Check Out the June Issue of SELF

Run, do not walk, to your nearest bookstore/library/grocery store and flip to page 29 of Self magazine. That would be yours truly writing about a new website where you can Buy Your Friend a Drink. Pretty cool, huh?

Get People to Read Your Blog

"How to promote a blog" is one of those search phrases that consistently brings a steady stream of traffic to this blog. Seems everyone wants to boost their readership and increase their page views. I just wrote an article on this very topic: Get People to Read Your Blog. Enjoy!

Never Rely on the Web for Your Writing Clips

Here's a lesson I learned the hard way this week: don't rely solely on links for your clips. One of my favorite lifestyle articles was posted online until the website stopped publishing. Fortunately, I got paid the full fee last year, but I don't have the pretty clip formatted with graphics and a photo anymore.

I even had some advance warning, because my editor sent me a nice note to let me know that they wouldn't be publishing anymore but she wasn't sure if/when the archives would stop working. I took the lazy way out and did nothing.

Here's what I could have done so I'd have it even after the link died:

• Converted the page to a PDF (I use DocuDesk for PDF-making).
• Printed out the article so I'd have a hard copy I could scan later.
• Taken a screen shot and saved it on my computer somewhere.
• Copied the text and graphics into a word doc (not ideal because it would lose some of the nice formatting, but still an option).

Changing links is another issue to watch out for when you're sending writing clips via email or posting on your website. Here's my newest article: Decoding Business Lingo. Time for making PDFs!

UPDATE: Thank you to Grammar Geek for the brilliant suggestion that I look up my articles using Google's cached pages. See her comment on this post for full instructions!

Clips: I Enjoy Being a Girl

Guys, you may want to sit this one out, because these two writing clips are decidedly feminine:

At Home Bar Basics
Mega Byte

Guest Blog Post on Brazen Careerist

Yesterday, my guest "Twentysomething" blog post went live on Brazen Careerist. It's a little different from what you'll read here on The Urban Muse, but so far a lot of people have said it resonates with their experiences, too. Check it out.

News from the Muse

Welcome to Boston Globe and Brazen Careerist readers! Thanks for checking out my blog. In case you're curious what The Urban Muse is all about, I've compiled a list of some of my "greatest hits" to get you started:

5 Ways to Promote Your Blog
5 MORE Ways to Promote Your Blog
Beating Burnout
How Creatives Deal with Criticism
5 Ways to Manage Information Overload
Query Challenge Recap

You can also read (semi)weekly interviews with other writers in the 5 Q's archives.

Now, onto the new stuff... As usual, I've been writing up a storm. Here are the most recent additions to my writing portfolio:

Living the Dream: Ligaya Tichy
Quiz: What Does Your Office Say About You?
Preserving Your Passion
Do's and Dont's of Online Dating

3 Fresh Clips

This holiday I really wanted to come up with some clever blog gimmick along the lines of "12 Days 'Til Deadline" instead of "12 Days of Christmas." Alas, I had exhausted my creativity when I got stumped on "4 calling birds" (would have to be some clever pun on telemarketers but with fewer syllables). Thus, instead of 3 French hens, I give you 3 fresh clips:

1. Top 10 Business Movies of All Time
2. Living the Dream: Gitika Ahuja
3. 4 Tips for Surviving the Holidays

Fresh Clips!

Just returned from a weekend in DC, where I visited some friends and met fellow writer and blogger Jenny Rough. Now I'm buried in rewrites and dirty laundry, but it was all worth it. Here are some of my latest clips:

Go with the Dough - first assignment from DailyCandy, so it was both exciting and nerve-wracking trying to emulate their signature style!
FSA Facts - not everyone can make employee benefits interesting, but I like to think I pulled it off.
Online Portfolios that Work - this was a fun one to write and research, and now I'll really have to think about how I can improve my portfolio going forward.
Resolve to Set Yourself up for Success - that's right, it's time to start thinking about New Year's resolutions, so I'll be posting mine soon.

Clip: Sunday Boston Globe

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment you've all been waiting for... A moment that has taken numerous phone calls, emails, and frayed nerves. A moment I have alluded to but not actually blogged about for fear of angering the Newspaper Gods. I give you... my essay in today's Boston Globe!

Clip: Public Speaking for Writers

This is one of the articles I'm most excited about, so take a look....

Even more than death, people dread public speaking. All of those faces staring up at you, judging you, counting the minutes until you step down from the podium. Many writers shy away from public appearances because they find it easier to hide behind their computer and the safety of the written word... Read more.*

*Because this article is part of Media Bistro's premium content for AvantGuild members, you'll need an AG login. Membership costs $49, but it's soo worth it, in my opinion. (Not just because you can read my article, because you also get discounts on writing courses, two magazine subscriptions, and access to lots of insider info for writers and media types.)

Clip: After the Breakup

Here's a little snippet of my most recent clip:

Breaking up is hard to do…especially when you have to go to work the next day. After spending an entire evening arguing with your (now ex-) boyfriend, the last thing you want to do is deal with the idiots in accounting or the crazy client who can’t make up her mind. Unfortunately, business doesn’t cease because of your broken heart. Here, readers tell us how they survived a breakup—and the ensuing workweek—and lived to love again. Read the rest...

Shiny New Clips

Last weekend at the 'rents' house, I scanned a few new clips. Here they are...

Dressed to Impress, The Front Porch*
Fabricating a Business, Brookline Magazine
Writing Great Holiday Letters, 100Hats.com

*The Front Porch has since stopped publishing, so I was very lucky to get in (and get paid - phew!) under the wire.

Clip: Making the Most of a Starter Job

Check out my latest clips from WORKS by Nicole Williams:

When you graduated from college and entered the real world, you probably pictured yourself writing hard-hitting journalism, designing million-dollar buildings, or taking on another equally exciting challenge. Answering phones and unjamming the photocopier? Not exactly on your to-do list. Unfortunately, for many recent grads with tons of ambition and minimal experience, “paying dues” is a disappointing fact of life. Read the rest here.

Clip: Dealing with Office Drama

Excerpt from my latest quiz on WORKS by Nicole Williams (and yes, several of these situations have actually happened to me but not #9):

Whether it’s a computer failure or a public relations crisis, how your co-workers cope with tough situations can be pretty telling. Of course, they can learn a lot based on how you react, too. So when crisis strikes, are you cool as a cucumber or on the verge of a breakdown? Take this quiz and find out.

Another 5 Q's will be posted later this evening.

4 Must-Read Articles for Writers

As I'm sure you've noticed, the blogosphere is brimming with tips for writers of all genres. Here are a few of the articles that I bookmarked this week:

• Using Profnet Effectively - Erik Sherman shares his tips on finding expert sources in Profnet.
• The Seven Myths of Being a Travel Writer - Tim Leffel debunks several misconceptions about travel writing in this humorous and helpful piece.
• 10 Necessary Reasons for Social Networing - Deb Ng lists ten reasons why writers should use social networking tools.
• Tips for Your First Press Trip - Andrea Calabretta (who also happens to an editor I write for on a semi-regular basis) offers insights into the infamous press trip.

BONUS: Also check out my guest post on Lindsey Pollak's blog today.

Writingpalooza

This week I got exciting news from two markets I've been dying to crack. I don't want to jinx either one, so I'll leave you in suspense for now. Until then, here are two clips for your viewing pleasure...

• What's your fall fashion style?*
• Best Career Advice Books for Grads

*This link hasn't been working consistently, so I'm afraid it doesn't make a very good clip, now does it? Sorry if it doesn't work for you. I'm not sure what the deal is with that website!

Hot Off the Presses

Looks like 5 Q's is still on hiatus, but I have some new clips to share instead:

1. Living the Dream: Devin Alexander on WORKS by Nicole Williams
   
2. Blind Submissions Can Be Lucrative on Writers Weekly

Happy writing!

Interview Diaries

Here's an excerpt from my latest WORKS article:

From wardrobe malfunctions to mistaken identities, most of us have had a job interview go awry at some point in our careers. We asked WORKS readers to confess their most horrifying (and humorous) interview experiences. Read on...

Why I Love Reprints

1. Generally, they only require a few little changes for a new market.
2. You've already done the work; now you can collect another paycheck for a few minutes of sleuthing.

My reprint of Donate from Your Desktop appears in this month's issue of Simple Joy. I'm happy to say it was a super-easy sell, since the website focuses on women's stress-relief and all I had to do was tweak the opening a bit (the original tied into National Volunteer Month last April). I have another reprint scheduled for November, and then it's back to pounding the pavement again. I wrote myself little notes in my calendar to remind myself when the rights revert back to me.

Any other secrets on selling reprints? I'd love to hear how other writers do it.

Break in with Front-of-Book Pieces

My newest clip is featured on the homepage of Write from Home. Check it out!