Asking (BOTB)(#AtoZChallenge)(#IWSG)

 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

       Opening day for the greatest blogging event of the year is finally here!    And so begins the 2015 edition of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (follow the link to learn more).  If you still would like to jump in to join us click here--the Linky List will remain open until  Thursday night April 2nd).

 Insecure Writer's Support Group

     And this being the first Wednesday of the month it's also time for Alex J Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group where writers convene to discuss what's on their minds.  You can find that list at this link.


Battle of the Bands

     Then it being April 1st it's also the first monthly installment of the Battle of the Bands blog event founded by Stephen T McCarthy and Faraway Eyes.  On the 1st and 15th of each month several bloggers post two versions of one song in order for their readers to vote for their favorite.  After you've voted on your favorite of the two selections I've offered, please visit the participants who are listed at the end of this post to vote on their Battles.

Ask Arlee  

       If this all sounds like the perfect storm of blogging, well never fear Arlee's got it under control! Ironically Wednesdays are also "Ask Arlee" day and "Asking" is not only the first element of blogging that I want to discuss, but an important insecurity that many of us face.

Asking

       Who hasn't had some fear of asking a stupid question?  No sincere question is stupid. Whether it's to have something repeated because you missed it or to have it explained because you didn't understand, knowing is better than screwing up royally later because you don't know.

        You can learn much from asking.  Research is excellent and often necessary, but asking someone who knows can save time and create bonds with others.  Of course, we shouldn't absolutely take every answer we get without checking when there is doubt, but some answers can stand on their own.

        Asking is an important--a vital--part of communication.  Posing questions stimulates discussions.  Requesting assistance can help you get better results and make your life easier.  This latter point is especially true in marketing.  Since word of mouth gets buzz going about your product, it's better to delegate the job and ask others to help you spread the word.   Ask and you will receive--and even if some people can't help, you can find somebody who will.  But you might have to ask first.

        When composing a blog post it's best to include a few questions along the way.  A blog title in the form of a question is an excellent way to attract readers as most people enjoy answering questions or seeing what the answers are.  I like to close my blog posts with a few questions in order to better encourage comments.

        Questions in blog posts can be used in many ways and they are important for you to consider.  If you aren't taking advantage of asking readers anything then you are essentially telling them that you want to do all the talking and you don't care what they think.  Now, that may not be exactly true in every case, but think about it.  When someone asks you for some feedback don't you feel a little more invested in the conversation?

         Remember that blogging is social media and social implies interaction.  Asking readers what they think about what you are saying in a post is kind of sociable, don't you think so?   And it's not just about what readers think.  You can ask them to come back to your blog, go to a guest post you're doing, go read another blogger, join you in an event, or even buy your book (just please ask tactfully and not overdo it too much).   Ask anything that makes sense.  Asking does get results.

"Ask Me No Questions"

        This conflicts the advice I've given above, but the song is talking about the sometimes irrational state of love.  I guess there are some things we shouldn't ask.  These two song versions were recorded about a decade apart.  They sound fairly similar since the song's co-writer Debbi Peterson is vocalist on both though performing in different groups in each version.  This is a lovely song with a sound that is reminiscent of the early Beatles and other groups of that era.

The Bangles "Ask Me No Questions" (2003)



Kindred Spirit "Ask Me No Questions" (1994)


Time to Vote!

     Which do you prefer?    It's up to you to determine the winner.   Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the one you chose.  Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around.   And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.

Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ 

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Book Lover

This Belle Rocks

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

Results on Wednesday April 8th

       There will be daily posts at Tossing It Out throughout the month of April for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge so please try to stop as often as you are able to keep up with my "Elements of Blogging" posts.   Do come back next Wednesday April 8th though if you want to see which song version came out on top.

        Do you feel awkward or afraid to ask questions?    Do you mind asking others for help or to do you a favor?    Where do you usually go when you don't understand something or need answers?

      

Related articles

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• About the "A to Z" Challenge...
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The Creeping Presence Crawling Toward Us

Night of the Living Dead-1 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

        It's coming.   There's a presence all around us taking control of the minds and bodies of bloggers everywhere.   To some it's a horror sucking innocents into its hungry maw.  Those who fear or even hate this thing may scream in futile horror, but their cries are barely heard as those of us who have been possessed by the monster smile, laugh, and chide those bitching moaning tormented souls.

         There is no stopping it--indeed, us.  We are upon you.  We are everywhere.  We are that damnable nightmare...

The Month of the Living Blogging from A to Z April Challenge!!!

        If you are not a part of the movement then you might be eaten alive or merely pummeled  and left by the internet roadside.   Don't resist us!   Look into our bloggy eyes and become one of us.  You can blog through the alphabet in April.   Don't succumb to that flimsy lie that you can't.  You can try to run.  You can pretend you're too busy writing.  Forget it!  You cannot hide from us.  You must join the A to Z Challenge!

        You must!  You must sign up!  Go to A to Z Sign-up list now!  Add your blog!   Add your blog!

       

Go Ahead and Ask Me Anything!

         If you've been visiting the Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog--which of course you should be--you may have seen our co-hosts introducing themselves and fielding questions that have been put to them.   My day is coming up and it seems only appropriate to come on "A as in Arlee Bird Day" on April 1st--opening day of the Challenge. 

         Go ahead and ask me a question today in the comment section and I might choose your question for my A to Z Blog "Meet Your Co-hosts" post.  Don't be shy.  And if I don't use your question on my A to Z Blog post I can still use it in a future "Ask Arlee" post at Tossing It Out.

A to Z Starts Next Week!

        Can you believe that it's here again.  Wednesday April 1st marks the opening of the 6th Annual A to Z April Challenge.  There will be a lot going on that day, but I hope you'll be visiting my blog for a truly epic post of 4 EVENTS IN ONE POST and it will even be a relatively short post.  Nothing like it has been seen before!

          Yes, step right up to see me, Arlee Bird, worthily submit a combined post that will encompass the A to Z Challenge Opening Day, the Insecure Writer's Support  Group, Ask Arlee, and a Battle of the Bands post that will be related to everything else.  I may even be standing on my head and juggling at the same time.   You won't believe your eyes and ears, ladies and gentlemen and bloggers everywhere.

         That's right here next Wednesday April 1st at Tossing It Out.

And That's Not All!

        No, I will not be just piddling away at this blog Tossing It Out where my April theme will be "Elements of Blogging".   I have four other blogs with the tied in themes of:

 Elements of Memoir

Elements of Dreams

Elements of Existence

      Yes siree!   Four blogs with almost as many elements as the Periodic Table of the Elements and a darn sight more fun.  Don't miss a day or you'll miss a day.   And you wouldn't want to miss a day would you?

          What would you like to know about Arlee Bird that I haven't blabbed already in one of my many blabby blog posts?    Have I convinced you to sign up if you weren't already on the A to Z list?  Can you name all of the elements on the Periodic Table without looking?

Ask Arlee & Battle of the Bands Winner

 Needed for inforbox User:Titodutta/userboxes/Busy Wikipedia Editor
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

         I'm still taking questions for my occasional "Ask Arlee" feature here on Tossing It Out.   If you have a question you'd like to pose to me then leave it in the comment section.   I still have plenty of questions from previous calls, but it's nice to get some interesting new ones.

         The question I'm addressing in this post comes from Buck at Buck Inspire.
     

bucksaver said... ...Arlee, "How do you keep blogging when your schedule gets busier than normal?" Thanks!
February 25, 2013 

           That's a question that many of us struggle with and something I touched on in my previous post.   Many of us have busy enough lives without adding social media into the mix.  Blogging is often just a part of a social media regimen that can suck up hours if we don't keep things in check.  If you're like me you probably go beyond the time you intend to spend on activities such as blogging and other social interactions.

            It all has to come down to priorities.  To me family matters have to come first--these are the people who mean a great deal to me and the ones I deal with directly on a regular basis.   Blogging has its place in my life and there are a few approaches I use to make blogging fit more easily into my regular schedule even if busier than normal.

             Here are some of my suggestions:

• Write posts in advance as much as you are able.  
• Keep a few non-time-sensitive posts in reserve in case you have to throw something up quickly.
• Maintain a list of blog post ideas that will help you compose posts more quickly.   A brief outline or list of discussion points for each topic can help greatly.
• If you are overwhelmed in your schedule, write short posts.   Avoid trivialities as much as you can so your readers can still feel rewarded or have something they can relate to.
• Avoid posts that require a lot of research and searching for links to add.
• Write about personal topics that can be composed quickly, but still be of interest to many readers.
• Sometimes you might have to cut back on visiting other blogs.  This may cut down on the comments on your own blog, but there's only so much time in each day.  You can't spend what you don't have without having to pay for it later and time cannot be recouped.

       Yeah, I might be stating the obvious here, but if this helps someone then it's worth my time to put it up in this post.

We Have a BOTB Winner!

          My last Battle of the Bands installment pitted the original version of "It's My Life" by Talk Talk against the remake by Gwen Stefani and No Doubt.  Both versions are quite good and the voting outcome bears this out.

           It was another close one.

           I think the remake is excellent.   I had heard Stefani's version recently as part of the piped in music line-up in some business establishment I was visiting.   Not knowing who it was, but recognizing the song, I researched it on Google and decided this might be a pretty good Battle match-up.

            There's nothing wrong with Stefani's version of "It's My Life"--it rocks--however I still prefer the original sound of Talk Talk's version of the song.  That's where my vote goes--Talk Talk.   Still it was not enough to bring them a win.   No Doubt nudged ahead for the victory.

Final Outcome:

 Talk Talk             15

Gwen Stefani and No Doubt   16

Stay Tuned for the Next Battle

        On Wednesday October 15th I'll have another one of those Battles that may provoke some controversy.   It's a weird one, but Halloween is coming soon and it's a time to be weird.

        How do you find time to social network without interfering with the other aspects of your life?   Have you cut back on blogging activities?   Do you have any suggestions for finding more time for blogging?

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#IWSG: Ask Arlee: Getting Off a Plane in Flight

      Sometimes I get a bit insecure about how quickly time seems to pass.  Can you believe another summer is almost over and it's already August?   In addition to that, today is the first Wednesday in August and that means it's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post.   Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for hosting #IWSG every month.  Be sure to visit his site for more information.

Ask Arlee: 
 How do I get off when I've already started?

        Periodically I present my Ask Arlee feature in which I answer questions submitted by readers.   If you have a question you'd like me to explore, please include it in the comments and I'll try to take a stab at it in some future Ask Arlee post.  

         Today's question comes from Gregg Metcalf who asks:

The problem I would like solved is how do I get off a non-stop flight?

February 25, 2013 

        Now, of course, I realize that Gregg was just jesting a bit, but he does raise an interesting question with #IWSG implications.  Maybe I'm finding metaphorical meaning wherever I can, but that's part of what writing is all about isn't it?

         Once you're on the plane there's no getting off.  The airlines are not in the habit of handing out parachutes to disgruntled passengers.   However if you're in the middle of a novel and decide you want to bail out then that's doable.  Would you want to though?   If you've conjured the dream and started putting the effort to put that dream into written form, it can be difficult to leave the work behind.  Then again, if you no longer believe in what you're doing, maybe jumping ship is the right thing to do before you keep investing in a sinking vessel.

          I have several works that I've put on hold for one reason or another.  I'm not quite ready to bail on any of them, but I can't bring myself to finish either.  Yeah, I know a lot of solutions, the main one being "just do it!", but--well, I don't know.  Excuses, excuses--and none of them really very good.

          When I set out on my current vacation I had travel options open to me, one being travel by air.  I didn't like that option because it's too darn confining and rigid.  A road trip gives me flexibility and lets me travel at my own pace.  I don't have to worry about getting off of the non-stop flight because I can stop all that I like.  And I can combine multiple trips with different endpoints.   Roadtripping is fun because it provides more freedom.

           The bottom line is that writing is like taking a road trip.   You follow the journey for as long as you like and map the route out as whim takes you.  Sure there are always some confining factors to consider, but if you're the driver (or the trip planner) you are limited by your means and dreams.

          My writing dream is infinite, but eventually I'm going to have to take one of my projects home.  Wandering in the desert for forty years like the Israelites looking for the Promised Land seems to be part of my nature.  But I know it's time to go home.

           Now to figure out which home to go to and how I'm going to get there.  

          

         Battle of the Bands

        My previous Battle of the Bands results will be posted this Friday August 8th.   If you haven't voted yet you can do so until Thursday (August 7th) afternoon.   Please visit my Battle between two versions of an ethereal jazz tune.  To vote on this click here.

          Do you have a problem finishing projects?  Do you tend to have more than one project going at the same time?   When traveling do you prefer flying or driving?    Why?

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What Is The Ultimate Melody?

Personal preference (Photo credit: kevin dooley)

        In my previous Battle of the Bands post I presented a song based on a movement of a string quartet by classical composer Alexander Borodin.   I purposely resorted to using a classical piece with two more poppish versions of the same melody.  I was pleasantly surprised to see some preference for the original version, but as expected many voters were not overly excited about classical music.

Ask Arlee:

        A frequent commenter at Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends and sometimes commenter at Tossing It Out, one who goes by the name "Sheboyganboy Six", posed this question to me:

 What do you think, Arlee? Is there a musical style that you can think of that makes you feel noble?

        This is an interesting way to think of how music might affect me. If I think of "noble" in the sense of an upright feeling evoked by  that which is of lofty nature with higher ideals and greater intellectual value, then generally speaking classical would be that music.  Most other forms of music--rock, jazz, country, etc--appeal firstly to our more physical nature and might be more apt to relate to the rootsy aspects of humanness. That is not to say any of these styles cannot touch us on a higher intellectual, emotional, and spiritual plane.  There are rock songs, country songs, works of jazz, and other music that I've heard that elevates me in some special way, but as a rule the more popular music styles would not elicit any feeling within me that I would call "noble".   Keep in mind that I am generalizing not only popular musical forms, but also classical music--I don't consider all "classical" music especially "good" or at least not all of it appeals to me.

"The Ultimate Melody" by Arthur C. Clarke

        In the same comment where Sheboyganboy Six posed the above question, he introduced me to a science fiction short story by Arthur C. Clarke.  You can find this story at The Ultimate Melody if you might like to read it--the story is very short (scroll down to about page 24).  The story is about a scientist who is considering what it is that makes a song become popular and speculates what might happen if the one perfect song were ever to be discovered.

          So much music now seems almost manufactured as though it had been composed by a computer program  I suppose there is some music that actually has been computer generated.  Is this music good?   Has music become better with computer enhancement?   Where might we be headed with music in the future?

How Does Musical Preference Come About?

          The question of why people like the music they like is huge--much bigger than can be fit into one blog post.  Instead of trying to answer this question with my inadequate research, I will offer some basic premises based on what some of you have said and what I have surmised based on my own observations.  For some of you I am probably stating the obvious, but this list is a place to begin:

• Cultural--We will be typically inclined to prefer music of our cultural heritage and ethnicity, or at least have a sentimental attachment to it.
• Regional or Geographical--A good many Americans from the South might prefer country while people from urban areas might prefer urban, club, or jazz.  Or certain areas of South America will have specific musical styles.   This is generally true in many parts of the world.
• Musical upbringing--If music played an important role in our household as we were growing up we might be apt to appreciate the styles of music we grew up with.
• Peer influence--People are likely to gain an affinity for the music their friends are listening to as well as whatever is trending with those of their generation.
• Media and influence of popular culture--This would be related to peer influence.  Whatever begins to trend in certain groups may be pushed further by media, public events, and the entertainment culture.
• Educational influence--Music appreciation classes and music academics introduce styles of music that are embraced by members in those strata of society.
• Conditioning by repetition--We may hear music played repeatedly until it becomes familiar to us and we associate it with various feelings and memories.
• Positive sensory effects produced by music-- When music causes a pleasant sensation then we are apt to like it.  This can be evident in rhythms, tonal progressions, or harmonies.  Is it easy to dance to or sing along with?   If we respond positively to a piece of music then we probably like it.
• The Unknown Factor--This can be a result of a combination of two or more of the previously mentioned concepts or something not mentioned in this list.

What About Music We Say We Don't Like?

      By no means is the previous list definitive.  There are undoubtedly many other reasons we like what we like.  When we hear something and immediately know that we like the music we are hearing, it is most likely rooted in some aspect of the list that I've offered.  But what about those things we don't like?   Here's another similar list that might explain the other side of preference:

• Unfamiliarity--Music that is unfamiliar or unnatural sounding to us because of cultural, regionality, or style that we are not accustomed to hearing might initially be rejected by our ears and mind.
• Musical antagonism--This could be rooted in a sort of prejudice or a discomfort with particular ethnicities or cultures.
• Peer or familial rejection of a style--We may not like something because our friends or family don't like it.
• Not part of musical mainstream--If a particular style of music is not popular in the media or with the public in general we might be apt to reject it as well.
• Lack of understanding or education about a musical style--This is particularly true of classical and jazz.  If we haven't taken time to learn something about the music and haven't tried to understand it then we might decide that we do not like it.  Some music is more difficult than other kinds and requires a certain amount of musical education which in turn requires patience and a willingness to learn.
• Preconceived notions--Sometimes we might reject certain music because we have an unfounded or unreasonable opinion already devised within our minds.
• Stubborn refusal to like a style of music--Many people will just say they don't like such and such style of music because that's what they've always believed and said and they are unwilling to make an honest attempt to learn to enjoy a certain musical style.

  

What's the Conclusion?

   

          Sure, I've generalized greatly on both the like and dislike aspects of music, but this is only a place to start.  There have undoubtedly been a number of studies done and books written on this topic.  In my future Battle of the Bands posts I'm sure to get more negative comments about the songs I choose, but I hope that more often those negatives will be accompanied by some sound reasoning.  

        When you start wondering why you like what you like and don't like what you don't like, you might just start to realize that you are dealing with some illogical reasoning if there is any reasoning to be had at all.   I find it difficult to accept "just because" as an answer.   It may have worked for me when I was a kid, but when you dig down deep you realize that there is never a "just because". 

Coming This Sunday June 15th!

          The next Battle of the Bands entries will be presented this coming Sunday June 15th.   My song selection and versions chosen will be unlikely to create as much controversy as my previous Battle.  Instead I will be sticking with an appropriate Sunday song that is more rooted to the Earth in musical style, but looking into the furthest reaches of the universe and the infinite span of time.  The song is by one of my favorite singer/songwriters.   He is an artist classified as folk/rock who has been recording for about 40 years and continues to maintain an almost cult-like following.   It is not Bruce Springsteen.

          With the clues I've provided does anyone care to guess the artist and song?   I think Larry Cavanaugh might have a good idea who it is since he is so knowledgeable about modern music and has a sense about my musical taste.  Anyone else?

          Do you have any other like/don't like reasons to add to my lists above?   What song do you think comes closest to being an "Ultimate Melody"?   Other than to appease the questions of a child, do you think that "Just Because" is ever a reasonable answer or is it just an easy way of not having to think more deeply about a question?

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Ask Arlee: Arlee Has Some Questions For You

Google 貼牌冰箱（Google Refrigerator） (Photo credit: Aray Chen)

   
       As most regular readers of Tossing It Out probably know by now, I have an intense interest and curiosity about marketing and promotion and how the whole darn thing works.  I like to experiment with marketing ideas and I like to hear about what other people have done.

         In this post I'd like to address Google Ads.  Some of you probably dislike ads on blogs.  I may have even lost some past readers because of the ads that appear on my page.   Others of you have Google Ads like I do.   Or you may be part of an "associate program", sell your own ads, or advertise books or products that you or others are offering.  Maybe you get paid for the advertising that appears on your blog or perhaps not.

        My focus will be on the Google Ads.  There is a reason that certain ads show up on the page when you are looking at my blog or another blog that includes Google Ads.  I won't go into that here, but I would like for you to scroll down to the bottom of this current post and take note of what the ad is about.  Also if you are inclined to do so, scroll down the sidebar and tell me what ad you see right now and you can also scroll to the bottom of the page to see what that ad is.   Please tell me in the comments what was being advertised on your screen.

         For example, as I write this piece, looking at my Tossing It Out page for today I see a cell phone ad from AT&T.  In the sidebar there is an ad for a brand of tea.  At the bottom of the page is another ad for AT&T.   At Wrote By Rote (my memoir blog) there are ads for Dun & Bradstreet, Sports Authority, and See's Candy (mmm--I'm composing this post the day before Valentine's Day).    Moving on to my dream blog A Faraway View I see two ads for Dun & Bradstreet and one for an astrology website.

        For the most part I know why we see some different ads as we look at the same blog page and why we might be seeing the same ads in other cases.  Do you know why you are seeing the ads you are seeing?  Does the presence of Google Adsense on a blog bother or offend you in any way?   Would my blog look better without the ads or would you even notice that they were not there?   Are you annoyed by a page that's filled with images of books, badges, widgets, awards, and other images?    Would you prefer mostly a page filled with text?   Do you even think about such things?

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#IWSG--Ask Arlee: Marketing

         Time again for another Insecure Writer's Support Group day.  For the list visit Alex J Cavanaugh's blog.   My post today is an Ask Arlee question partnered with a shameless promotion of an upcoming event.





Ask Arlee:  Marketing?

Julie said...

All right, here's my question:
How do I find time to do the business/marketing side of writing when I am already working two full-time jobs with the job that supports me and the writing that creates the books?
(I am also starting a garden this year and getting a new puppy... neither of which is negotiable... although I do see some comical dichotomies in those two events. Mental note: must put fences around the garden... or the puppy... or both.) :)

Help!!!  What Do I Do About Marketing?

     Need help with marketing?   Are you able to help others with your marketing knowledge? 

      No need to be afraid of sales, marketing, or promotion.  It's all around us and we are involved in it one way or another whether it be on the receiving end or in some form on the activity side. We market ourselves to others all the time. 

       You think you don't have marketing experience?  Think again.  You have knowledge and opinions about marketing.  You don't need to be an expert, have a marketing degree, or have tons of solid experience in the field.  You have sold or promoted at some point in your life and you have information to share with others.

        

         Let's talk about marketing.  Join us on Monday January 20th when we present the What Works...Online Marketing Symposium.   Tell us what you know--or don't know for that matter.  Ask the questions you need answers to about marketing.  Someone will probably be there with the answer you need.

         You can analyze commercials or ad campaigns you've seen.   Tell us stories about marketing efforts that you've witnessed first hand and describe what happened.  Let us know what you've done with your own promotions or things you've thought about doing.   Everyone has something to say about the subject of marketing.   Hopefully we will start getting a better idea of what works--or what doesn't.

        Don't be insecure about marketing anymore.   Join us in What Works...Online Marketing Symposium.   Sign up now:

******

   

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