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A Savvy Seniors Journey into Writing, Blogging, and Building Squidoo Lenses

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A Writers' Journey from Blogger to Squidoo!

My online blogging journey began April 2008 on Blogger and has continued to grow and develop with six blogs on Blogger, a growing number of Squidoo lens, and at least six stand-alone websites at the present time. An added pleasure since December 2008 is my present stint as the Mystery Books Editor for BellaOnline.

During the last couple of years I have taken a number of classes that have helped me learn and grow as a writer. Also, writing sites like Book-in-a-Week and Night Owl Romance (as a reviewer) were instrumental in my growth as a new writer. Now, I write for numerous sites around the web and enjoy every minute of my day.

Where it All Began

Before Savvy was savvy about blogs

My first online journal writing experience began with MyDearDiary on January 20, 2001 after an emotionally tumultuous 2000. The first entry was rightly called New Beginnings.

When I last checked, the diary was still there. The last entry was December 27, 2004.

MySpace was my second foray into online writing. Still unsure of how much personal information to share, my first MySpace experience was using the name Gail Monroe. I now have another MySpace page as Edie Dykeman.

You can find the links below this post.

Writing Books to Get You Started

Writing favorites you will enjoy.

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Savvy Senior Meets Blogspot - Love Ensues

The love affair continues to this day

Blogspot has become a favorite spot for this Savvy Senior to unleash her thoughts upon the world. Sometimes a blog can be a rock, a fortress in one's life when circumstances feel like galeforce winds.

There is a secret blog that is a place of respite. Only two entries have been written since the beginning, but the page itself is beautiful; a wonderful place to go just to get away from it all.

What I most enjoy about Blogger are all the wonderful blogs I can visit. There is such diversity, that I never seem to have enough time to visit all that I wouId like to. I have many of them on my favorites list.

Writing Journals

Personal journals help keep us focused.

I have kept journals for many years. Some of the journals were blank and could be used for stream-of-consciousness writing while others utilized guided imagery. Whatever style you want to use, writing faithfully every day will bring great clarity to your life.
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MyDearDiary and MySpace

From The Heart
My first online diary/blog, 2001 to 2004. I also had 8 entries on the same site regarding heart healthy walking. Obviously that one didn't last long!
Just As I Am
This blog began on October 11, 2007 and the last post was, interestingly enough, June 17, 2008 just days before I began on Blogger.
The Sky is the Limit
This is my second MySpace place. I love the blue sky and white clouds. A number of links are on that page, and some of my favorites are listed.

Sometimes I like to write by hand 

Writing Pens and Pencils

Every color and style imaginable!

Much of the joy of writing is trying out the various size, styles, and colors of pens or pencils. Some journalists enjoy choosing a color depending on what mood they are in, while others have a favorite they stick with every day. Whatever type of pen or pencil you use, the important thing is just that - be sure to use it to write as often as possible.
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Blogs can be a refuge during galeforce winds 

A Few Of My Current Sites

If you visit one of my sites, please leave a comment.

These are a few of my sites, with others coming up in the near future. Hope you have a chance to stop by and visit.
Elder Care Cafe
If you are a caregiver or know anyone who is, this site will inform, enlighten, and encourage you during a difficult time in your life.
How to Throw a Party
Everything you need to know to throw the best party ever.
Easter Craft
All about Easter including the history of Easter, the story of Peeps, the Jelly Bean poem, and much more.
Holiday Food
A growing site that provides holiday food ideas and recipes.
Interior Home Decor
This site is all about decorating a home, one of my favorite topics.

Hey, wait a Minute!

Have you blogged today?

My Favorite Blogging Spot 

A Few of My Favorite Blogs

in no particular order

These sites are just a few of the websites and bloggers that helped me on the road to creating my own site. The Blog Mastermind Course by Yaro Starak was instrumental in the start of my first stand-alone website ElderCareCafe.net.
Tiffany Dow's Blog
An honest and forthright internet marketing expert.
Entrepreneurs Journey by Yaro Starak
The Blog Mastermind course that Yaro developed was instrumental in my establishing Elder Care Cafe, my first stand-alone website. I learned a great deal from Yaro and would recommend his course to anyone who wants to set up a website and make money online.
ProBlogger is the megasite founded by Darren Rowse
Blog tips to help you make money online.
Book-in-a-Week was established by Maureen (Moe)
This site was one of Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers three years in a row. Join other writers for one week each month as we BIC HOK TAM which means: butt in chair, hands on keyboard, typing away madly. This is how we have learned productivity. Follow this link to sign up and see how creative and productive you can be one week out of each month.

These Blogging Books Are Invaluable to Your Success as a Blogger

They will tell you all you need to know about blogging!

It is so important for new bloggers to have an idea what to do before, not after, they start blogging. If I had done more reading ahead of time, I would have saved myself valuable time and money. These books are just a few that are available to you. Check them out and get a head start on having the best blog ever!
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Important!

The most important thing...

Have fun with your blog! Write what you want, when you want, and you will be blessed!

Social Media Websites

are key to meeting new writers and bloggers.

Please feel free to friend or follow me on any of the links below. Let me know where you are and I will join you there. This is only a few of the social media sites I am one, but these are the few I visit the most.

I also have a Mystery Books at BellaOnline fan page on Facebook in case you would like to join us.
Facebook
Feel free to join me on Facebook. We have a blast connecting with one another.
Elder Care Cafe on Twitter
For anyone who is a caregiver or knows someone who is. This is also the most general of any of my Twitter accounts. You will find a lot of non-health care related tweets there as well.
BellaOnline Mystery Books Editor on Twitter
For anyone who enjoys reading mystery books. This Twitter account is related to my position as Editor of the BellaOnline Mystery Books site. I regularly post mystery book reviews to this Twitter.
PartyPlanner47 on Twitter
PartyPlanner47 is the Twitter account I use for such niche sites as How to Throw a Party.net and EasterCraft.org among others. Feel free to join me on any or all of the three Twitter accounts. Each has a main group of followers that are particular to the topic I am writing about.

Savvy Senior Wants to Know

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Would you rather blog or build a lens?

What do you like best about your choice?

  • ShirleySunshine Aug 13, 2011 @ 10:07 am | delete
    Much perfer a Lens!
  • Gail47 Aug 25, 2011 @ 2:29 pm | delete
    I think its easier to create a lens and add new content every once in a while than try to keep a blog going. Besides, lens building uses a lot of different modules and tools whereas blogging, once the site is up, is pretty much just writing content.
  • MoonandMagic Apr 3, 2011 @ 4:01 am | delete
    I often forget about blogging, I am not yet what I would consider a 'blogger' I tend to write only about certain events and progression of my business. However your little sticky note has prompted me to begin a new blog, that is just about my world! I plan to add to it whenever I want and write about anything and everything!!! Thanks again for even more motivation and inspiration...
  • RedSportNiac Sep 15, 2010 @ 10:30 pm | delete
    Internet is for all ages. But from my reading the senior controls the direction of the internet. So I am hoping we are looking into better future.
  • Gail47 Jul 22, 2009 @ 2:18 pm | delete
    Lana,

    I agree. Every day I learn something new on the web, usually something technical. May take me a day or two to understand the tech part, but blogging and creativity sure keeps my mind active.

    Thanks for stopping by.
  • LanaBoom Jul 11, 2009 @ 12:18 pm | delete
    I know seniors had a slow star with the internet but it is nice to see more diversity both in forums and with blogging.
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Health, body, and mind books keep us informed

Check out these top sellers

Top Sellers in Health, Mind & Body

Elder Care Cafe Now on the World Wide Web

Happy Birthday Elder Care Cafe

This Savvy Senior decided to become even savvier about blogs and websites, and decided to take a couple of classes. Because I often get excited about projects, I overextended and took two classes at the same time. Well, the result was a grown-up website that at times feels neglected like a mother with too many children.

Still, Elder Care Cafe has the potential to be a powerful voice in the elder care and caregiving community.

Elder Care Cafe celebrates her first birthday August 2009.

Blogger Allowed Me To Spread My Wings

My first try at setting up a site.

Blogger gives newbies an opportunity to learn how to set up a blog by providing free tools to choose a theme and add sidebar options to create a simple website. Having a free site in order to practice the art of blogging is a great help. What is really cool is that Blogger allows us to earn money for ourselves while we learn.
Elder Care Cafe - the blog
This is where it all began on Blogger. Sharing info and stories as a caregiver to my father, now eighty-six-years-old. A more personal blog than the future dot net version of Elder Care Cafe.
Edie's Potpourri
This is the fun, anything goes blog that I love the most. And, really, anything and everything gets noted here. Come join the fun as I highlight my favorite websites, the great state of Michigan, and my rants and raves about whatever is on my mind.
Sassy Senior Writer
This is a fairly new blog re all things to do with writing and blogging. Very few entries at this time, but I would love to expand this site.
Sassy Senior Cook
A blog about good old-fashioned homemade cooking and baking. I love to cook and this is an area I can share recipes and bits of knowledge I have gleened along the way. Also a fairly new blog, the future is open and exciting in the world of sassy cooking.

by

Gail47

Freelance writer, blogger, niche site builder, journal and creative writer. Feel free to share your favorite type of writing in the guest book.

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