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Cathy C. Hallhttps://cathychall.wordpress.com/I write, write, write. Then I rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. THEN I submit all those polished-up words out into the world and sell 'em. It's a plan that's worked pretty well.

Tooting My Horn Tuesday on Thin Threads: Compassion and Giving

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Many years ago, when my children were very young (they were so young, the third one was just a gleam in the Good Lord’s eye), I watched as a young mother walked out of a K-Mart and left her little brown-haired girl behind. The episode, and how the event unfolded, rocked me to the core of my beliefs. But it changed me, too.

Years later, when I started writing essays, the K-Mart story surfaced and begged to be told. I bet I wrote a dozen versions of that story. And each time I submitted the essay to a market, it came back with a “No, thanks.” I can’t say that surprised me. I knew there was something more I needed to tell, and that I hadn’t gotten to the heart of the story. Then I saw the Thin Threads Contest.

As described on the website, a thin thread is a “moment, event, setback, crossroad or encounter that connected you to a person, place or an opportunity that changed your life for the better.” I knew immediately that I had to try again.

I suppose that this time, I got it right. Because “A Little Brown-Haired Girl” was selected for Thin Threads, Special Edition: Compassion and Giving. They’re always looking for life-changing stories, and maybe you have one that’s just right for this series. Find out more at their website. Or submit your story for the Thin Threads Contest like I did.

I’ll be ordering a few copies of the Thin Threads Compassion and Giving, perhaps have a contest here and give it away. But it won’t really compare with what a little brown-haired girl gave me so many years ago.

Finding Something Friday on Makeovers (Or Does This Blog Make Me Look Fat?)

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If you haven’t dropped in to the Hall of Fame in a few days…Surprise! But if you have, and noticed the blog makeover, then thanks for the lovely comments. And if you’re scratching your head and saying, “Why, yes, things look different but I can’t quite put my finger on it,” then, um, I’m sure you have lots of other great skills.

So, I’ve added a few blog pages, a functionality that’s especially convenient if you want to add more information but keep a streamlined front page. For those who may not want to go the paid website route, a free blog with pages can be an effective showcase. Just look for the Edit Pages tab (adjacent to the Edit Posts tab) the next time you’re writing a new post. It’s that simple.

And I think I read where Blogger allows up to ten pages. Think of all you can do with ten pages! You can direct readers to your credentials or contact info. You can add a page of free downloads or fun facts. You can have recipes or riddles or rhymes! Pictures! Pointers! Puddles!

Um, okay, maybe not puddles. But I think you can see that the possibilities are endless.

I still have a bit of streamlining to do before this blog’s shiny new makeover is complete. I just hope you’ll still recognize the sleeker, shadow of her former self, Cathy C.’s Hall of Fame!