How To Back Up Your Blogger Blog

Jessica, from BookingIt, requested I check out ways to back up our blogs. Since I've also been concerned about this issue, I put out an S.O.S. to my Blogger Buddies.

Jean Fischer, from The Walrus and the Carpenter Blog, responded in yesterday's comments.

Our blogs can be saved through Blogger. Here's the link to a post giving detailed directions, including screen shots.

I immediately tried the procedure, and it worked without a hitch. Since it only saves what's currently on the blog and scheduled posts, mark your calendar and repeat the procedure every month or two.

All you Blogger folks out there give yourself some peace of mind and save your blogs.

Friday Round-Up - #84

In my wanderings around the Internet, I came across a site that will print selections from your blog into a book. Even if you don't use their service, isn't that a neat idea?

Why not take your favorite posts and put them in a binder? I'm not sure how to back-up my blog, so this would be an ideal solution for me. Have you made copies of your blog in the event Blogger wipes it out?

Author, Janalynn Voight, at Author Haven, advises us on how to accomplish our goals.

Have an awesome weekend!

SWAGBUCKS

Back in October 2009, a friend introduced me to a new Search Engine called, "Swagbucks."

By simply using Swagbucks, you can rack up points that can be traded in for prizes. I ordered $25.00 in Amazon.com gift certificates this week. Each $5.00 gift certificate costs 45 Swagbucks. When you sign up, they give you three Swagbucks.

Why not get something for all your Internet searches? If you click on the above link, you can sign up. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments section.

On My Nightstand - That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake

Dr. Taylor Bestman arrives in Gooding, Texas with her veterinarian twin, Enoch. The shocked townsfolk take sides for and against the woman doctor. The local blacksmith, Karl Van der Vort, is scandalized, but keeps his word that he will transport the new doctor to her appointments.

After seeing Dr. Bestman's skills up close and personal, Karl cannot deny her abilities. Yet, he has trouble justifying her unladylike profession. Women are supposed to get married and have children.

They become good friends, but sparks don't fly until the opposition takes a violent turn. Will Karl go on record as supporting the lady doctor or will he allow her to be driven out of town?

Cathy Marie Hake gets beneath the skin of these characters. Their inner conflicts, fears, and uncertainties ring true. Three cheers for another suspenseful, historical romance.

Guitar Callouses

Years ago, my mother got the urge to play the guitar. She picked up a used acoustic and found a teacher. Funny thing about the guitar: it chews up your fingers. The instructor reassured Mom she'd eventually develop callouses, and it wouldn't hurt anymore.

Sure enough, the skin on her fingertips began to thicken, but Mom hated the way it felt. She'd pick at her fingers until the callouses came off...and they once again bled from the guitar strings. She decided it wasn't worth the aggravation and quit.

Learning to write is a lot like taking guitar lessons. We write our words and send them off into the big, wide world. Then the rejections start appearing in our mailboxes. Ouch! Our mentors and fellow writers assure us that we'll grow a thicker skin, that we'll adjust.

Instead of allowing the process to toughen us, we take everything to heart and rip the protective shell off. If we want to write for publication, rejections are inevitable. It's part of the business. Let's save ourselves some pain and allow that thick skin develop.

How do you handle rejection? Of course, most of us reach for the chocolate? But, then what?

Friday Round-Up - #83

Tiffany Colter, at Writing Career Coach, talks about clearly defined purpose. Why do you want to write?

Kathryn Lang, at Successful Freelance Writer, urges us not to imitate others or try to duplicate their writing journey.

Have a great weekend!

On My Nightstand - Whirlwind by Cathy Marie Hake

I'm on a roll with historical romances these days. I couldn't put down Cathy Marie Hake's book, "Whirlwind."

Millicent Fairweather, a woman of genteel breeding fallen on hard times, makes her living as a governess. She charms her the youngsters in her care with her loving ways and innate sense of fun.

When her employer announces he's sending little Audrey and Fiona away to school, she's devastated. She decides to move to America with her sister and brother-in-law. Perhaps a new adventure in the land of opportunity will heal her broken heart.

Daniel Clark, a widower with a toddler, finds himself without adequate help when the child's Nanny abandons them. One of the ship's crew finds Millicent in steerage, and she jumps at the opportunity to make a bit of money.

Baby Arthur attaches himself to her heart in spite of her efforts to guard against hurt. A travel delay, detainment, and tragedy link the two families together in the New World.

Will her boundless energy but lack of organization drive Daniel crazy or will they learn to appreciate each others' strengths? You'll like this satisfying story.

Award Day

An apology is in order to the two Blogger friends, who gave me these awards over a month ago. Thank you for your kindness and patience.

Cathy Bryant, over at Word Vessel, bestowed the Honest Scrap award upon me. Check out her blog for excellent interviews and book reviews.

I'm passing this award on to five people, who work hard to provide excellent content and share their writing journey.

Cindy Wilson

Carla Gade

PixnPens

Heather Sunseri

Katie Ganshert

Blogger friend, Stina Rose, honored me with the Friendship Award. Thank you, Stina Rose. At her blog, she shares thoughts from the margin of her Bible, snippets of her work, book reviews, and lots of interesting tidbits.

I'm passing this meaningful award to four women, who have become good friends. We've never met in person, but I hope someday we will.

Quiet Spirit

Jean Fischer

Eileen Astels Watson

Donna Kohlstrom

There you have it - two fabulous awards! Thank you Cathy and Stina Rose. Congratulations to all the new recipients.

Friday Round-Up - #82

Carla Gade, at Writing to Distraction, shares a story about Gov. William Bradford's lost manuscript and her husband's connection to him.

C. J. Darlington talks about writing from the gut.

Have a great weekend!

On My Nightstand - Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh

Piper Wick left Pickwick, North Carolina at the age of 18 and never looked back. As a successful PR representative, she set her life on course to marry well. A phone call from her Uncle Obadiah's lawyer puts a crimp in her plans.

Will her cousins, uncle, and the handsome gardener rearrange her thinking about Pickwick and her relationships? Piper fights to maintain her L.A. persona and keep from slipping into her southern drawl.

Author, Tamara Leigh, uses humor and a deft hand painting some hilarious scenes. Will Piper overcome her not-so-happy childhood memories and gain the acceptance she's always wanted?

Don't miss this piece of Contemporary Fiction laced with a bit of Chick Lit flavor. I'm ready to sample Tamara's other books after meeting this delightful cast of characters.

Cookie Cutter Writer

Uniformity might be nice for cookies, but it's the kiss of death for writers. The last thing we want to do is bore the reader.

Have you ever read multiple books by an author and realized you could figure out exactly what would happen next? Different characters, different setting, same methodology. Granted, some folks like to figure out the ending, but most people like that "gotcha" ending.

Writing a novel that's fresh requires hard work. Am I doing the research, the brainstorming, and finding the new way to express old ideas? Since only two manuscripts occupy my computer hard drive, I'd be interested in your answers. How do you keep your work from becoming the same-old, same-old?

Friday Round-Up - #81

Lisa Karon Richardson's article at Inkwell Inspirations made me nostalgic. She shares the origins of the Nancy Drew series, as well as others. Don't miss this fascinating post.

With the New Year in full swing, it's time to find ways to keep up with blogging responsibilities. Here's a hat tip to Kathryn Lang, who pointed me to this article.

Have a great weekend!

On My Nightstand - The Bartered Bride by Erica Vetsch

Life is good for Jonathan Kennebrae until his grandfather announces he'll either marry the daughter of an influential grain baron or lose his inheritance. The match would help Kennebrae Shipping gain control of the harbor.

Jonathan and his bartered bride, Melissa Brooke, are enraged. Neither one wants to marry a total stranger, and they're wounded by the betrayal of their families.

Erica Vetsch provides lots of surprises along the way and kept me turning the pages. At 170 pages, it's a quick read for historical romance lovers.

Becoming an Author

I've been researching occupations for book three. If my main character decides to become a doctor, she's in for a long haul. Did you know only 30% of people who apply to U.S. medical schools get in? Did you know that in addition to completing undergraduate science courses, you need to volunteer or have work experience in health-related fields?

Hey, how about becoming a lawyer? Hmm, the difficulty rates right up there with following the medical career path.

Perhaps my heroine would find writing an easier way to earn a living? According to ehow.com, becoming an author is as challenging as becoming a doctor.

Okay, so what does this mean? Becoming an author is a goal worthy of commitment and sacrifice. A new blogging friend, Britt Mitchell, recently quoted a cemetary epitaph. The person expressed the delight of finding someone to love. How awesome that years after their death and the deaths of those who knew them we can glimpse their heart through the written word.

Our writing can be a legacy to our families, friends, and future generations. What would you like your great-grandchildren and their children to know about you?

Happy New Year!

Thank you for your support of Christian Writer/Reader Connection throughout 2009. Your friendship and blogs have encouraged me to keep my forward momentum.

My writing goals for the new year are straightforward:

1. Edit Book 1.

2. Do a first draft of Book 3.

3. Start editing Book 2.

On a personal level:

1. I pray for opportunities to promote authors and their work.

2. See the further development of friendships already established and make new ones.

3. Continue to seek the Lord for His direction for my life.

What are your goals for 2010?