Journal the Intimate Story of Chaos

Grab your pen or keyboard. This is the time to journal about your experience of the current economic chaos. Your written record of this historic time will produce the only realistic, human vertion of what will eventually be told in cold, impersonal terms in our grandchildren’s school books.

But that’s one thing it definitely is not. Impersonal? Hardly.

This economic blitzkrieg will have maimed virtually everyone before it’s over. The young couple who loses their home, the abruptly terminated midlife exec or the older almost-retiree all stand stunned at the suddenness.

We each will experience it our own unique way, perhaps concerned about different challenges, or more likely a combination thereof, than a neighbor will. But how you deal with it will become part of your legacy as surely as your DNA.

Write it, help the future readers understand how devastating the uncertainty has been, how demoralizing to be forced to cut back on newspaper delivery, church donations, small gifts for grandkids and the sick feeling of the earth still quaking under our feet.

Tell them. And don’t be surprised to discover you feel some relief of tensions from writing it out!

Good luck with your writing ~

Linda

The Writer's (Cramped) Idea Box

How often do we hear "think outside the box?" It's embarrassing to recall how often and glibly I tell others to do that. (Don’t you?) Well, I just had one of those 2 x 4 moments -- that's exactly what I'm not doing!

The challenge is marketing my new The Many Faces of Journaling: Topics & Techniques for Personal Journal Writing, 2nd edition. Who knew it would be so different from promoting the original 1st edition?

But think about it. When did you ever an announcement in the calendar section of your newspaper proclaiming: “Joe Schmoe presents and signs the new, 2nd edition of his popular book Schmoe Knows?” It just doesn't happen - at least around here.

So I've broadened my current approaches to marketing. But it still feels like I'm just expanding on existing newsprint and Internet avenues. (Or old ruts?)

I'd love to hear any suggestions that you, my clever blog visitors, have beyond these that are already on my "done" or "to-do" list:

a Set up my Experts Page on SelfGrowth.com.

a Tripled the number of newspaper editors around the country to whom I submit News Release Articles.

a Started blog, The Many Faces of Journaling blog, specifically for journaling fans.

a Bought a 1/4 page ad in my distributor's 4-color "booklet" that goes to librarians and book stores.

a Sent announcements to the organizations to which I belong.

They’re all good but not inspired.

So, feel free to send me your (frugal or free) suggestions via the comments button below, and I promise to reply with an exquisitely flattering email Thank you ~

Happy writing ~

Linda