Creative Vagabond-Writing & Digital Services

We’ve all been there—a creative dry spell where new content ideas seem as elusive as water in a desert. Or warmth after shivering through a long cold winter in the Northeast. But inspiration isn’t gone, it’s just hiding in plain sight. With the right tools and platforms, you can transform your drought into a flood of fresh ideas. From uncovering trending topics on Google Trends to diving into the endless conversations on LinkedIn, Reddit, and HARO, there’s no shortage of sources for your creative reservoir. When lacking inspiration, it doesn’t hurt to hear what other people are talking about. Let’s explore these rich sources of content ideas and turn your creativity into a thriving oasis. Inspiration Oasis: How to Find Fresh Content Ideas When You’re Stuck We don’t lack places to post information. We are flush with multiple platforms from email marketing, websites, and social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, to name a few. Each platform has a different aud...

I used to think business and politics could stay in separate lanes. Keep things professional, focus on the work, and leave the heavy debates at the dinner table (or, let’s be real, the internet). But these days? It feels impossible to avoid. We are swimming in a sea of chaos and each of us has strong opinions. Customers, colleagues, networking events—sooner or later, someone drops a political hot take right in the middle of what was supposed to be a normal conversation. And suddenly, I’m standing there thinking, Whoa. Politics? Right now? Or I am ready to snap back with a pithy comment. Ever been there?  Not knowing what to say without causing a fight or compromising yourself? You're not alone. I’ve been there. I am there. I am trying a few ways to handle it without losing my sanity—or my business. This is new territory for many of us. When things are scary or chaotic, we need a new skill set to get through the day. Step One: Breathe. And Maybe Smile (or not). First things first:...

  What happens when life gets in the way of those carefully laid-out plans? It does. It irritates me. I want to say, "How rude!" I can stomp my foot and harrumph, but stuff still gets in the way. There was a series of blog post ideas laid out. Research done. I just needed to put them all together, edit them, and post them to the various media sites. Then the dreaded "ick" hit me hard. Leaving out the gory details, I could do my work and then crawl back into a sickly slumber. For weeks. If, like me, you are the sole proprietor of your business, a hiccup like this can set you back. Especially when unplanned. I will confess right now that I coasted on a streak of decent health and was slack in preparing for an emergency or a pause in running a business. I was lucky and covered most of my responsibilities, but left the others for when I was back to reasonable health. 2025 is a new year, it's time to create "Break this in case of emergency" plans. Her...

Discover why leaving X (Twitter) for BlueSky is more than just changing platforms—it's about reclaiming control, protecting privacy, and fostering a positive online community. Ready for a new digital era? Why I’m Leaving X (Twitter) for BlueSky: The Case for a New Social Space Introduction Imagine this: You’re browsing X (formerly known as Twitter), a platform you’ve been part of for years, only to discover that your data is now being used in ways you never intended. I questioned my loyalty to X as it pivots toward new and increasingly invasive personal data uses. Once it was sold the platform became less the town square and more the 4 a.m. revelers roaming the streets looking for a drunken brawl. The guardrails were off, and disinformation was rampant. The people that made it interesting had fragmented into other social sites. X has become home to Bots invading each conversation, causing disruption and now connection. If you are like me the last thing you want to do is sig...

Building boards and pins will take time. But it can be fun and creative and allow you to use color and text that you cannot use in regular posts. When you are ready you can take your pins to the next level. Rich Pins are enhanced versions of regular pins on Pinterest that automatically pull extra information from your website to the pin itself. This added data updates in real-time, providing users with more context and making the pin more interactive. Remember, unlike browsers like Google and Edge that focus on search and information retrieval, Pinterest is a visual discovery platform designed to help users find inspiration and ideas through images and curated content, often driving creative projects and product exploration. It can be a rich environment to showcase your products and talent. There are four main types of Rich Pins, each designed to support different content: 1. Product Rich Pins Automatically display information such as pricing, availability, and where to buy the produ...

Pinterest is more than just a place for recipes and DIY projects—it’s a powerful platform to showcase your business and products and drive traffic to your site. If you’re new or returning to Pinterest, here’s a quick breakdown of the key features: • Pins: These are visual bookmarks (images or videos) that link to your website, product page, or blog. Think of them as eye-catching entry points to your business. Use colorful graphics and fun, readable fonts. Use up to three font types.   • Boards: Boards are collections of related pins organized by themes or categories. They’re a great way to categorize your content for easy discovery. Think of art, courses, articles, and products you want to promote.    • Rich Pins: As a business owner, Rich Pins are a must. They allow you to add more information to your pin, like product pricing, availability, or recipe ingredients, which updates automatically. I’ll add more about rich pins later. They are rich! • Group Board...

Each morning a friend and I send a meme or image to each other. Usually, it is about the day of the week or something about coffee. I like Pinterest because there are fun, creative images to use.  As a visual-leaning person, I enjoy looking at images and have created multiple boards, highlighting the guests on my former podcasts, writing prompts, and more. But I have not used it much further than pretty pics representing activities in which I am engaged.  A recent episode of The Copywriter Club podcast discussed how to market your business on Pinterest. Is it time to rethink how to use this platform?  In today’s digital marketing landscape, finding the right platform to promote your brand is essential. Pinterest offers a unique blend of visual discovery and search engine capabilities, making it a powerful tool for solopreneurs, creatives, and small businesses. Let us explore what Pinterest is, how it differs from other platforms, strategies for using it effectively, and w...