Writing | Jendi's Journal

Writing In Universal English

April 22, 2011 By Jendi Leave a Comment

Have you heard this joke?

What do you call someone that speaks 3 languages? Multilingual

What do you call someone that speaks 2 languages? Bilingual

What do you call someone that speaks 1 language? American

I’m an American. I did take Spanish and though I’m brushing up on some of it I doubt I could carry on an adult conversation. I could ask for the time and tell them what day of the week it is; or contar con mis manos a diez. Other than that I would smile a lot. If I ever actually write a life list [other than in my head] one of the items will be, “speak a second language fluently.” For the time being I just know English – more accurately I should say, “I know American.”

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Activities/Hobbies Tagged With: language, work at home, writing

If I Don’t Write I Don’t Sleep

January 7, 2011 By Jendi Leave a Comment

I figure that I have been writing something at least 5 days a week since July 2007. If I wasn’t actually typing something I was mentally planning what I was going to write or trying to think of a topic. If I’m not writing a post I’m often creating script for a video, or taking in content that others have created. Even when I’m away from the computer doing laundry or dishes I often listen to a podcast about working at home or online business. My point is that my mind works a lot through the course of a day.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Blogging Tagged With: writing

Thinking, Thinking, Thinking

January 3, 2009 By Jendi 1 Comment

One thing that has helped me write my blog is thinking about it when I’m not at the computer. Sometimes I wonder if I’m going crazy(ier) because I start describing in my head what is happening in my life.

Then I read this article by Alisa Bowman.

She mentions thinking about what you will write. I felt justified, relieved, and excited. That’s what I do!

Now I have to work on the rest of her points.

That’s also why posts have been sparse here lately. There’s so much to think about at this time of year.

When do you think about what you will write?

Now I need a way to write things down while I’m in the shower. I get some of my best brainstorms there.

Filed Under: Blogging Tagged With: writing

Flabbergasted, Flattered, and Flat Out Happy

August 14, 2008 By Jendi 4 Comments

It took me over a year, but I’ve been awarded a bloggy award! So, all of you who haven’t received an award – hang in there! Those of you who have received a bunch of awards – don’t tell me, ok?

My first award is called the Arte Y Pico award and it “was created/made to be given out to bloggers who inspire others with their creative energy and their works, whether it be writing, artwork or more.”

It was presented to me by Kaye from Mrs. Nespy’s Frugal World. She also blogs at Riding Bicycles, which took me an embarrassing amount of time to figure out. (I love her header quote there.)

Thank you Kaye! I’ll always remember that my first award came from you.

Two Days after I was notified of my first award, Nancy from More than Conquerors left me a comment that she is passing 2 [TWO!] more awards on to me. Thank you Nancy! It’s so kind of you to include me.

This lovely award is created by Crystal @ Memoirs of a Mommy in honor of Noah and the donor of his sweet little heart who ENCOURAGES us to SHARE THE LOVE! The rules for this award are to pass it along to some people whose blogs you love. They make you laugh, smile, leave encouraging comments on your blog. You would like to share some love with them because they have uplifted, inspired, encouraged or prayed for you. Please include this paragraph with the link to Memoirs of a Mommy so that everyone knows where this award originated from.

Nancy also passed on this cute Friendship Award to me. This one only comes with it’s name. No rules or regulations. The name says it all.

I think I feel a little like Sarah in Skylark when she goes out in the rain after living in drought. The awards are falling!

Now I get to pass these awards on! I’m gonna cheat a little and not do 5 for the first one.

How do I choose? There are so many great bloggers out there.

The Arte Y Pico Award to: Angela at the painted house. She has “inspired” me in these ways:

Her husband was just recently diagnosed cancer free – a wonderful answer to prayer.
She is decorating a little cottage with second hand items.
She does wonderful paintings on walls and other things.

Angela, may your family stay healthy, your eyes stay contact free, and your cottage turn out beautifully!

The Sharing the Love Award to: Anne at From my perspective. She has made me laugh at her antics and blonde moments, left encouraging comments here, and inspired/encouraged me by her heart for missions and seeing God’s blessings in her everyday life. May God bless your trip to Thailand, Anne!

The Friendship Award to: Abbi at Dear Abbi and Katina at Cherish the Moment. Not only are you the only bloggers I’ve met in real life, you both are an encouragement because of the way you live and love through parties, play times, pressures, and parenting. (Plus, you are great commentors and I’m so addicted to comments.) Thanks for your friendship.

One thing I didn’t realize is how much work this award accepting can be; and I didn’t even get to wear a new dress. (bummer)

Filed Under: Blogging Tagged With: awards, friends, writing

Twelve Tips For Twelve Months

July 15, 2008 By Jendi 1 Comment

Here are twelve tips from me. One for each month I’ve been a blogger. I’m sure that they are nothing new, but maybe a beginner blogger will find them helpful.

Decide what you want from your blog before starting. If you just want to blog for yourself and your family then it doesn’t hurt to jump right in without planning. I knew that I wanted to eventually make some money from my blog so I needed to build a reader base. In order to build a good reader base you have to post consistently whether it be weekly or daily.
Research and decide which blog platform you want to use before starting your blog. I used to read a blog that switched from Blogger to WordPress then back again. I don’t read her anymore because I lost her in the shuffle and didn’t love the blog enough to spend time searching.
Knowing about computers and knowing how to blog are two separate things. Forget the attitude “I don’t know about computers so I can’t do it.”
Read and Learn. There is tons of info/tips/advice/books out there to help you start a blog, design a blog, profit from a blog, etc. If you really want to figure it out then search for it, read about it, and do it. Bloggers are generally happy to help others. Find a blog that is about blogging, subscribe to it, and read it – at least scan it occasionally.
Keep a written journal with ideas, quotes, facts, stories that can be used as or turn in to posts. Often great ideas come when my husband is at the computer, or when I’m in bed or the shower. I can just jot down some notes for later.
Everyone says that content is the key. And it is. I’m not saying that my content is always good, but I’ve only been doing this for a year. Your blog can look beautiful but nobody will keep reading if you don’t have good posts.
Instead of spending a lot of time beautifying your blog, work on your content. I determined that I would add one new design item a week to my blog when I first started. The design side can just eat up the hours and then, “Oh, no! It’s time for supper and I didn’t write a post!.” One a week gave me time to research and tweak plus made me work on my posts if that design item was finished.
Find a popular blog you like and imitate it. Now I pull ideas from a lot of places, but when I started I pretty much did it if such-and-such a blog did it or didn’t if they didn’t. Any guesses who I used as my pattern?
If you see something you like on another blog you can probably have it on yours. Most things have a “get this for your blog” if you click on it. Once I left a comment and asked the lady where she got a particular widget; she replied promptly with the info I needed.
Check how your comments are moderated. If you are with Blogger please, please, please allow commentors to put their own name and site address in. You can still have it set that you have to approve comments before they’re published. I don’t have a Blogger sign in and I don’t want one. So, if I can’t leave my name and site then you don’t get a comment. If you want to get comments you have to leave comments for others. It’s a social thing.
Pick a day to have off and post stamp your posts for that day. My day off is Sunday. I stay totally away from the computer on Sundays. My Sunday Poems are ready in advance.
Keep at it unless you really hate it. Know that you will have ups and downs like a roller coaster, but aren’t they one of the most popular rides at the park?