Vacation – All I Ever Wanted
I’m giving my fingers and brain a two-week rest. On Saturday morning, at 7 am, we’ll be on the road and headed to Virginia Beach. I’ll be off the grid–no blogging, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.
My doorman, Rich, will say what he always does, “You can’t fit all that in a Prius.”
We always manage—he should’ve seen me pack all the equipment necessary for my oldest daughter’s softball team. Stuff for the beach? Pshaw.
It’s a long drive—seven hours. When I see the Chesapeake Bay Bridge I know we’re almost there.
Once that bridge is in sight, the toughest decision I’ll have to make is which bathing suit I’ll wear.
Will it be my age-appropriate one piece or tankini?
Or the bikinis that haven’t seen sunlight lately?
This year I might just wear one of those two every day. Screw it, if I look at photos when I’m eighty I’ll think I looked hot.
When I return I’ve decided to try a couple of new things. First, I’m going to change dating sites—again. It has been rather dismal on the site I’m on. As a new member on any website, the profile is pushed to the front of the line. I’ll temporarily be the Homecoming Queen, but I know how short-lived that will be.
I’m also going to visit a professional matchmaker. I think it will be interesting to see what that’s like and I think readers might enjoy it, too.
Another thing I’m going to do, when I return all beach-ified, is something I dread. I’m going to begin approaching literary agents with my book. After being rejected by ten I quit doing that two years ago and focused on writing articles and building a platform. Ten rejections seemed horrific until I read this article about Katherine Stockett. Sixty agents rejected her book, The Help, until one finally deemed it worthy. Wonder what those sixty agents are thinking now?
A month ago I attended Blog World, the world’s largest conference for bloggers. The name cracks me up and makes me think of these two.
I walked around singing, “Blog World. Blog World. Party time. Excellent.”
I wanted to find out what I was doing right, but more importantly where I could improve. I had the experts evaluate this blog in a very public workshop. It was one of five that were critiqued and it was scary. I wanted to know when I would be relevant enough to pique the interest of a literary agent. The verdict? It was time, but before I began approaching agents I needed to ask something of those who follow the blog. Here’s what they said, “You need to ask your readers to sign up and don’t be shy. You give a lot so asking for that is nothing.”
If I can approach an agent with a large number of followers it will be much easier to prove my ability to attract readers to my work. They’ll have a guarantee that people want to read what I write.
So I’m asking.
There’s a button on the right side of the blog (go ahead, look–bet you never noticed it before) that says “SPECIAL DELIVERY”. Head over there now and click so you can sign up. It just means that when I publish a new blog entry, you’ll get it delivered to your email inbox. I won’t ever use it for anything else (unless it’s to announce my book release) and wouldn’t dream of selling your information. I am currently at 100 but I’d love to come back from vacation and find 1000. Since I get 4000-6000 weekly hits to the blog, I think that’s feasible and I also agree with the experts—it isn’t too much to ask.
PLUS, it’s free and you’ll never miss a new post.
So, until we meet again in a couple of weeks, I’d like you to do one more thing for me. Turn your volume all the way up (just do it), and then click here. Dance with me. Just move a little if dancing makes you uncomfortable. I’m like that on the dance floor—shy.
A week without you, thought I’d forget. Two weeks without you and I still haven’t gotten over you yet. “Vacation”-The Go Go’s
clicked Special Delivery for you……keep up the excellent blog too!!
Thanks, Steve!
Have a lovely vacation. Don’t worry about us left behind in the dating trenches. Just make sure you don’t find Mr. Wonderful at the beach. I need to hear from you again in two weeks. I have abandonment issues and your blog reports are the only thing keeping me from eating the poison apple.
Cindy
PS: Life is short-wear the bikini!
Cindy, you make me laugh. The bikini it is!
Clicked, and yes, had not paid attention to it before now. Have fun in my great state of Va. At least you’ll have 2-digit weather next week. Love the blog.
And yes to the bikini!
Karen
Thanks, Karen!
Done, have a great vacation!
Thanks, Vicki!
Hey Melani! I hope you have a rockin’ vacash….we will all be anxious to hear of your adventures so go make some great ones. Me? My anthem unfortunately will be Bananarama and “Cruel Summer”. Looking forward to your “Special Deliveries” in two weeks!
PS. Cindy is right..life is short….wear the bikinis!
Dana
Dana, I’m feeling that same cruel summer. I think the beach will lighten the mood. Thanks!
Have a blast Melani! Clicked on Special Delivery for you.
Hurrah, Kellie!
Special Delivery=Done, Bikini=Abso-fing-lutely!
Have a Great Vacay!
Excellent! Thanks, Tracey!
Done and done! Clicked for Special Delivery and clicked and danced with glee to the GoGo’s! (my son already thinks I am nuts, so that was no big deal!)
Bikini! Others are too fuddy duddy for you, hot chick!
Have a wonderful vacation!
Kim
Kim, I love that you danced! Thanks for your wonderful comment!
Signed up – hope it helps.
I was wondering if your special delivery box might just be too cryptic – maybe a pop up or more bossy directive would be more obvious. None of my beeswax of course, keep on keeping on…
Thanks, Jackie. The guys who critiqued my blog thought what I had before “Subscribe” was the wrong word. They feel that to subscribe indicates that the person will have to pay. I came up with “Special Delivery” but I’ll try to think about something bossier. Maybe, “SIGN UP, DAMN IT! IT’S FREE!” That’s probably what I’d say if I were talking to someone. Never worry about the beeswax. I appreciate your suggestion.
Enjoy your vacation on the dark side of the moon. We’ll miss you. I, too subscribed to ‘special delivery.’ Congrats on the naming. Whoever is advising you is correct. ‘Subscribe,’ is not near as good. Damn semantics. Plus… you’ve given me the confidence to look for the American Flag Speedo swimsuit I could wear with pride in 1976. (I’m just kidding of course. It would be a horror show of unknown proportions.)
Steve, if you find that Mark Spitz swimsuit and wear it you must send me a photo! Rock it, go ahead! Thanks for making me laugh this morning!
I’m already subscribed to the RSS feed and read it every time, does that count as a subscriber for you?
Emily, yes it does! Thanks!
Sitting in Dublin airport, two weeks off the grid and now couldn’t wait to read your posts. Happy Holiday. And submit…it only takes one yes. Best.
Thanks, Judy! I am dying to see Ireland.
Come home already!
I know! It feels like I’ve been gone FOREVER! Thanks, Rebecca.
subscribed, danced, and as usual laughed…hope it’s been a wonderful trip and break. We all clearly miss you!
Jill xo
Thanks, Jill!
I have been wanting to sign up for an RSS feed for your blog for months! Never would have thought it would be hidden behind a link called “special delivery” – you might consider adding the RSS icon along with fb, twitter, etc. (Sorry, I do usability research for a living, so couldn’t help sticking in my 2cents.) Will sign up right now (and then wait patiently while you relax).
Thanks, Elizabeth. It actually was at first a button that said “Subscribe” but I was told that would lead the reader to think they had to pay for the subscription. I will see what I can do to add the RSS icon. Thanks again.
Hi Mel! Glad you had a great vacation. Missed your blog & tweets. Happy to have you back. Hope your tans lines last until Labor Day.
This is my vacation song. 55,976,963 views can’t be wrong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFzyYYZsxGc
Thanks, Susan. Loved your vacation song!