*                                 *                              *

"If my doctor told me that I had 6 months to live, I wouldn't brood.  I would just type a little faster!"  Issac Asimov

August 2008, marks my two year anniversary in writing, and I couldn't be more happy with the results over the last two years, etc.  As a matter of fact, I am astonished at how well my articles have done!

Astonishing for me, as 70+ of my 90+ articles have been published on 400+ websites; blogs and directories on the Internet!  WOW!  As you might imagine, I'm on Cloud 9 over all this, and I am so grateful to all the website owners who have published my writing pieces!  About eight of the articles are new, and I don't expect anything from them for about three months, etc. 

I don't consider myself an expert at anything, so I pretty much write on general subjects, so I'll give the reader the top five articles and how they finished the two years, etc.  (hits/views)

!) Here's the Skinny On How I Lost 40 Pounds!  This is my #1 article at both EzineArticles.com and at Authors Den, and is running away with the field at both places! (hits/views)  Amazing!
  

2) Music: The Beginning of Rock and Roll for ME (1955):  This piece took me 50 years to write, and I am glad it has done so well.  . 

3) Discrimination Against Older Workers (Ageism): Boy...if there is a surprise...it's this article!  I didn't think this piece would go anywhere!  I am elated this piece would go to the top, where I thought it would finish in the middle of the pack someplace,e tc.

4) Smoking Sucks: How I Quit Smoking:  Losing weight and quitting smoking are hot topce today, so I'm not so surprised that this piece has done will, etc.  

5) I'm Proud to be an American Veteran:  I'm very surprised that this piece has done so well, but I guess there's a little more patriotism in the country today. than there was when I was in the military during Viet Nam.  
   

"The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself."  Albert Camus

Listed below are the top five articles, which have been publsihed on the most websites, blogs and directories, etc.

1) Halloween: The Two-Headed Monster;  For the first six months after I wrote this piece, I couldn't find it published anywhere on the Internet.  And, then it caught fire, and it leads the way, having been published on 35 websites!  Amazing!  

2) Smoking Sucks: How I Quit Smoking;  This piece has been published on 26 websites.  
   

3) Sabrina: Another Smoking Casualty;  Published on 24 websites.  

4) The Seriousness of Depression;  Published on 22 websites on the Internet.

5) It's All About Making People Happy!  This piece led in publisher views for over 18 months, and has been published on 20 websites.   
   

"Anybody can make history.  Only a great man or woman can write about it."  Oscar Wilde

Starting out in August, 2006, posting my articles on an article directory is one of the best things I've ever done.  I can only speak for one article directory (EzineArticles.com) because I only have my articles posted on one directory, etc.

The reason why I think it's been so important for me, as a beginning writer...to be tested and accepted at the directory.  In other words, the writer submits the article...and it has to be approved or accepted by an editor, and, believe me, the rules are strict! 

Once the article is accepted by the editor, it can be changed or modified later, and if this happens...it still must go through the same process...be re-accepted by the editor!  This process is good for the writer...especially the beginning writer like myself...you have to be tested!   Heck...anybody can post an article on their website...big deal! 

You say you want to be a published writer?  Once you get your article accepted by the editor...now it's time to see if a website owner out there on the Internet, will consider publishing it on his or her website.  Here's where the test comes in!  Sure there is no money involved here, and this is a free content directory...but if you can't give your articles away...what makes you think you can sell them?  If you can't give your articles away...what makes you think you can sell your book?  The articles and books are written by the same person, aren't they...with the same style, right?  If you can't give your articles away, do you think you have a chance in the buyer's market?

After my first year in writing, all 61 of my articles were published on over 270 websites,  But, because of this great start, I thought I would then go into the paying markets, and bring home the bacon, etc.  But, I thought about it for a few months, and I decided not to do it.

When I was a woodcarver, I carved over 200 different pieces that satisfied me FIRST...and then I hoped the public would like my work, etc.  During this period, I participated in over 40 arts and crafts shows, all over the state of New Mexico and I sold almost everything I made.  So, I've had my share of rejection slips that i've had to eat over the years.  They don't taste good at all, etc. 

And, so it is with writing.  I write to please me FIRST...and then I hope the public likes and reads my writing pieces!  This is one reason I have stayed out of the paying markets...the stress; rejection slips; depression; poor pay; all take a toll...no thanks!  I'll stay out at least for now.  I'll see how I do in my third year!

BTW...I don't write for search engines, either!  You know...all these key words that are supposed to get you a higher ranking, etc.  I can't imagine what one of my articles would look like, if I loaded it with keywords, etc.  Sure, I pay attention to key words, and try to use them, but I write an article to please ME first! 

The most important thing to me, in posting my articles on an article directory, is to get and build a resume in writing, etc.  When I started two years ago, I had no writing credits and nothing on my writing resume!  Two years later, I have something that looks like a writing resume in writing.  (Yahoo!)

One of the most important things that a writer can derive from doing something like this is to build confidence within yourself.  My confidence right now is sky-high...and the more articles that are published...the more confidence...up...up...up!  The numbers after two years are beyond my expectations! 

I can tell the reader that I get the biggest kick out of seeing my name and articles posted around the Internet!  It gives a person a great feeling of accomplishment!  One directory has 69 of my articles; another directory has 47 articles; and still another has 36 articles...and I didn't lift a finger to place them there!  (Yahoo!)

A few of my favorite websites that have published my articles are; DR Duckie.com; Pleasure Island .com; Top Vegas Golf.com; Happy Family Tips.com; and a few of my favorites are; 

1)  Fur Fuzzies.com; Which for two years, has published my article entitled, How I Saved My Dog Daniel.  Direct link;
http://www.furfuzzies.com/HowISavedMyDogDaniel.htm

2) The Golden Age of Rock and Roll.com; For more than two years now, this website has published my article entitled, Music: The Beginning of Rock and Roll (1955)  Direct link; 
http://thegoldenageofrock.com/articles/nostalgia.html

3) Kids Peer Pressure Program.com; Article entitled, Peer Pressure...It's Everywhere!  I love what they've done with this piece.  Direct link;
http://kidspeerpressureprogram.com/

4) Get a Coder: (Article directory):  I've only signed up with one article directory, but over a dozen directries have published...in this case 71 of my articles.  What this means is more exposure for the writer.  Direct link;
http://articles.getacoder.com/author/Jerry_Aragon_p0.htm

All this is so exciting... 

"Writing is an equal opportunity tormentor."  Steve Zousmer

A writer can get so much exposure by doing it this way.  If you're looking for your 15 minutes of fame...this might be one way to get it! 

THANKS TO EVERYONE! 
(Celebrating 3 years in writing)  Since the middle of 2008 and to the present...the traffic to my writing site has quadrupled...and I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to visit my site and read my articles.  The reader, therefore, is the most important person in all this publishing process! 

*                                    *                                  *  

FREE STUFF!  (10 links to view);
Articles; humor; fillers; quotes; ideas; graphics;
Great for websites; newsletters; ezines, etc.
http://www.authorsden,com/visit/viewnews.asp?id=29439