Today’s a deep breath kinda day. A few weeks ago, I unofficially kicked off the holiday season with my first big party of the year (check out Bunco at Tiffany’s).
But today, November 1st, really does it. Now I don’t have to turn down the Christmas music, or hesitate to wish someone “Happy Holidays!” I’ve got events, little and big, planned for almost every week til January. I’ve got recipe challenges from family and friends. I’ve got my writing projects. And I’ve got my blog.
As you read yesterday, I’m on board with BlogHer.com and intend to write. Every day. Not that this is new to me. It’s just that, until BlogHer challenged me, I was entertaining the notion of, well, not blogging every day in November.
After all… just like everyone else, I have holidays and families and housework and friends and books to read (and write!) a cookbook to finish and, and, and…
But what the heck. That’s right. I said it. And I’ll say it again: What. The. Heck.
Why shouldn’t I write every day? How hard can it be to post projects I’m already working on? This is the opportune time to share my party planning ideas and experiences; my recipes; and let’s not forget The Adventures of Will Power, or Matt and Molly in Winter. Indeed, I have a lot of writing to be done. So I shall do it!
… …
Do you know how much prep work there is in being a writer? I used to think, an author just pens it out, hands it over, gets it published. Next!
But with the “beauty” (dripping sarcasm? I think so.) of the internet and social media, a writer can’t just write. There’s facebook pages and blogs and links and referrals and research. I’m turning into a food blogger, which I never really expected. But here we are. I check recipes online. I post recipes. I research, yup, recipes. I like other blogsites. I get comments on mine. I update my blog, my facebook, and my twitter, constantly. Why am I surprised after only three minutes there are no new updates?
But let’s face reality: I’m not a web admin type person. I’m more of a “I’ll write it out and you fix the problems” kinda Doll. So I jumped in the deep end and learned. A lot. For instance, betcha didn’t know that if you change the format of your links after you link a post, you have to correct the actual link. Yeah? You knew? Well, have a cookie! It’s not something I considered before I switched things around; so I just spent over three hours looking at every single post and page to make sure all my links worked. Thank goodness I don’t have links in every post or I wouldn’t even be typing this now!
I’m glad I reviewed my old posts, though. I came across some favorites I’d forgotten. And I noticed certain themes fell away (good bye, dating journal!), while others improved (recipes, writing, party planning, and GOD). This makes me happy. Happy that even though I started in the wrong direction, I was always on the right Path. Happy that each week I’m getting more readers and subscribers and feedback. Happy that I’m doing what makes me happy!
My two most popular posts to date are Apologetic and Hello/Goodbye: How Flashpoint Keeps Hitting the Mark. I’m proud of these posts. But I’m also proud of my recipes and little daily nothings. Filigree Frosting and The Adventures of Will Power and the Haunted House, which many of you missed during the transition stage last week when the emails didn’t go out. (So here’s your chance to read it!).
I love the Facebook “Like” button on my blog now. I love that it connects people to my page, and vice versa. It’s a happiness to know that people get me.
Writing makes me happy. Being in the kitchen in an apron and high heels makes me happy. Taking care of my family and friends makes me happy. This is what my life is about. Well, this, and so much more. But this is what I love more than anything.
So here I am. Kicking off November with yet another writing project that isn’t really a project. It’s just me being me. Doing what I do. And, as I often say, bringing you along for the ride.
Are you excited? I am.
With Love and
High Heels in the Kitchen,
Molly Jo