Have you really worked on networking? Really gotten serious about your contacts and your contact's contacts? Who do they know that you don't know, yet.

Think of the six degrees of separation theory. It's not who you know right now that counts but who you could get to know through your cousin Pat's hair dresser. You might have a connection to a big wig editor at Harlequin and not even know it. You won't know either, until you start networking.

Plus you can always build your network. Join relevant or related groups to whatever your area of writing is. If you write fiction find authors groups and readers groups too. If you write about squirrels join groups that go on nature walks. Not only do you have sources of information and inspiration but you have future buyers and readers too!

Be careful to keep things organized. Don't lose an important name or number or email address. Keep a contact notebook handy. Keep two even! Have one for your purse or pocket and another for your car. Wherever you would be able to get them when you need them. This is why backpacks and whopper-sized purses are really great. In spite of the teasing of your family and friends. What do they know? Are they writers of greatness?!

If you are an intrepid writer, wanting to get your feet wet, see your name in lights... well, not lights exactly. Anyway, if you would like to see something of your work added to BackWash, whether it be in a newsletter or a community, just send a note to the moderators of the community or the writer or the newsletter. Bribery is not required. Don't let them tell you otherwise.

"What's ahead of me and what's behind me are nothing compared to what's inside me." Jean Shapiro

I especially love this quote. I don't know who Jean Shapiro is, but she had this right!

Have you ever had a word processor related accident? You know, you're typing along, your thoughts are flying onto the page, you feel good about your article and you intend to save it, then... poof! It's gone. Never to be found again.

Yes, that's a word processor related accident. I just had one with this weeks newsletter. It was brilliant. You would have loved it. I made some really great points. I said things better than I have when I wrote about the topic previously. I was pleased with the article and with myself. All I had to do was spellcheck it. Simple right? Sure.

I highlighted the article and I thought I clicked the copy button. I didn't. Instead I hit paste. My whole article was gone in the click of a mouse. Replaced by an email address I had cut and pasted an hour ago. I no longer needed the email address. It would be nice if I could have my original article back. But, I do have this wonderful new topic instead.

It's not the first time this has happened. Not the same thing each time either. Not so long ago I had my article typed into one window and I meant to open a new window to check something on another site which I wanted to link to my article. But, instead of hitting the 'shift' key I got mixed up and hit the 'control' key which doesn't open a new window, it just opens the link in the current window, as usual. So my article was gone, digital dust.

If you've had any particularly ghastly word processor related accidents post them to the forums/ boards here. Share your pain. We will all moan with you. You are not the only one to face this irreversible tragedy. Besides, why should I feel stupid alone?

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." Francis Bacon

"There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion." - Francis Bacon

I feel like Dmoz has become a wasteland. My contributions there are not really appreciated and it's like a sink hole for all the time spent on it. I rejoined about a year ago because I thought I could still do some good. Now, I feel like I'm spinning my wheels and the only time anyone notices me is when they feel they have to invite me to some useless meeting about making nit picky changes to categories. Anyway, I don't really know anyone there these days. I used to have friends when it was still a community.

I think the only reason I'm still there is because I've been there so long. I don't really feel like I'm doing any good these days. I certainly know it's not appreciated.

I sent this email to someone, intending to ask about Site Gadgets only. But, as often happens other things crowd into my brain as I'm typing. Often I put them aside, make notes in NotePad or forget them 2 seconds later. But, today I wrote them and then decided to stick them here so I could remember that I actually thought them. Confused? Good, confusion is just more state of mind. At least you know you're still here.

http://www.sitegadgets.com/

Have you seen this before? It looks interesting but how free is free? If you take a look let me know what you think. I should read the fine print myself I just don't really want to enough. :) Usually I'd sign up and let the chips fall where they may. Todd (the ex) was always horrified. He read every letter of the fine print. He probably still does.

About him, it's interesting. At first I didn't think I was allowed to be mad at him. Then I felt guilty for being mad at him. Then for about a week I was furiously mad at him. Now, I'm getting over it. About time, eh? I'm still mad at him but not so mad that I want to do violence and blame him for everything. I'm going to add this to Live Journal so I can read it later when I wonder if that's what I really wrote.