Maria's Journal

Funny thing about New York, no matter how long one is gone it all looks the same.  Good old New York... FYI, for everyone's viewing pleasure I will be keeping a video journal of our time here in NY, so if you are so inclined, tune in to my YouTube channel to see what we're up to. http://www.youtube.com/user/MyWritingDen1 I will be recording more videos to showcase the city and places we visit, so check back often. Take care and until next time!  Maria

Family/Friends - I will be vacationing in New York the next couple of weeks, so I may not be able to blog often. Feel free to stop by my Twitter page and NEW YouTube Channel in the meantime -- details on my website @ mywritingden.net. Thanks and take care!

Family/Friends, Since becoming more active in the Social Media circle, I've been familiarizing myself the myriad of the venues available - it's actually quite mind boggling! Just a couple of days ago, I created my own YouTube channel ( http://www.youtube.com/user/MyWritingDen1 ) and was surprised at how easy it was and how much fun I had doing it. As for Twitter ( https://twitter.com/mariathewriter ), I've had the account nearly two years, but was not utilizing it.  Since December 2012 however, my followers have quadrupled and my Tweets have gone from 45 to 523 (quite a jump, ah?). Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Writing-Den/368907206455014 ) is my everyday exposure to fans and potential fans, I keep the page open all day long and post periodic updates.  LinkedIn ( www.linkedin.com/in/mariapiork ) is trailing significantly in my list of priorities but since having to deliver a presentation to the Phoenix Writer's Club on the subj...

Family/Friends - To date most of my blog had the format of an online journal and it has worked for a couple of years. Going forward however, I will be providing much more variety, things suchb as helpful hints, links to useful information, quotes, anectodes and other type of interesting information. Stay tuned :-D Be well! Maria

Family/Friends, Today Mike and I had a unique opportunity to attend a 3-hour SEO seminar.  With my new Wordpress site and Mike's ready for deployment in a week we need to learn the best way to stear traffic our way.  Tomorrow's class is Wordpress Intermediate. To anyone out there looking to launch a website I strongly recommend attending a class on SEO and  Social Media, it''ll be worth its weight in gold. Now, I need to catch up on paperwork and tend to my own social media circle Take care and be well!! Maria

Family/Friends, I spent half of my weekend and two hours yesterday talling up receipts and logging all expenses, a task I so detest.  It is done, however and now we move on to the appointment with the accountant today. Wish me luck! Until next time. Bel well...Maria

Family/Friends: Establishing new habits this week, this blog in particular >>> need to blog more often :-D  So, here I am sitting in front of my computer rattling my brain to come up with something witty, intellectual to say, but the more I think about it, the more it occurs to me that what I write doesn't always have to be funny, and remarkable, it just to be from the heart, so here it goes: Thank you to: My husband who's very supportive of my writing, wherever it may take me. My daughter who's my friend and cheerleader oh and tech support of course. My sister Alice who sent me a congratulatory text and supports my writing. My sister Cheryl whose keen interest in my writing early on encouraged me to keep putting my thoughts on paper. My sister Lucy, who has read one of my steamiest stories and provided good feedback - Lucy and I share the same passion for writing so her input is invaluable. Charisse who's a dear friend and a cheerleader. Amy who...