You already have a blogging voice. What is it saying?

Someone asked me recently how I have been able to get so much accomplished with all the emotional distractions lately. I really think the timing of Type-A-Parent Conference was a huge blessing to me in this regard. I went in the middle of a crisis of faith, driving down there literally shaking in hurt and frustration in the middle of I-40.

What I rediscovered was my community. My passion. My voice.

I’ve written over two dozen guest posts already, all completely unique with a twist specifically for that particular audience. Some have been published (view the Ebook Guest Posts list here) and several are still pending publication. I finished my latest ebook. I redesigned Untrained Housewife. I launched a new feature on Blissfully Domestic magazine highlighting women of influence and the first interview piece goes up this week. In short…I’m on a roll!

The enthusiasm I have came directly from the hurt I felt three weeks ago when I wrote Blogging Ethics.

Here’s why:

You Cannot Speak Clearly if You’re Speaking Someone Else’s Passion

You cannot speak in your own voice if you are speaking someone else’s passion. When I was too focused on outside influences – the negative hurdles, the race someone else was running, what they chose to invest themselves in – I lost my voice. My vision.

Your Passion Shines Best When You’re True to Yourself

Someone asked me recently how I was staying so enthusiastic in my endeavors. The answer, I am realizing, is simple but profound. I love what I’m doing. I love helping others. I love empowering them to achieve their goals. THAT is my passion. When I focus THERE, the energy is natural. It’s automatic!

You Already Have a Voice

So many times we hear people say, “I’m just trying to find my voice.” Patti Digh at Type-A-Parent Conference says, “You already have a voice. The real question is, ‘What is your voice saying?‘” And that is the rub isn’t it? She challenged us to answer this question - If your voice were speaking freely, what would it say?

My realization is that my voice would say exactly what it is saying right now this second. And that place of passion is a place of power. It’s the best place to be.

You already have a blogging voice. What is it saying?

Savvy Blogging Summit 2011 has just ended and as a result, the recordings from last year’s sessions are on 50% discount between now and July 23rd. If you’ve been following blogging topics on Twitter at all, you probably follow two main hashtags: #savvyblogging and #blogchat. These are the gals behind the #savvyblogging hashtag and they are worth a listen.

I’m picking up my copy of the Savvy Blogging 2010 Summit and using the coupon code “TheSprings” which drops the price to under $50. It’s a fabulous deal for 13 sessions, plus handouts where appropriate. Not only that, but pick up your copy before July 23rd and you’ll get a bonus code to download Phil Hollows session about Email Marketing as soon as it’s available.

Yes, this is the same Phil Hollows who is the author of List Building for Bloggers ebook, and is CEO of Feedblitz. That Phil Hollows.

You can see a full list of the available sessions at Savvy Blogging Summit Recordings. As a busy mother I cannot always make it to as many conferences and I would like to go to, five a year is my maximum. So I always appreciate the ability to learn these types of things right from the comfort of my own home!

What would do if:

Someone gave you a website, but never transferred the domain name to you completely after more than one request for the authentication key. Later letting the site lapse without telling you losing all content and work on the site?

Someone took said website back for a short time, while you were on vacation, when the opportunity came up to monetize through a giveaway and twitter party. Without sharing the revenue?

Someone asked to review your ebook, using the content to successfully write an ebook, without ever crediting you in any way?

Someone stole your idea and launched a book the same month as you on the same topic?

Someone posted a blog post with your same title two days after you?

Someone launched the cover of her coming book the day after you did?

Someone bought a domain for a website with similar focus as your main blog one week after talking with you about your passionate idea?

Someone later told you on the phone it didn’t matter because “ideas aren’t trademarked and as long as the work is her original words it’s not illegal”?

Someone replaced your affiliate links with her affiliate links on a website you both worked on?

I’m not sure what you would do but blocking and unfollowing were therapeutic for me. A small amount of whining and a passive-aggressive blog post were also helpful. Creating my new to-do list and kicking butt on my new ebook project were even more helpful.

Understand this – there is definitely an ugly side. But you don’t have to fight ugly with ugly! That and there is sometimes a difference between what is illegal and what is ethical – decide whether you are willing to settle for “just legal” or if you want to have a truly clear conscience so that no one can smear your good name behind your back.

Saturday really highlighted more than anything else, how much Type-A-Mom conference offered us as a community in general, and me as a writer specifically. I found the weekend strangely validating in a way that surprised me, as I am already a fairly confident person. It was interesting to get up to share what I had to share, and there – sitting in the audience – were the people I had come to listen to and learn from what they had to share! It was like the Twilight Zone Type-A style.

Giving away the coolest organic clothing in the world. Photo by AlwaysAlli.com

The first thing that happened Saturday morning was the Boiron Mom Market. Major kudos to Boiron for seeing the power of, and supporting the creativity of, mothers in general. All the booths at the Boiron Mom Market were mom-owned, mom-run or small, mom-interest companies. Really a complete delight to see the variety that showed up to display their creativity with us.

I helped out at the KikaPaprika table where we were giving away free burnout tees – these amazing shirts that are 50% organic cotton and 50% recycled water bottles. The colors available in this style are so varied with true-shade colors that any skin tone could be paired with a shirt sure to amaze. What I love best about the entire line is how comfortable and beautiful the clothes are.

Fielding questions and comments from a very interactive audience. Photo by @Mooshindy

After helping Stacey (@ecochicdiva) with the giveaways I went immediately into my first of two sessions. Joanne (@PunditMom) and I were sharing on Understanding the Long view Payoff of Blogging and I loved how we approached that session from two very different, but equally valuable, directions.

While I’m very new to building up myself as a platform, that has been Joanne’s main focus for awhile now. Meanwhile, my original focus was on web content production and creating a long-term, steady stream of income for my family so I could be home with my children and not put them in day care. Great!

Both goals are very valid reasons to continue doing what we are doing online and it was neat to hear how we both are seeing those months of work payoff. In fact, Joanne has signed a book deal and will be releasing her book in near the end of 2010. If you aren’t following her on Twitter yet, you want to be sure to do so! I feel fortunate that @CutestKidEver took detailed notes during the session for anyone who couldn’t attend.

@WritingRoads and I chilling at the Problogging Session - pulled off a great session w/zero prep time! Photo by Kris Cain

The second session I did immediately after that was with Julie of @WritingRoads about Problogging - that is creating web content for other people. Harnessing your expertise as a web writer/blogger to do what they cannot or are not willing to do for themselves. She and I were totally on the same page in that we both feel this is a SKILL that should be paid for and compensated fairly. While our rates varied just a little bit (the cost of living in my area is much lower) they actually weren’t too far apart, and I think it probably surprised most of the people in the room that we feel confident charging that much.

Confession: Sometimes, I DON’T. I DON’T feel confident asking that price for my work. But I know in my head, even if not always in my heart, that it’s worth it. A company will spend MILLIONS on a 60 second commercial spot. I refuse to feel guilty second-guess myself about asked a few hundred for WELL-WRITTEN web content that will be with them forever. My prices reflect the level of my work. (Repeat that like a mantra if you must – My prices reflect the quality of my work….my prices reflect the quality of my work…)

The truth is if a company wants cheap content they can easily hire out $5 per article content from mills in India. How do I compete with that, do you ask? I DON’T. I don’t even TRY to put myself on that playing field because the game I am playing is so far above that it would be like asking a used car salesman for a customized Porsche. Apples – Oranges. There are companies out there who are willing to pay a FAIR price for excellent writing. Are you willing to provide it to them? (Whew! Now you guys got me preaching. Who took notes on this session and wants to write them up?)

After lunch was the Blogger Townhall Meeting where I spent much of the time chatting with @MoneywiseMoms about blogging in general, Mommy-Blogging specifically and how loosely defined it is and why some are so “protective” of the term and how I am not really, truly a “Mommy-Blogger” in the truest sense but I don’t care. I write what I write, when I write it and charge what I charge unless it’s going on one of MY websites and – well – I am totally ok with that. It was an interesting conversation.

Every conference I've ever attended w/my mom I have been "Karis' Daughter". Here she was "Angela's Mom". Cheers to tables turning! Photo by Kris Cain

Then came the Keynote address – great information – great consensus about the fact that it is ok for each of us to have unique goals, unique voices and unique methods of operation because WE ARE EACH UNIQUE.

Isn’t that the point? If I could do it exactly like you with exactly the same motivations and the same style, why would I be necessary? I wouldn’t! And that’s ok, right? Would you really want me to look just like you anyway?

Had a great time hanging out at the Wine and Cheese reception at the end, although I didn’t get to taste any of the wine everyone else raved about. I did get to sing my cool Type-A-Mom Blogging Parody. Someone let Blogher know that I’ve already started working on a Blogher rendition of R-E-S-P-E-C-T just for them so….. *grin*

I also finally met @MomSpark in person – someone I’ve greatly enjoyed tweeting with and commenting on her blog….definite plans to hook up at the zoo or something sometime. SO great to find a blogger within driving distance of where I live!

What about you guys? In what ways were you challenged at Type-A-Mom? What stood out to you as something you were glad you heard? Who were you thrilled to meet? How will your blogging and writing change as a result of what you learned?