Photo Credit: David Reece via Compfight cc

New directions for The Information Dojo

Hello all! Lately, I've been pondering my blogging strategy and topics for The Information Dojo. I've been blogging for almost four months but have yet to get any long-term subscribers. And I want to start building my list seriously. So, I'm switching up my strategy, topics and website design.

New website coming! 

Sometime next week (I hope) I plan to launch my new WordPress website. I'm working with an excellent web designer, Charlie, from Charfish Design, and he has so totally brought my ideas to life. I'm super excited to launch it and can't wait to make the transfer from Blogger to WordPress.

New topics! 

I realized that I had too many topics I was trying to cover in my blogging. And I'm whittling it down to several that I feel are the most important for the direction I want to take my blog.

My new topics will include:

• Personal Knowledge Management 
• Creativity 
• Confidence 
• Courage 
• Writing 
• Blogging 
• Technology
• Mindfulness 

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Photo Credit: Tc Morgan via Compfight cc

As always, thank you for reading :)

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courtesy of Mark Hunter on Flickr

Creative resistance and uncertainty

This past week I've been having a lot of trouble gaining clarity on my current creative projects. I write blog posts, I'm writing an eBook, and I'm writing fanfiction (for the first time in my life). Needless to say, all these projects require me to think creatively.

And then, this past week, I became stuck. Stuck in my ideas and in my uncertainty. I have been constantly writing now for three months and I love it. I can also now recognize resistance when it rears its great, ugly head. And I recognized my uncertainty about my projects as my resistance to them.

So, how did I overcome my resistance and uncertainty? I had a focus session.

What are focus sessions?

My focus sessions grew out on my need to stop multitasking and to start singletasking. Research has shown that singletasking, rather than multitasking, is much more productive and less stressful.

It's so easy for me to get overwhelmed with all the projects I have going on at once. So, I've decided to start holding focus sessions, where I focus on one, and only one, creative project during a scheduled time.

In a focus session, you:

• Pick one, and only one, project to work on
• Declare that you will devote this time to only that project
• Find a place where you can concentrate (wherever that may be) 
• Establish a certain amount of time and set a timer 
• Disconnect from the Internet if you have to
• Work with other people if that helps you
• Listen to music if that helps you to concentrate 

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owned and maintained by Joanna Penn

What this blog is about

This website focuses on four main areas: writing, self-publishing, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

The topics covered in the blog include:

• author entrepreneur 
• creativity 
• eBooks and technology 
• marketing and promotion 
• publishing options 
• writing

It's for writers and authors who want to self-publish but either don't know how or don't have enough confidence to try. TheCreativePenn.com has been voted one of the Top 10 sites for writers three years running. The blog features both a podcast and YouTube video series.

Watch Joanna's Welcome to The Creative Penn video on YouTube.

About Joanna Penn

J.F.Penn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers on the edge, as well as bestselling non-fiction for authors published under Joanna Penn. She is a professional speaker on creative entrepreneurship, digital publishing and internet marketing, and was voted one of The Guardian UK Top 100 creative professionals 2013.

Why I love this blog

This blog is another fantastic resource for writers and authors. Joanna is so practical in her advice, which comes from her experiences as a writer. She knows her stuff. She also drives home the point that authors and writers ARE entrepreneurs. When you subscribe to the blog, Joanna gives you the free Author 2.0 Blueprint, which tells you more about how to self-publish books and eBooks and is incredibly helpful.

Resources

The Creative Penn - http://www.thecreativepenn.com/
The Creative Penn podcast - http://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/
Twitter - http://twitter.com/thecreativepenn
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/thecreativepenn

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courtesy of Maria on flickr

Recently, I've gotten it into my head that I want to write an eBook for this blog. It will be the first eBook I've ever written and I want to share the lessons I've learned (so far) after two months of working on it.

Lesson 1: Know your blog/website 

This should seem like common sense but it's actually extremely difficult. When I started writing my eBook two months ago, I had no where near the clarity or vision for my blog that I do now. And writing this eBook has helped bring me clarity for my blog in many ways.

I know the changes I need to make and I've found a new vision for my blog. I've hired a professional web designer to redesign my blog to match these changes. In this sense, I'm extremely grateful to my half-written eBook for the lessons it's already taught me about my blog.

Lesson 2: Make an outline

I can't emphasize enough the importance of the outline. eBooks are so different from traditional print books in a number of ways. But the most important thing for an eBook is that it's easy to read. And remember, you're putting your eBook on the Internet, and you'll have no idea where it will end up or with whom.

To make my eBook matter to my blog readers, I needed to put a ton of consideration into the content and how I wanted to present it. This is where the outline became super handy.

Lesson 3: Accept that it's a process

Writing an eBook is a time consuming process. It will be full of both excitement and complete exhaustion. And there will be times where you just want to give up. I know I had many of these moments the last two months. I didn't know where my eBook was going and I was sick of writing in circles.

If you are writing an eBook, or want to write one, remember that it is a process that will take time and energy.  If you're feeling frustrated or stuck (as I was), seek feedback from other people. I'm part of a online writing group and they helped me to get unstuck and clarify my goals for my eBook.

These are the three lessons I've learned so far. I've included a couple of  resources at the bottom of this post that have helped me in writing my eBook.

As always, thank you for reading :)
Melissa

Resources

How to Write a High-Quality eBook in 30 Days from Copyblogger

eBooks The Smart Way by Pat Flynn (from Smart Passive Income)

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courtesy of Tim on Flickr

Searching 

Ah searching. It's always the part that trips people up when you're on the quest for information. It's also the part that can easily overwhelm even the hardiest Internet user.

Even a simple search in Google can turn out to be not so...well...simple. There's so much information available through the web that where do you even begin to find what you need? It feels like finding a needle in a haystack.

Searching is a huge portion of the information strategy pie and there are three important aspects of searching to remember (and these will seem like common sense but we always forget them):

1. Know what to search
2. Know where to search 
3. Organize your information as you search 

We'll be looking at the second aspect in this post. To read more about the first aspect (know what to search) read my post for how to define an information need.

Know where to search 

Okay, so we know what we want to search. And we know our personal process for learning. Now, it's time to pinpoint where you can search for resources.

Google or any other search engine is your best friend in this case and there are many different kinds of resources out there. To name a few:

• Books and eBooks
• Blogs 
• Podcasts 
• Wikis 
• Ezines 
• Magazines 
• YouTube
• Facebook 
• Twitter 
• Instagram 
• Pinterest 
• Bloglovin 

For example, I follow the blog Tranquility du Jour, which I've mentioned and reviewed before on this blog. But the reason I mention it the most is because it is THE blog for me. Almost every other book, blog, author, or podcast I now follow was something that I learned about through Tranquility du Jour.

If there's one thing I've found, it's how small the Internet really is once you start exploring it. Everything is connected and one resource can lead to a hundred others.

Question: What one resource have you found that helped you to find others?

As always, thank you for reading :)
Melissa

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This week I want to review the blog/website ProBlogger which is owned and maintained by Darren Rowse.

What this blog is about

ProBlogger is dedicated to helping other bloggers learn the skills of blogging, share their own experiences and promote the blogging medium. Actually, it's the go-to resource for bloggers. If you have any question whatsoever about any aspect of blogging, go to this website.

The blog has posts for bloggers of all levels and features tons of resources, including a page for ways to make money blogging and a page for jobs as a blogger/writer.

About Darren Rowse 

Back in 2002 Darren Rowse stumbled upon an article about ‘Blogging’. He didn’t know it at the time but that moment changed his life.  Within 24 hours of reading the article he had started his own blog – a personal blog where he's explored issues of pop culture, spirituality and blogging ever since. He has since started many other blogs.

As his blogs grew in popularity and began to generate income, blogging grew from a hobby (some would say an obsession), to a part time job through to a fully fledged business in recent times. He has slowly built his blogging into a income source that has enabled him to dedicate more and more time to the medium to the point where he is currently a full time blogger – a ProBlogger.

Why I love this blog

As a beginning blogger, I have found this website and blog to be invaluable. And I respect the owner, Darren, because he started small and worked his way up to this powerhouse of a website. He worked up from blogging as a hobby to blogging as a professional (hence ProBlogger) and I guess I would like to hopefully do the same (someday).

Another aspect I really love about this blog is the emphasis on small steps to building a blog and, eventually, a business. It's a great reminder that it's okay to slowly go through the process of building a blog through lots of hard work and patience in a realistic and sustainable way.

I look forward to purchasing Darren's workbook 31 Days to Build a Better Blog. I also hope to eventually join the ProBlogger Community, which is a home for bloggers to come together to collaborate, learn and network in a private, supportive and authentic environment.

As always, thank you for reading :)
Melissa

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courtesy of mindfulness

What is mindfulness? 

Mindfulness is defined as "a state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience" (taken from Psychology Today).

When should you start practicing mindfulness?

My answer is to start right now. Start making a conscious effort to live in the moment, to notice all the experiences you have. Do not let them get lost in the flow of life.

Practicing mindfulness is just that: a practice. Like meditation or yoga, you must deliberately practice mindfulness in order to get better at it.

My story

I stumbled upon mindfulness during my second year of graduate school (last year actually). I was stressed out and burnt out from graduate school, working two jobs, and trying to move on from a devastating breakup. I needed to find some peace, comfort, and solitude. And I needed it fast because I knew I couldn't keep going like I was. I was already breaking down and it was only a matter of time before I completely collapsed.

I came across musings about mindfulness on Kimberly Wilson's blog Tranquility du Jour. And in what seemed like divine intervention, Kimberly also launched her e-course Mindfulness: Tranquility Within.

I started my mindfulness practice and have never looked back. It was hard to get into at first, but after I'd done it enough, it made a huge difference in how I approached my life.

How can you practice mindfulness?

Start with your routines. Pick either your morning or evening routine and check in with yourself to see how you're feeling physically, emotionally, and spiritually in the moment.

Practice beginning and ending your day with a focus on you and your feelings and thoughts. Write your reflections down in a journal to help solidify the moment.

Do you practice mindfulness? If so, how did you start?

As always, thank you for reading :)
Melissa

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Courtesy of twentyfour students

I came across a podcast on Goins Writer last week where Jeff Goins interviewed with the author Robert Greene on Learning the Secret to Mastery, particularly as it relates to writing and creativity.

Mr. Greene gave many useful tips in his interview but the one that struck me the most was this:
That people know what they want to do when they're very young.

What if you're struggling to find your inner artist? What's the first step?

It's looking at your childhood.

First, look to when you were a child. What kinds of things did you like to do as a child?

Lately, I myself have been struggling with whether or not I'm a writer. Like, for the past month, I've been doubting myself. Was I wrong in my desire to write? Why is my writing not any good? Will I ever get better at it? Is writing not for me?

After listening to Mr. Greene's interview, I looked back into my childhood to see what I had loved doing. And I realized one important thing.

That even as a child I wanted to be a writer. 

I remember sitting at my grandma's house in her big tan chair with my black notebook and just writing stories in the lamplight while she watched westerns or the Andy Griffith Show.

I wrote stories about true love and my favorite beanie babies.  True, they weren't very good :). But they were written by me with all the innocence of a child. Which makes those stories very precious to me.

What memories do you have of yourself as a child artist? What did you love creating or doing? Was it writing, painting, sculpting with Play-Doh?

If you're struggling to find your inner artist as an adult or doubting your creative abilities, like I was, first look to your childhood. It may have all the answers you're looking for :)

As always, thank you for reading.
Melissa

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Happy Independence Day for those in the United States!

This week I want to review the blog/website Goins Writer, written and maintained by Jeff Goins

What this blog is about 

Goins Writer answers the following questions:

• How do successful writers make a living?
• What does it really take to get published?
• How do you pursue a passion?

This blog is ultimately about pursuing your passion for creativity, especially if your creative passion is writing.

About Jeff Goins 

Jeff Goins has written and guest-blogged for over 100 magazines, publications, and blogs. He is a speaker, creative coach, and consultant. He's published three eBooks:

• Wrecked for the Ordinary: A Manifesto for Misfits
• The Writer’s Manifesto: Stop Writing to Be Read & Adored
• You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One)

He also has a podcast, The Portfolio Life and an audio series called The Writer's Studio: Everything You Need to Know to Become a Real Writer.

He runs an e-course called Tribe Writers.

Why I love this blog 

This blog is just...amazing. I absolutely love the content; Jeff Goins covers all aspects of writing and creativity in the most practical and easy-to-understand way. It's just so straightforward.

I can't remember how I came across Goins Writer, but it has made such a big difference in my writing practice. I absolutely recommend his free eBook The Writer's Manifesto and his other eBook You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One). I also own his audio series. Can you tell I'm a fan?

Please, please, please, if you are a struggling writer or creative, check out this blog.

As always, thank you for reading :)
Melissa

P.S. I am not an affiliate for this blog or any of Jeff Goins's products. I just like mentioning blogs I have found helpful :) 

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courtesy of aaaai.org

This is the second post in the Developing an Information Strategy series. You can also read my first post in the series, Developing an Information Strategy, Part 1.

Why resources?

I love the above picture. It fits so perfectly with the topic of this post, which is how resources fit into developing a strategy for designing a hobby or life that you love.

Resources are another one of the puzzle pieces for any goal or decision; they will help you to reach the big kahuna, the final product. A resource is all about new ideas and concepts, stuff that you reallllly want to learn about.

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