The 20 Minute Blog and Monthly "I Should Write!" Epiphany

My boss told me today that a single blog post should take 20 minutes or less. I have a feeling that if I could learn to follow this rule, I might not take a whole month to formulate a new post, and I might actually gain some readership.

As usual, much is going on in Bethanyland. If I tried to write it all here, it would definitely take more than 20 minutes. 

(Actually, the truth is I did try to write all of it here and it took me 40, so I've already failed. Question: are blogs really quality writing if people take 20 minutes to write and click publish? Does the 20 minutes include editing and proofing? Conclustion: I'm not sure I believe in the 20-minute blog.)

So here is my news for today: I wrote an article in my school's quarterly publication about a man, Steve, who passed away in 2004. A musician, Steve was eternally grateful for the tutelage and mentoring he received at our institution, so in the event of his death his parents established a scholarship for music students like Steve. It went to press a week ago and landed on our readers' doorsteps just yesterday. 

This morning I log in for my morning dose of Facebook to find an incredibly uplifting message:

"Bethany, my wife is Steve's niece. Steve's mother called my wife as soon as she saw the article - it made her cry. Thank you so much!"

Occasionally I get the unavoidable reminder: THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE MEANT TO DO. And it's everything I needed but didn't expect.

Right now, my career is not where I imagined it would be 5 years ago. Let's face it, 5 years ago, everything I knew about being a "real writer" I learned from T.V. Don't hate me - it's the generation I grew up in. Blame my parents. (Just kidding mom!)

I certainly didn't think it would land me in the copywriting, social media business (did that phrase exist 5 years ago?!)

But, if what I'm doing right now means that every few months or so I write something that can bring joy, gratitude, and peace to someone's heart, then I am exactly where I need to be until God gives me a new opportunity.

45 minutes later...

Thoughts in Recent Weeks and Days

Writing thoughts as they come to me randomly is better than giving up half way through a post because I'm too tired...

1) This weather is a blessing, but goodness is it warm up here.

2) I have an overwhelming urge to travel.

3) I performed an old Oral Interpretation script today for a bunch of senior citizens, and it made me miss school and wonder if I might actually be good at public speaking.

4) Oh the monotony.

5) Best feeling all week: driving, windows down, jamming to "Spaceman" by the Dave Matthews Band.

6) I'm fascinated by how many aspiring writers are on Twitter tweeting about wanting to write.

7) One of my favorite authors, Shauna Niequist, is about to publish her new book, Bittersweet. She revealed the new cover today and it looks delectable!

8) At a time when I'm supposed to be branching out in social media, I kind of just want to keep it as private as possible.

9) Wondering what angle to take with this memoir with mom. What about our story will resonate with publishers and readers to make it stand out?

10) Can't believe I've been done with college for almost a year.

11) Wants to spend the whole day painting on Saturday.

12) So happy that Mom is doing well so far with chemo.

13) Thankful for love, redemption, and renewal.

14) I want to take advantage of all the best aspects of this Chicago summer...

15) Needs a good book to read ASAP.

Add your thoughts as they come to you.

Is Following Our Dreams a Lie?

Thoughts for today: I graduated with a degree in communications, a desire to write, a growing understanding of social media, and no idea what to do with myself. I've never even taken a business or marketing class, and yet... I find myself working two jobs that integrate social media, marketing, technology, and a smidge of writing. What I wrote about myself in my last post - the part about envisioning myself as a novelist, journalist, literary critic, publisher, or literary professor- is true. Well, I left out a couple of things, like painter, poet, designer, baker, and photographer...

And so now I'm just wondering what matters more? Success or "following my dreams?" And what exactly are my dreams? I certainly can't be a professional at all of those things at once, which means I have to choose. And not only do I have to choose one, I have to educate myself which costs money. And I have to support myself and my family when I do it, but the question is: will the income be sufficient?

I may be very successful on this path I have started down. But will I be happy with just success without the dream fulfillment? Should I be questioning this right now or should I just be happy? Does anyone care that I am writing this?

A friend of mine commented the other day, "I think this whole 'get-an-education-and-follow-your-dreams' thing has been a lie. I don't think I'll ever find one thing I was meant to do."

I felt so incredibly sad. Not just for her, but for myself and my generation. Many of us spent 16 years and thousands of dollars only to find out that we have the same fears and concerns and responsibilities that our parents and grandparents had. The economy crashes, and suddenly you're a college graduate working in a coffee shop, wondering "Wait - when do I get to do what I wanted? Should I wait until after I have paid off $75,000+ in loan debt to pursue grad school and my career?"

I'm trying to be content with the experience I am gaining in my current positions. Maybe this path is better than what I could have imagined for myself. Any thoughts on the matter, any experience you'd like to share or even contradictions to my thoughts are always welcome perspectives here.

Bio- Draft 1.

It is truly incredible what I can do when given an unexpected (but welcome) day off and a cup of coffee (or 2). Without further ado, here is draft one of my professional bio. I NEED feedback, so please read with a critical eye.

Bethany grew up in a small town in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, where her rural farming community, a floundering Michigan economy, and the devoted support of her family taught her to aspire and achieve whatever, wherever, and however she could- and write about it.
As a city girl born and raised in the country, Bethany said goodbye to her tiny hometown to attend college at Judson University, located in a northwest suburb of Chicago. There she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Writing with aspirations to become a novelist, memoirist, columnist, journalist, publisher, literary critic, and/or literary professor.
She may not currently be any of those things, but nevertheless she has valued her various writing endeavors academically, professionally, and personally. Through her writing Bethany seeks to engage in and reflect upon a world of technology, art, spirituality, and relationships with a unique but relevant perspective.
After several “learning experiences” as a library page, retail associate, customer service assistant, waitress, hostess, and barista, Bethany now writes full time for two different organizations. She serves as a Social Networking Manager and writer for her alma mater, Judson University, where she writes and edits content for their web sites, press releases, and publications. She also serves Unicatis Marketing Group as a copywriter/editor.
Bethany is currently working on a memoir with her mother, who is living with recurrent breast cancer. In her free time, Bethany likes to both blog and read blogs, delights in finding a good book, and also loves music, movies, painting, and NPR. She lives in Elmhurst, IL with her husband.

I need a biography...

I need a biography. We're not talking a whole book; just a three-paragraph summary of who I am and what I do. I wrote a short bio recently for my new job site, and I think it's good. However, the idea of writing a longer, more detailed bio somehow seems more intimidating. Maybe what's really bothering me is that nagging voice in my head, the one that says, "You don't just need a bio, you need a life..."

My intimidation doesn't change what is necessary to my success. The reality is that a good bio can do a lot for a professional profile on a social media site (such as LinkedIn), which can drive traffic to your blog, which can lead to a job or great professional connection, all of which I would love to have.

So, I've done a little research. What components make a good bio? 

The Urban Muse recently published a guest post from Kenji Crosland, who suggests including four key ideas:

1. What is your mission?

2. Where did you come from?

3. What have you done?

4. What are you doing now?

Those are all great questions... What is my mission as a writer? ("To write" seems like too short an answer, but that's my gut reaction.) Where did I come from (More specifically: where did my drive to write come from?) What have I done? (Why do I feel like "nothing" is the wrong answer?) What am I doing now? (Possibly the one question I feel I can answer without deprecation...)

So I will start with the one question I can answer and work backwards... I'll post it when I have a complete draft. Right now, I can hear another voice in my head. It's Mr. Zonyk, my high school Advanced Composition teacher. He always told me, "Don't think; just write." All of my writing endeavors, whether personal or professional, return to that principle eventually.