Words On My Radar is a weekly post on the C2C that features articles written by some of the best bloggers out there on the subjects of writing, life, and blogging.
Enjoy!
much love,
Ollin
Words On My Radar
Writer Radar
Help! My Book Isn’t Selling! (10 Ways To Sell More Books) via @TheCreativePenn
One of the most comprehensive blog posts I’ve read on how to increase the sales of your published book.
Q & A With A Copyright Attorney via @Jane Friedman
A copyright lawyer answers some important questions from readers about copyright.
Why I Turned Down This Lucrative Writing Gig–And Why You Should, Too via @TiceWrites
Even though this post is about blogging, I thought I would put it under my “Writer Radar” because I think it’s always good to be reminded that there are scammers lurking out there and that every writer should proceed with caution.
Blogger Radar
Why Your Blog Isn’t Getting Any Traffic via @youngprepro
This has got the be the most honest advice on getting blog traffic I have ever read. It’s useful, no-nonsense advice. There are no gimmicky, false promises and tricks (that some sleazy bloggers out there like to tout) present here. This is really how it’s done, so pay close attention. (Warning: getting blog traffic takes a lot of hard work and patience.)
The Easiest Way To Get People To Do What You Want Them To Do via @ThisIsSethsBlog
Why it’s so important to build an audience who is looking for what you are providing.
You’re Going To Stop Reading My Blog Soon via @TheSalesLion
A shockingly honest tale of what happens when you have a blog around for more than a few years. (This is a post that bloggers who have been around for more than two years will probably appreciate and understand the most.)
Life Radar
Your Better Life Is Now (So What Are You Going To Do About It?) via @CordeliaCallsIt
A great reminder that the only success you can ever achieve in life is one that can happen now, at this very moment.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder via @Oprah
Dr. Oz (on Oprah.com) addresses Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: what causes it, who gets it, and how you can treat it.
Fun Radar
The Ballad of Eliza Icewalker via @TheAtlantic
Okay, this is not “fun” but incredibly moving and worth mentioning: Ta-Nehisi Coates shares an excerpt from a new book on The Underground Railroad. The excerpt features an incredibly touching story of a slave woman trying to escape from bondage. I dare you not to cry at the end of this historically true story.
The Third Man via @TCM
I’ve been getting into a lot of old classic film lately (ones directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Sergio Leone, and Charlie Chaplin) but I have to say, of all the old films I’ve been watching lately, this post-WWII film about an American who arrives in Vienna and discovers that his old friend has been murdered really blew me away. I have never seen a movie hit a storytelling “home run” in the beginning, middle, AND end of a story. All the characters are well-crafted, the story is engaging and entertaining from beginning to end, you are pleasantly surprised at every turn, and none of the plot twists feel gimmicky or cheap–it all serves the theme of the story perfectly. It’s worth an add to your Netflix queue.
I’m with you on the ‘Third Man’, and not just because I grew up in Vienna. Very atmospheric and engaging, a film to remember and see again.
I absolutely loved it. Probably one of my new all-time favorite films.
Thanks for the shout-out, Ollin! Some really great reads here.
Of course!
Great list. Some I’ve already read and the others will make for good Sunday reading and some time with a movie. Especially interesting is the post about PTSD. I’ve followed the work of Martin Seligman and his work with PTSD and PTSG (Post Traumatic Stress Growth) which is fascinating and answers a lot of questions.
I’ve had a bit of a shock lately after cable has been re-introduced in our house after a three-year ban. It’s still 300 channels with nothing on, but there are some changes that have been a surprise. Commercials are still intolerable, so when we find interesting programs, it’s back to Netflix to watch them as they were written from the beginning and taking notes on “beats” where commercials would be, then watching entire series in chunks at a time to see editing in process. I didn’t expect to find such quality writing and craftsmanship, nor did I expect to find so much misinformation mixed with an acute eye for social trending.
There was also a 20/20 special droning in the background about all-time favorite TV shows. In the drone, patterns started emerging, so I ran it back and took extensive notes which lead to research. Putting all this together has kept my radar focused in an area I thought was a wasteland.
Glad you found this post helpful!