Poems: The Mystery of Snowflakes

 

Each and every snowflake,
Is unique unto itself.
Each one bears a message,
Of love or faith or help.

 

Each and every snowflake,
As they fall beneath our feet,
Brings up a fallen memory.
Some are painful, some are sweet.

 

Each and every snowflake,
Reminds us of the past.
Perhaps they hold the secret,
To questions we have asked.

 

Each and every snowflake,
Holds a story yet untold.
But this story stays a mystery,
In the deep and dark and cold.

Poems: A Frosty Walk

 

The sun shines down upon my face,
The wind drifts slowly by.
The frost is crisp beneath my feet,
And I feel like I could fly.

 

Winter can be long and dark,
And go on far too long.
The wind can come and steal your breath,
As you trudge along.

 

But today is nearly perfect,
Or as perfect as can be.
The frost, it clings and glitters,
And moves quite like the sea.

 

I’m in a winter wonderland,
As I take my morning walk.
And yet I know I must go back,
I know this, and still I balk.

 

I hear my name, know it is time,
And am glad of any warning.
I kick up snow, disturb the frost,
And enjoy this frosty morning.

Flash Fiction: Cold Winter Rain

I know it's only October, but where I'm from we've already had frost, snow, hail, and sleet. It's downright cold. Flash fiction is one of the ways I deal with the weather, so my first story of the season deals with the cold rain we so recently had. For reasons passing understanding, I've decided to write in first person. Oh, well.

Cold Winter Rain

I usually love winter, but today it's cold and raining. That means freezing rain, slick roads, and idiot drivers. Why is everyone driving like it’s a bright summer day? You can’t drive like that during a winter rain.

I try to dismiss the other drivers from my thoughts and concentrate on the road. As I pull out onto the highway, my car slips. I’ve got snow tires and I’m not going very fast, but still I slide. It’s no better than a skating rink out here, and I’m usually not stupid enough to drive on a skating rink. Today, however, I have no choice. I have to pick up my daughter and her newborn baby from the hospital.

As I’m thinking about my new grandson, I hit a patch of ice. Caught unaware, I jerk the wheel to the right and skid toward the shoulder. Then I made a rookie mistake. I slam on the brakes. The car starts to spin and I utter a curse as I fight the car for control. I’m losing and I know it, so I say a quick prayer and release the wheel.

The car spins wildly before coming to a sudden stop. My head rocks forward. Something hits me square in the face and drives my head back into the headrest. I see stars and gasp for breath, wondering where I am. Oh. On the road, driving like an idiot.

A disembodied voice floats through the air and I realize it’s been speaking for several minutes.

“What?” I mutter, pushing the airbag out of my way.

“Ma’am, we’ve detected an airbag deployment. Do you need assistance?”

I shake my head, realize he can’t see me, and snap, “No, I need a new brain.”

“Do you require assistance?”

Now that’s the real question. My head hurts a little, but that’s from the airbag. Finally I reply, “No. I’ll just call my husband to pick me up.”

"Are you sure, Ma'am? I can have an ambulance sent to your location."

"No, I'm fine. All in one piece."

“Okay, Ma’am. Take care.”

I dig my phone out of my purse and dial. My daughter and her son will just have to wait while I get my husband out of work. Hopefully, he won’t laugh at me. Of course, I laughed at him last year...

Why Some Writers Need a Social Media Expert

If you're writing for profit you're running a business. There is no way around it. And all businesses need marketing, writers more than most. Marketing is one of the most important aspects of business and can help your own both stabilize and grow. Running a business without a sound marketing will cost you more money, limit your profits, and will generally mean more work for you.

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There’s Something to Learn From Social Media Experts

Social media experts know their craft. And you can learn if you pay attention. Most social media experts are more than happy to teach business owners a thing or two. Knowledge gained is never wasted and if you’re going to hire someone, you might as well hire someone you can learn from.

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If anyone out there needs an online presence, it's the writer trying to make a decent living. But the Internet is full of pitfalls for anyone looking to market their own business. A social media expert understands technology and the associated lingo, grasps the intricacies of search engine optimization (SEO), and knows how to gain a wider exposure for your business. Simply put, they understand business and how the Internet can benefit business. This can use this understanding to build an online presence for your business, relieving the burden of having to do all this yourself.

Hiring a Social Media Expert is Convenient

Once you’ve hired a social media expert, you have access to a wide range of skills. Most social media experts understand various aspects of business and marketing. Take advantage of this knowledge and work with your social media expert to develop a whole business strategy.

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Hiring a social media expert is an expense, it’s true. However, in the long run, it will probably cost less to hire someone than it will to do it all yourself. They know the ins and outs of the business, so they’ll spend less time than you would. They can also usually obtain appropriate advertising at a reduced rate. While you may have to invest a little money at the beginning, the value you’ll receive will more than make up for it.

Most business owners, and most writers, need help and social media experts can provide that help. Their skills can help your business to grow and develop. If you do choose to hire a social media expert, you’ll have a valuable resource at your fingertips. Don’t overlook this person, or the value they represent.