you find yourself at the end of your rope.

Which one of the three men on the cross do you identify with?  Is it the one who refuses to take responsibility for his actions or is it the one who knows he should be punished but turns to Jesus and says, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom."

I don't know what trials you are going through right now.  Maybe you feel like you're the one nailed to a cross and you are suffering.  No matter how tough your life may be, be comforted that Jesus remembers who you are — a child of God.  Your day will come when you will be with Him in Paradise.  Let your life be a lesson.  What do you want to teach today?  What you say will be meaningful.  And what you do will be even more meaningful.

My Silliest Writing Episode

It happened yesterday morning.  My eyes were closed and I was on my back in my comfy bed on a chilly morning.  Raindrops were tapping on my bedroom window.  My MacBook Pro was propped open at a 45º angle on top of my bended knees, eagerly awaiting crisp new words for the morning's blog story.  My mind drifted into a sleepy state.  That's when creativity attacked me like a thief in the night.  I felt a powerful jab on my head.  When my eyes popped open, over-sized letters from my keyboard were staring at me from close-up.  I was the victim of a Mac attack.   My laptop pounced on me and landed a punch right between my eyes.

I had one of those Dr. Smith moments from Lost in Space.  I could hear my brain yelling, "Oh the pain."  The blow struck me about a quarter inch above my eye glasses and left a horizontal gash, connecting my eyebrows and transforming them into a uni-brow just like Bernie from Sesame Street.  Still stunned from the surprise attack, I wiped my forehead and noticed blotches of blood on my fingertips.

What am I going to do? I thought.  How am I going to explain this at my day job?  I stopped the bleeding from my flesh wound and wrote my story for the day before hitting the showers.  That's when I decided to turn tragedy into today's blog.  That's what writers do — they paint pictures of their characters in the silliest situations for entertainment purposes.  I hope you enjoy this little ditty.

What Grade Do You Give Yourself?

Don't worry.  You don't have to share your answers.  This is for your benefit only.  Today is an opportunity to look in the mirror and do a self-evaluation.  Some of you may be asking, "what are the parameters?"  That's up to you.  If you need help grading yourself, here are some additional questions to consider:

1. Do you have any idea why you're here on this planet?
2. Are you developing the gifts you have to help you accomplish all the things you wish to do with your life?
3. What grade to you give yourself for the progress you made so far?
4. What do you think you can do to raise your grade?
5. Are you satisfied with your report card?

I believe people who have trouble grading themselves also struggle with the question about why they are here.  Once you figure it out, the other questions are easier to answer.  Be careful about how critical you are when you're looking in the mirror.  If you spend too much time critiquing your flaws, you will never get anything done.  Your work is not supposed to be perfect.  If you spend your whole life trying to be perfect, you will end up with a failing grade.  And if you rate yourself below average, you're probably doing much better than you give yourself credit for.  Let me give you an example that hits close to home...

My mother often repeated to me she felt she was failing as a parent.  Raising six kids was no easy task.  It got even more difficult after my parents divorced.  Even though my mother felt she was failing, she never gave up on us.  She prayed for us daily.  She still prays for us daily.  She figured out a long time ago her children aren't perfect.  We're not supposed to be.  Neither is she.  My mom taught me that it's okay to fail as long as you keep trying.  Failure is the building block you need to create a better life.  Your grades only matter if you use them as a progress report to help you become the person you are created to be.

I don't know too many mothers who save their children's report cards from Kindergarten, especially when it reads: I think he can do better.  My mom handed over my report card to me as if it were some sort of Olympic torch I'm supposed to run with until I cross the finish line.  Sorry mom, I read it and shred it.  But I didn't torch the lesson.  Mrs. Kaboose was right.  I can do better.  And I will.  Every day.  I give my mom an A+ for her perseverance.

Whatever grade you give yourself today, keep in mind there is always room for extra credit, even if your life happens to be an A+.  Share your gifts with others and keep learning.  Have a great day.