Social Media for Small Business
[This biz has since become CORE Content Marketing, but they still offer wonderful social media content management. Email Mary for details.]

 Check me out on Business Fan Pages' new masthead - markettoyourfans.com - and read more about growing your Facebook fan base as well as how consumers are using social media to investigate brands before they buy. To view my complete fan page, visit facebook.com/KristyStevensonWriter.

With the introduction of Timeline to Facebook's personal profiles, it will be interesting to see what the coming months bring for business pages. What form(s) of social media do you use to reach your target audience? What do/don't tips do you recommend, and are you tracking your results?
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Quotable Gems
“A good writer is someone who can translate a cool idea into something you can communicate to others. This is interesting to me, now I’m going to make it interesting to you.” -Damon Lindelof
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Resolutions and Milestones
Happy 2012 everyone! Can you believe it’s January already? I have fallen off the blogging bandwagon as deadlines and bigger projects shifted my focus – and truth be told, time just got away from me. But it’s my New Year’s resolution to post regularly, sharing useful information about writing and writing-related industries. Here’s the link to Katie’s story that I promised.

Since my last visit, I spent time with my family while the boys were out of school, hubby started a new job, and I took on some new commercial clients (click the “Corporate” tab on this page for more). I am also happy to report that my professional website has been revamped to better serve the editors and clients I work with. Please take a look and let me know what you think!

I’ve established a stronger social media presence and have incorporated Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn into my every day schedule. I’ve generated client web content, done some guest blogging, and am open to suggestions of things you’d like to see here as well as the occasional guest post from some of you! I’ll also be telling you more about the Triangle Area Freelancers’ 5th annual nonfiction writers’ conference coming up on April 21. We’ve been busy putting together a great panel of presenters – details are coming soon and registration opens Feb. 1.
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R2-KT: Katie's Legacy
I recently completed a new piece for Med Monthly magazine. The story revolves around precious 6-year-old Katie Johnson who died from brain cancer – and the legacy she left behind. As a parent, I was moved by the details of her life and how she is now remembered every day through a little pink droid that gives hope to other sick children. I hope you’ll come back in August to read all about her.

 Read More: http://www.kristystevenson.com/r2-kt-katies-legacy
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My First National Clip!
I recently had my first Rapid Fire article published in Military Officer magazine. Interviewing veteran/actor JR Martinez who currently stars on daytime's All My Children, I was humbled by his story. At just 300 words or less, however, Rapid Fire pieces are quite short ... so I thought I would post my full submission before it was edited. (My editor did a great job, but I think more of JR's story needs to be heard as his ability to overcome is an inspiration.)

Here is a link to the printed piece.

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Calling All Writers...
It's that time of year again -- the TAF Conference is coming up next weekend!

Triangle Area Freelancers (TAF) presents WRITE NOW! 2011, its annual nonfiction symposium hosted by Wake Tech Community College's Northern Campus, Building D, on Saturday, April 2, from 8:00-4:00 in Raleigh, NC.

Philip Gerard, chair of the Department of Creative Writing at UNCW, will deliver the keynote address: "Cultivating the Successful Writer Within." New York literary agent Rita Rosenkranz will also discuss The Author/Agent Relationship. Conference classes, taught by nationally published writers and journalists, are presented in two concurrent tracks for both beginning and experienced writers. Online registration (which includes breakfast and lunch) is available through March 31: www.triangleareafreelancers.org/WriteNow.html.
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Quotable Gems
The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium. -Norbet Platt
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Proofreading: Always a Good Idea
Everyone knows to proofread their own work. After all, spellcheck won't catch everything. But here's another reason it's important to read things back to yourself: when you receive a proof of your work, carefully re-reading may help you reword something to provide clearer understanding.

For example, I recently received an article proof from a magazine designer. My part of the job was done -- I had researched, interviewed, written and submitted the article. Now I was proofing for typos and adding photo captions. But when I saw the finished product and re-read it aloud, I suddenly found a better way to say something I had already said. A cleaner, more succinct sentence never hurt anyone. And this was my chance to change it and make the article better.
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Blogging for Celebrities
Okay, so I'm selling some items on eBay, and this interesting ad shows up on my dashboard: "Alicia Keys is Hiring." Yeah right, sure she is. I think I'll just pack my family up and move to LA to be a personal assistant for her and her new baby daddy. But wait, it seems that Miss Keys is actually looking for a blogger ... and she's posted her needs on Monster ... who knew?

Of course when you click through, you get the "This job is no longer available" schtick. Wonder if it ever was? (Monster then wants me to look at other job openings. I need to know how they automatically know what area I live in, but can't provide me with a list of jobs that are actually in my field? But I digress...)

Would you blog for a celebrity? I'm guessing people like Britney Spears and Kate Gosselin don't really do their own blogging or website posts (read them sometime and you'll see what I mean). So they must have somebody to do it for them. Why not you or me?
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New Contests from Writer's Digest
Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards
Deadline: 11/1/2010
Writer's Digest is accepting entries in the Popular Fiction Awards. Compete and Win in All 5 Categories! The Grand Prize Winner will receive a trip to the Writer's Digest Conference in New York City, $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2011 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
http://writersdigest.com/popularfictionawards

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Writer's Digest 11th Annual Short Short Story Writing Competition
Deadline: 12/1/2010
Writer's Digest is now accepting entries in the 11th Annual Short Short Story Competition. First prize is $3,000 and a trip to the Writer's Digest Conference in New York City! Winners will appear in our June 2011 issue.
http://writersdigest.com/short

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Writer's Digest 6th Annual Poetry Awards Competition
Deadline: 12/15/2010
The 6th Annual Writer's Digest Poetry Awards is now accepting entries. First place wins $500 and a trip to the Writer's Digest Conference in New York City, plus exposure in our August 2011 issue.
http://writersdigest.com/poetryawards
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