(by 33 people)
Making a 30 minute lens- An Experiment
It is 3:08 PM and I have just started this lens.-I have been a lensmaker on Squidoo just under a month now, and at times I am frustrated by the publicity that you can make a lens in less than 30 minutes. I have been stalling out on making my next lens so I have decided to try an experiment. I am setting my timer for 30 minutes. Follow me as I try to publish it at 3:38 PM!
REMEMBER-the experiment is to make and publish a lens from start to finish in 30 minutes. In order to get content for the lens, I have chosen taking DETOURS and SIMPLIFYING LIFE as my theme.
*All post 30 minutes additions are added in black boxes, most important thing, talk bubble, sticky note and polls....you get the idea!
**A note to all**
I did this lens as an exercise and an affirmation that I could get motivated and not get bogged down. After all is said and done, do I think you can make a GREAT lens in 30 minutes? Absolutely, NOT. Give yourself 30 minutes to create a great layout and have a plan. Get creative and brainstorm. THEN take the time to put it all together to make that GREAT lens.
Going with the flow and not overthinking things
My first inclination when I start a new project is to research it from top to bottom. In our family many of us suffer from this disease which is now called, 'analysis paralysis'.....
I am attempting to break free and live my email signature which is, "Life is an adventure-take detours". I have done well with the detours in life such as picking up and moving the family to Malaysia. Moving a 5 year old to the Ivory Coast with 2 weeks notice. Travel in and through various places in SE Asia with no agenda other than the plane ticket that got me there.
Since I came to Squidoo, I have realized that I can do the same thing when I make a lens. I can write without knowing everything. I can take the detours as I create the lens.
2 minutes in and already stuck
Here is the first example of where a 'Great' 30 minute lens is not realistic. The first time I tried to add to Amazon, and I got an error message. I also was more pre-occupied with publishing than taking the time to really look at the book links.
So what can I find on Amazon to help me break free?
Focal Point: A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity, and Achieve All Your Goals
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 10/12/2008)
Real Simple Solutions: Tricks, Wisdom and Easy Ideas to Simplify Everyday
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 10/12/2008)
SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE: 100 WAYS TO SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 10/12/2008)
Second Journey, The: The Road Back to Yourself
Amazon Price: $16.29 (as of 10/12/2008)
Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 10/12/2008)
Can I find detours and simplifying related pictures?
It is 3:18 PM!
OK- here I could have and normally would have spent a lot more time really identifying photos that created the feeling I was looking for. I spent about 2 minutes here for my experiment. Normally it would have been at least 15 minutes and I would have tried more keywords as well.
Simplify Media
Simplify Media
Where will YouTube take me? The topic is detours
Time: 3:20 PM
Once again, on any other lens, I would have personally looked at each Youtube video to make sure the content meshed with my topic. No time if you are simply trying to get a lens published in 30 minutes.
Del.icio.us- a module I have not used before
Time now, 3:21PM
Here again, I tried a module I was not familiar with and I was not able to make it work.
Sorry, we couldn't connect to the Del.icio.us. Please try again later.Making my name in the Squidoo Chain- my blog
Did I mention I have no idea what to do with this RSS feed?
This is my blog. Or I should say, this is a little diary I have started to document my journey in the Squidoo Sea. I have never really blogged before, so this is another detour for me in my life!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byDo other people post about taking detours in life?
Time 3:31 PM
- There’s no such thing as an unimportant day
- But instead of panic and irritation I took the opportunity to let life throw me a new adventure. I ended up in the Airforce Museum and had a pleasant detour looking at the fighter planes and helicopters. I would have never consider ...
- Day 64 - Jacques Cousteau - Virtual Board of Directors for the Isa ...
- Our hearts didn't just open in the presence of those enduring images, our hearts were transformed and grew bigger, and we learned early on what it means to yearn for life and adventure and for experiences as rich as Captain Cousteau's. ...
- Good morning...
- I spent this past week driving an awful lot as my parents took care of Alex for me and there is a lot of road construction with lots of extra detours. But, Alex had the best care, continued on with his tutoring and I was finally able to ...
- Which hurricane was THAT?!
- The bus that I take downtown had to detour because a tree fell across the roadway. So much for enjoying the autumn leaves; I think they've all blown away. I will go for a walk and find some more trees with leaves so I can post some ...
How do you choose your lens subject?
This experiment has shown me so far, that there is at least 3 times the interest in making a 30 minute lens than in either of my other two lenses-( which I spent days on and which I am enormously proud of).
It has made me wonder how other people choose their lens topic.
So......................
"Whether you are a newbie like me or a Giant Squid - what is your opinion? What makes a GREAT lens?"
What makes a lens GREAT?
Through this experiment, I have found in all certainty, that a GREAT lens is NOT possible in 30 minutes. So........
These are the components I can think of in about a minute that go into many if not most lenses. They were only added as my brain managed to think of them.
Your job? Rank them in the order you think are the most important elements in a GREAT lens! If I forgot something (OK- I know I forgot a lot of somethings...) feel free to add to the list.
Test yourself, here's what you've got to do!!
Make a new lens.If you are willing to take a chance, you can always delete it later. Set your timer for 30 minutes and see what you can do. Chose a topic and begin. Then come back and tell us something you learned about lensmaking and even about yourself!
Hey Squid Masters, it would be nice to hear from you too!
Here are some resources to help with the brainstorming!
- Types of Squidoo Lenses
- If you are new to Squidoo, or you have been creating only the 'usual' lenses, you might not know yet that Squidoo actually has several breeds of them. They usually have a different layout and look, and choosing the right type should help you get more visitors. The greatest thing is that you can edit
- Making a Squidoo Lens - Step by Step | PotPieGirl.com
- I made two new lenses on Squidoo today. Guess I had a sudden rush of inspiration come over me =) Ok - truth is that I came across some good keywords and
Let us see your 30 minute experiment
You can do it....be brave!
- Motley Crue Live in Concert Music Videos!
- Are you planning on catching Motley Crue at Crue Fest 2008, as they tour for their latest album Saints of Los Angeles? Or maybe you have already seen Motley Crue and just want to re live some of those great concert moments! Well I have gathered some of the best Motley Crue live concert footage video
It is 3:38 PM and time to publish my lens!
Drop me a line and let me know what you think.
I did it! I can (and will) add so much to this, but now I know it can be done and it has been a good lesson and reminder to
1) not overthink things
2) have fun
3) just write!
If you try the experiment, give the link and tell us what you learned in the process.
Don't have 30 minutes? Tell us how long it takes you to make a GREAT lens!
Thanks for stopping by!
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dc64
Like you, I research things to death! It takes me forever to do a lens, not because I stop and go back to it, but because I spend so much time trying to find the perfect this or that. You know what I mean. I've spent 2 hours alone just looking for pictures!5 stars for the guts it took to do this! Posted October 04, 2008 |
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Tiddledeewinks
check out my lens NotTenMinutes. Posted September 30, 2008 |
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Margo_Arrowsmith
Interesting. Posted September 24, 2008 |
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RichLeigh
I think the minimum time I've ever taken to create a lens is around an hour to an hour and a half... I hate to think what the lens would look like if I only spent 30 minutes! Enjoyed the experiment, I shan't be taking part in it for myself however.... the end result would just be too disastrous! Posted September 19, 2008 |
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CleanerLife
An interesting experiment, I think if I did manage to get one published in 30 minutes, I would spend hours editing, adding and re-arraigning modules before I'd tell anyone about it! Posted September 13, 2008 |
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Something else I forgot to do!
Another lesson learned and another reason to have a list or outline before you get started. You need to remember to promote your other lenses!
My other lenses- The ones that took days.
- Searching for the perfect college
- For most of us, the idea of finding the perfect university for our child is like finding the Holy Grail. The possibilities seem endless, the costs prohibitive. They are, and...they are. But with a little effort, there will be "the right" college for your child too!
- Shopping to make a dorm room home
- As much as we hate to think about it-our kids dorms will be "home" all too soon. So what can we do to help them create their new home away from home?
On our way to letting go, we need to get them ready to leave. That means shopping. Where do we start? With "the list".
