This month, in the brutality of Alabama summer heat, I am going to start training for a marathon, and it’s all Artney Walker’s fault. Walker is a Birmingham-based fitness blogger and last year, she ran four marathons.

This accomplishment has not only inspired me to start pounding the pavement again, but also got the attention of Weight Watchers magazine. Walker was profiled in the May/June issue as part of the magazine’s “I Love What My Body Can Do” feature. Walker has been a fan of the Weight Watchers diet plan for eight years, but she never thought she’d one day be on the pages of its magazine. “In the beginning, I was in shock,” Walker says of the day in January when the magazine first contacted her. “The day of my photo shoot, my dream became a reality. Being a Weight Watchers member, I knew my story would resonate with so many readers.”

Read my entire article on Artney in the here or in the June issue of B-Metro magazine. 

Nail polish: Penny Talk by Essie

This month I've had the honor of being the Blogger of the Month for Alabama Women Bloggers.

I've had four guest posts featured on the Alabama Women Bloggers site and I'd love for you to check them out:

In Girl Meets Blog: A Love Story, I shared the story of how I fell in love with blogging and tremendous impact blogging has had on my life.

In the post Home Is Where Our Story Begins I shared my love for my city and I why wholeheartedly believe author Natalie Goldberg's declaration that ....

Next I shared A Day in the Life of a Writeous Babe and gave you a peek into my life beyond the blog.

And finally I offered the Best of Writeous Babe and shared some of my most popular posts.


What did you write this month? 

On July 1, 2015 I decided to abandon this blog and begin posting regularly at my portfolio site Javacia.com.

But now I'm back.

A month ago I announced on this blog that my husband and I had bought our very first house. And I'm happy to report that we're all moved in and slowly getting settled.

But now I'm moving again -- at least virtually that is.

In an effort to streamline my life I'm merging this blog with my portfolio website, Javacia.com. Eventually all previous Writeous Babe posts will be there and both WriteousBabe.com and Javacia.com will take you to the same place (because if you think I'm letting go of my URL you're crazy).

Until that process is complete I ask that you would join me over at Javacia.com for new posts. I've decided that I'm going to publish a new post every single day in July. Head over to javacia.com/blog to find out why.

xo,

Javacia a.k.a. Writeous Babe

Guest Post by Jennifer Brown Banks

  

When I got word last month that my site had won a “Top Blog” Award, I was doing the happy dance here. It was the third consecutive year in a row I had managed to garner professional recognition, for what began as an experiment of sorts. Not to mention, when it comes to promoting my site through the social media scene, I admit to being somewhat of a recluse.

But as they say, “three times is a charm.”  With this last one, there was more than a warm and fuzzy feelin’ and a validating experience. I had what Oprah often refers to as an “AH-HA” moment! It dawned on me that when it comes to this blogging business, I might know a thing or two that would actually be “marketable,“ in terms of helping others to get the recognition they desire and reap a return for their sweat equity.  

Though the path to success may have varying routes, as it applies to other genres of writing, blogging tends to be more straight and narrow. Accordingly, I offer the following checklist for those of you seeking to encounter fewer detours on your journey. 

Is your blog poised for success? Here’s how to objectively assess where you stand based upon what advertisers and influencers often look for in a blog.

If you’re on board, let’s look at your blog through different lenses.

Here are a few factors on which they‘ll likely focus. The more of these you can check off, the more you’re on point!

LANDING PAGE

  

Does your blog have a logo, slogan, or tag line? 

Not only does this enhance your site’s appearance and establish you as a professional, it helps to solidify your brand and distinguish you from the crowd.

CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN

Do you have an “About Me” page that identifies who you are and the purpose of your site? Is it written in first-person, and in a conversational tone? How about a head shot in a prominent place that reflects who you are?

Does it convey what readers can expect to “take-away” in exchange for their time? Contrary to popular opinion, an effective “About Me” page is not really about you; it’s about your audience.

FOCUS AND EASE OF NAVIGATION

Can visitors easily determine your blog’s theme and intended readership? Or do you have topics from art to zoology addressed in your posts? Do you have tabs and labels for easy navigation? Or once there, are readers trapped in a virtual maze? Keep in mind that many times advertisers are trying to strategically target a specific demographic with their products and services. If they can’t figure out yours in the first few minutes of visiting your site, you’ve lost them in more ways than one.

EVIDENCE OF SOCIAL PROOF

Social proof can come in many forms. It can be written testimonials from satisfied customers, or a gadget on your site that reveals how many Tweets you have from your “peeps."  According to Hubspot.com’s marketing blog, “Your product or service could be the best in the world, and it's okay to lay that claim -- it's just that people may not believe you unless they hear it from other people, too. And that's exactly what social proof does.”

THE ENGAGEMENT FACTOR

Though good writing can sometimes be subjective, one of the best metrics for blog success is how your words resonate with readers in the way of feedback. How active is your blog community?  Do readers respond to your posts through questions, suggestions, ongoing discussions and thoughtful threads? These are things to consider.

FREQUENCY OF UPDATES

A regularly updated site shows discipline, commitment, and consideration for your blog followers. Bloggers who are here today and gone tomorrow confuse readers, come across as amateurs, and lose the potential opportunity to build a solid platform and a supportive fan base. Do you blog on a regular schedule? Or is it typically whenever the mood hits you?

Sporadic blog posting can be counterproductive, and cause bloggers to work “harder, not smarter.”

If you’re looking to “win friends and influence people” these factors are crucial for future blog success. Incorporate them in your strategic efforts to reach new heights and new goals.

Jennifer Brown Banks is an award-winning blogger, ghost writer, and relationship columnist. For more than a decade, her work has appeared in print and online publications such as: Today's Black Woman Magazine, Honey, Pro Blogger, and Women on Writing.

 

Learn more at http://Penandprosper.blogspot.com.

Do you dream of seeing your byline in your favorite publications?

Do you have an idea for a blog or business, but you're not quite sure where to start?

Maybe you already have a blog or brand, but it's not getting the attention you feel it deserves.

Or perhaps you've written a book but you just can't seem to sell it.

If any of these sound familiar, I'd like to help you get unstuck and soar. Let's take flight together!

As founder of See Jane Write, a Birmingham-based organization for female writers, bloggers, and entrepreneurs, I used very simple but very powerful strategies to grow a small writing group into a network of hundreds of women. And this network has helped me start an award-winning business and land the paid writing opportunities I once only dreamed about. You can use these same strategies to build buzz for your blog, book, brand, or business. 

I want to share these strategies with you and answer any other questions you may have about writing, blogging, or business

For the next seven days I will be taking appointments for 11 one-on-one coaching sessions.

I'm calling this my 7/11 special. No, you can't come to me and fill a pot with your favorite flavor of Slurpee, but I can fill your mind with what you need to take your next step.

If you live in the Birmingham area and would like to meet face-to-face for more hands-on help, you can get a one-hour session for only $99 (usually $125).

If you live outside the Birmingham area or simply just need to chat, we will meet on Skype and your one-hour session will only cost $75 (usually $100).

This offer ends April April 18. 

Here's what one of my clients had to say after we spent an hour chatting at her favorite Starbucks:

My one-on-one session with Javacia was more than I expected. She not only listened to my goals and aspirations, she provided me with practical next steps to help me accomplish each. She was friendly, yet very professional. I left with an ambitious to do list which is now my roadmap. She followed up, as promised, with websites, worksheets, and tons of information to help advance my dreams to write, get published, and speak professionally. I now consider her my writing mentor.

-- TiJuana W.

You see, after we meet I'm not going to check your name off my to-do list and forget about you. I'm going to follow up with information and inspiration to keep moving your closer and closer to achieving your goals. 

If you know you need guidance, but you're not sure this is right for you, simply email me at javacia@writeousbabe.com with any questions you may have.

If you're ready to fly click here for a face-to-face session or here for a Skype chat and then email me at javacia@writeousbabe.com for next steps.

Let's do this!

Currently is a feature Dani Hampton of Sometimes Sweet and several other bloggers I follow occasionally post on their sites. Currently is essentially a list of what you're into at the moment and is a great way for your readers to get to know you better. Earlier this year I decided to start doing Currently posts with a twist -- Currently:The Writer's Edition. 

Freelancing for Birmingham Magazine. Be sure to check out this month's issue which includes a profile I wrote on Shella Sylla, the founder of SisterGolf. SisterGolf is an amazing program that teaches women how to play golf and how to use golf to network and enhance their business relationships.  

Brainstorming ideas for business. I haven't been doing much personal blogging lately because much because most of my attention has been growing See Jane Write. I even have a business coach now. That sounds so fancy! I'm working hard to build See Jane Write into a profitable, but meaningful business that truly empowers women who write. 

Pitching to WBHM. Each month I'm pitching story ideas to my city's NPR affiliate. Each month you can find a new blog post by yours truly on WBHM.org. And on the last Friday of each month you can catch me on the air at 90.3 FM (or on the website if you don't live in Birmingham) discussing my latest post. Last month I wrote about how despite the fact that I'm 33, the women who inspire me most are under the age of 21. For this piece I interviewed one of my former students who recently launched her own magazine. Color me proud!

And speaking of being proud, I must say that out of all my writing endeavors the one that makes me most proud right now is my column for B-Metro magazine -- Write Like a Girl. Each month I write a personal essay on women's empowerment and through this column I feel I've produced some of my best work. In this month's column I examine the intersection of feminism and faith.

Blogging about #bloglikecrazy.  Every year I challenge the ladies of See Jane Write to publish a new blog post every day for 30 days in November. I call this challenge #bloglikecrazy. This year, for the first time, I'll be publishing my #bloglikecrazy posts at the See Jane Write blog and I'm hosting a #bloglikecrazy kick-off workshop on November 1. To learn more visit the #bloglikecrazy page at SeeJaneWriteBham.com.

What's going on in your writing life? 

Nail Color: Play Date by Essie

How ironic that the nail color I've been wearing most of the month is called Play Date. My feminist fingertips have been hard at work. Play dates have been few and far between.

This month for my B-Metro column I wrote about why natural hair is my feminist fashion statement.

I blogged for Birmingham Restaurant Week 2014.

School started back but declared on this blog that I wouldn't let that stop me from pursuing my writing dreams or spending quality time with family and friend.

At school I organized an hosted a TEDTalk-inspired professional development day for my colleagues. One of my co-workers gave a talk on Sam Seidel's Hip Hop Genius: Remixing High School Education. I was so inspired that I wrote my August column for WBHM on the topic and revamped some of my lesson plans.

And one of the things I am most excited to report is that this month I revamped the See Jane Write website. Check it out and let me know what you think.

What have your feminist fingertips been up to this month? 

Image by David Schiersner via Flickr/Creative Commons

It's a good thing I've been exercising every day for the past seven months.

Birmingham Restaurant Week is coming up August 15-24 and I've been asked by the event organizers to visit and write about some of the participating restaurants. This is great news for my taste buds, but not-so-good news for my waistline. But I suppose I will have to make this sacrifice for my blog, right?

Birmingham Restaurant Week is a ten-day event that features some of Birmingham's best locally-owned and operated restaurants, offering prix fixe menus and drink specials. Last night the Birmingham Art Museum played host to the Birmingham Restaurant Week Preview Party. I had a fabulous night with friends at this sold out event sampling dishes from The J. Clyde, Silvertron Cafe, Maki Fresh, Rusty's Bar-B-Q, Dixie Fish Co., Davenport's Pizza, Oscar's at the Museum, and other participating restaurants.

We're smiling because we'd just had the bread pudding from Silvertron Cafe. 

Birmingham Restaurant Week is a great chance to try new restaurants or visit old favorites and blog about your experiences. But when you're penning your posts you want to have something more interesting and insightful to say than, "This dish was yummy!"

So I turned to food writer Jason Horn for help. Horn is a senior editor at Liquor.com and is the co-founder of FoodBlogSouth, the food blogging conference held annually in Birmingham. He's also worked for CHOW.com, Cottage Living, Cooking Light, and VisitSouth.com, and his food writing has appeared in B-Metro, Birmingham magazine, and on MagicCityPost.com.

Jason Horn

If you're planning to write about a restaurant, what should you order when you visit? 

"In order to a review a restaurant well you have to try a lot of different things," Horn says. "When The New York Times reviews a restaurant the reviewer goes 2, 3, or 4 times with other people so they get to try pretty much the whole menu."

If you’re trying to review a place based on one visit, Horn suggests that you at least bring a date and try anything your date orders.

If the restaurant is famous for one dish, order that dish, but also try other things on the menu. 

"If it’s famous for one dish there’s going to be a lot of coverage out there about that one dish and you want to do something that will be different," Horn says. 

Ordering the special of the day can be hit or miss, but if the special is a new dish that may be added to the menu later, you should definitely try that, Horn recommends. 

All in all, just order as you would normally,  but bring along a friend who doesn't mind sharing so you can try his or her food, too.

Mark your calendars! Birmingham Restaurant Week 2014 is Aug. 15-24. 

What kinds of questions should a writer ask her waiter or waitress? 

It depends on the restaurant, Horn says. For example, don't expect your server at a casual neighborhood grill to recommend a good wine, but feel free to ask about his or her favorite dish. 

Horn says it's best to be as specific as possible when asking questions of the staff. So instead of asking "What's good?" give your server an idea of what you're in the mood for. If you're torn between two dishes, ask which one he or she likes better. Instead of asking what wine goes well with your dish say something more detailed like, "I'd like a red and something in this price range and I don't like Cabernet," Horn suggests. 

"How well informed the servers are can be the line between a good and a great restaurant," Horn says. "If the chef is doing wonderful things but the servers don’t know anything about them or don’t have an opinion or can’t help you pick the right dish, that’s a big problem."

Can you give some tips on how to effectively describe the taste of food? 

If a dish has an unexpected flavor combination, talk about that and if it works or not, Horn says. "Compare it to other things if it’s similar to something you’ve had before but some important aspect has changed."

For example, let's say you're writing about a cocktail and the restaurant offers a Manhantan but the bartender uses gin. You can talk about that difference and if it worked for you or not. 

"Or if you have a burger -- what about that burger is different and is that good or bad?" Horn says. "It’s all about being specific. Talk about aspects of the dish that you liked or didn’t like. Talk about combinations of things that worked or didn’t work. You can even say I wish there was more whatever in this. Or I wish this was sweeter or I wish this was less sweet."

When reviewing a restaurant, comment on the layout, setup and atmosphere, in addition to discussing the food.
Image by Edinburgh Blog via Flickr/Creative Commons

When writing a restaurant review what else should a writer comment on in addition to the food?

"Service is always important and that should be an aspect of the review," Horn says. Notice how the staff deals with rude people. If someone is a jerk and the staff handles that person exceptionally well, "that's definitely worth mentioning," Horn says. 

Horn admits, though, that for him the food is still most important. "For me good food can redeem bad service, but good service can't redeem bad food." 

Pay attention to the set up, layout and atmosphere. "Does what the restaurant sell itself as match up with the restaurant that you get?" Horn says. "A lot of restaurants are pretty loud. If you’re in a barbecue joint and it’s loud and raucous, that’s fine. It’s supposed to be that way. If you go to an expensive date spot and it’s like that, that’s not.  If you go into what’s supposed to be a romantic restaurant and you can’t hear your date that’s a problem."

Writing about a restaurant for your blog is quite different than writing for a major publication. On a blog you can talk more about your personal tastes. So if you hate green beans and a dish has green beans it's OK to have a little fun and talk about that a bit. 

But be sure to take your personal tastes into consideration when assessing the food. "If there is something you didn't like step back and consider if there was a flaw in the dish or if it was your personal taste," Horn says. 

But also just have fun. 

"What it comes down to it it’s all about whether it appeals to you or not.  There’s no universal thing that’s delicious to everybody. If there was there would only be one restaurant and it would only serve that dish."

For more information on Birmingham Restaurant Week 2014 visit BhamRestaurantWeek.com. 

This old Facebook photo shows that maybe I do more live tweeting than I thought...

Despite my love for social media, I don't do a lot of live tweeting. You won't find me sharing my thoughts on my favorite TV show. On Thursday nights, Olivia Pope gets my full attention. And even when I attend conferences and other events I usually only tweet when I arrive and after I leave because I want to be fully present.

But at BlogHer '14, I couldn't help myself. So many people had so many insightful and inspiring things to say that I just couldn't keep those nuggets of wisdom to myself.

I think I probably tweeted the most during a session titled "Size Isn't Always Everything: The Difference Between Page Views and Community." This panel discussion featured Anita Jackson of Moms Rising, Jordan Page of Fun, Cheap, or Free, and Thien-Kim Lam of I'm Not the Nanny and was moderated by Stacy Ferguson of Blogalicious.

I strongly believe that blogging should be about people, not page views, so this session was right up my alley. But this session not only gave great tips on building community but also on how to build a better blog.


First of all, you need to know the mission of your blog, Page said. 

A community needs a strong leader who understands the mission of the group. @funcheaporfree #BlogHer14
— Javacia HarrisBowser (@writeousbabe) July 25, 2014

And you need to set goals related to that mission.

Set your goals and work backwards. @funcheaporfree #BlogHer2014
— Javacia HarrisBowser (@writeousbabe) July 25, 2014

And when it comes to community you have to first figure out your target audience and then go after them. 

Once you figure out your target audience go to relevant events and follow relevant hashtags to find your tribe. @justicefergie #BlogHer14
— Javacia HarrisBowser (@writeousbabe) July 25, 2014

Then you need to keep in touch. Email is a great way to do that. 

You should have a newsletter for your blog. @justicefergie #BlogHer14
— Javacia HarrisBowser (@writeousbabe) July 25, 2014

If you need some guidance in building a better blog, it's OK to look to your favorite websites for help.

When I see a blog I love I study it. @funcheaporfree #BlogHer14
— Javacia HarrisBowser (@writeousbabe) July 25, 2014

But don't copy someone else's blog. You still need to be original. 

When people land on your blog, what will make them stay? Figure out what makes you unique. @funcheaporfree #BlogHer14
— Javacia HarrisBowser (@writeousbabe) July 25, 2014

And once you figure out what does make you unique, own it! 

You have to be who you are without apology -- in blogging and in life. @Anita_Sarah #BlogHer14
— Javacia HarrisBowser (@writeousbabe) July 25, 2014

What tips do you have for building a better blog and a stronger online community?

This summer I saw Beyonce and Jay-Z perform live. This summer I went to BlogHer '14 where I saw Kerry Washington, partied with Rev. Run of Run DMC, and met Arianna Huffington. This summer I even hosted a blogging conference of my own. 

But despite all of this I still count simply reading Misty Copeland's memoir as a highlight of this season. Her book Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina tells the story of how she discovered and fell in love with dance and recounts her rise to become the third African American female soloist and the first in two decades at the American Ballet Theatre. The memoir details the struggles she faced and still faces in the world of ballet, a world that often told Copeland her skin was too brown and her body too shapely to be a true ballerina. The book gives readers a glimpse into Copeland's tumultuous childhood as well. But despite the fact that she and her family lived in a cheap motel room, despite the fact that Copeland started dancing at a much later age than most, and despite the discrimination she's faced due to her body type and race, today Copeland is one of ballet's most celebrated dancers. 

Misty Copeland is becoming a household name. Just last week her name was trending on Facebook after Under Armour sportswear released an ad staring Copeland. 



This commercial is a perfect example of what makes Copeland so special. Not only did she overcome unbelievable odds to be where she is today, but she's also taking something like ballet -- a world often seen as exclusive and elite -- and introducing it people who might not otherwise be exposed to this art form. That's why she does commercials. That's why she is an ambassador for the Boys and Girls Club. That's why she's performed with mainstream music artists like Prince. And that's why she's active on social media. (Side note: I'm kind of obsessed with her Instagram account.) 

She's been criticized for this. She's been accused of being too hungry for publicity or just disparaged for "letting people in." But she stays true to her mission, nonetheless. 

And this mission of hers reminds me of blogging in so many ways. Blogging has taken the world of journalism and the world of literary arts and democratized them both. Sure, there is a down side. Sometimes amateur reporters get the facts wrong. Sometimes self-published authors don't bother hiring a good editor. But there is plenty of good that has come from the power and popularity of blogging, too.

So many people, especially women, who once felt marginalized and disenfranchised now feel that they have a voice. Women who would have otherwise never gotten a book deal are now successful published authors because of their blogs. And because of blogging more women are getting the chance to pen reported pieces, essays, and commentary for major publications. 

Fellow Birmingham-based blogger Alexis Barton saw an even deeper correlation between Copeland's art and her own. In a post about the Under Armour ad, Barton wrote: 

I’m not a ballerina. But this clip shows how I feel when I write and blog – in a word, alive. This works every nerve and brain cell and muscle, it takes everything I have and promises nothing in return. Many times it frustrates me. But when just one sentence is right, or when one paragraph crystallizes a memory and holds it up to the light – well, there’s no feeling in the world like it. It’s what I’m meant to do. 

The slogan for the Under Armour campaign inspires me greatly: I will what I want. 

That's what Misty Copeland did. And as women writers and entrepreneurs, that's what we must do too. And you can do so one blog post at a time. 

At the start of this year I had no plans to attend BlogHer '14. I had attended several major blogging conferences in 2013 and decided that this year I'd take a break. But two words changed my mind:

KERRY WASHINGTON.

When I found out Kerry Washington would be a keynote speaker I snagged early bird tickets and started dancing around my apartment singing "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and "I'm Going Back to Cali."

Even though I am a huge fan of Washington's hit TV show Scandal, I mainly wanted to hear Washington the activist, not Washington the actress, speak. I felt confident that Washington's words would inspire me and she did not disappoint. And when asked about using her celebrity status as a platform to speak out on issues close to her heart, Washington said:

I don't speak out because I am a celebrity; I speak out because I think everyone should speak out! @kerrywashington #BlogHer14
— Javacia HarrisBowser (@writeousbabe) July 26, 2014

And with that Washington echoed the message I received over and over again at BlogHer'14: Speak out. Lift your voice. Share your story.

Kerry Washington takes a selfie with the BlogHer'14 crowd.
You can only see the top of my head, but I'm in this photo. I promise.

The day before the conference officially began I attended a pre-conference event called Pathfinder. On this day I attended sessions on how to be an agent of change. The session was led by Dannielle Owens-Reid of the blog Everyone Is Gay and by AIDS activist Rae Lewis Thornton.

Both of these women have saved lives by telling stories. Owens-Reid has created a virtual safe space for LGBT teens. I can only imagine how many young people have contemplated suicide and then changed their minds because of something encouraging they read on Owen-Reid's site. Nor can I imagine the number of black women saved when Lewis Thornton had the courage to be featured in Essence magazine and speak up about living with AIDS.

It was an honor to meet Rae Lewis Thornton and learn more about her story.

One of the women celebrated during this year's BlogHer was Katherine Stone of the blog Postpartum Progress. This time I could imagine the lives saved by her words as BlogHer founders surprised Stone with a video that featured several women telling her that they were certain the wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for her blog.

Tell your story and start telling it right now. And take this advice from Stone:

You don't have to be an expert to make a difference. Just give a crap. @postpartumprog #BlogHer14
— Javacia HarrisBowser (@writeousbabe) July 27, 2014

To make a difference you don't need permission. @postpartumprog #BlogHer14
— Javacia HarrisBowser (@writeousbabe) July 27, 2014

To make a difference you don't have to be fearless, but you must have purpose. @postpartumprog #BlogHer14
— Javacia HarrisBowser (@writeousbabe) July 27, 2014

Though the conference was full of informative sessions about monetizing your message and building your brand, overall I was reminded that what I've been saying for years is true: Blogging is about people, not page views.

And people made my experience at BlogHer '14 fantastic.

With my rookie and conference buddy Williesha

I went to the conference with my pal Williesha and I'm so glad I did. I usually go to conferences solo and when I do I have a laser focus on my goals and what I want to learn from the event. But Williesha reminded me to let my big hair down and have some fun.

Rev. Run!

At the closing party, hosted by Rev. Run of the legendary Run DMC, I danced so hard and sang along to the 80s and 90s tunes so loudly that my feet were sore and my voice nearly gone the next day. Also, my ears are still ringing even as I type this.

Best Table Ever -- for real!

I also met an incredible group of smart and funny ladies including Monica Barnett of Blueprint For Style, a blogger I've admired and followed for a long time. We ladies deemed ourselves the Best Table Ever and the energy from our table was so electric we later learned that one of the speakers -- Richelle Parham, chief marketing officer for eBay -- actually noticed us from the stage during her talk! We started tweeting about our little girl gang with the hashtags #BTE and BFTE (use your imagination on that one) and Yoplait yogurt, one of the conference sponsors, started tweeting us wanting to know more about the #BTE crew!

Took a pause from dancing to snap a selfie with Lashaun of the #BTE Crew

Oh and did I mention that I left BlogHer with Arianna Huffington's business card, a signed copy of her book Thrive and a few snapshots with her!?!

Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing some of the information I learned at BlogHer '14 sessions and keynote addresses, but today I just want to encourage you to keep writing, to keep sharing your story.

I went to BlogHer '14 in a writing rut. I hadn't felt very inspired lately and I was afraid I was going to become a blogger who doesn't blog.

But I'm ready to jump back in the saddle. I'm going to write and blog and blog and write as much as I want regardless of hits and clicks. I'm going to write for my life. I'm going to be the write or die chick I used to be.

I need to tell my story.

And you need to tell your story -- whatever it is -- because someone else is going through the same thing you are and they need to know they are not alone.

But you also need to tell your story for your own sake.

One of the most powerful things I heard at BlogHer wasn't from a panelist or celebrity speaker. It was from a woman in my Pathfinder session, a survivor of domestic violence, who said that by sharing her story she saved her own life too.

So write. Write as if someone's life depends on it because that life might be yours.

The other day a reader asked me, " How are you doing these poster type things you've been using as the main photo on your blog?" This question made me happy because it meant that this reader had noticed my swag, my Word Swag, that is. 

Word Swag is an app that allows you to create beautiful custom text layouts in a matter of seconds! No, this isn't a sponsored post for Word Swag. I'm simply telling you about this app because I love it and I think you'll love it too. 

I learned about Word Swag last month at the social media conference Y'all Connect. In her talk, social media guru Kim Garst spoke a lot about the value of visual content. Articles with photos get 94 percent more views, she told the audience. In fact, Garst believes every brand should develop a visual content plan. She even wrote an e-book to help you do that. (You can download 17 Quick and Easy Ways to Create Visual Content here.) 

As I mentioned in my Y'all Connect recap post, while listening to Garst's talk I realized that if social media is like a cocktail party (which people often say), visual content is your little black dress. It makes you look good and gets people's attention. And once you have it you can show that you're beauty and brains.

Lately, Word Swag has been my favorite place to shop for a little black dress for this blog and for the See Jane Write blog. 

When I wrote about the inspirational networking event Cupcakes and Conversations I used Word Swag to highlight the main message I took away from this event. 

I've also been using a website called Canva to create graphics for my blogs and even for fliers for See Jane Write events. 

I used Canva to create a graphic for the Bloganista Mixer that See Jane Write hosted last month. You can check out pictures from that event here.

And I used Canva to create a graphic for the Bloganista Mini-Conference that's set for Saturday. 

What apps and websites do you use to create visual content? 

Last year, I left BlogHer ’13 feeling like a loser.

In fact, I wrote a blog post about it. But I must admit that after that post was featured on BlogHer.com and was one of the site’s most popular posts, I certainly felt I was #winning.

In a couple weeks I’m heading to San Jose for BlogHer ’14. I’m determined to leave this year’s conference feeling on top of the world.  To make that happen I must do some things differently and I think any BlogHer newbies should consider following my lead.

Don’t compare yourself to others. I left BlogHer ’13 feeling like a loser because I was surrounded by women bloggers who had landed major sponsorships and book deals through their blogs and women who complained about having "a paltry 5,000 Twitter followers."  I spent my 48 hours at BlogHer comparing myself to these women instead of focusing on my own mission, plans, and goals.

Check out the Writeous Babe logo I designed for my new business cards. 

Don’t forget your business cards. Last year I ordered new business cards just for the conference and I left all 50 of them sitting right on my nightstand. So if you are heading to BlogHer ’14, go put your business cards in your suitcase right now. They will especially come in handy during Friday morning’s BlogHer Style Speed Dating.

Don’t forget to party. Last year I didn’t wholeheartedly participate in conference activities. I was in Chicago not only for BlogHer but also to visit a friend. I often skipped the parties so that I could head back to my friend's place. While I don’t regret this because my friend and I had a blast, this year I’m staying in one of the official hotels and I plan to hit every party.  Sure, this conference is about advancing my writing career, but it’s also about having fun!

Don’t arrive without a plan.  Before heading to the Silicon Valley, figure out what you want to get out of this conference and use this to determine what sessions you will attend. Knowing your overall objective for the conference can also keep you from getting caught up in the comparison game. With a solid conference plan, you will know your path and you can stay in your lane.  My goal is to figure out what’s the next step for my blog and who I want to be in the blogosphere.

Don’t leave without a plan, either. I am a teacher and I am a nerd so when I attend a conference I leave with pages and pages of notes. Then I come home, put my journal on my bookshelf and leave it there to collect dust. Not this year. In addition to taking notes, I plan to draft an action plan, too. I will compile a list of steps I will take based on what I learn on each session and give myself deadlines by which to complete them. 

Kavitha and I reunited two months ago in Birmingham!

Don’t be shy. Whether you’re going to BlogHer alone, with your best friend, or with a group of blogging buddies from your hometown, be sure to use this conference as a chance to meet someone new. This is the one thing I did right last year. I met the wonderful woman behind the blog Kavi360 and we still keep in touch today. At BlogHer don’t look at the women around you simply as potential followers, see them as potential friends.

What are your tips for making the most of a blogging conference?

Today is an important day.

It marks the end of my GirlTrek challenge to walk/run 100 miles in June and...

Exhausted after a 6-mile walk/run but still smiling as I pose with my GirlTrek mile-tracker calendar for June!

I did it!

I laced up my Nikes and pounded the pavement of my favorite trails all month long. Some days I walked two miles; some days I ran six. But in the end it all added up to 100 miles!

Today also marks the halfway point of my yearlong challenge to exercise every single day in 2014. I haven't missed a day yet!

Exercising for 181 consecutive days has taught me a lot about myself.

I've learned that I need both variety and routine. I get bored very easily. In fact, boredom pushed me to take on the GirlTrek 100-mile challenge. Believe it or not, exercising daily has become easy to do. M workouts are now as much of my daily routine as taking a shower or brushing my teeth. So I needed to spice things up a bit with an extreme challenge.

Yet, I still like the sense of routine that a challenge offers. I knew to meet my goal I needed to walk or run most days of the week and so there wasn't much wondering about what my workout of the day would be. So I learned that I like routine but I like to change up my routine every month or two.

I think I will apply this to my writing. As I said, I get bored easily -- even with my blog. Every month I come up with an idea for a new blog that I'm tempted to dump this one for.  Instead, I think I will set a routine of blogging three days a week and do a different blog series every month or so in order to not get bored.

Variety truly is what helped me get through these 181 days of exercise.

I've spent many days walking and running on my favorite trail and even in community races such as the Color Me Rad 5K and the Girls on the Run 5K.

I've exercised at a boxing gym, a spin studio and in my living room.

And I've had fun every step of the way. Six months down. Six months to go.


Are you a fitness blogger in the Birmingham area? Then you don't want to miss the See Jane Write Bloganista Mini-Conference, a one-day conference for fashion, fitness, and lifestyle bloggers. You can get more information and buy tickets at thebloganistaconference.eventbrite.com. Use the code WRITEOUS for $5 off your ticket.