Barn Buzz - January 19th
Published by LeadMare • Jan 19th, 2008 • Category: GHC News
Welcome to 2008! There’s something about January that makes me want to look back at milestones from the previous year and look forward to what’s next. So let’s start with what Girls Horse Club members accomplished in 2007:
~ 1300 Blog and Loft Book Club submissions
~ 1000 Loft Book Club stories published
~ 190 Blogs published
~ 200 Photos/illustrations published
Wow! Is it safe to say we have the world’s largest collection of online stories and illustrated articles created by and for horse girls? I think so. Three cheers for us!
Now for looking forward. I’m a dreamer and throughout the year like to set achievable goals that bring me closer to the place where dreams meet reality. To start the year, here are two of my goals for Girls Horse Club:
1) Get rid of the boring ads and find (or get found by) *real* sponsors with products or services meaningful to Girls Horse Club. In addition to being more relevant, attracting sponsors will help earn money for improving/expanding our virtual barn.
2) Find more ways to encourage contribution from all the talented horse girls out there. Specifically, I’d like to see more of the blog artwork, photos, and/or photo illustrations coming from you. That’s a goal I can’t achieve on my own, but I’ll do my part by opening submissions and sharing inspiration, information, and ideas. I’d also like some help with our monthly e-mail newsletter.
Think this is achievable? I do. In fact, we’re already trotting ahead. Please read below for more details! And don’t forget — JANUARY SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN.
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
OUR NEW SPONSOR!
Check out the beautiful banner here and in the Loft Book Club from our new sponsor Toby Bishop. Yay! We first learned about Toby with the review of Airs Beneath the Moon and later when she visited our virtual barn for an Interactive View. Now the second title in her Horsemistress Saga is available! I bought a copy of Airs and Graces for myself and look forward to reading it. I know some of you are also fans, so hope to see a review of Airs Beneath the Moon or Airs and Graces in the future.
EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY
In the spirit of encouraging contribution from more talented horse girls, last month we started accepting photo/image submissions for the blog, like these from Julia, Rebecca Shyly, and horsejo. Just a reminder about how it works:
1) Submit a blog as you always do, using the story submission form.
2) Go to the photo and artwork submission form and upload the image that goes with your blog.
Please read the Dec 15th Publishing Update for more info about photo and artwork submissions.
THE NOT-SO-NEWS
Honestly, in recent months I’m suffering from a lack of time and/or motivation when it comes to the monthly e-mail newsletter. Generally it covers barn buzz, special events, finalists in the monthly Judge for Yourself Competition, and winners of the previous month’s competition. Well it’s a new year, and I’m in the mood for change (as usual) so I’d appreciate your thoughts, ideas, and or participation. To start, do you even read the newsletter? If so, what kinds of things would you like to see in it? Also, if you’re a regular contributor and are interested in helping or submitting something for the newsletter, please let me know.
JUNIOR BLOGGERS
Welcome to our newest Junior Blogger Halee! The roster has been updated and we currently have two slots open. Will we see another one of our talented guest bloggers join the ranks this submission period? I hope so…
Hey guys I need one more blog published to be considered for a junior blogger, got any ideas what I should write about?? :-?
Rosie, the best thing to do is just wait until you have an idea. Other wise you won’t be able to write with passion. I’m not trying to put you down, just trying to give advice. But if you really want so of my ideas:
Give us some facts on a new breed
Tell us an amazing story about something to do with horses that happened to you that teaches a lesson
Teach us how to do a new horse craft
Explain a horse sport that doesn’t get alot of attention
What ever you try to do, have fun with it and do your best! You are an amazing author and I’m saying that judged on two blogs so you really are good! ;)
LeadMare the banner is really beautiful and I’m waiting for an opportunity to read those books. Maybe in the Newsletter there can be a Ponder This…or something, maybe a picture to think about? Like the one on my blog Hidden Hope. And maybe some of the blogs can be published on the Newsletter as well? And since many of us ride here, and many of us don’t, we can submit an article or something about our riding experiences or what we want the most besides riding.
Tell me what you think!
Those are all great ideas Madelaina. Keep ‘em coming!
Hey LeadMare! I’ve been waiting and planning forever to submit my first blog, and I just did this morning. I hope it gets published, and hopefully I can become a Junior Blogger later on. As for some ideas in the newsletter, maybe you could have a preview of a new Loft Book Club story or a featured Perfect Horse. Or maybe you could interview a blogger about their horsey-lives and their blogs! :)
Hay Halz. Glad you decided to submit a blog, and many thanks for your thoughts about the newsletter. I’m getting so many great ideas we may need to have a poll to pick the favorites. Or have a verrrrrry looooong newsletter.
;)
Hey Leadmare, I’m glad to see that there are 2 spots open for a junior blogger instead of one. I submitted my second blog this morning, I hope it is published. I am writing one right now. Thanks for the news!
Cool news! I hope I can think of a new blog.
Nice banner and good changes. I am currently revamping my blog and website but if you are interested in doing a guest post, you might be able to pick up some additional contributors from my readers.
Let me know.
Leadmare, this is awesome! I can’t beleive how many stories and blogs are on here!
Also, this is off-topc but I didn’t know where to write this but.. I’ve been so busy with school ever since it started and I just don’t have time for writing blogs. You can take me off the junior blogger list and someone else can take my place.
Diane, thanks for your comment. What an amazing life you have! No doubt GHC readers would be interested in your sites (links below) and writing. I’ll follow-up with you via email.
Ark Animals
Diane L. Guerrero, Animal & Pet Expert
Marisa, I figured that was the case so thanks for confirming. I’m glad you still have time to read and contribute to discussions. :)
I have an idea for the newsletter. Someone should start to off a story, say the first chapter, then in the next newsletter there’s the next part. It would keep more people reading, I think.
LeadMare, I was also wondering if it’s ok to submit photos I edited in Photoshop? They’re still my original photos.
Great idea for the newsletter Julia. And yes, it’s OK to submit any kind of artwork you created. We’ll look forward to seeing your work!
I just submitted two new blogs I hope they get published!!! :))
I would love to help with the monthly newsletter LeadMare! So just tell me what I can do to help! :)
Hey Leadmare, in the newletter, why don’t you add some of the stuff going on in the horse competition world? That would be cool.
Syd, thanks for offering to help. If you or anyone else is interested in writing a recap of what’s been happening around GHC recently, that could be a good article for the newsletter.
Stargazer, great idea! That could be a good topic for a blog too.
Can I please help with the newsletter? I would love to write a recap.
Horsecrazzz, I would love your help!
I’d be happy to help with the Newsletter too. I could do watever. i could write a story, do some sort of blog, interview someone, edit some pics, maybe even help with the layout of it or something like that… (i’m quite good with computers and if al else fails i can ask my mum or dad to help me coz there both computer experts… there’s not 1 thing they don’t know about computers!) I am starting school again soon but i won’t get any homework for the first term and after that it’ll be just little things. i’d really LOVE to help too.
I’m always here to help too Leadmare :)