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In the year 2008...if somebody would have told me, that back in August 2006, (when I started writing)...that 81 of my 89 articles would be published on the Internet...I would have told that person to see his or her shrink!

If somebody would have told me back in August, 2006, that my articles would be published on over 420 websites on the Internet during my first two years...I would have told that person to get his or her head examined!

If somebody would have told me back in August, 2006, that I would have over 860 "publisher views" in my first two years in writing...I would have told that person to see a psychologist!
(NOTE: A "publisher view" at the directory, is when a website owner looks at an article, and may or may not publisher it).  I would have been content with 75-100 publisher views this first two years...but over 860?  Unbelievable! 

If somebody would have told me back in August, 2006, that over a dozen directories would have my articles published.  One has 69 of my articles; another has 47 articles; another has 39 articles and so forth...I would have told that person to take their medication, and to screw their head on straight! 

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Many years ago, I was invited to join the Southwest Writers Workshop, by the then president of the organization, Eileen Stanton, who is one of New Mexico's top writer.  She has sold over 5,000 of her articles to some of the top newspapers and magizines in the country.  With over 700 members nationwide, S.W.W. has some of the most talented and accomplished writers anywhere.  Needless to say, I was flattered with the invitation. 

A few months after the invitation, and in my 40's, I completed three writing courses which included; the Writer's Digest course; the National Writers Club course; and a creative writing course at the University of New Mexico taught by Eileen Stanton.  This allowed my to improve my writing skills, and is one of the best things I have ever done for myself!

Posting my articles on an article directory, is another of the best things I have done for myself.  Before I posted my articles, I had no writing credits or resume whatsoever, etc.  In 2008, all that has changed.  This is a free content directory, and there is no money involved.

I think it is a great way for a beginning writer (like myself) to start out.  The rules are tough, and the writer has to be disciplined to meet and to follow those rules.  The writer has to get their accepted by an editor at the directory, and when a piece is modified...it also has to be re-accepted by an editor.  This is all good for the beginning writer.

I'll share with the reader my two articles that are number one in popularity and in being published on the most websites on the Internet:

Article; Halloween: The Two-Headed Monster:
This was the first article I posted on the directory in August, 2006, and I think it is one of my best pieces.  But, in its first six months of existence, I couldn't find it published anywhere on the Internet, although it had a few publisher views, etc.  Talk about frustrating...and then all of a sudden...the piece was published here and there and now it started coming alive, etc.  And, in 2008, I can proudly say that this piece is my leader and has been published on 33 websites on the Internet!  (High-fives for everyone!)

Article: Here's the Skinny On How I Lost 40 Pounds:  This is my number one article in popularity (hits/views), and is running away with the field at both EzineArticles.com (directory) and at Author's Den (writing site)  But, it didn't start out very well at all.  For the first three months, it was hopelessly stuck in the mud at the bottom of the ocean, and going nowhere!  I also think this is one of my best pieces, so I didn't know what to do.  None of the body of the article was changed during this time, but I did change the title to what it is now...and it started to move up the charts in hits/views.  In 2008, it is running away with the field, and is more that 1,800 hits/views in front of the second place article!  Amazing! 

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After my first year in writing, all 61 of my articles were published on the Internet someplace.  So, I thought I could now leave the free market and get into the paying markets, etc.  But, after considerable thought, I decided not to enter the paying markets.  As I said earlier, I was in the art and craft world, and I participated in over 40 shows all across the state.  It was during this time, that I tasted my share of rejection slips and they don't taste very good at all, etc.

And, that's probably what would happen to me if I got into the paying markets...I would eat rejection slips galore!  My articles would be under a microscope, and there would be additional stress; depression and poor pay...NO THANKS!  I would never have the success in the paying markets, that I have had in the free market.

Don't get me wrong...I think my writing could stand up to the challange, but, after heart-failure in 2006 and a pace-maker implanted in the same year, and suffering from high-blood pressure, I don't need the stress in my life!

Andy Warhol:  The famous American artist who coined the phrase, Everyone should get their 15 minutes of fame."which refers to the fleeting condition of celebrity, that attaches to an object of media attention, then passes to some new object as soon as the public attention span is exhausted."

Some people go after fame from the get-go in their artistic; business and/or political lives.  They want their faces in the camera and in the society pages of the newspaper, and agressively pursue fame!  But, not me!  The few times that my work was featured in the local newspapers and televisons...it just brought me heart-ache and and a form of resentment and jealousy from fellow employees and even from family members!  NO THANKS!

The opposite is true ...I don't want the lights shining on me.  And yes, I would like to have my articles and book do well just like the next person...but I don't want to cross the line into celebrity status.  I think being recognized out in the streets could be dangerous in this evil society we live in.  The stalkers; mis-fits; scoundrels and psyco-paths in our society.. John Lennon and President Reagen are reminders to all of us!  Where is the line crossed?  It is worth being a celebrity? 

I suppose I could lay claim to my 15 minutes of fame...but I won't, because fame has never been  important to me!  To get your "15 minutes of fame," is a relative term, and means different things to different people.  Right now, I'm just enjoying my small successes I've had in writing my first two years.

Money isn't everything!  It's the satifaction that a person gets, when one of your articles appears on the Internet, and the fact that somebody liked it.  And, there is hope on my part, that the article will make a difference in somebody's life out there!

In conclusion...I received an email recently from a fellow in Canada, and I think this sums it all up:

"I like your attitude about your writing.  You don't measure success by how much money your writing generates, but rather how many people are touched by your work."  Malcolm

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