I Joined A Community Today

Yup, I did it. I joined a community today. Actually it was last night when I didn't know what I was doing or why.

Looking back, and by that I mean waking up in the middle of the night for a snack and looking over my shoulder noticing the computer as I passed by. I wondered to myself the large number of possible connections this machine was connected to (ala the word connections).

David begins thinking
Then I had by bowl of Grape Nuts (dry, no milk, spoon optional) thinking of why I signed up. But, for those who have ever eaten dry Grape Nuts, you know they make really loud crunching sounds in your mouth which by the nature of proximity, then make a loud noise in your head. So, needless to say, (yes, I'm going to say it anyway), I couldn't really hear myself think of the reasons why I signed up on a whim.

Well, it's really not a whim. I've been a purchaser of Writer's Market off and on for years. (started with the 1984 edition for those keeping score at home or at work or at the coffee shop or at the baseball game or at the supermarket or the laundromat or where ever else technology connected to this site can take you.

There I go getting wordy. Is that a bad thing? Anyway, back to my trying to think without hearing myself think story.

The Turning Point
I went back to bed. Heck, I was tired and worn out with all that loud chewing messing with my mind. I needed some quiet time for me.

So when I woke up today, I noticed the computer once again looking at me. I thought about the possible connections and wondered what I could gain from this. Yes, as well as what unknown knowledge and lighthearted humorous-ish words I could share for the benefit of others. (That's just how I roll).

My question for you
So I wonder, from those who have been members out here longer than myself (that would be something like 15 hours), as well as those who have joined after me, how have you benefited from being in this group of writers, readers and folks who like using the letters of the alphabet?

Also, sorry, a 2nd question, what are/were you looking for in joining a commune? (ity)

For me, if this has been any indication, I have already written something in the form of a column and story and rambling, and hopefully a bit humorous. Of course, that is for others to think about.

Thanks for reading and contributing.

(NOTE: The community is at Writers Digest)

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David Stoddard

Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
Pick up the Kindle version of 200 Writing Prompts
Yorkie fan? Check out Terrific Yorkies.com

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Write To Succeed Debuts (without much fanfare)

Welcome to the debut issue of Write To Success. The mini magazine for writers and non-writers alike.

That would make it, well, for everyone, wouldn't it?

Well, yeah. But that would be wayyyyyy too simplified. So maybe I should say more about what Write To Succeed is about. Write To Succeed is based on what Scott Ginsberg - The Nametag Guy always talks about when it comes to writing. "Writing is the basis of all wealth."

I just thought I'd change the wealth aspect and make it about success. And because it's about succeeding, that aspect is up to the individuals to determine what that is. The writing aspect is about getting words, ideas, thoughts, feelings and wishes for the future down on paper or at least the computer screen.

The mission of Write To Succeed is to be a starting point for all things success may mean to you. With writing being the basis, it only makes sense for that to be the starting point.

It is only 8 pages long because that really all that is needed to get things started. Also I am the Unmotivated Motivational Writer and I do have other things to contemplate working on.

Like so many projects, this can also expand to be bigger than it is today. Some would think over time, the monthly mini mag could become a weekly. I can see that possibly happening, but don't feel the need to stretch myself so thing right away. Been there, done that.

So what is in the online publication?

It starts with a short note from myself about something. I hope it becomes a monthly mini motivator.

Writing and Success Quotes

Because it is about both writing and success, there will be quotes about both. Like Readers' Digest's Quotable Quotes, Write to Succeed will have a page or 2 like that.

3-minute interview

The interviews will be with writers or others and be about the motivations behind how they got started, what gets them up in the morning and advice they have for those who are interested.

Related Posts from around the blogosphere

This is part of the mini mag that helps it stay short and quick to read. There will be links to postings I come across online that either tie to the issue at hand or ones that I just find interesting.

A homework assignment

Don't worry. It's nothing that needs to be turned in. They are writing prompts. They will be tied to the month at hand or events going on at that given moment. They may even relate to the interview found in a given issue. This is the starting point I talk about.

Finally, and this was an early warning I gave myself this go around. I didn't want this to be about me preaching about how to be successful and that sort of thing. There are hundreds out there doing just that, so I leave that to them.

For those who remember my previous life as editor, publisher and writer dude for "Que Sera Sera" a few years back, I felt I was doing that just a tad too firmly and had to step away a bit. This will be my lighter push to guide folks to the lives and activities they wish to be a part of.

Feel free to pass it on.

Lastly, you get out of life what you give. Feel free to download the issues, pass them on to friends and family, use them in your classes and training sessions if it relates. If you got something from it, others just may as well.

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David Stoddard

Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
Pick up the Kindle version of 200 Writing Prompts
Yorkie fan? Check out Terrific Yorkies.com

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2 Months? Really? It's Been That Long?

Ummm, yeah! It really has, David.

Boy, it seems as if it's only been 59 days since I last posted on here. Where exactly has the time gone?

It's strange to sit here now and think about all that has taken place in that time. The Olympics opened and closed, Survivor Villains and Heroes is already part way over, American Idol is a couple of weeks into the Hollywood section, the Super Bowl took place after the Pro Bowl (which by the way is wrong), and countless other things have gone on (both good and bad).

Even right now, I am finishing off the rest of the Sweetheart candies from Valentine's Day. Nope, I have no idea how that relates to anything. Just sharing.

So I am just being nosy, what have you begun working on, getting completed, moved forward with during the past 2 months?

This is where I am so tempted to write something like I am going to get back to posting here more often. But as memory serves (and the ability to look back at the previous post to see what I wrote then), I wrote about that very thing already. So this would just be redundant to mention, and I probably wouldn't mean it anyway.

So that's why I want to know about what you have been doing. This way, I can creatively borrow some motivation from your accomplishments and work toward making them a part of mine in the near future.

Thank you for allowing me this rambling moment.

--David

(Calendar image from http://www.4allpromos.com)
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David Stoddard

Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/djstoddard
Pick up the Kindle version of 200 Writing Prompts
Yorkie fan? Check out Terrific Yorkies.com
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