Start 2009 off on the “write” foot

As a follow up to my Jewelry post the other day, I decided to see what was available for the writer’s side of my coin – and here are some great opportunities I ran across in my travels.  Think you want to get involved?  Simply follow the link(s) of your choice and you’re off!  Enjoy.

Sites that will recharge your creative Jewelry juices in 2009!

Yes, I’m bored but that’s a good thing!  When I’m bored I usually use the time to seek out all kinds of goodies – just to see what’s out there and whether or not it would be worth offering you here.  Well – I’ve found a few  little places while traveling around today and so here they are in no particular order.

1.  Ganoskin.com:  What can I say about this site except for the fact that there is a ton of info and great video instructional opportunities here.  You actually have to inspect this site for yourself to uncover the depth of it.  Guaranteed to have at least a few things hidden within that will have you grabbing your jewelry making supplies and pushing you toward your next “great” idea!  While here you’ll also want to check out  the BenchTube area – filled with videos that will probably have you busy for days.

2. Auntiesbeads.com:  Some great, quick little projects here that includes rings, earrings, necklaces etc.  Very simple and ideal for the new jewelry/bead designer to get into fast!

3.  For something a little different, hearken back to Victorian times and begin your own collection of unique Rose Petal beads.  I’ve included two sites – one without pics unfortunately, the other with images.   Often these types of beads are used in Rosaries – a unique way to not only be creative but perhaps include a little aromatherapy in your work.

These sites should keep you happily creating for a short while at least.  Meanwhile, I’m going to work on a few things and see if I can’t get some work done here.  Hope you enjoy the above!

Akaiya

Where will 2009 Lead you?

Although I’m not into making New Year’s resolutions by any means (can never keep them),  I’ve been having a reasonable amount of success in the past few months applying “the secret” to my life and I think 2009 just might be a pretty amazing year – not only for myself but for many – despite the economic doldrums.  So rather than making New Year’s Resolutions this year I want to challenge you to use 2009 as the year you put “the secret” to work in your life.  No matter how you choose to do this or what it is you envision it bringing into your life – perhaps you’ll find that 2009 can be one of the most amazing years you’ve experienced thus far.

2009 can be incredible - it's all up to you!

The potential for success is within each of us and by starting 2009 off on the right foot – being one filled with a positive outlook and openness for success and expansion within almost every area of our lives – I believe that rather than a bleak year ahead, each of us can attain at least a few of the things we really wish for  if we simply “believe”.

So, where do I see 2009 taking me?  Below are just some of my visions, expectations and actual opportunities – perhaps you have several of your own.  Whatever they might be, I hope that they enter your life with gusto and transform your world into one that is filled with happiness, joy, love and much success!

1.  My 2009 successes have already begun to formulate – in January I’ll be part of a team of writers who will be vying for opportunities to let our words speak for others through a new on-line writing opportunity.  As an on-line content writer I’m looking forward to the challenges and the opportunities that this particular venture promises.  Should be fun and interesting.

2.  February will see a contract coming towards us that we didn’t even expect – this contract was offered in mid-Dec and is worth a nice sum – a nice way to put a little extra cash aside for nothing more than a weekend of work.  We like these kinds of surprises and this particular one just happened to coincide with my thoughts – my husband announced it the same day I was formulating my idea for this particular post.

3.  My self-imposed deadline is approaching for the publication of two of my mystery novels – now that I have a voice recognition program that I can actually work with relatively easily – this should (hopefully) be quite doable.  My self-imposed deadline for publication of at least 1 of the novels?  December 31, 2009!  Let’s see if I can make that transpire.

4.  Right here  – in writing – I am going to set a goal that I’ll try to track on a monthly basis.  Beginning in January 2009, I will endeavor to earn a minimum of $100 per month for my on-line endeavors – more if I can .  I will also endeavor to finally get my site up and then prepare to begin selling some of my artwork.  Let’s see if I can make those two “burning desires” come to pass. My new site should be up and running by no later than the end of February, if all goes well.

5.  I have a few stores on line that I launched “for the fun of it” but let’s see if I can’t make them produce something throughout the following year that will benefit others.   I’ll track my “business” ventures  to see whether or not I can make any of that work for me.  Ideally, I’ll have funds transferred to some Charitable efforts through these stores – might as well put the earnings to good use, right?   I also expect to post some tips and tricks for operating your own store on-line which you’ll be able to find under “Minding Your Business”.

No matter what you decide you want to attain in 2009 it all begins with a thought and becomes reality when you put that thought into action.  May 2009 be an incredible year for each of you and may you find a reason to “believe in the secret!”

Happy New Year and all the Best for 2009!

May the Spirit of Christmas Linger all the year through

Have a very Merry Christmas!

May the beauty of the Season greet you as it does through the hearts and the eyes of a child – wrapping you in an abundance of joy, wonder and cherished memories.

Wishing each of you the most Blessed of Holidays -

From my family to yours,

Akaiya

Shared Reviews adds another unique opportunity

As a writer, I’m always looking for additional ways to gain exposure for my work and every so often an opportunity comes along I instinctively know is going to be a great one.  Such is the brand new opportunity that Shared Reviews, a product review site, is offering to its members.

Just recently announced, this opportunity will be going into full launch in January and members on the site are clamoring to have a piece of the pie.  I’ve been a member of Shared Reviews since it opened its Beta doors in October of 2007 and I can honestly say that the community that this site has grown into is one of the best there is on the Internet today.

Although the Shared Reviews area of the site – where members write reviews and vote on others to gain high standings in the community, has had a bit of a struggle over the past few months – you’d never really know it by the way in which the community has banded together to really bring Shared Reviews together.  During the month of September a few things happened that resulted in the shared revenue status the site was offering going on “hiatus” until things could be caught up.  By all indications this is going well and revenue sharing is expected to come back on line again in the New Year.

A new opportunity which has members quite excited is the “Bounty” opportunity (as described on the Shared Reviews Blog).  The guys at Shared Reviews have been working day and night literally to get the new Bounty program up and running, complete with a new site for it and personally I think this is going to be a great success.  With some of the highest payments in the ‘article writing’ venue, Shared Reviews is getting set to not only provide writers with a great way to keep busy with writing but also a great way to earn some additional cash!

If you are interested in becoming an active part of the Bounty program – simply head to Shared Reviews and sign up as  a member for their Reviews portion of things and once you’ve done that and have some reviews on-line to help the guys gage your writing style – you can sign up for the Bounty program as well.

You have to put together a resume and some writing samples – but that’s just a simple matter of posting to the Bounty sign up site.  I encourage anyone signing up to first have some reviews completed on the original site as this is going to be a win-win situation for the writers who want to get “two birds” with one stone.

Does Shared Reviews actually pay?

As mentioned, I’ve been a member here for several months and yes, they do pay – right now however the Review portion of the site is on temporary Hiatus (no pay status) but that doesn’t stop the members from really writing up a storm – new reviews are added hourly by the members and once the site begins its revenue program again in the New Year – payments will again be a part of the program – I’ve received payment from Shared Reviews and the Bounty program promises to be a payment cycle of the 15th of the month following the month you’ve written articles in…eg if you write articles in Jan you’ll have payment for them by about the 15th of the following month (Feb).

The payment process is through PayPal and signing up to the site (both Shared Reviews and the Bounty) are quick and simple to do.

The guys are fabulous and the community is terrific…so quick, check it out and then sign up because those who get in on the ground floor will have an excellent opportunity!!

Akaiya