Photo from BillyBrew.com
Whoo-eee, what a week!!
Since our Life List Club milestone party last week, I’ve worked many, many hours getting a new document management system rolled out at work. It’s been all databases all the time for me, while y’all have been partying here at More Cowbell. 🙂
However, it is done and we are expecting a successful rollout, so let’s all give a WOOT-WOOT!! to Jenny’s Inner Geek. I promise to let her out again next Tuesday with a special post I’m cooking up on my new favorite social media tool, Triberr.
Y’all been having lots of discussion about writerly things while I’ve been working. In case you missed any of it, here’s what’s been happening this week:
ROW80 Goals and Lessons Learned
10 Unusual Things About How Writers Read
and
The Importance of Baby Steps
I promised to announce my TWO winners of the Milestone party prize today…the prize is a choice between a guest post by me on YOUR blog, or an interview/promotion of your choice here on More Cowbell.
And the winners are…
Natalie Hartford
and
Coleen Patrick
Congratulations!!! I’m excited to hear what you two ladies have in mind for me.
Coming attractions…
-
A new addition to The Undie Chronicles
-
Recognition of some groovy BLOG AWARDS
-
A contest, to be judged by NakedEditor, Tiffany Lawson Inman
There’s more, but you’ll just have to wait and see. 🙂
What’s coming up for you in January? This is your chance to pimp or promote any new features or posts you’re excited about for 2012! The comment lines are always open here at More Cowbell!
Jenny
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR….I won!?!?!? Eeeekeee…super excited and definitely going to take some time to think about which prize to go for…they are both sooo alluring!! 🙂
I’ve got a bit of news I’d like to share (thanks for the floor Jenny). To make my writing a priority, I decided to go from blogging 5 days a week to 4 days a week. I’ve cut Thursday’s mash-up post that usually featured over a dozen links to great posts. It was wildly time consuming to put together. That being said, I still want to maintain my commitment to promoting others so starting next week I will include two or three FAB links (with shorter intros) to other fab blogs at the end of each post. I hope people will prefer that line up. It’s my instinct that when people landed on my post with TONS of links, maybe it was intimidating and time consuming that they skipped over it. What do you all think – will this new line-up work better?!?!?!
As well, as most of you know I am working hard to bring awareness to impaired driving. I use my Friday post for that subject. In the past, I’ve posted rants or long lists of all the Canadian cases that made the news (hugely time consuming). My thought was people would be OUTRAGED by the sheer numbers and would all stand up and fight the good fight with me. But…I’ve decided that I want to focus more on the positive (what you focus on grows) so starting in 2012 I am writing about the GOOD work that is being done to support or bring awareness to impaired driving. Great commercials, partnerships, fundraisers, awareness campaigns etc. So if any of you come across something about impaired driving that you think is FAB (article, video, picture etc), please send them my way (natalie {at} nataliehartford {dot} com) so I can highlight the good work that’s being done!
Ok, I’ve ramble on forever – sorry Jenny! LOL! Thanks for the floor and happy 2012 to everyone – may it be YOUR best year yet!
LikeLike
Natalie, you are just way too awesome. Your work for MADD and driver awareness is amazing in itself, but you give so much back to us bloggers. Your blog rocks and so do you! I love the positive spin you are taking for your Friday posts. Yep, we are still outraged, but now we have ways to channel that anger to do some good. Well done!
LikeLike
You WON, my dear! I counted all the comments and subscribers, went to Random.org and gave it each number, and you and Coleen came up. How fun is that?
Your blog was so much fun for me in 2011 that I can’t wait to see these changes in 2012. I think people respond much more to being inspired to spread the word about something than being outraged to do the same – I think you’ll see a great response to your changes. 🙂
LikeLike
Looking forward to upcoming posts Jenny! Congrats to Natalie and Colleen too!
Last week on my blog I wrote about Breakthrough Goals which are those special goals that make your heart beat a little faster because you’ve set the bar a little higher. In that vein I’m going to be blogging about a couple of my breakthrough goals 1) Book 100 Challenge and 2) health topics based on the book and PBS show Younger Next Year.
I’m also really excited that my Kick Ass Heroine page ( Kick Ass Heroines in a series ) taken from my blog post about the same subject. It’s currently under construction and should be finished later this week. I have some great recommendations from fellow bloggers and I’ve included their comments and mention their blog link if they have one. If anyone would like to contribute their fave strong heroine in a series give me a shout-out. katemacnicol dot hughes dot net.
Thanks Jenny for doing this. I love this idea and need to do it over at my house too.
Have a wonderful weekend!
LikeLike
Kate, I started reading your post on Breakthrough Goals and got sidetracked by Baby Girl. Thanks for reminding me to go back!
I love the idea (and the name) of the Kick Ass Heroine page so I can’t wait to see that!
LikeLike
What’s on the go for me in January? I’m setting aside my depressing attempt at a NaNo novel for the nonce and starting off the new year by taking smaller bites. I’ve thrown my hat into the “Write 1 Sub 1” ring (http://www.write1sub1.com/) and I’m quite excited about it.
Story ideas? Check!
Market research for submissions? Check!
Public announcement of goals and intentions? Check!
Stories written? erm… check my blog in a few days!
LikeLike
Nice, Mike!! It sounds like January is going to be a pivotal month for your writing. Keep us posted. 🙂
LikeLike
Super excited (and honestly a tiny bit overwhelmed?). 🙂 This week has been full of setting goals and making changes both for me and for every blog I read–which has been inspiring and intimidating all at once!!
I am going to let your prize choices sink in over the weekend.
Thanks Jenny for the smile and overall awesomeness. 🙂
Happy Friday!!
LikeLike
No problem, Coleen – neither of the last winners claimed their prizes for a month or two…we’ll go at your pace for this. Sounds like you need a weekend where you breathe…and just write. 🙂
LikeLike
Awesome on the coming attractions, I always love your blog. And thanks to your tips, I now have 25-lines/page on my thriller WIP, yee-haw!
Let’s see…still blogging 3-4 times a week. Just changed the titles of my “categories” to help with SEO, but will stet the cute blog titles themselves. *s* I am THIS CLOSE to having the thriller ready for beta readers, yay!
Got a new writing gig (that pays, yes!) so added that to my puppy-licious to-do list.
We started rehearsals this week for KURVES, THE MUSICAL. It’ll be produced March 1, 2, 3 at a renovated local theater, we’re the first performance schedule. We have an awesome cast and lots of buzz already–and yes, hope to have some YouTube samples up at some point. Whew…that’s it for me for now.
LikeLike
Oooooh…we love the writing gigs that pay! And I am SO EXCITED that your thriller is about ready (with 25 sassy lines per page!). I can’t wait to buy it. 🙂
You do the best blog titles out there, my dear…we could all take lessons. You’re about the most searchable gal I know!!
LikeLike
Congrats to Natalie and Coleen! Whooohooo!
And a super congrats to Jenny for getting that rollout done. Whew! Now we’ll get to party with you all day and night. Sweet!
I didn’t have a blog post for today (being sick, it somehow escaped my mind to write one. Um, duh! I think I thought I already had it to go. Must’ve dreamed that in my fever haze.) Soooo, I’m going to borrow your idea and let folks pimp themselves over on my blog! Thanks for the great idea, Jenny. You’re awesome and I absolutely adore you.
LikeLike
The rollout was a huge time suck, but it was important and we’re all proud of ourselves. 🙂 I saw your Pimp or Promote blog pass by me…so I promoted it on Twitter. LOL.
p.s. Back atcha on the awesome…I still need to send you our pic!!
LikeLike
Pingback: Pimp Your Blog! That’s right, head on over and promote yourself today… | Tameri Etherton
Congrats Natalie and Coleen!!!
LikeLike
Another encouraging post Jenny! Congrats to Natalie and Coleen who are two of my favs!
My goals. LOL That’s funny. Well I’m trying. I as you know have a phobia about goals. I don’t like them. I rebel against time frames and schedules. You can probably guess why I’m like that. I’m not going into it again. But I’m determined to push through and thank you for coming to pump me up last night. Do you sleep? lol
Jenny, are we supposed to post our ROW80 goals Sunday or Monday? Still trying to get that straight. And is it okay to just post once a week? Baby steps. lol
Thanks Jenny! 🙂
LikeLike
I do sleep, though not that much and I only post my goals once a week, but that’s more a time issue than a rebellion issue. 🙂
You just keep taking your steps…they’ll lead you where you need to go.
LikeLike
You never fail to amaze me, Jenn. Where do you come up with the energy to do it all? So happy to know you, girl!
Stop by my blog later on today and grab your blog award 🙂 http://www.angelapeart.com
LikeLike
Bless you, Angela, I don’t remotely do it all. In fact, I just called to get my house cleaned because I’d rather work 3 hours to pay for them to do it than do it myself and wish I was writing.
p.s. I’m happy to know you too!!!
LikeLike
Oh, I forgot – congratulations to the winners!!! You guys rock!
LikeLike
Congrats to the winners! Last time I won a copy of Margie Lawson’s Empowering Character’s Emotions, and it made a big difference for me.
LikeLike
I know, Stacy…I was completely jealous of all the Margie and Tiffany Lawson winners. I’ve got to go take the Margie classes myself.
LikeLike
Oooh I’m excited to read your upcoming undie chronicles! Looks like I’ll get to meet two new bloggers also!
There will be some changes happening at the Happiness Project; I’ll keep you all posted!
LikeLike
No hints, Jess!!! Dang, girl. I’m like panting over here.
LikeLike
Congrats to the winners! Excited about more Undie Chronicles!
Most of my changes have been announced, but here goes again: My blog focus will be on women…strong, sexy, savvy, stylish, sentimental, smart women…and many of the things tha t omen deal with throughout life. Alongside that will my health challenges that will be ongoing and I’ll be setting up a facebook page for support of anyone who needs to vent, comiserate or get some support in staying on a healthy track. Then we have Lists and Links on Fridays. The lists can be on any topic and will be info you can use. The links will be for writers and fun ones for everyone–I’ll be deeply searching the blogosphere for new bloggers and posts, as well, as highlighting the writers I know so well.
Thanks, Jenny for the opportunity to share what’s in the works!
Congrats on your hard work at the job this week. Hope the coming week is a little lighter for you.
LikeLike
Congrats to two of my favorite blogging ladies! Can’t wait for the guest posts. 🙂
LikeLike
Guess what? I’ve nominated you for a Kreative Blogger Award. Everyone needs more Cowbell. Go check out your awesome face at my site. http://www.lafreeland.com/2012/01/07/kreative-blogger-award/
LikeLike
Whoo-eee, Lori! I did check out that post and you’ve got me in some great company. THANK YOU!!! Y’all need to go check it out – she’s got some very interesting “10 things.”
LikeLike
Big congrats to winners Natalie and Coleen!!!
As for pimping, I’m still over here celebrating your rocking 2011 progress, Jenny! I’ll stop for a second and mention what I’m up to. A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about running towards fears. After some “self-talks,” that is where my 2012 vision is focused and I plan on getting there by continuing with ROW80, meeting my goals and branching out of my comfort zones. For my blog, 2012 will bring me more into the world of sharing as I have some guest blogging opportunities coming up. Whee. I’m both excited and nervous, so I may be running towards my fears with dark chocolate truffles in hand. 🙂
Thanks for the chance to share! You are always so supportive and I know 2012 will bring even more fun and inspiration hear at More Cowbell.
LikeLike
Barbara, I’m so proud of you that you’re running toward those fears. I think they stay bigger before we open the door to the dark closet and look at them in the light of day. 🙂
LikeLike