It looks like I’ve beaten my writer’s block with the post I wrote about it.

This week I’ve written two new Squidoo lenses (web pages). The first one was in response to a suggestion on Get Cracking With Bonnie and Robin to write about a specific fear so I wrote about my dental phobia. As I explain, it started when I was a child in response to something a dentist said to me and it continued for many years. It was desperation that finally led me to conquering it with the help of a very understanding, patient and sensitive dentist. You can read more about it on Fear of the Dentist.

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I guess many of us have periods when we really can’t start writing. I know I do. In fact, I’m going through that kind of period right now. I want to write on Squidoo, here on my blog and other places but can I think of anything to write about? No, I can’t.

At least recognising writer’s block finally gives me something to write about!

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We are now in the final few days of May and we really should be working hard on summer web pages for Squidoo or other web sites.

People are now thinking about their summer vacations, recipes, drinks, clothes and many other associated topics. We need to have the information ready and waiting for them now.

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Books for Research

Research of some kind is usually essential for all writers. I know that is a sweeping statement but, in my experience, it’s true.

No matter how well I know a subject, there are almost always facts that I need to check to ensure I’ve remembered them accurately. If a reader notices just one wrong fact then the rest of what you’ve written loses credibility.

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I’ve had some of my Squidoo lenses critiqued and the ones that have been most helpful are those that point out ways to improve them. The most annoying, for me, are those that say “Great lens” or “Well done.”

Conceited as I may appear, even I don’t think that my work is perfect and doesn’t need improving. In fact, there is usually something, however small, that could be improved on any web page.

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Squidoo user names, the ones that appear on every lens as well as the lensmaster’s page, can tell us something about the person behind the name.

Many people, myself included, use a nom de plume and there can be many reasons for this. When I joined Squidoo, I predominantly wrote elsewhere and I wanted to keep the two activities totally separate so I chose the name ‘Stazjia’ for my writing on Squidoo. I did, however, put my real name in my information. I didn’t feel it was absolutely imperative to conceal my identity.

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Squidoo - Why Is Your Lens Locked?

Squidoo’s forum has had several plaintive requests from lensmasters whose lenses have been locked. They ask someone to tell them why. As the lens is locked no other lensmaster can read it and give a detailed explanation. All we can say is the lens has tripped a filter or been reported for abuse and so is probably on the SquidDon’t list.

The very first thing I did before signing up for Squidoo was read their Terms of Service (TOS). It’s what I did when before I recently joined Qondio and even Facebook and Twitter. I like to know what I’m getting into. I also like to know what rights I have, to my copyright for example, and what rights the company insists on having. Make no mistake, when you join any online site, it’s their bat and their ball so they get to make the rules. You either comply or go elsewhere.

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My computer went wrong about ten two weeks ago and I didn’t get it back until Thursday last week. I hate being without a computer. I used my partner’s to check e-mail and a couple of forums but, of course, he didn’t want me spending hours on it.

When I got it back, not only was the fault fixed, it had also been upgraded and more memory added as well as having XP changed for Windows 7. I wish I was brave enough and techie enough to try Linux but I’m not so have to use Microsoft. Hopefully, Windows 7 has been out for long enough to have some of the bugs fixed although it seems that most people have found it relatively trouble free – not like Vista.

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I’m trying using Qondio for more backlinks for Squidoo lenses. I don’t know if it will work, though, because of the authentication code that has to be added to a site. I’ll let you know how I get on.

Just to get this blog authenticated, I couldn’t put the code in the HTML tab because it was automatically deleted. I succeeded in authentification by putting the code in the WSIWYG tab instead. I’ve just deleted it as I don’t need to keep it any longer.

I hope none of you are working on new Valentine’s Day lenses or web pages right now. You’ve almost certainly left it too late to get much profitable traffic this year, if you are.

Easter, though, is nine weeks away. This gives you time to get a lens or two online. You’ll have time to choose a good subject, hopefully one that puts a slightly different spin on the usual Easter eggs and little bunny rabbits. You don’t want to compete head-on with the top Easter pages, do you? Maybe you know about some Easter customs unique to your area, or your family has its own traditions or recipes for the festival.

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