Life Is Full of Challenges

I’ve filled Claudsy’s Blog with poetry for this month’s challenges, but I haven’t really done anything with the Author’s Platform Development Challenge. I mention in passing on Wordpress and BlogHer but don’t discuss it.

Calliope will work well for periodic posts to keep me motivated to develop a “professional” brand, platform, persona, what-have-you.

Robert Brewer, of “No Name is Not Bob” fame and Poetic Asides, has been working to train writers on the development of a professional author’s platform for some time. He chose to do this challenge to get writers fired up and engaged in their own futures. Additional articles and reading recommendations extend the background material, which encourages the writer to step out and march forth into her chosen future.

The challenge is four days in and I’ve managed to have all of them done before dinner of the fourth day. Below are the first two days’ worth of tasks: defining myself as a writer and setting goals for segments of the next year.

Day 1: Platform Challenge – Define Yourself

Name: Claudette J. Young

Position: Freelance writer—multiple genres, retired teacher

Skills: Freelance writing—no current clients have me on retainer, though I have other contracts completed, poetry—published, fiction—published, non-fiction—published, travel writing—published, part-time writing coach, blogging, research, book review writing, interviews, newsletter writing, problem solving, idea generation, story development brainstorming, logistics detailing

Social Media Platforms: Facebook, Wordpress (2), Blogger, LinkedIn, Branch Out, She Writes, BlogHer, Jacketflap, Google +, Twitter

URL’s: http://claudsy.wordpress.com/

              http://claudsy.blogspot.com/

               http://trailinginspirations.com/

Accomplishments: Published poetry in two anthologies—2009 & 2011, published poetry in four online mags, published poetry on numerous websites, published writer’s articles (4) in ICL Newsletter, published travel articles for Assoc. Content and on Trailing Inspirations, published op-ed work for Associated Content, did contract work for both Assoc. Content and Yahoo News, published children’s fiction for British publisher and online Catholic children’s mag, supplied educational materials for SuperTeacher Worksheets, Completed ICL Basic Writing Course through ICL, ready to finish writing course for Great Courses, took travel writing course through AWAI, Graduated from BSU with two Bachelor’s degrees and two Master’s, taught at both college and elementary level successfully, survived non-stop corporate work for IBM in FSD, and managed to become a senior citizen without feeling old until I got there.

Interests: Writing, travel, learning, friends and family, developing into the best human being I can be, crocheting, beading, camping

In one sentence, who am I? I, Claudette J. Young, am a writer who almost waited too long to take her desire and her words seriously; a person who yearns to learn all that time and patience will allow; a person whose gypsy spirit never settles in one place before moving on to a new possibility; a woman who’s always traveled life without a partner or offspring; a woman who could neer be happy living a conventional life; one who would travel continuously if she was financially able; and a woman with emotions that run so deep they overtake her, at times, upon seeing a simple commercial.

Immediate Goals Today:

1.     Complete poems for challenges—PA, PB, and BlogHer. DONE

2.     Post each resulting poem to appropriate Websites and blogs DONE

3.     Begin rewrite on “Moon Sees All” after checking to make sure of format DONE

4.     Complete workout this afternoon DONE

Goals for This Week:

1.     Do each day’s challenges from poetry sites and post them all.

2.     Work min. one hour each day on “Failures to Blessings”

3.     Work min. one hour each day on “Moon Sees All” revision

4.     Work min. one hour each day on course work—either online or BGS

5.     Take at least one hour to relax with a good book each day.

6.     Talk to Peg

7.     Finish going through boxes and organizing office—use one hour per day

Goals for This Month:

1.     Complete all challenge’s for poetry and platform development

2.     Complete BGS course and set aside

3.     Get good handle on Lisle course

4.     Develop work schedule that allows for rewriting mss and writing poetry

5.     Get Cookbook layout completed, recipes placed and formatted

6.     Create Budget for the month to allow for what we need and money for next month

1.     Finish rewrite and submission process for “The Moon Sees All.”--Knopf?

Goals for 2012:

2.     Get Cookbook finished and to publisher/self-publish

3.     Lose at least 60 pounds

4.     Get more fit so that I won’t need a knee replacement

5.     From April through Dec. submit at least two short stories/articles each month to print/online publishers

6.     Finish and submit “Failures to Blessings” to Hay House and two other publishers by Sept.

7.     Finish and submit “Dreamie’s Box to print publisher/MuseItUp

8.     Finish and submit “Forest Primeval” to publisher—Knopf?

9.     Successfully conclude the first nine months of writing course.

Goals to Accomplish Before I Die:

1.     Visit Europe on extended vacation

2.     Publish at least three books in both fiction and non-fiction

3.     Produce a steady stream of published articles, stories, essays, and poetry

4.     Find a place where I can be content for more than a few years

5.     Become the person I know I can be

6.     Have enough continuous income that I don’t feel concern when a bill arrives

7.     Get rid of both properties that are weighing me down.

8.     Learn to sail

9.     Go to Disney World and Epcot Center

10.  Experience all of the National Parks in the country

11.  Enjoy good health and vitality for a long while before death.

The tasks for Days 3 and 4 had already been done. I already have a Facebook account and profile, along with having it on the new Timeline format, and I already have a Twitter account and profile. Although, I do need to refresh the Twitter profile. I haven’t done that in over a year.

Throughout April, posts will appear here every few days, outlining my progress through this challenge to attain a professional standing within the writing business. Check back in each week to see how my journey progresses. Feel free to comment on any post, give advice, cheer me on, but no raspberries. Those are for the table.