mar's Desk

TIPS On Writing

8/26/2015

marcoujor

No-no, this is not a post on how to be a better writer, but thanks for checking out my provocative title!

Instead I'm going to focus on the word tips and write a bit of my feelings on the subject.

I started thinking about tips when I was thirteen-years-old. Every Saturday night my parents and I went to our church's Bingo social.

Mom played Bingo. She and her gal pals enjoyed the camaraderie way more than any prizes won. Dad sold scratch-off tickets at the door with his buddies. Mar served sandwiches, chips and drinks to the gamblers.

It thrilled me to make people happy, learning that condiments and extra napkins were a sure smile maker. It thrilled me even more when I got a tip for my good service. Whether a nickel, a quarter or even the occasional dollar, my tip jar had a way of filling up week after week.

This experience left an imprint on my heart. I tend to be a generous tipper when someone has bent over backwards to make me happy.

I also gained an appreciation for the concept that change makes change. I have always valued coins. Once found in my tip jar and now in wallets, pockets, even the street.

Mom even gave me a coin counter as my guru go-to for financial suggestions.

My favorite clerk in the Post Office told me a remarkable story. He cashed in $600 worth of pennies, mostly found on his daily walks. Four new tires were purchased with small change.

As a nurse and teacher, my tips have included:

positive patient satisfaction surveys
positive student evaluations
cards and e-mail from those I've worked with expressing gratitude

I've had to refuse some patients / their family over the years who've tried to tip me monetarily ~ as that is a breach of my professional ethics. Yet, the gesture was a tip in itself!

My years in the health care profession has undoubtedly influenced my initial reaction to the following posts from respected writing friends...

Cyber-begging or Cyber-earning? via WarnerWords

Indie Biz: I wish you had a tip jar! via flashPress

I would never have thought of a writer's tip jar for myself, yet I loved the idea of this being installed on others' websites.

I've shared countless posts from writers I follow and via e-mail to friends and colleagues. In addition to a comment of support, the thought of a tip to express my appreciation sounds more than reasonable. Thanks to my ongoing collection of coin, I always have a few extra bucks now for such occasions.

foto by PublicDomainPictures of Pixabay

I have decided to incorporate my first tip jar in over 40-years (see right)...!

Should some tips find their way to my jar, I'll see this as positive evidence that I have helped someone through my writing.

How about you...?

I welcome my friends on HubPages to consider building their own website. There is help available with writing webmasters like Angelia Phillips of flashPress, who built my amazing website. Shauna L. Bowling of Bravewarrior's Feathered Pen and Mike Friedman of Mockingbird Books have set up their own websites and provide support and wisdom to me on an ongoing basis.

I prefer selecting who I'd like to critique and edit my writing over the external mechanism that's currently being proposed on this site. Having my own Weebly website, I take even more pride and ownership in the writing I share with those who choose to follow me.

Websites and virtual tip jars - long may they both live!

Hoping to hear soon about your new website - would love to stop by and check out what's cooking.

Meanwhile in the rest of Weeblyhood, I have a brand new page on my site I hope you'll check out called I recommend... (just click the title--the link's embedded for you), and please don't miss the Weeblyhood's latest..