Help a Sistah Out!

There are periods in my life when I'm super productive, and then there are the periods when I'm in a relationship. I'm an all-or-nothing kind of gal, and while I've managed to keep training and racing somewhat since meeting Grease Monkey; blogging, looking for a job, and training have been disorganized and sporadic. I'm so ashamed!

About a month ago I looked at my life and realized something: I'm poor and I don't like it. Ever since then I've stepped back into a super-productive space (learning how to do this when I'm not single has been a learning process, but that's a post for another day). I've actually been keeping up with my end of the unemployment bargain and applying to pretty much every job that appears on craigslist under the writing/editing heading. And guess what? I've gotten more freelance writing gigs than I know what to do with!!! The problem? They don't pay shit. But it's a process... and I'm learning how to limit myself to 500 words and write without the words "shit," "fuck," "cunt," "asswipe," and other favorite phrases of mine.

Last week I was accepted for a really exciting position: Starting this week, I am the Boston Triathlon Examiner, ostensibly Boston's expert on triathlon for examiner.com. I'm still figuring out what angle I want to take with the column, learning about Search Engine Optimization, and figuring out what people want to hear about. While I usually only post to the speed racer blog once every one to two weeks with rambling race reports and explosive brain farts, I will be posting short, skim-able articles about triathlon (not just about me) to the Examiner site about three times per week. Most importantly, I am going to try to keep the attitude... just as soon as I pick up momentum and find my own voice on the site.

I'm leaving the door open for the column to mature into something that I can't plan for, but in my three weekly articles I'm going to try to structure it as one part coaching-type stuff, one part race reports, etc. (pro's, reviews, stories from things happening at local races, etc.), and one part "Just for Fun Fridays" when I'll do things like satire, funny stories, etc. I could really, really, really use your help!

Here's how you can help me:

1. Visit the site. Often. I get paid based on the number of page views, length of visits, subscribers, and number of times that people click on ads. Please do me a favor and check the page regularly, leave it open for a bit (even if you just skim it and then go to the bathroom), and click on an ad. If you're pressed for time, I'd prefer you check the Examiner site over this blog because I don't get PAID for the blog.
2. Recommend it. Obviously I don't expect you to recommend the site if you don't like it. But if it does ripen into something that you enjoy, please link to the site on your blogroll. If I write an article that tickles you or that you find interesting, please send it to friends.
3. Digg it. If you belong to pages like Digg.com or Stumbleupon.com, make me your friend (user name BostonTriathlon on both sites), and click that you like my articles. I'm looking into making a facebook page and linking the twitter feed to the Examiner site as well.
4. Let me know. Please tell me if there is a topic you'd like me to address, whether it's something in the triathlon news, training philosophies, or whatever. I'll research the topic (something I don't bother to do for the blog) and do my best to address it in an article. Also, if you live in New England and do any races, please let me know about them so that I don't miss your race reports. Also, any pictures you could send along (complete with permission to use them) would be GREATLY appreciated!
5. Become an Examiner yourself. If being a local expert sounds like fun, apply to be an examiner in your area by filling out the online application and submitting a writing sample. If you do decide to apply, please let them know that I referred you. To see how, watch this video.