Get Along Lil' Dogie

Many years ago in the wild, wild west of North America, the only kind of branding you would find would involve a dusty cowboy, a white-hot piece of metal and some poor unsuspecting steer.  It was a way to lay claim to what was yours and woe be to the man or beast that tried to take it from you.  Some brands were known the world over and stood for something...something honorable and it represented the integrity of the person behind the brand.

Branding today isn't very different.  We take the thing most important to us...ourselves...and put our brand on it.  We create out of thin air this entity that sometimes becomes greater than any one person and we present it to the world as worthy of ownership.  But what exactly does YOUR brand stand for?  Quality work ethic?  Integrity in your writing? Honest dealings with those around you?

It's pretty easy to create a brand in today's high tech society, but will it last?  That's the question we must ask ourselves when we are creating our "writer platform".  This is the part of branding we are presenting to the world and the foundation of who we are.  Let's make sure the brand we create is something others will want to be a part of...

The Long And Winding Road

Yesterday I received the good news I've been waiting almost a year to hear.  My poor broken house was finally getting fixed.  The battle between the insurance company and myself was over.  It had been a long, winding road to a final resolution and the only thing that helped me be successful at this endeavor was never giving up.  I also began to think that maybe this was how I should approach my writing.  

Before I teach a class each night, my students must repeat the tenets of TaeKwonDo which includes the word perseverance.  I tell them that perseverance means to never give up.  No matter how many times life comes along and knocks them down, they need to keep getting back up and keep trying.  It's the same with writing.  I started my new writing career about the same time a tree fell on my house and I had no idea both journeys would be so challenging.

A year later, after many twists and turns, I am much closer to my goal of having my home restored and one step closer to becoming a published author.  It hasn't been easy.  There was much to learn and overcome.  But I kept my eyes on the goal ahead of me.  When I thought I had no more fight within me  I turned to my friends, my family, this wonderful writing community and drew on their strength to keep me going.  I often wonder how I will ever be able to thank them for their solidarity in my time of need?

It's the reason for this blog.  To remind others...and myself...that no one ever said becoming successful at this writing thing would be easy.  The road to publication is long and winding with many stops along the way.  It can get frustrating at times and some writers may start wondering if it's even worth all the time, sweat, and tears they put into it.  I say yes.  I say keep your eyes on the goal before you and never give up.  Perseverance and success are more entwined than you might realize...