On the Second Day of Christmas

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine

If "my true love gave to me" has already popped into your head, congratulations!  Your musical memory is alive and well, even though we've heard "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for the last time this year. Technically, however, today is the second day of Christmas, so in that spirit I thought we'd take a second look at Christmas past.

I can get a little nostalgic thinking about Southern Writers' first Christmas, in 2011.  It was an exciting time of promise, adventure, and new friendships with authors and each other.  One thing I remember fondly was that, for the month of December, every day on this Suite T blog was devoted to a different "gift".

These classic posts are a little hard to find, unless you go looking for them.  So I went looking for them.

The Gift of a Writing Partner by Kelli Zaniel
The Gift of a Reader by Shannon Milholland
The Gift of Counting the Cost by Doyne Phillips
The Gift of a Time Out by Gary Fearon
The Gift of Time by Susan Reichert
The Gift of Humor by Jenny B. Jones
The Gift of Great Food by Shannon Milholland (includes recipes by authors and the SW staff!)
The Gift of a New Beginning by Doyne Phillips
The Gift of Gab by Gary Fearon
The Gift You Get When You Give by Susan Reichert
The Gift of Mystery by Sandra Balzo
The Gift of...Gifts by Shannon Milholland
The Gift of Great Art by Doyne Phillips
The Gift of Music by Gary Fearon
The Gift of Poetry by Susan Reichert
The Gift of a Family Heritage by Renee Rowell
The Gift of Leadership by Londa Hayden
The Gift of Hope Deferred by Doyne Phillips
The Gift of Goals by Gary Fearon
The Gift of a New Year by Susan Reichert
The Gift of a Rich Childhood by Sarah Loudin Thomas
The Gift of FREE Marketing by Jessica Ferguson

Maybe one or more of those "gifts" will resonate with you on this second day of Christmas, which, by the way, is immortalized in another yuletide chestnut.  December 26 is the "Feast of Stephen" mentioned in the song "Good King Wenceslas".  I hope you'll "feast" on the joys of the season still to come, and will continue to celebrate all the way up to that twelfth day of Christmas, on January 5th.

Now that it's stuck in your head, feel free to hum "Good King Wencelas" today. (If you know the words, I'm impressed.)

My Blog Blows

by Shannon Milholland, Social Media Director

My blog blows. Do you ever feel that way? You've followed all the design advice and your blog appearance is top notch. You provide excellent content. Everything about your blog says professional. The only problem is your reader list which is your mom, your great-aunt Martha and your first grade teacher, Mrs. Goldstein.

Before you turn in your Blogger badge and ride off into the sunset, consider trying these tips:

Hang with Your Hombres

You're blogging about gardening but spend your free time at an inner city roller derby rink. Chances are they don't know a petunia from a peony. Find places your audience congregates and mingle. Your mastery of the subject will naturally draw these acquaintances to your site.

Help a Hero

Find someone in your area of expertise whose blog you devour. Volunteer to help them by commenting on their blog or reposting their blogs on Twitter. You may be thanked with an opportunity to guest post or with a credible recommendation.

Host a Happy

Everybody likes getting something for nothing or practically nothing anyway. Fund a giveaway for your site that directly relates to your content. If you're blogging about beauty, aggregate a package of new product. If you're writing movie reviews, offer movie passes complete with popcorn and drinks. What do you ask in exchange? Ask them to follow your blog, mention it on Facebook or tweet about it. You'll be amazed how excited people can get over even a low-value prize.

Does your blog blow? Harness the wind by hanging with your hombres, helping a hero or hosting a happy. Soon your blog will blow hurricane style.