Webinars aren’t new. They’ve been around for quite sometime, but has any one else noticed the number of free webinars available has skyrocketed in the past year?

I have. Personally, I think it is phenomenal {but I am also a raging nerd}. Not all webinars being offered are worthy of your time, but I’ve been surprised by quite a few lil gems out there. I’ve created a public calendar of useful mass communication events {including quite a few webinars} at my work, Iona College’s Department of Mass Communication. My thought behind this project is that there are so many great things happening in the mass comm field that could expand the students’ working knowledge of communications. Sometimes the issue is just knowing about the event before it takes place.

Being a grad student gearing up for the pretty serious task of searching for a “real” job once I graduate at the end of this summer, I wonder–Should I be keeping track of the webinars I “attend?”

I haven’t done much research on this thought, but I think it IS useful to keep track of the webinars you “attend.” It shows that you are genuinely interested in your work and are doing something to make yourself a more effective communicator.

In this job market, it is important to do anything you possibly can to set yourself away from the pack. What makes you better than all your peers with the same exact degree as you? Your desire to grow, evolve and stay up to date in an ever advancing industry. So continue to educate yourself. This gives employers insight to the type of employee you will be–ever improving.

Webinars are uber convenient, you can find them on just about any topic that interests you, and plenty of them are free {So there isn’t any excuse not to take advantage of them!!}. More often than not if you can’t “attend” the original event, those that register get a link to view it later. Again, convenient!

Most recently, I got word that PRSA is offering 30 free webinars to members this coming January 2012.

An avid PRSA fan and webinar enthusiast–this nerd thinks Christmas is coming in January this time around!

What do you think-Is there value in getting involved and tracking webinars?

Heard of any great webinars recently?

Why: Living with a boyfriend means your library doubles in size in just one day! Among the graphic novels and super hero comics I found this fat little book. I knew the name, knew it was a classic and knew I needed something to read so I picked it up.

Thoughts: I’m reading chapter 4 now so I’m not far-page 70. To be honest, during the first three chapters I had no freaking idea what was going on or why Dostoevsky was writing about certain things. I’m starting to see the beginning of a plot.

Have you read C&P?

Is it a yay or nay, in your opinion?

So I have an obsession with goal-setting. Unfortunately, I set too many goals and don’t allow myself the time necessary to follow through. It also happens that I get over excited and begin to branch that goal into 87 different directions at once and lose focus. The good news is I won’t ever stop setting goals. I’d like to think that the more goals I set, the more I’ll eventually accomplish. So I’ll keep throwing them out there and eventually I’ll have a few success stories {Yes? No?}.

You might remember I attempted a blog challenge a while back {that right there may be an example of the goal gone  in 87 different directions and then flop like a dead fish}. My first prompt was about goal setting. I consider all those goals reached actually {with the exception of getting into better shape…yup, shut up}

Anyways…I have goals on the mind. Here are two:

1. Organize this whole blogging thing: I created a Tumblr {It’s basically the cool thing to do. You should do it too & then we can be Tumblr frands} so now this is the fun, relaxed, post-what-I-want-when-I-want blog. My Tumblr is focused on public relations, social media, communications and the like. Notice the new tab–My PR Playground.

This is actually why I decided to post here–No more pressure on this blog to be insanely professional. I can just be the everyday Sarah {#NerdAlert}.

2. Yesterday I watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, a documentary about juicing. First, I need to encourage everyone to check it out. After watching this movie, I want nothing more than to do a juice cleanse for 10 to 15 days {SO BAD!}. The only thing holding me back is the insane prices of juicers. $400 for a juicer…I just can’t commit.

3.Update my portfolio: Keep your eye out for an updated portfolio. It has to happen.

Anyways, I just sort of felt I had to reintroduce myself after that little hiatus.

About a year ago, I decided I needed a personal project.

I needed a project that I could dive into and have fun working on all the while moving me forward in the world. What could I possibly do to satisfy these needs?

Being in public relations, I hear two pieces of advice time and time again. “Network! Network! Network! Network!”  {People will scream this at your face countless times.} The second piece of advice you often hear is that your name is your biggest asset.{You are your reputation after all.}

I pondered and pondered this advice {insert Jeopardy theme here}. How could I, a somewhat shy girl with no contacts in the area at all, build a reputation and a network at the same time?

Epiphany! I needed to get involved with social media. Knowing no more than how to update my status, I set the goal of teaching myself  how to use social media to network and to build and monitor my personal reputation. {Today, I’m at the point where typing ‘social media’ without inserting the #, capitalizing and smushing the words together is simply unnatural. Thank you #Twitter! Sorry, I couldn’t help myself!}

I started off by creating a Twitter account. For days, I sat following people, {PR folks in particular,} who I wanted to be like. I came across the industry leaders and influencers who had thousands upon thousands of followers. I sat back observing for a bit. What was it that made these people more successful than others?

Dedication.

These people are dedicated to PR, dedicated to being consistent, dedicated to quality content, dedicated to helping others, dedicated to being the best they could be. Dedicated. Dedicated. Dedicated. Got it? Good!

I was (and still am) dedicated to my project; dedicated to learning the strategy behind social media; dedicated to producing results; but most importantly I found I’m dedicated to sharing what I learned with others so that they may benefit as I have. So, I suppose I’ve found myself here, in the midst of phase two of my social media project: share the wealth of knowledge I’ve gained from dedicating myself to learning social media.

Lesson number one: Get dedicated. Dedicated. Dedicated. DEAD-I-KATE-DEAD. Now I know you got it!

If you are willing to dedicate your time and efforts to moving yourself forward, whether it be within the mass communication fields, career advancement or just as a way to build your personal brand I can promise, you will get results. I mean, think about it. Isn’t the trick to being successful in all areas of life about dedicating yourself to whatever it is your wishing to achieve? I think yes.

Won’t you join me as I share my personal tips & tricks to mastering #SocialMedia?

What are some of you goals you’d like help on?

via StumbleUpon

We’ve already determined a character needs to have a driving force–a desire. They must also be able to come across as relatable and multidimensional. Now we are focusing on a character’s ability to change. As Reissenweber points out, it is almost essential that the main character have the ability to change and evolve.

“Just as the desire of a main character drives the story, the character’s change is often the story’s culmination. While a main character usually does change to some degree, either dramatically or in the more gentle form of a realization, this does not mean your character actually has to make a change at the end of thee story or that the change has to be whole and complete.”

The reader should be able to feel the character has the ability to undergo change, however. You don’t want the character to feel predictable.

Your Turn:

Return to the character for whom you have created a desire and contrasting traits. Time to bring this person to life. Write a passage where this character is pursuing his or her desire in some way. For example, perhaps the actress is traveling to an audition to which she was not invited. (Oh, yes, it’ll help tremendously if you put some obstacles in the character’s path.) You don’t have to bring this “quest” to a conclusion, but have something happen that allows both contrasting traits to emerge and also try to include some hint that the character is capable of change. That’s a lot of juggling, so don’t worry if it comes out  a little clumsy. 

You’ll have to wait for the next post to read my passage {is it killing you?!}!

Write a passage with me!

What obstacles will your character face that show them to be dimensional with the ability to change?

Credit via Google Images

“Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change – this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress.” Bruce Barton

“It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.”  C.S. Lewis

I’ve been working on a little blog PR with 20SB. They host these huge Blog Swaps where you are given a partner and post on eachother’s blogs. It is a great way to reach readers you may have never reached before.

This blog swap’s topic was summertime. Without further ado here is a lovely summertime poem by Neha…

I am home

A fairy tale came sat by me

tonight she helps me sleep
Weaving intricate designs to be
Patterns of shared memories

Sparkling chandelier glows in dark
Rusty strings come alive
Casting spells of loves to come
Just like bitter sweet strawberries

Smells of fields and sounds of forest
Painted skies and the man on moon
Shimmering stars and distant lights
Whisper my name, welcome me home

Yes I am home
Tonight I am free
From nightmares that claimed me…..

Credit

Is that the truth or is that the truth?!?!

Think about it. When a character isn’t being bad, he’s doing the things you and I do. Right? He/she is watching TV, eating dinner or grocery shopping for the week. Just because a character may be a villain doesn’t mean they need to be evil every second. Maybe they are even helping their neighbor with a lofty weekend project? Like us, real-life breathing humans, characters should be dimensional.

Your Turn:

Recall the worst person you’ve ever met. A psychotic boss, a back-stabbing friend, a playground bully. Or make someone up. Next, assign one redeeming quality to this character–kindness, courtesy, sympathy, a fondness for animals. Then write a passage with this person in action. Perhaps you show a sadistic ex-spouse helping a homeless person find shelter, or a bank robber arranging a baby sitter on behalf of a woman he’s just tied up. The result? A fully dimensional villain.

 

She stepped out of the shower and wrapped a bath towel around her. She grabbed a smaller towel for her head. She flipped her head upside down and looked at the dirty blonde hair that had fallen in front of her eyes. It was getting longer than she usually wore it. Though she loved the way the longer hair fell around her face and sometimes in front of her eyes, she wasn’t about to compromise her work for a moment of feeling sexy. Longer hairs, at least in her mind, were easier to spot. She had to remember to get it cut soon.

She twirled the towel around her forehead and balanced it on top of her head. She grabbed the gallon of bleach from beneath the bathroom sink. She quickly splashed the bleach around the walls of the shower and let it pool in the bottom of the tub.

“I’ll have to come back and do a more thorough job, but for now, it’ll work.” She thought to herself. “I have to be seen.”

Credit

The woman walked down the hall to her bedroom. She quickly dressed in a clean flowing long skirt and a plain tight tank top. Within 10 minutes she had blow-dried her hair, dressed and put on a quick layer of make up. Walking out her front door, the woman took a deep breath of the summer air. She was hit with the scents of fresh-cut grass and the flowers that grew in her front yard, it was sweet and made her feel grateful to be alive. Though the scent did not feel as empowering as the metallic scent she smelled just 20 minutes before, she felt so electric.

But that is how she always felt after taking another’s life away. Alive.

Walking down the street, she peered at her reflection in a neighbor’s massive bay window. She was tall and thin, but extremely strong. She looked great. She looked powerful. She looked confident. She wore a smile as she waved to Mr. Perry who was watering his flower beds across the street.

“How are you Mr. Perry?” She yelled across the street, waving.

“Just fine, dear. How are you? Water tank holding up?” He asked. A week ago she was having difficulty with her hot water and had asked him to come take a look at it. Mr. Perry was always working on his house. He was known in the neighborhood as the handiest man around. He was miraculously able to get it to function for a few days longer, but urged her to begin looking for a new one.

“Oh, well, I took your advice. Put an order in yesterday for a new one. Thanks again for all your help, Mr. Perry. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” She replied with a gracious smile and she kept walking. She waved once again saying goodbye for now.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Hopefully, this one will last longer and don’t mention it dear. Anytime, you just give me a call.” He smiled his sweet smile and waved goodbye. In fact, she didn’t mind having to replace the hot water tank at all. Hot water tanks hid bodies well if even for a few hours.

She walked until she was in town. She stopped at the Centre Cafe where she bought herself a bowl of oatmeal with a dab of molasses and a small chai tea. She chatted with the ladies from the neighborhood for about an hour. Then made up her mind to head over to Memoirs Antiques with her neighbor and good friend, Polly, who had hung out in the cafe all morning. They strolled over to the shop to look at all the old items that held, what the woman liked to think of as mysterious memories.

“I love to look at all these vintage pieces and think about the stories they tell. Just think about the people who once loved this little wooden doll. Some little girl probably had the fondest memories about this little baby.” The woman said to her friend.

“Oh, I know. Isn’t it just nice to fantasize. Sometimes I creates elaborate stories in my head.” Polly said as she turned over a tiny plate in her hand. “Like look at this! Apparently, this china goes back to the Civil War.  Imagine the owner of a giant plantation eating breakfast off of this as they hear gunshots in the distance.” Polly said with wonder. 

She smiled at Polly with sincere affection walking over to take a better look at the china from the Civil War.  

The women continued to look through the store building elaborate stories for the antique treasures for another 40 minutes before leaving. The woman said goodbye to her friend, lying that she had a hair appointment to make. With a quick kiss and a hug, she promised to call tomorrow morning to set up a brunch date.

Though not sure what her next step was, she decided a hair appointment was a good enough lie and it gave her something to do. The woman headed over to the salon to see if they could fit her in. It never took long to cut her hair since it was already pretty short to begin with. On her walk over, she stopped for a second to look at herself in a store front window. Did she need a wash? She had just washed it a couple of hours ago. But she might as well. It would give her more of an opportunity to be seen and remembered. She looked at herself for another second thinking she was glowing with a radiance no one could understand. It was as if the sun was only shining on her. She felt electric once again.

After her wash and cut, she walked the two blocks to the market to pick up some dinner and a few items for tomorrow. She decided she would have Polly over to her house for brunch tomorrow. That would be nice. To cook for a close friend and catch up on all the neighborhood gossip.

So there is my piece…I tried to make it a bit more subtle than the prompt suggested. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. It’s just a passage so there isn’t any plot–conflict, problem, climax, resolution all that good junk. The woman is a narcissist and a murderer, but yet friendly. I’m still developing her, but I want her to be a murderer (not good), but her victims themselves are not going to be fundamentally good. Does that make her relatable? We shall see.

Create a villain with me!
What sort of average human traits would you make your character have?

◊♦◊♦◊♦◊♦ ◊♦◊♦ ◊♦◊♦ ◊♦◊♦ ◊♦◊♦ ◊♦◊♦ ◊♦◊♦ ◊♦◊♦

This post is part of my creative writing experiment that will get me writing more often and more creatively. All excerpts and “Your Turn” prompts are from the Gotham Writers’ Workshop Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide From New York’s Acclaimed Creative Writing School. As I write my way through this book, I welcome all constructive criticism, suggestions, advice and comments.