A touching collection of portraits of Alzheimer’s patients.
Photographer Alex ten Napel is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this portrait photography. These images are from his project ‘Portrait – Alzheimer‘. To see Alex’s portraits click on any image. See also: Young Diplomats By Alex ten Napel Back to HOME PAGE
via The Faces Of Alzheimer’s Disease — Edge of Humanity Magazine
You’ve seen negative reviews before.
Maybe you’ve even written some.
People lamenting about poor quality in goods and services. They’re written on just about everything from hotels and restaurants to products and customer service.
Gone are the days when complaints remained quietly inside a small jurisdiction. Today if a business provides poor service or merchandise the whole world finds out along with the customer.
Likewise, good reviews are also helpful. They save time, money, and energy, which is why you consult them in advance of a purchase.
Hence today’s post.
A few months back I decided to explore freelance writing as an income. Needing information and guidance, I started searching. What I found was a vast amount of groups and websites all offering similar things.
But, the Freelance Writers Den stood out from the rest. Maybe it was the overstuffed sofa that graces the header (it reminded me of The Big Comfy Couch, a TV show my daughter used to watch.) The invitation to the right says, “Hang out, find help, earn more…”
I continued reading and learned about the site’s owner Carol Tice. As a college dropout and songwriter wannabe, Carol could be any of us. She began freelancing in 2005 and three years later started her blog Make A Living Writing. With only a few followers the goal was to help other writers by sharing her knowledge.
In a short time, Carol recognized the need for more comprehensive resources for her quickly growing community of freelancers. In 2011 she started The Freelance Writers Den.
Today, Carol earns six-figures and her blog has 15,000 followers. It was named one of the “Top 10 Blogs For Writers” for three years and won the Writer’s Digest “101 Best Websites for Writers in 2014.” The Writers Den has 1,200+ members and offers an expansive list of assets.
Carol has a no-nonsense approach and doesn’t sugar-coat the facts. Some people might not appreciate this method. But, I feel it illustrates her belief that you can find success as a freelancer if you’re willing to do the work.
Her enthusiasm and commitment are evident and she even refers to herself as the “Den Mother.”
I’ve been a member for three months and feel that the monetary investment is well worth the return. The following five reasons explain why:
Starting your own business is quite overwhelming because there’s so much to learn. It really helps when your mentor/teacher exhibits enthusiasm and a can-do attitude.
Her faith in the Den members is very inspiring to the unsure beginner. She reminds them that they don’t need a specialized degree or a background in writing, just the willingness to work hard and a desire to succeed.
Some websites go overboard with photos, vibrant colors, and too much stuff. They are visually daunting. Other sites have a more formal style and you immediately feel like you’re out of your league.
But, the Den has a homespun vibe. The uncluttered design with simple graphics and fonts has a casual, welcoming impression. A new writer feels less intimidated and more comfortable (I think it’s the couch…) 🙂
Carol’s mission is to “help as many freelance writers as possible to grow their writing income.” This is readily apparent when you scan the wealth of resources available:
These are only a few of the benefits you receive with a Den membership. The advantage here is that all of this high-quality information is conveniently organized in one spot, which saves the freelancer a lot of time!
Because various writers are at different stages in their careers, Carol offers assorted levels of instruction: beginner, intermediate and advanced. No matter where you’re at, you can benefit from the value offered in the Den.
While Carol strongly encourages members to market themselves she also offers help with job placement.
She knows through experience the low wages paid by content mills and only accepts clients who offer good wages to freelance writers. Carol encourages her students to set a higher standard for themselves.
The membership is moderately priced considering all the resources available. A 7 day trial with a money back guarantee is available. If you decide after a week that the Den isn’t for you, your money is refunded.
The subscription is month to month with no long-term commitment; you can quit anytime. Thankfully, these were the terms I was searching for.
Even if you’re not interested in freelancing you can benefit from a writers community:
Regardless of whether you want to monetize your blog or not, enhancing its quality is a goal we all share. And a writer’s group is one option that may help you achieve it.
For further information on Carol Tice’s Freelance Writers Den please click the affiliate banner in the sidebar. If you do, two things will happen:
Photo: unsplash.com
It’s better to give than receive, according to the Bible. But, that really depends on how much thought we’ve put into giving.
I’ve gotten pretty lazy over the years.
When I was younger I invested a great deal of thought and energy into gift-giving. The brainstorming began well in advance of the occasion; the Christmas lists got started right after Halloween.
When thinking about the recipient, I asked myself the following:
If I required more inspiration I’d flip through various catalogs. Remember those?
Can you imagine being a postal carrier when the J.C. Penney Spring/Summer edition came out? No need to hit the gym after delivering those hefty tomes!
Then came the shopping, which involved leaving the house. Yes, we could do mail orders either by phone or snail mail, but the latter could take up to three weeks. In those days Amazon was a river in South America and prime was a type of number.
Photo: pixabay.com
Once the purchase was made the next step was packaging. It was important to choose the appropriate gift wrap and coordinating bow. If Mom hates cats you don’t wrap her gift in kitty paper.
Then came card shopping, which could easily take an hour. I love reading them. If you lose me in a store that has a card section just head over there. That’s where you’ll find me, usually giggling hysterically.
Nowadays, things are much different. I generally give gift cards to a business or restaurant that the person patronizes. Somehow, it doesn’t seem quite as effortless (i.e. lazy) as writing a check.
It’s then tucked into a greeting card which was chosen within five minutes.
Bada-boom, all done.
So, why the drastic change in mindset? Is this a sign of aging, gift fatigue, or both?
Feeling guilty about my cavalier attitude, I decided to make some changes. After a bit of research I concluded the following:
When selecting gifts you may want to achieve a big reveal moment. This occurs when the recipient expresses a dramatic reaction, usually a result of your spending too much money.
One long-ago Christmas I came across a toy that so impressed me I just had to order it for my kids. It was unaffordable and last-minute, so I also paid extra for expedited shipping. I was convinced they would be thrilled. Their reaction to it was equal to the $20 presents under the tree. I basically spent $100 to “wow” myself.
The lesson here is to think long-term, don’t assume they’ll like it just because you do, and stay within your budget.
In addition to the wow factor, you may want to surprise them, as well. This often involves purchasing something totally unexpected and that can backfire. Their only surprise might be your odd choice in gifts. It’s safer to give something that was requested and add the element of surprise with an upgrade. (Or an add-on gift like one of those cans where the snake pops out.)
It’s okay to give everyone the same present. You don’t have to buy something different for each person. A new, exciting idea is new and exciting for everybody. Plus, you can always individualize the wrapping paper and bows!
If you receive a bottle of Cabernet and hate Cabernet, I’ll be thrilled to receive it. No questions asked. (BTW…my birthday is coming up in March…)
Photo: pixabay.com
Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we give ourselves. Give your loved one the gift of choice via a gift card and let them decide. Just be sure the gift certificate/card is to a store or business they actually shop at.
It’s also helpful to think in the short-term. Gift cards can be forgotten if not used right away. So, think about the person’s current desires. A college student needs textbooks; a crafter needs crafting supplies; a wine drinker needs wine (Cabernet…in March.)
A Journal of Consumer Research study found that while givers rate gifts on desirability, recipients rate them on feasibility.
Givers focus more on sentiment and less on practicality. Receivers would rather get items they want or need.
We devote a considerable amount of time and money throughout the year for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, showers, graduations, and Christmas.
Therefore, while you might have an idea for a great gift, the tips above could make it better…and easier!
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