A Remodeling Proposal

My article about the new technology in tiles has been published online at Oregon Home at http://www.oregonhomemagazine.com/home-style/744-a-remodeling-proposal

I Have A New Service

You have a blog, but haven't posted any information in a while. You have a blog, but it's hard to find the time to post regularly. Hi! I'm Mike Landfair and I'm a professional blogger. I realize to generate traffic that supplements your marketing efforts, takes posting regularly. I currently post regularly to five blogs and have built a blog from scratch at "Home Accents Today" that received 10,000 to 12,000 visits a month.

I want you to hire me for $100 per month to post once a week on your blog, in your voice as much as possible on subjects you think would be of interest to your potential clients. In addition, I will make sure that those posts show up on Facebook and Twitter to reach a wider audience. You will be able to track visitors and their interests to see traffic grow over time.

We can use PayPal so that you are billed $100 each month. To start I need to collect information from you about you and your interests.

BTW, if your blog accepts ads, revenue from selected ads may offset my whole monthly fee. If you want to really have a successful blog, email me or call me at 503-249-7951 and let's get started.

My Mission Statement

Day Thirteen:

I have reviewed the twelve days of writing and copied passages into Word.  It seems that Financial Independence is a key as is acceptance.  Doesn't every writer want to be accepted?  Acceptance struck a chord and I looked up page 449 in the AA Bigbook:

For me, serenity began when I learned to distinguish between those things that I could change and those I could not. When I admitted that there were people, places, things, and situations over which I was totally powerless, those things began to lose their power over me. I learned that everyone has the right to make their own mistakes, and learn from them, without my interference, judgement, or assistance!

The key to my serenity is acceptance. But "acceptance" does not mean that I have to like it, condone it, or even ignore it. What it does mean is I am powerless to do anything about it... and I have to accept that fact.

I spent years trying to change things in my life over which I was powerless, but did not know it. I threatened, scolded, manipulated, coerced, pleaded, begged, pouted, bribed and generally tried everything I could to make the situation better -- only watch as things always got progressively worse.

I think initially I wanted to convince, change people's minds, but acceptance makes clear that I'm powerless over the opinions of others.  If that was my goal initially, it could get pretty frustrating.  Better to write for the joy of writing and let the writing find its readers, readers who will build a community.


The goal of Dave Trottier's Book 1 is to come up with a mission statement that is a reflection of my vision and passion.  So here it is:

I write to experience the joy of writing and connect with my readers. I get paid handsomely for my efforts.  I write stories that will entertain and influence my readers in an ethical way. I am a persistent writer who has learned that procrastination has few rewards.

Three Types Of Writing

Day Ten:

Dave Trottier in "The Freelance Writer's Bible" describes the three categories of writing as:

1. Commercial Writing - anything you write for business or an institution.  It pays the best money, BUT there is no byline
2. Traditional Writing - what we normally think of as writing; novels, magazine articles, stories, screenplays, etc.  Pay is less than Commercial Writing unless you get fame and fortune.
3. Entrepreneurial Writing - includes self-publishing. Rewards can be significant, but may require capital outlays.

Based on my values and goals Traditional Writing appeals to me and it aligns with what I want out of writing.

Tomorrow: My writing attitudes and values.

Values and Priorities

Day Nine:

Of the ten values what are five are most important and in what order?

1. financial independence
2. knowledge, wisdom
3. acceptance
4. education
5. recognition
6. Joy
7. health
8. friendship
9. serenity
10. my wife's love
11. sobriety

Of those ten the top five and the ones I am most passionate about are:

1. sobriety
2. my wife's love
3. financial independence
4. health
5. Joy

What do I want from writing Part 1?
Doing what I love and getting paid for it. That's the simple answer. I read a lot from a variety of sources and want to share that information.  Some of the information is self-help, some good advice, some weird, some just self protection or survival.

This country used to have just three TV channels and we shared a common experience when we watched.  The next morning we were all sharing about the night before's program.  We all saw the Beattles on Ed Sullivan or all saw JFK murdered.  The best example of that focus was the continuing coverage of 9/11.

Today the audience is splintered and on the internet we only tune in to news sources we agree with.  Thus we become polarized.  I'm trying to bridge that gap by encouraging my readers to share information and talk about it.  Hopefully, change minds.

Financial independence is important.  I want to make money writing and I want to write from a warm climate with my feet in the sand.  I want to share about my travels and travails and feel the joy I get when people read what I write.

What do I want from writing Part 2?
What are my top five benefits of writing for me?

1. A "community" focus on my writing
2. Getting paid for writing
3. Financial independence
4. Expressing my joy by writing
5. Influencing others in a ethical way

Tomorrow: Three categories of writing.

Inventory

Day Seven:

What was the most creative period in my life?

This is the most creative period in my life.  It started 19 years ago when I living by myself without much furniture in my apartment.  I was nearing three years sober and fell crazy in lust with a blonde.  I would come home from an AA meeting, where I would see her, and sit down at my table and write poems.  I was amazed at what came out of the end of my pen and was moved to see the reaction my poems would have on those who read my poems.  Tears would flow and it saw how powerful were the words I strung together.

I went to Open Mikes and read my poems.  Many didn't rate more than polite applause, except for one night I heard, "Now that's a poem!"  I later met and married Beverly and continued my writing even taking classes from local poet and jazz musician Doug Marx.  Those weekly immersions in poetry fed the fires.  I started blogging in 2004 and that has taken over for poetry.  I seldom write poems anymore, but continue to view the world through a poets eye.

What was the most productive period in my life?

 One of the most productive periods happened when I was a stockbroker.  There was a new local bank going public and my firm was handling the underwriting.  For weeks I phoned people encouraging them to buy stock in the offering.  I talked to 200 people a day for two weeks.  In  the end I opened over 47 accounts, had the president and officers of the bank as clients and the offering was a huge success.  Later the bank was taken over by another bank for a 200% profit to the shareholders.

When was I so involved with something that I lost track of time?

I can lose myself when I'm writing poetry or when blogging and the words just flow.  I don't get hungry, tired or thirsty in that time.  Then something magical happens and I look at what I've written and wonder where that come from.

What was the greatest inner battle?

The decision to quit smoking led to my greatest inner battle.  My craving for nicotine took over my life.  I started in college at 18 and continued on until I was 47.  I tried to quit many times, with hypnosis, with aversion therapy and with the Seventh Day Adventists Quit program.  I always failed.  Finally, I read about a seer or sensitive who could talk with those who'd passed over.  The spirit said those who had the most trouble on his side were smokers.  They still had the habit and desire, but no way to satisfy the hunger for nicotine. Again I took the Seventh Day Adventists Quit program and my last cigarette was on November 10th, 1991.  A week later, I was going crazy looking for a cigarette through co-workers desks on a Saturday.  I called a friend of mine for help.  She asked me why I wanted to quit, so I started telling her and the compulsion was lifted.  I haven't had a cigarette for 19 years.

What did I learn?  I learned to approach things "one day at a time."  To break big boulder like problems into pebbles and attack each pebble.  I learned persistence.  I learned that I couldn't quit smoking alone.  That I needed a higher power to help me.

What accomplishment am I most proud?   

I am most proud of being sober for 22 years.  Alcohol was ruining my life.  I wasn't proud of who I was or how I acted.  I had severely embarrassed myself and my friends with my drinking.  I've said I was morally and financially bankrupt when I quit on June 23, 1988.  Since then, I have found the love of my life, have regained the love of my children and have a higher power in my life.  No longer do I feel a big hole in my insides.  I am proud of the way I act and treat people.

Tomorrow - What was my bravest moment?  What was my weakest moment?

A Letter To My Children

Day Five:

Today Dave Trottier author of "The Freelance Writer's Bible" wants me to assume that I will never see My children again.  What  last words of advice would I write to them.?

Dear Gilyn and Erica,

The day we've been dreading has finally arrived.  A year ago we found out that the Mayan Prophesy of the world ending on Dec 21, 2012 was true beyond any doubt.  It was then that the Sirians made their presence known and revealed their plans to save mankind.  As we crossed the center of the Milky Way, gravity would create such tensions on the Earth that no humans could survive the earthquakes and volcanoes and violent storms.  Those who survived the  planetary disasters would not be able to feed themselves for thousands of years.


At first we heard that we would be taken from this planet and moved to Anthem in the Ophion Galaxy to start a new life.  Later we learned sadly that only those no older than 25 would be going.  Many were the unbelievers,  How could this happen?  There was, as you know, great  anger and some chose to destroy and steal.  Many realizing their end was near, chose to take their life and the lives of their families.  In the end, those of us over 25 and staying behind resigned ourselves to our fate and vowed to be the best we could be in the last days.

I want you to know how proud your mother and I are of you.  Despite all our parenting flaws, you turned out to be two fine, independent women.  Don't be sad.  We will continue to live on in a different dimension as long as you have memories of us.

As you might expect, I have some advice for your futures:

• Love yourself and love your fellow men and women.
• Live each day as if it were your last.
• Work smart
• Thank God for directing the Sirians to our planet
• Be grateful 
• Reproduce

All my love,
Dad

Freewriting

Day Three:



David Trottier writes in "The Freelance Writer's Bible" that freewriting is a method of writing without restraints that allows our subconscious to push information into our consciousness.  On pages 64-65 writing about generating ideas he tells us about freewriting:

You simply remain open with no expectation.Write whatever comes into your head., no matter how off-the-wall.  Keep writing for ten minute.  Just let whatever is inside you gush out.  Do not evaluate it or correct the spelling as you go.

 So here goes.  I'm freewriting ANND THINKING ABOUT THE MOVIE i SAW WITH MY WIFE ON sATURDAY NIGHT AFTER THE oREGON sTATE F\GAME THAT WAS SUCH A BLOWOUT BY sTANFORD.  #8 04 48 TO NOTHING.  f|dOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT THE SV\CORE WAS . iT WAS A LOSS NOW INORDER TO BECOME bOWL ELIGIBLE THEY MUST BEAT oREGON IN THE cIVIL wAR.  lIKE THAT'S GOING TOP HAPPEN!  cvRAIG AND cAROL O\PICKED US UP AND WE DROVE TO THE hOLLYWOODTHEATER .  i MENTIONED THAT WHERE WE PARKED WAS WHERE OUR FAmily lived when I was in 5th grade.  I went to Laurel \hurst that one year.  Our landlord lived across the street and one day dad was asked to help her move some furniture.  Under her bed were packages the size of bundles of money .  Dad didn;t look inside but he was sure bothered for the rest of his days that he didn't.  The moviw we saw was Tmara Drewe'  It concerned a writers colony in England where sic\x aetists went each seasi\=on to be in the compoany of this very successful wwriter.  He had published a series of fictional novels.  In the movie was a real looker, her real name is Gemma Aterton,  One i\of the first scenes is Gemma or Tamara climbing io\over a fence in cutoff denim shorts and s\\as she wak\=lks toward our group of writers we see that her very lovely cheeks are hanging down below the shrts.,  Coiurtbey Cox stoler my libido when she appeared in a movie driving a fork lift and saod "Watch our\\t I might Fork you,"  Then thet\re was Michele Pfieffer, who ne3ver returned my phomne calls.  Well anyone who \would matrry David arquette or not return my phome calls needs to be dropped in favor of Gemma.  Great movie, an indie, hasn;t made much at the boxoffice.

---

Gad!  I can't type worth s--t!  My mind was racing while I was typing and I didn't look back to correct my spelling or punctuation or to uncap the CAPS.

I think this is a great idea and will help me with a story I was trying to write.  I was trying to imagine why my character would do the things he did.  The story is based on a real life situation.  I think if I freewrite on the subject, get out of my logical brain into my right brain, I could come up with reasons for his actions.

Tomorrow I write about "my legacy."

Do you have any stories about freewriting?  Would you share them with us?

My Safe Harbor

Day Two:

Today we are asked to think of a "safe harbor." It's an imaginary or real place; "a place where you can be completely safe and relaxed."

Retreating to your safe harbor is a mental device that will calm your thinking mind and summon your subconscious mind to bring forth insights and push them into consciousness.  The truths oof your soul and the source of your creativity are inside you; they just need a way to reveal themselves.

I believe that all ideas are like radio waves outside our body in the ether that we can tap into when we know how to manipulate the figurative radio dials.  This meditative safe harbor is where I turn the dials and focus on the solution I'm seeking.

Here's my description of my safe harbor.

I'm warm, dressed lightly with nothing on my feet to bind me. I'm tan, lying in a white, woven hammock or a webbed chaise lounge and the Sea of Cortez is in front of me.  It is a peaceful ocean, no big waves, just ripples caused by a warm breeze.  The sun is low on the horizon spreading its golden rays and the birds are chittering, gently flitting from palm to waving palm. I can smell the red bouganvilla. I close my eyes remembering the view and thank my higher power for all my blessings.  My eyes well up as I'm filled with emotion.  I slow my breathing by taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling. Again and again and relax.  I'm not sleepy.  I'm aware of everything around me, yet continue to breathe and relax with my eyes closed.  I have no expectations.  I'm just being, alive and connected to all that is alive around me.  Grateful for this moment.

Tomorrow: Freewriting!

"The Freelance Writer's Bible" By David Trottier

I am following the words of author David Trottier because he has made his living as a freelance writer and writing teacher since 1988.  He may not be aware of it, but he is now my writing mentor.

I graduated from Portland State College in 1968 in Political Science and Economics.  I have no MFA and no formal education in creative writing aside from poetry classes here in Portland from Doug Marx.  I am an avid reader and have been since sixth grade when my teacher, the late Evelyn Dickson, encouraged our class to read.  Every time we read a book and completed a book report we received a gold star.  Most had enough gold stars to stretch about 12 inches along the classroom .  Robert Schuyler and I had gold stars that stretched from one corner of the classroom to the next corner.  We were always reading something.

I started blogging in 2004 with Mover Mike and added Landfair Furniture (Blog) in March, 2005.  The furniture blog was one of the first in the country to use blogging as an inexpensive marketing tool.  One day I received a call from Susan Dickenson, Retail Editor, Home Accents Today.  She wanted to know if I would like to write a blog for the online magazine.  Home Accents Today agreed to pay me $500 a month plus a share of the ad revenues if I would write a minimum of 12 posts a month.  So began The Landfair Retail Focus in July, 2007.  That blog was oriented to retailers of accessories and home accents written from a retailer's perspective.  I started with zero traffic and by the time the blog was cancelled in March, 2010, I was getting 10,000 and 12,000 visitors a month.

I miss the $500 to $600 a month.  

Trottier writes, "You are a writer if you write."  I love writing. I am constantly amazed at the magic that is picked up by my brain and flows through my fingertips onto the printed page. Now to be a successful writer, to supplement my income, Trottier asks how much time I'm willing to commit to write for the next 30 days.  I am willing to commit five hours a day, seven days a week to writing.

Then  Trottier writes, "The firstborn child of discipline is persistence. ...Persistence is more important than talent."  I believe I have proven persistence by being a prolific blogger.for over six years.

Tomorrow we discuss the "Safe Harbor."

Mike Landfair
The Freelance Writer
Follow me on Facebook at: facebook.com/mike.landfair.
Follow me on Twitter, too! https://twitter.com/#!/Movermike

My Journey Begins

Day One:

So begins my journey to become a freelance writer.  My bible is The Freelance Writer's Bible and I will begin with the first chapter and follow the suggestions seeking an income of $40,000 per year that can be earned from anywhere in the world I choose.  Hopefully, in a warm sunny climate south of the border where I can write from the edge of pool.

Mike Landfair
The Freelance Writer
Follow me on Facebook at: facebook.com/mike.landfair.
Follow me on Twitter, too! https://twitter.com/#!/Movermike