Happy Summer!
Happy summer (a few days late)! Last week I was busy at the World Urban Forum here in Vancouver, which was great. It was kinda mind-boggling that I was at an UN event. Although, I have always enjoyed events with a coming together of so many people, cultures, ideas, costumes, etc.
One thing that really struck me personally was, before the opening ceremony as people were taking their seats, they showed a video of slums in India, I think it was, with no water, no sewer, etc etc. It hit me, again, how if I had been born there and assuming I actually survived my birth and beyond, there would have been no life for me, no hope. I probably would have been stuck inside a small shack, that perhaps would have been my whole life. I realized, again, how much, as a person with a disability, I have here. Although there is still a long way to go. The physical accessibility is now pretty much doable, but it is the valuing and recognizing of people with disabilities that still needs work. With our local economy the way it is, I am having a hard time believing there is not a need for computer tech support or computer instructors. Why has my husband been unemployed for two years? Surely not because of his wheels, is it? I think the next phase in this disability movement needs to be inclusion – including people with disabilities in a meaningful and productive way within the community. But, I digress. That is a whole other blog post or two.
Back to the topic at hand. With a new season brings new goals. First here’s how I did with my Spring goals:
- To have the first draft of the book completed.
I am starting to see the light at the end of tunnel; as long as it isn’t the headlight of an oncoming train, then I should be fine. I have two more chapters to write – they are in my head, I’ll simply need to write which will hopefully happen shortly, now that the World Urban Forum is over.
- To choose and set up a newsletter management service.
Done! That was fairly easy – I went with AWeber. It is so nice not having to deal with subscriptions manually. It saves so much time too!
- To expand my book update subscriber list from “an intimate number” to 500!
This is where I didn’t do so hot, although not through a lack of trying. I now realize this was an overly optimistic goal. I didn’t realize it took so much effort to have people sign up. However, I am truly grateful for the sixty-five people who have subscribed. Thank you!
Here are my goals for the Summer:
- Research my options for a self-publisher or printer and narrow my decision down to three or four choices.
- Grow my book update subscriber list to 500. (If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!)
- Finish writing a complete draft of book.
However, having stated my goals, there is a good chance my plans for the summer may change. I am one of the four finalists in the Mega Marketing Makeover Contest! The winner receives $12,000 in services to improve online marketing. This could really increase exposure of my website Books by Glenda, and thus, my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself: A Collection of Memories from a Woman Living with Cerebral Palsy. This could be a big break for publicizing my book. The winner is determined by votes, so I would like to ask you to vote for me, please. Your support would be greatly appreciated. Stay tuned for the results.
Hope you all have an enjoyable summer!
Tags: wuf, writing, cerebral palsy, marketing, summer
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