It was a great feeling to finish the last of my advisor letters, move some stuff to my new room (s112), and drive away in my rumbling old diesel truck down Barrets Mill Road into the beginning of summer. Right now, my own kids are running around packing up clothes, surfboards, swimsuits, books, and sunscreen as we get ready to head down to the cape for a few days of "vacation." Of course, dad will brig his laptop and gently remind them to post a blog everyday; maybe put in some pictures with details of the big and small adventures that make up their summer life. I will log on everyday to check all of your blogs. It would be awesome if you would check out all of the blogs in your community as well--especially the blogs of the names you don't recognize and leave a comment if they have posted.
Almost all of the summer blogs are up and running and ready for you to start posting stories, poems, songs, daily rambles, reflections, essays, journal entries; movie, book, or game reviews--really anything that uses words to give voice to your life. The hardest part of writing is developing the "habit" of writing. I know that summer is a busy time, but do your best to find the time to write and comment in your community in a regular and sustained way. If you go off to camp or an a trip, bring a journal with you and do some writing the "old-fashioned way." When you get back on a computer, you can copy your writing into your blog. You can even save each post to publish on the day you wrote your entry. Simply click on "Post on date" before you save your entry. Another thing to remember is that it is easy to "lose" your entry if you log out before "saving" your entry. The safest thing to do is to write your blog in Microsoft Word or some other offline writing program and then cut and paste your writing into your blog when you are finished.
Having a full and active blog and commenting is the one thing that makes the blogs fun and rewarding for everyone! If you know of a friend that would like to join, please have them contact me. If you inspire a friend to join a Crafted Word Writing Community, I will send you a $25.00 gift certificate for either i-tunes or Barnes and Noble booskstore!!!
If you have not received your log on information, let me know and I will get that to you immediately. Also, be sure to send me the best e-mail address to use when sending you updates or new information about the summer blogs.
There are always a few glitches and log on or password issues for some people as we start up the summer blogs. If you have any problem at all, please e-mail me right away--or call: 978-793-1553--and we can figure out your issue and fix the problem right away!
Remember to keep your language and tone appropriate in both your posts and comments, and do your best to punctuate and paragraph everything your write. Always include your full name in any comment. If you receive an inappropriate or anonymous comment, please let me know as soon as possible! If you include a link, or a video, or podcast i one of your posts, please be sure that the site or page does not have any questionable content--or links to questionable content.
A great way to start your summer is to write an "About Me" page with pictures and a short bio of yourself. On your posting screen there is a a place create a "New Page." This will help everyone in your community to know a little bit about every person in the community. A "page" looks just like your blog, but it is saved as a link on your sidebar, and so it is easy for people to find.
Make a habit of checking my blog whenever you log in to your own blog and leave me a comment. It is the best way to let me know that you are here and with us as we continue our blogging odyssey. I do my best to "practice what I preach." My main goals for my summer writing is to finish a CD of new songs and to work on my novel, Hallows Lake, and to post daily entries about my own summer experiences. Think of making some writing goals for yourself!
There are a bunch of different backgrounds that you can have for your blog. Right now, everyone in your community has the same background. If you want a new background, I will create five or six different options for each community that I will post next week. Let me know if you would like a new background.
Thanks for being a part of the summer blogs. The official starting date is on June 15th. That will be the date of my first "official" writing prompt and daily checking of each of your blogs, but you are welcome to start right away! I can't wait to read your posts and share with you the power and promise of the written word!
Are you ready?
-Fitz
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