Writing as Teacher Self-Care

This week I headed back to the classroom for the 2018-2019 school year. Juggling my teaching career with my writing career and with See Jane Write is hard, very hard. In fact, it’s so hard that sometimes I thinking of giving it all up. I think of ending See Jane Write — the blog and the business— and I even think of no longer accepting freelance writing assignments. I often feel I would be a happier person and a better teacher if I focused on teaching and teaching alone. But now I know this isn’t true at all. 

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The #1 Thing I Learned at WordCamp Birmingham 2018

Sometimes I feel out of touch.

I’m constantly hearing people say that blogging is dead, that nobody reads anymore. And I get it. I know that video is hot. I know that according to research by Hubspot 45% of people watch an hour or more of video per day and Google has found that half of 18-34s would stop what they’re doing to watch a new video by their favorite YouTube creator. And let’s not forget about the rise of podcasting. But my weekend at WordCamp Birmingham 2018 showed me that I’m not out of touch at all. The fundamentals of blogging that I’ve been learning, implementing, and sharing over the past decade are the same principles that would help me or any other content creator be successful at video and podcasting.

The #1 lesson I learned at WordCamp Birmingham 2018 is that no matter the medium consistency is key.

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Are you committed to your success or just interested?

Are you committed to your success or just interested?

I came across this question this weekend while reading Girl with a Plan, a book by Maria Kritikos, the founder of the Ladies Who Lunch Network. When I read this I had to put the book down for a moment. That question hit me like a ton of bricks and I knew I needed to share it in the See Jane Write Network Facebook group.

I know I’m interested in being a successful writer, blogger, and businesswoman, but am I truly committed to doing the work necessary to accomplish my goals? I’m interested in losing weight and being healthy but am I committed to changing my eating habits and exercising regularly, even when I’m busy or upset?

To be honest, I can’t say that I have been truly committed to my success in 2018. Each month I set goals and each month I fail to achieve most of them. It’s time to make a change. It’s time to truly be committed.

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How to Collaborate with Other Bloggers

Step out on faith and collaborate!

Last week I had the opportunity to speak at another Bloggers Night Out event hosted by Magic City Fashion Week. During my talk, I discussed “The Art of Collaboration,” explaining how bloggers can collaborate with one another and why they should.

Writers and bloggers need to collaborate. Period. Sayings like “A rising tide lifts all boats” and “Teamwork makes the dream work” may sound like a cliche to you, but to me, they are my mantras. I believe in the power of community and this belief is why I started See Jane Write in the first place.

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