2014: Expanding My Social Media Platform

I finally took my daughter's advice. I created my first board on Pinterest (www.Pinterest.com). This social media platform serves a personalized file for media content and the content of others.
Users save individual pins to one of their own boards using the "Pin It" button. Pinboards are organized by a central topic or theme. Users personalize their experience with Pinterest by pinning items, creating boards, and interacting with other members. The users "pin feed" displays unique, personalized results. (Wikipedia  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinterest )

Many writers may feel this activity is a waste of time. The exercise of creating a board and selecting my areas of interests became a springboard (I love that word) to multiple uses and ideas on how to maximized my Pinterest experience.

First, I had to stop and think what did I want to use this tool for me personally. My daughter's words rang true in my mind, "Mom, it help you organize your research." Well, I am researching self-publishing, the 1960s: a world without much technology. I need multiple boards already, not to mention the boards for my other books in various stages of development.

Secondly, Pinterest offers writers ideas and marketing strategies for their books. Not a bad find for my first run through the applications. Now, remember like all technological platforms, Pinterest is a tool. Your key motivation is to make it easier for yourself or your readers to find you.

In November, 2013, I began posting my blog on Tumblr (www.Tumblr.com).  This website is defined by Wikipedia as a microblogging platform and social networking website founded by David Karp and owned by Yahoo! Inc. Users post multimedia and other content to a short-form blog. Users follow other users' blogs. Users also are to make their blogs private. Much of the website's features are accessed from the "dashboard" interface.  Bloggers are give multi-options to post content, media, and posts they follow. (Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumblr ) It allows uses to link posts with Twitter and Facebook accounts.  A time consuming social media maintenance plus.
Tumblr.com is easy to use. I have found an increase in my blog traffic since placing it on Tumblr.
My blog statistics have shown an increase in hits from new readers.

May: Remember Mom

Mom and Me ©

She was my touchstone, 

My shoulder to lean on, 

A lap to sit.

As a child I would play,

Running in my world with joy and abandon,

Knowing that mom would always be there.

Mom and me, Mom and me,

Forever I thought we would be.

Life goes by quickly.

It fools you. 

You think all remains the same.

I thought that Mom and me were forever.

In the kitchen we planned

The cookies we baked.

There I sat on the counter space

Pouring measured cups handed to me,

Baking together, just Mom and me.

Shopping for special dresses

We would trudge.

The dress suited for both Mom and me.

It didn’t matter if it took the entire day,

Or ran into a week, the dress had to be perfect,

For Mom and me.

Sitting at the table

Discussing the holiday menu,

The food had to be festive, joyful, and plenty.

There had to be the annual specialties

Prepared by Mom and me.

Tablecloths and napkins ironed,

China and crystal taken out,

Washed and shined.

Silver polished so brightly

The pieces reflected Mom and me.

I grew up and moved away,

Conversation continued by phone

Between Mom and me.

There were no more moments were I could touch her.

There were no more kitchen or shopping adventures.

Some days it seem that I would never feel

The warm bond of “Mom and Me.”

                                                  Then a daughter to me was sent,

As she grew, she then began to say,

“Already taken care of..."

 By Mom and Me.

Mom and Me © is an original poem written in memory of my mother Mary Wegner.  Permission to use this poem is required.