See Jane Write

Giving Thanks for See Jane Write

Best group photo ever!
Best group photo ever!

After being away for nearly a decade — living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Seattle, Washington; Berkeley California; and Louisville, Kentucky — I moved back to my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama in 2009. For the first year and a half after my return, I was miserable.

I couldn’t find community. I couldn’t find a group of like-minded women who shared my passion for writing and my love for blogging.

I couldn’t find purpose. I called myself a feminist, but I didn’t feel as if I were doing anything to live out my beliefs.

And I couldn’t find fun! I was singing the same tune of my teenage years, declaring that “There’s nothing to do in Birmingham!”

Then on March 24, 2011 I started See Jane Write and that changed EVERYTHING.

In See Jane Write I found community. I found a group of women who loved writing and blogging just as much as I did and who had dreams as big and bold as mine, too. These women began as writing partners and blogging buddies but quickly became my friends. Now, many of them I consider my family.

In See Jane Write I found purpose. Through See Jane Write I strive to empower women to share their stories, whether through books, blogs, personal essays or even speaking engagements. I hope that I also encourage them to be the author of their own lives. And that is what my feminism looks like.

In See Jane Write I found fun! The women of See Jane Write helped me fall in love with my hometown. They showed me that there is ALWAYS plenty to do in Birmingham — so much so that most weekends I have too many events to choose from!

I woke up this morning, the day before Thanksgiving, with my heart overflowing with gratitude for See Jane Write and how it has changed my life. And I decided I wanted to do something special for the women who’ve supported this little project of mine — which began as a small writing group and has become an award-winning business.

Now through Monday, November 30 I am offering one-hour consultations for only $50! That is less than half of my normal rate of $125. During these consultations you can pick my brain on blogging, writing, or building a business or I can even help you set up your blog, if you’re ready to launch. If you’re interested in taking advantage of this deal (a deal I will NEVER offer again), click here to submit your payment. After making your payment, email me at javacia@seejanewritebham.com so we can schedule your session. (We will meet in December, but you must submit your payment by November 30.)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Help Me Write My FAQ Page

FAQs

A Frequently Asked Questions, or FAQ, page is something many bloggers overlook when putting together their sites — yours truly included. So I’m putting together an FAQ page for this site and I’d love your help.

An FAQ page is a great way to quickly orient new readers to your blog and to help them find the information they’re most likely seeking on your site. An FAQ page can also save you time as it will keep you from answering the same questions over and over via email.

If you’re not sure which questions you should include on your page start by just sitting down and thinking of the questions you’re, well, frequently asked! You could also host a Q&A on your blog, in your Facebook group, on Periscope, or in a webinar.

As I put together the See Jane Write FAQ page, I want your input. Leave your questions about See Jane Write, blogging, and writing in the comments.

Feel free to also leave a link to your FAQ page. I’d love to see it!

Member of the Month: Stephanie Naman

The See Jane Write Member of the Month for November is author and blogger Stephanie Naman.

steph

By day, Stephanie is the VP/Creative Director at the advertising agency Luckie & Company, where she works with big-name clients like Regions Bank, Little Debbie, and Alabama Power. By night, she’s the author behind the mother-daughter mysteries Murder on the First Day of Christmas and Murder in a Two-Seater. 

And recently Stephanie launched a new blog — Auntie Venom, a website for teen girls aimed at “taking the sting out of growing up.”

I am tempted to try to write something to show you that Stephane is one of the smartest and funniest women writers that I know. But I think letting her speak for herself will get the job done.

(more…)

Member of the Month: Tracie Threadford

 

tracie threadford

The See Jane Write member of the month for October is personal finance blogger Tracie Threadford.

Tracie is a member of the See Jane Write Mastermind program and is one of those clients that blog coaches love to have. Tracie signed up for the program because she wanted help with relaunching her blog and help with turning that blog into a business. Tracie loves makeup but she also has a passion for helping others improve their personal finance. I encouraged Tracie to find a way to combine those two interests and she did just that, dubbing herself as your “Money Makeup Artist.”  This is why Tracie is a dream client —  she works so hard and when I give Tracie advice, from the smallest tip to the most challenging assignments, she takes my suggestions and runs with them. (She is also hilarious and I spend half of our sessions together laughing hysterically at something she’s said.)

Read on to learn more about Tracie, her blog, and how she plans to give you a money makeover.

Tell us about your blog and the products and services you hope to offer readers in the future.

My blog is a personal finance blog. I offer tips and advice on cleaning your credit and living a frugal lifestyle. Right now I am working on my signature program, Pretty Money: Total Money Makeover. This program will teach basic budgeting concepts that anyone can use. In the future, I hope to offer my readers courses on investing, cleaning their credit and a short course on frugal living. My goal is to empower the family unit to create sustainable wealth for generations to come. I also plan to host a financial seminar in January of 2016. It will encompass finance and tax advice. Through my business, GlamPowerment Enterprises LLC, I aspire to do community outreach to low-income families and help them change their financial situation for the better.

How did you get interested in personal finance?

I became interested in finance after I became totally broke with no options other than to declare total bankruptcy. I grew up in home where I was taught basic financial principles but when I became an adult I strayed away. After declaring bankruptcy, I felt really low as a mother, a woman, a wife, and a person. I felt as if I had somehow failed. I vowed that I would not let the poverty mindset stick, that I would not wallow in shame and brokenness. I vowed that I would implement all the knowledge I had been taught and study to gain more knowledge so that I could change the trajectory of mine and my family’s future.

money makeup artist

You have a clever way of combining your interest in finance with your love of makeup. What tips would you give to other bloggers looking for ways to marry two interests that seem completely unrelated?

I would tell other bloggers to take a look at all of their interests, their passions, and see what meshes, what goes together. I would tell them to just do what comes natural to them and see what comes out of it. I had to “makeover” my finances so that just came natural to me with makeup, because in the makeup industry we give people makeovers. I like the way that Jennifer Dome King married her fitness and fashion together, I thought that was clever so I said, How can I do that? and that’s how i came up with finance and makeup. I am multi-passionate, so it was quite easy to marry the two.

If someone reading this wants to makeover her finances, what’s the first step she should take?

I feel the first step is get your credit straight. You can’t do anything if your credit is out of sorts. Even if your score is not low per say, you would still want it high enough where you would get a lower interest rate on things like a mortgage or car loan. You know, if your credit is not up to par then you are going to pay high interest and that is going to cause a ripple effect. You will spend more money over time, and in the interim you will be paying higher notes. The goal is to have more of your money in your pocket so that you can do things like invest.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of See Jane Write?

There are so many things I enjoy about being a member of See Jane Write, it is so hard to name just one thing. Since I have to pick, I would say the fearlessness of the other members. They are so encouraging and so willing to help the newer bloggers such as myself. The camaraderie is unparalleled, like nothing I have ever witnessed before. There is no shade or hating — and that’s almost unheard of when you get a group of women together.

What have you accomplished so far through the mastermind program?

I have started my blog and newsletter, started a Facebook group, landed a freelance writing/editing spot with WOW Magazine as the fashion editor, I held my first webinar and I have been asked to speak at a marriage conference in February 2016. I also have overcome my fear of networking.

Why did you decide to join the See Jane Write Mastermind program?

I decided to join the mastermind program because I felt deep down inside that this was the boost I needed in order to set my vision in motion. I needed a tad bit of prodding and I knew YOU would be the one to help me get over my fear and just do it.

Be sure to visit Tracie’s blog, join her Facebook group, and check out her latest article for WOW Magazine.

Would you like to be the next See Jane Write member of the month or do you know someone who would? Send your nominations to javacia@seejanewritebham.com. 

What you had to say about The Bloganista Mini-Con

bloganista pic by ca marks
Photo by C.A. Marks of Moxie Beautiful

On Saturday, August 1, See Jane Write hosted the 2nd annual Bloganista Mini-Con. This year’s conference was presented by Laura Vincent Printing & Design and Dionne Love, the woman behind Laura Vincent, was kind enough to design fabulous notebooks and blog planners for all the attendees.

I’ll post the official See Jane Write recap of the Bloganista Mini-Con next week and include fun photos from the event. In the meantime, check out what some of our attendees had to say about this year’s conference:

LaCosta Gaston of The Journey of Being a Wife said the conference was “completely mind blowing and much needed.”

Rachel Wilson of CaliBama Belle said the Bloganista Mini-Con “made me realize why I love blogging–because my voice and my personality are what makes this blog unique!”

C.A. Marks of Moxie Beautiful said “The afternoon keynote speaker was awesome! Jeniese Hosey caught my attention right away and had my blogging heart pumping with excitement.”

And Christina Renteria of PinkLuxpl  almost made me cry with the kind words she shared in her post as she mentioned my efforts to mentor her:

There are not enough words to express how amazing Javacia Harris Bowser is in my life. I went from thinking I can to knowing I can to doing it, with her encouragement.

I especially enjoyed the recap by Karri Bentley of Karri So Very. Karri actually attended the very first See Jane Write event ever, which held March 24, 2011. In her post she writes:

I’ve watched See Jane Write grow from a group that took up two tables at a restaurant, to a gathering of women that fills a large conference room space. Javacia inspires and challenges me. And her brainchild’s latest event did not fail to deliver.

The Bloganista Mini-Con featured guest speakers and panelists, delicious treats and awesome door prizes. If you’re a blogger, thinking of starting a blog, or you’re considering resurrecting a blog that’s been dormant for too long, you should definitely consider attending next year’s event, or one of the other See Jane Write events.

Be sure to check out her post for a great list of key takeaways from the conference.

Katherine Walcott of Rodney’s Saga took a very creative approach to her recap post by posing 10 questions that conference made her consider and giving her honest responses. For example:

1. Are you taking yourself and your blog seriously? Not the hype, the story you have to tell. I vary on this: some days, bulletproof; some days, sniveling wreckage.

Check out her other nine questions here.

One topic that came up again and again at the conference was the importance of building your tribe. This wasn’t lost on Wade Kwon, director of the Y’all Connect blogging and social media conference, who also attended this year’s (and last year’s) mini-con. He writes:

If a blogger, whether solo or corporate, makes it to the community stage where she can collaborate and commiserate with fellow bloggers, she will likely prosper. (We should really commission a study on this …) Those who operate with no feedback and no love may falter sooner.

Which is why we should recognize community at every turn.

Jennifer Dome King of Stellar Fashion and Fitness was a panelist for the conference, but says she also left feeling inspired:

I came away from the conference inspired to dive into the business of blogging with the passion that I know will take me to places I’ve dreamed of personally and professionally. (Take yourself seriously! One piece of advice that hit home.)

She also said her biggest takeaway was the importance of building community, the importance of having a tribe. Jennifer says that when it comes to blogging, “finding other women who either blog themselves or love to read blogs, women who ‘get it,’ is so valuable. These are the women you can bounce ideas off of, who will challenge you to work on your goals in tangible ways and who will cheer for each and every success you have.”

If you wrote a recap of the conference, please share it in the comments.